Overall Comments
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I have two sets of National oval 8 picks. I love 'em even though they aren't real comfortable because I've never found I could get quite the same tone from any of the other picks I tried. And one day these old Nationals are going to be just about played out or, more likely knowing me, I'm going to lose the darn things somewhere. So I've been looking for new picks to have as replacements or, at least, backups.
And I tried lots of other picks... go through the names of modern picks, including the newer Nationals, as well as the older Dunlops, and I tried them all at one point or another.
For a while last year I thought I'd switch to Shelors. I used them for a bunch of months because I just love how they glide off the strings. Absolutely no drag whatsoever. And they are comfortable. But I found they were too big for me in that they were kind of clunky on my skinny old fingers, and I kept scratching the sides of them together as I picked. The tone I got from them was also quite different from that from the Nationals in being more bright, and although I tried to talk myself into liking the tone, I just couldn't do it.
So it was back to the oval 8's. Not that that's a bad thing! It's just that I didn't want to face of lifetime of hunting down oval 8's. Not fun.
Then I thought I'd try one more type that had always been kind of under the radar for me but I hadn't sprung for: Roy's Own. In fact, I didn't know about them until I started hanging out on the Hangout a little over a year ago when I started playing again after a many year layoff.
I contacted Doug Hutchens through the Hangout PM system and got a pair.
Well now... these are the real thing. Their shape is not exactly the same, but the tone I can pull with them is as good or, dare I say, maybe even a little better than the old Nationals. Honestly, I haven't had this reaction with any of the other ones I've tried. I was so happy that I ordered a few more sets just to have them.
Doug was just great, real easy going and a pleasure to deal with. And he included a great pamphlet about some of the many players in Monroe's band over the years (of which Doug was one).
I used them at a performance a few weeks ago and was very, very happy.
So for those of you who are stuck on old Nationals and looking for something to have as a standby, or even as a replacement, I'd say give these good old Roy's Own picks a try.
No financial connection or interest etc etc etc etc, just a very satisfied (and frankly kinda surprised) customer.
And as always......
...YMMV!
Barnet in SoCal
Order directly from Doug Hutchens. His email address is dmhutchens@aol.com, and he'll give you cost info. Pay him through PayPal. |
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