Finger picks and things

[growler]

Hi Everybody
Just back from a lovely weeks holiday in the UK , whilst looking round the shops I popped in to a music store As I was after on of those clamp on capos . I noticed the tray of plectrums and picks that you always see on the counter, Out of curiosity I bought some metal finger picks ' Dunlop 0.20 's. when I got home after playing the reso for sometime with the usual plastic finger picks I remebered that I had bought the Dunlops , put them on , started playing the reso and ' Wow ' , for me these seem much better than the plastic ones, far more responsive, they fit much better, a lot more comfortable, also the tip seems to be more where your nail is , I was finding with plastic ones they were sticking out a bit too far. Just out of interest would anyone know what sort of wear compared to plastic finger picks the metal ones would have.

Whilst I was there I picked up my 12 stringer that was at the Luthiers for a service, replacement frets , dangling pickup leads inside the guitar. etc , etc .
The guitar I got back was a much better guitar than the one I took in and had played for the last 27 years . This guy had done a wonderful job on it , set it up right , polished it , got rid of tarnish on the tuning pegs and freed them up a bit as well so they turn a lot better , money well spent . The Lowden is coming up to 20 years now, I might take it in to this guy for its service soon ....... as he is thinking of moving to the south of France next year

Regards Growler

[Michael Messer]

Hi Growler,

Welcome home!

Metal picks will last much longer than plastic. If you like metal picks, you should get hold of some old National ones - 25 gauge. They have a much warmer tone. If well looked after and kept in a box so they can't get crushed, they will last you for years. But BEWARE >they will scratch your guitar!

When I buy plastic ones, I get the Dunlop white heavies and from a bag of 25, I keep 6 or 7 or so. I only like them a certain shape and size, they have to to be nearer the shape of metal ones. I don't bend them in hot water, I think it ruins them. When I get a pair of finger picks that I like, they can last me a year or so. Every couple of years I get a bag of thumb & fingerpicks and that does me.

Shine On
Michael.

[growler]

HI Michael
Thanks for reply ..... after posting I realised I might have mislead you slightly with my question, I was not refering to the actual wear of the metal picks themselves , but the wear on the strings using metal fingerpicks.
By the way Michael the luthier who repaired my guitar said he met you several years ago , his name is Andy Crockett. he makes fantastic jazz type archtops . I have posted his web address so members can have a look at the guitars he makes ......... I hope you do not mind me posting it
www.crockettguitars.com/Jazz/HOME.htm

Regards Growler

[Michael Messer]

Hi Growler,

I don't think metal picks will wear the strings any more than plastic does. Most American Dobro players, banjo players & fingerpicking acoustic players use metal picks.

I remember Andy Crockett. I met him when I was recording Lucky Charms in May/June 2005. At that time he was working with Alastair Atkin in his Kent workshop. The studio I worked in was next door - in a village called Womenswold!

Shine On
Michael.

[tark]

Andy Crocketts archtops are phenomenal instruments. Astounding build quality.

On the subject of fingerpicks I have tried the metal picks and can't get on with them. They feel like they have a huge amount of friction as they scrape across the strings so I would imagine they do cause more wear than plastic.

Changing the subject slightly - I had seen pictures of the Fred Kelly thumbpicks before and thought - just another gimmick pick. Then I read that Doyle Dykes uses them so I thought - worth a try. On Saturday I was rummaging through the pick bins in Hanks in Denmark Street when I saw they actually had some Fred Kellys, it was the first time I had seen them in the flesh. I don't normally like modern plastic picks and these things are injection moulded out of Delrin. I was really surprised when I tried them. They solve many of the problems of celluloid thumbpicks. The paddle on celluloid picks is normal too large and too long and they have to be made of thick celluloid to stay on the thumb, so the tone is bassy with a slow attack. Also the large picking 'paddle' has a lot of friction so its hard to play fast.

The Fred Kellys produce a brighter note and the small, slick picking portion moves across the strings easily. Because of the design they aren't as stiff and inflexible as most celluloid thumbpicks. Unlike celluloid, because the picks are injection moulded they are consistent, every one is the same. I shall keep using them and see how they work out long term.

Also on the Fred Kelly website are some new fingerpicks I have never seen before. They look like tapered thimbles.