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eccles - Posted - 07/24/2024: 08:53:52
Yes well my 4th string was not as twangy as I would have liked and heard elsewhere. You all know what I mean, it's that slightly "sharp" sound that you get from a new nickel wound string which eventually tails off and off you go to get a new one. Except mine was a new string and I am still a newby so a bit disappointed. No, the head was well tightened by me and it's a new banjo and well set up so what could it be? Try this says a mate and offers me a Dr Sherpa metal thumb pick and immediately the twang I wanted appeared by magic. So what was the difference - I had been using a rather "broad" plastic thumb pick bought on ebay and really intended for guitar. However, I set to with a trimming knife and some fine abrasive to make that plastic pick look much more like the Dr Sherpa pick which I duly handed back in due course. My reformed plastic pick was now applied to the banjo and the desired twang was there!! So don't put up with a dull sounding D string folks if you just need to slim down your plastic thumb pick. No I don't want to use a metal pick at all on that string in case it wears down the windings.
Edited by - eccles on 07/24/2024 08:55:33
RioStat - Posted - 07/24/2024: 09:42:19
Glad you figured out the proper "fix" for your non-twangy 4th string, however, I would like to mention that it would take a damn long time for a metal thumb pick to wear down the windings on any 4th string
Culloden - Posted - 07/24/2024: 09:42:24
I've used a metal thumbpick for over fifty years, and I've never had problems with it wearing down the winding on the strings. The thumb picks I currently use are Dr. Sherpa. Don't sell them short.
eccles - Posted - 07/25/2024: 02:13:34
Thanks for the comments gents (Mr Harper and Mr Yates) TBH it was my imagination that a metal thumb pick would wear the windings on said string. I stand corrected.
fotoguzzi - Posted - 07/25/2024: 19:06:20
Where can I get the Dr Sherpa metal thumb pick in the USA?
Culloden - Posted - 07/25/2024: 21:45:01
I can't seem to find the Dr. Sherpa thumb picks for sale in the U. S. right now. All I am finding are listings in Great Britain. I purchased mine at The Autoharp Store, but they are showing a different metal thumb pick now. You might have to order them from England.
autoharpstore.com
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