banjoelvis - Posted - 03/17/2007:  12:16:11

Hey Everybody, I"ve been playing for about 4 months now and I've been searching for the best combination of picks that both feel right on my fingers and thumb as well as the best sound according to my ear. Recently I bought a set of perfect touch finger picks in brass and I like the sound but they seem to not fit snug enough no matter how I bend them. As far as the thumbpick goes, I started out with National but I've found that they only last me about a month before they break and after about a day of playing I'm already wearing the tip down. I realize that part of this is due to the fact that I am picking heavily with the thumb and I'm working on learning a lighter touch but aside from that I really don't care for the tone that the plastic thumbpick gives me. I feel that the brass (fingerpick) has a much warmer sound when I strike the string as opposed to the plastic thumbpick. I've searched the internet and can't seem to find a source for a brass thumbpick. I think I'd really like to try one. Does anyone here know of a source where I can get some? As far as the fingerpicks I started out with the dunlops but they really cut into my cuticles to the point of bleeding no matter how I bend them. I've tried sanding the edges but to no avail. The one thing that I will say for the dunlops is that they seem to stay put better for me than the perfect touch fingerpicks do. Also, I used the sizing guide on the perfect touch website and ordered the corresponding size but the middle finger pick doesn't wrap around my finger like the one in the picture. Has anyone else had these experiences or have any advice I can use? And as always "Thanks" in advance for any and all input. Charles

dneal - Posted - 03/17/2007:  12:33:19

Check out the picks at Janet Davis. ProPik makes an all metal thumb pick, you'll need to try it to see if you like the sound. I have'nt seen any brass thumb picks, the metal may be too soft.

david

flake - Posted - 03/17/2007:  14:01:42

Charles----I gave up on National thumbpicks about three years ago when I started breaking them at the "curve" after four or five days at a time. I switched to Golden Gates, the clown pukes and pearloids, and occassionaly Dunlop Calicos. Janet Davis has a good selection if you still want to give plastic a shot.

http://www.janetdavismusic.com/thmbpks.html

mike

meister - Posted - 03/17/2007:  14:17:39

Charles,

The Perfect Touch Finger Picks come with a money back guarantee. I would suggest you contact Rusty Thornhill, the designer of these picks and see if he can't help you out in fitting the pick on the middle finger properly. He's a super nice guy and backs his picks up 100% and appreciates the feedback. His email is perfecttouch@frontiernet.net

I know I may sound some what biased since I sell them but I love using them. They're the best fitting picks I've ever had.

Angie
www.angiesbanjo.com

intune - Posted - 03/17/2007:  19:52:46

quote:

---

Originally posted by flake

Charles----I gave up on National thumbpicks about three years ago when I started breaking them at the "curve" after four or five days at a time. I switched to Golden Gates, the clown pukes and pearloids, and occassionaly Dunlop Calicos. Janet Davis has a good selection if you still want to give plastic a shot.

http://www.janetdavismusic.com/thmbpks.html

mike

---

Edited by - intune on 03/18/2007 20:18:24

PickinNGrinin - Posted - 03/17/2007:  21:40:04

For thumb pick I like the propik one with the plastic tip. And also the simple national white thumb pick. But for the finger picks, propik makes a good one that has two little things that wrap around your finger so it makes it a little more comfortable so that it dosent stamp your skin as much. But i also like the Regular dunlop. You may want to get a metal pick if you are a heavy picker and have the heavy strings. The metal dosent wear down as easy.

Pickin N Grinin With Christ,
Trey Reed

OldManAP - Posted - 03/17/2007:  22:40:56

Not that it's much help, but my combo of choice has for a long time been a National plastic thumb with Ernie Ball fingerpicks. I like the shape of the EB fingerpicks, as I like the brightness that the narrow tips give me. But since the original poster mentioned liking the warmth of the brass picks, my above statement will probably only serve to further discourage the use of the EB's.

On a side note, my one big complaint about the National thumbpick is that a medium is too tight for my thumb, but a large is WAY too loose. I've used a medium for years, but have to take it off for a minute or two after about 15-20 minutes of playing, since the circulation to my thumbtip gets a little cutoff. Anyone have a good suggestion for me?

Dr.Ken - Posted - 03/17/2007:  23:30:00

I like Pro-Picks, you can get them in different angles and metals and sizes.

However . . . in answer to your bigger question, I'd say fingerpicks are the HARDEST thing to get right and it took me months before I finally relaxed in my quest for the optimal picks and the optimal shape.

What I finally did was "make peace with myself." I said to myself, no matter what fingerpicks I get, and no matter how I bend them (the bend is VERY important ! ! ! ), then I will need at least 1-2 weeks to try them and see if I like that configuration. I mean, you can bend your picks in 10 minutes, but then afterwards it might take over a week for you to really decide if you like it or not. Partly because you first have to get used to them fully.

So my advice: relax and just get in the "fingerpick" mode, where you test different ones, different bends, give yourself lots of time (1-2 weeks per test) . . . and in a couple of months you'll have exactly the picks you want, in the shape you want!

Have fun!

Ken

jdmatthew - Posted - 03/18/2007:  02:58:21

Thumbpicks--I'd suggest buying about 10 different ones, since they usually run about $1.50 apiece, and try them all. The ones you don't like you can give to your buddies and they'll think you're a great guy.

When I first started picking I used Zookies because a friend of mine used them and thought they were great. I used them a year and then somebody gave me a Golden Gate pick and I thought it was much more comfortable and I switched. I wish I'd tried it sooner.

Jadie Matthew
Lampasas, Texas

1935tb-11 - Posted - 03/18/2007:  05:50:48

i use the brass finger picks and you do have to wear them a little tight
but like the kid said the sound good on 10s as for the thumb pick, i got
a fat thumb anyway i use the dunlop lg lefties buyem 2 dozen at the
time cause i do breakem at the bend so i keep a couple hooked on the
tension band brackets in case failure occurs at top speed.

terry m
n.c.

4 longs and 1 short=banjer ring !!!

Mr. Disco - Posted - 03/18/2007:  05:59:29

I'm with J.D. My solution to getting too picky about picks was to get a bunch of cheap thumb and finger picks (metal and plastic) of all varieities and never use the same ones twice in a row. I've cured myself of pick pickiness and it makes me feel pampered to choose from a small pile.

Shalom.
-- Mr. Disco