I just spotted this.

I can only speak for the thimbles that I make, and the answer is no.  They will not tear up nylon. 

Mine are copied from original banjo thimbles.  That is significant because at the time that the originals were in common use, gut was the preferred strings.

I've shipped my thimbles all over the world and they are in use by top players.  I use one every time I play in a "striking" style and I only play on gut and nylon.

Gut will wear, fray, and break, but in my personal experience, using one of my thimbles lessens the wear where one plays at the bridge than just the fingernail.  I polish each one with a buffing wheel to make sure that the end is smooth.

The true test of wear on gut and nylon was at the two Early Banjo Gatherings I've attended in MD with a barn full of gut/nylon strung banjoists playing non stop.  Many were using the thimbles I make, no one had any problems. 

I would imagine that making do with with a modified Hawaiian guitar pick worn backwards would also not cause damage as long as the edge is smoothed out and rounded off.

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Originally posted by tkelsey

Would a brass or plastic pick tear up nylglut?

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I use Joel Hooks Thimbles when my nails are out of commission. Here are some plastic clawhammer picks which I have used.

Mutha

Click on pictures to enlarge

Plastic Clawhammer Pick

Plastic Clawhammer Pick

Edited by - Pluckin Mutha on 02/03/2012 12:35:25

 I do that from time to time .. mainly for a change of tone.   Fun stuff..

I've used plastic dunlops and Freedoms on nylon strings without problems. I never use metal picks now but I used to 2 finger pick my classical guitar with a metal finger pick.

As to paying to have Dunlop (or similar) plastic picks cut down for you --- Don't. It is a very simple operation done with scissors and an emery board. Nothing to it. Seriously. In fact if you buy a half dozen picks and cut each one to a different length you can even test them out and find out what length and shape you like best. Then future batches will all be made expressly for your fingers.

People charge for cutting down plastic picks? I did not even know that was a thing.

quote:

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Originally posted by oldwoodchuckb

I've used plastic dunlops and Freedoms on nylon strings without problems. I never use metal picks now but I used to 2 finger pick my classical guitar with a metal finger pick.

As to paying to have Dunlop (or similar) plastic picks cut down for you --- Don't. It is a very simple operation done with scissors and an emery board. Nothing to it. Seriously. In fact if you buy a half dozen picks and cut each one to a different length you can even test them out and find out what length and shape you like best. Then future batches will all be made expressly for your fingers.

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Kyle Creed used a homemade metal fingerpick he made from the casing of an old headlight....he seemed to do alright with it, and I don't think anyone accused him of not being traditional...lol