These are the picks that all others are compared to. I know that everyone has there one opinion on these. I personally LOVE them. I know there are people that don't think they're any better than any other pick. I wanted to open this up to discussion, I sure that this subject has been covered before.

Posted - 04/10/2009 :  21:29:39            

I've tried about every kind of fingerpick. I sold my last pair of old Nationals, so I use NP2's now . My older nationals have gotten thin and I don't have any matched pairs any more, and I'm not about to pay the big bucks for vintage picks. I used to use Dunlops in the lightest gauge. Then I went to the heaviest Dunlops. I just didn't like the sound or the feel on the wires. I've tried Shelor,Pro-Pik, Roy's Own, Ernie Ball, Kyser, Gene Elkins, and maybe some others. I come back to the NP 2's every time.

__________________________
"It is better, of course, to know useless things than to know nothing." -Seneca

Posted - 04/10/2009 :  22:52:29    

Somewhere I've got a stash of National picks which I bought and used to use in the early seventies. I quit using them when the Dunlops came out (or at least when I discovered them) which I liked a lot better because they contoured to my finger.

My ear can't tell the difference between a Dunlop and a National, but I don't hear so good. I used these for guitar fingerpicking--until I learned how to play with fingernails and got into the habit of maintaining my right hand fingernails.

I'm new to banjo and learning the claw so I haven't done any comparisons on Banjo. I'm going to see if I can find my old National fingerpick collection. Could be worth a fortune some day, if I didn't toss them out.

t-dog

"food, shelter, and a banjo: the necessities of life"

Posted - 04/11/2009 :  00:24:18      

I have a few sets of the old pre-usa nationals, I really think that they are better than the new nationals, they seem to be a little thinner and a bit more flexible, I seem to get a bit more of a warm and open tone with the old nationals. I also like the old dunlops (the new ones are terrible, in my opinion). But to me nothing beats the old nationals!

Posted - 04/11/2009 :  06:40:29              

I like the old Nationals



http://www.deanhoffmeyer.com
http://www.nationalfingerpicks.com
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Posted - 04/11/2009 :  08:09:35        

I was using dunlops, then pro-picks. Then my wife found some rusty old (style 1a from DHoffmeyer's site) Nationals in a rotted guitar case where she worked, bless her heart she recognized what they were before they went in the dumpster. I polished them up, fit them to my fingers, and have been using them for 3 years now. I gave away all my other picks. Bright, solid, and they are comfortable once they are fitted correctly. I was able to make two sets, so I have a spare set.

Dean

Posted - 04/12/2009 :  07:56:00  

i love the old nationals,teamed up with a blue chip JD thumbpick...perfect match

Posted - 04/12/2009 :  08:13:51    

I like the old Nats and use them...I also like the old DOBRO thumb pick and I use those too...Now, that's the perfect match for me.

Hugh
Picking since 1964

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Edited by - Banjoman on 04/12/2009 08:15:26

Posted - 04/12/2009 :  09:40:18          

I sold all my old Nationals to collectors that wouldn't think of picking with them. I am happy with the brass Dunlops (as is Ben Eldridge per a recent interview, for those that insist that all pros play with old Nats).

(Anyone have a bunch of the old "plain black, soft" thumbpicks? Now those might get my attention. No the AMB's are not the same)

Jim

Posted - 04/12/2009 :  10:07:46        

The older National picks, Pat. Pending and Oval 8's, do give a different tone especially from the brass picks. Other factors notwithstanding these "german silver" picks give a sound that is more balanced and less harsh (warmer?) than the brass variety. A head to head comparison done on a guitar really brings out that difference. The metal also gives a different grip on the string than brass which does effect the attack and the results from striking the string. This is my opinion based on several years and trying several different varieties. That said there are some good reproductions of the old Nationals on the market and I've found them to be quite good. Kyser makes a very nice reproduction that I sometimes use. Shorty on the Hangout sold me mine and he may still have some left. They are priced reasonably especially considering what the old ones sell for these days.

Mike Casey
and Dixie Farmroad Blues

Posted - 04/12/2009 :  10:13:55          

Mike,
I like the brass particularly for the grip and feel they give on the string. To me they are more similar to old Nationals that way than other picks. Regular Dunlops are too "slick." To each his own.

Jim

Posted - 04/13/2009 :  22:21:54    

I like the brass Dunlops also they fit great and I like the sound and they dont cost much.

Posted - 09/02/2009 :  14:15:07      

I love the old nationals also.

pickingit!

Posted - 09/02/2009 :  15:31:42        

I've tried just about all fingerpicks including the old pre and post-war Nationals. I got some new NP2's about 4 or 5 years ago and they are my favorites. I bought some new NP2's a couple of months ago and they just aren't the same as the ones I got 4 or 5 years ago. They seem to be thinner and produce a "tinney" tone.

My second favorites are the brass Dunlops although they don't seem to slide off the strings as easily as the NP2's.

IMHO, the old pre and post-war Nationals are way overpriced.

"Where are we going and why am I in this hand basket"

Edited by - raypicks5 on 09/02/2009 15:36:44

Posted - 09/02/2009 :  16:31:00      

I've got a several pairs of old pre-USA nationals, ovals and otherwise. I love them, but have found I can get very close to the same feel and tone with the NP2....IF.....I work them over a bit. I take some yellowstone compound and a strop (mounted) and take off a bit....works great...takes off the sharp edges and a few thousands of the thickness of the blade. This is the same compound/strop I use to keep my chisels sharp.

I se the worked over NP2's for festival and camp picken...much less painful to lose....

Posted - 09/03/2009 :  08:20:40  

Count me in on the old Nationals too (non-USA and USA).
Eric Ellis

Posted - 09/03/2009 :  09:54:07      

A tangent question on this topic.....

I found a pair of older Nationals the other day that are covered in light rust. What is the best way clean them up?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Posted - 09/03/2009 :  10:53:24        

quote:

---

Originally posted by Shimdog

I found a pair of older Nationals the other day that are covered in light rust. What is the best way clean them up?

---

Edited by - KLandreth on 09/03/2009 10:55:30

Posted - 09/03/2009 :  11:17:31          

I've got a jar full of Nationals--new, old, retro, oval 8s, round 8s, no 8s. One set has the "made in USA" on the inside of the picks--this is the best sounding out of the bunch. A few sets from the 70's come in second.

Dave Jack

Posted - 09/03/2009 :  11:49:47    

Bar Keepers Friend works great to shine up old picks. You don't even have to rub them hard, just make a paste out of the powder in your hand and then just touch the picks. Lookslike new! Tooth paste works good too.

Posted - 09/03/2009 :  17:25:53      

The NP2's are good, but the old nationals to my ear produce a little warmer, less metalic tone, and they feel good on the strings. They all seem to be .025 in thickness. Seems as though there must be some difference in the metal composition that hasn't been duplicated. Similar opinions come up on the steel guitar forums.

Posted - 09/04/2009 :  05:08:43        

I like the U.S.A. with straight 7's, and especially the old oval 8 non's of which I need to get some more of.

B.

"He lives so far back in there, they had to roll ''em Martha White biscuits in in a wheelbar."

Posted - 09/05/2009 :  18:03:37    

The old nationals are great but the Showcase 1941's are practicle

Craig
http://www.myspace.com/borrowedtyme2
Come along down to the barnyard lets have us a little banjer pickin
Jeremiah 6:16
Romans 3:23, 6:23, 5:8 10:9, 10:13, 1st John 5:10-13.

Posted - 09/06/2009 :  11:22:51      

Only old Nationals for me, I wouldn't use anything else.

"If you're gonna have a vice, try to find one that will keep you outta jail and maybe alive a little longer" - Alvin Youngblood Hart.

Silvio Ferretti http://www.scorpionmusic.com
http://www.redwinemusic.net

Posted - 09/07/2009 :  04:00:59    

I have used them all I learned to play on old Nationals and when Dunlops came out "No more hang nails" I have used combos at the same time. Just play the banjo national's are over priced

Joe

Posted - 09/07/2009 :  15:52:02      

I used National for years when they wore out....I was dissatisfied with the new National picks..so now I use Dunlop..they work fine.