If the good sounding ones are the picks you always use they are worn in,imo.
If they were mine I would give the dull ones a few swipes on some 600 grit emory paper then polish on leather.Build up a bit of heat on the leather.

Here in Europe they sell picks called D'Addario National. I think it's the matte ones without ringing that I have. On closer inspection, you can tell by the thin description. The originals have a bolder description and the National lettering is closer to the top edge of the picks. It really makes a huge difference in sound!!

Someone wrote here that the original National rings in F (when it hits a hard pad). The others ring in F or G....He's absolutely right, it really is - I've tested them.

I have had the same 2 sets since around 1963.  They are very worn and polished from use.

When I found out how much the old ones like mine go for on ebay, I bought a set of new ones in case I would lose mine, and sure enough, they needed some work.

I sanded down the tips to make them match the old ones and buffed them down with a buffing wheel. I still like the old ones better, but the modified new ones are OK.

the ss on those is stainless steel---they have come in german silver also--ss is harder and last longer-- but won't grip as much==
they seem to --- have changed owners lately --i think they are now marketed by dadarrio and  are only available as stainless steel unless you find new old stock
my opinion i ask no agreement

please, someone try, who has the old originals, how they sound when you drop them on a hard surface (table).
If in F or Fis or G...:-). I'm curious...

I have some that are like Ken's except they don't have USA on them but they ring in G. I got them in the 60's as well. YMMV...

Erik The Pope

I compared the ones that ring in F with the other 20 or so different finger picks, but also with National made by Dadario...they ring in F# to G and are very "behind the blanket" - muffled) - all 20 pieces. Only these older Nationals in F, (they ring as if with an echo and the sound is very clear and strong) - they play absolutely amazing! A huge difference indeed!.
So I'm looking for some old Nationals that ring in F....

Your description of the difference in sound makes me think you might have an issue with the way the picks settle on your fingers. Most people's right hands cross the strings at an angle, rather than square to the fingertip pad. If you center the picks on your fingers, the string contacts the edge of the pick and releases somewhere in the curve between the edge and the tip.

Try rotating the pick so the center of the blade contacts the string and the pick releases the string at the very tip. For most people, that will mean the blade is turned slightly facing the thumb. You should get the sharper sound you want, and much more precise timing because you can predict exactly when the pick will release the string.

Picks you use all the time will "take a set" to a particular angle because the collar will bend around your finger a certain way. So the same picks will pretty much always give you the same sound, but your tone will vary from set to set.

I use this trick sometimes when I teach at banjo camps, and people are amazed at how much better their banjo sounds when they have their picks turned square to the strings. This may not be your problem, but it is a common problem and an easy fix to really improve the tone of your banjo with little effort and no cost.

Yes, of course, that's a clear thing, but that's not the case here. This is probably the material used for the production of finger picks. New ones made by Dadario don't play at all, Propik is better, but it's not good either.

So just to be clear, the one set of picks that you like are Cavanaugh's or D'Addario or from the 60s?

I understand that the ones you don't like are D'Addarios. I have Nationals made by Cavanaugh. They made the modern repros before D'Addario took over (or at least in 2012 they were making them).

I just wanted to say that modern Nationals made by Dadario don't play at all. Sometime two years ago, I bought some National finger picks (they weren't sold under the Dadario brand yet) and they are excellent....unfortunately, I don't know where I bought them...

So you're looking for Cavanaugh Nationals. Do a search for Cavanaugh National finger picks and you will see some on Ebay. They come in yellow packaging.

I started learning in the 60's and Nationals were all that I knew existed. I had several sets and used them many years. I tried most other brands and styles over the years, but always went back to my old Nationals. When those old ones ran out, Hoffmeyer picks are the only new picks I liked and I have used them for the last few years. I would recommend trying them if you can find them.

Search "National NP2" on Amazon. There are several sellers, and you can buy them four or twelve at a time. Oddly, they offer a stainless steel variant which they call "vintage" even though the originals were nickel. Unless you're looking for a really bright, harsh sound, you want the nickel ones.

I used the NP2s for a while before I came across a cache of original oval 8s that will probably last me the rest of my life. I found them to provide the best tone, along with the Hoffmeyers, but they take some work to adjust. Once you have them right, a pair will last years, although the tips need occasional work with a metal rasp to deal with the tip squaring off and bending underneath to make a lip that will occasionally pull the pick off your finger.

I am sending a small audio sample here....

banjohangout.org/forum/attachm...eID=44332
banjohangout.org/forum/attachm...eID=44331

I understand what you are saying. You bought some Nationals a couple of years ago. In 2021, D'Addario bought the rights to the name and according to your findings, their Nationals are not the same as before.

So like I said, before D'Addario, Nationals were made by the Cavanaugh company. You need to find some NOS (new old stock) of these lying about. There is one seller on ebay that has 4 for sale but I don't know if he will ship outside of the USA.

The good news is that your good set should last for years.

Hello,

I tried the attachments. They didn’t work for me. I went to your media. I did hear and discernible difference the two sets.

quote: Thanks for pointing out the working set - Cavanaugh finger pick making! You are absolutely right - I found the seller on Ebay and he really sells the same finger picks that I have....they have one more identifying mark - the PAT inscription. NO. it has the letter P and O as if filled with a different shade of color and it's them!!! Thanks a lot! I am indebted to you... because I sometimes lose the finger picks....:-)

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Originally posted by bluenote23

I understand what you are saying. You bought some Nationals a couple of years ago. In 2021, D'Addario bought the rights to the name and according to your findings, their Nationals are not the same as before.

So like I said, before D'Addario, Nationals were made by the Cavanaugh company. You need to find some NOS (new old stock) of these lying about. There is one seller on ebay that has 4 for sale but I don't know if he will ship outside of the USA.

The good news is that your good set should last for years.

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Glad I could be of help. I hope they turn out to be good for you.

I find it interesting that the D'Addarios are not the same as the Cavanaughs. Mine are from around 2012. I attach a comparison pic. Mine do not have the filled in 'P' and 'O' but the engraving looks different from the D'Addarios. Maybe the Cavanaugh plates got old and some of the lettering began to be obscured. Curious.

i said way up the thread--the new addarios are stainless--before that-- they would be the cavanaugh and might have black diamond logo also==at that time you could get np2s in brass or stainless steel or nickle--the stainless would have an ss on them--the stainless is harder so less bite seems likely --the OP's are ss so i figure that was the cause of his -problem--the new 12packs are stainless

quote:

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Originally posted by Tractor1

i said way up the thread--the new addarios are stainless--before that-- they would be the cavanaugh and might have black diamond logo also==at that time you could get np2s in brass or stainless steel or nickle--the stainless would have an ss on them--the stainless is harder so less bite seems likely --the OP's are ss so i figure that was the cause of his -problem--the new 12packs are stainless

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so far--I find no evidence that the cavanaughs were stainless--I am thinking nickle aka german silver
i could have missed it though

quote:

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Originally posted by Tractor1

so far--I find no evidence that the cavanaughs were stainless--I am thinking nickle aka german silver
i could have missed it though

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Yes, mine from around 2012 are nickel silver but the Cavanaughs on Ebay (being sold as NOS) are SS. Maybe later, near the end (they lost the rights in 2021) they started making them in SS too.