Tortis Picks?

Tylercaster · February 18th, 2004, 05:11 PM

Hey everyone, give me the lowdown on these tortoise picks. The real ones. What about the faux tortis pics? Do they make that much difference? Are they worth the money? Does anyone have one they don't like they would let me buy? I just can't afford $20 for a pick. Not unless I know for sure, you know? I'm waiting to hear!

jordanl · February 20th, 2004, 12:33 PM

The turtles that these picks come from have enoughto contend with. They don't need guitar players helping with their demise. There are enough suitable plastics available that we don't need to help with the extinction of these endangered animals.

Tylercaster · February 21st, 2004, 01:44 PM

Tortis picks are not actual Tortoise, ok? So just cool down

They are a lab made substance to mimick the real thing. Tortis is a brand name. www.redbeartrading.com Give me a break, dude

jordanl · February 22nd, 2004, 09:50 AM

I avoid controversy here, but it seemed like you were asking about the real thing. A friend's wife is very active in turtle and I'm very aware of how endangered they are. Sorry if I misread you.

I did a search on the tortis picks, it does sound interesting. You may be better off trying some of the bluegrass or acoustic ariented boards.

Tylercaster · February 23rd, 2004, 02:02 PM

rod · March 25th, 2004, 04:15 PM

are the best picks I've ever used and I stuck with them for years. However, lately I've switched to Claytons because it's not a crisis if you misplace one. The Claytons are close but the don't have the snap of the real thing. Haven't tried the Tortis brand.

Tylercaster · March 27th, 2004, 12:44 PM

What gauge do you use?

rod · March 28th, 2004, 10:11 AM

I use the Clayton Ultem Gold ones which are their faux tortiseshell picks. I like the .94 mm rounded triangles which I power sand to a straight triangle. These are fairly stiff ....I use medium strings and play Bluegrass/ fiddle tunes and jam regularly with a fiddler.

The downside is that they are sort of honey colored and can be hard to see if you drop one. Also they're more expensive than a regular plastic pick; I think they were about $1 each here in Canada.

Tylercaster · March 28th, 2004, 04:45 PM

for giving me a straight answer. I'll have to give em a try. :D

Wally · March 31st, 2004, 12:55 PM

I use the yellow .73 mm Dunlop Tortex picks. I have A/B'd them against the real deal and they do the job. Don't give me grief about having held a real tortoiseshell pick, please. It came out of another person's pocket and went right back to him. (These bluegrass people have their own circles.) I started using these Tortex picks because they sound most like my fingernails, which I supposed sound like tortoiseshell....similar chemistry and all(I am real slow.). After many years of using them, it was interesting to compare one with a specimen of the real thing.
Side note: at a garage sale a few weeks ago, I ran across a box of shells. There were holes drilled in every 'segment', making the shells useless for picks. I would have taken advantage of that find if not for someone's 'creative' bent with a drill.

Bluewolf · April 3rd, 2004, 02:05 AM

I have never tried em and the music shops here dont have em!!!! Where can i get some? Also i use
.88 mm dunlop nylon/plastic pics, you know the grey ones. Always like em, but if i can find something better, i will use it. Tried the Claytons, didnt like em, but hey, thats just me!!! Weird thing is, i use a heavier pick on my electrics, i use fender extra heavies. Now could that
be because i use a lighter gauge string on electric guitar??
Or, is it because you naturally play differently when you play accoustic?? And get this, i am finding that i can play faster and smoother lead lines on my accoustic than on my electric!!!! Its a confusing world.

February 18th, 2004, 05:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
Tylercaster Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Mississippi Age: 31 Posts: 379	Tortis Picks? Hey everyone, give me the lowdown on these tortoise picks. The real ones. What about the faux tortis pics? Do they make that much difference? Are they worth the money? Does anyone have one they don't like they would let me buy? I just can't afford $20 for a pick. Not unless I know for sure, you know? I'm waiting to hear! __________________ Psalm 33:3 - Play skillfully as you shout out your praises to Him!

February 21st, 2004, 01:44 PM	#3 (permalink)
Tylercaster Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Mississippi Age: 31 Posts: 379	Just so you know... Tortis picks are not actual Tortoise, ok? So just cool down They are a lab made substance to mimick the real thing. Tortis is a brand name. www.redbeartrading.com Give me a break, dude __________________ Psalm 33:3 - Play skillfully as you shout out your praises to Him!

February 23rd, 2004, 02:02 PM	#5 (permalink)
Tylercaster Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Mississippi Age: 31 Posts: 379	No problem! __________________ Psalm 33:3 - Play skillfully as you shout out your praises to Him!

March 25th, 2004, 04:15 PM	#6 (permalink)
rod TDPRI Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Posts: 54	Real Tortoiseshell picks.. are the best picks I've ever used and I stuck with them for years. However, lately I've switched to Claytons because it's not a crisis if you misplace one. The Claytons are close but the don't have the snap of the real thing. Haven't tried the Tortis brand.

March 27th, 2004, 12:44 PM	#7 (permalink)
Tylercaster Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Mississippi Age: 31 Posts: 379	Thanks Rod.. What gauge do you use? __________________ Psalm 33:3 - Play skillfully as you shout out your praises to Him!

February 20th, 2004, 12:33 PM	#2 (permalink)
jordanl Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Farmingdale, NY Posts: 554	The turtles that these picks come from have enoughto contend with. They don't need guitar players helping with their demise. There are enough suitable plastics available that we don't need to help with the extinction of these endangered animals.

February 22nd, 2004, 09:50 AM	#4 (permalink)
jordanl Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Farmingdale, NY Posts: 554	I avoid controversy here, but it seemed like you were asking about the real thing. A friend's wife is very active in turtle and I'm very aware of how endangered they are. Sorry if I misread you. I did a search on the tortis picks, it does sound interesting. You may be better off trying some of the bluegrass or acoustic ariented boards.

March 28th, 2004, 10:11 AM	#8 (permalink)
rod TDPRI Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Posts: 54	Clayton Picks I use the Clayton Ultem Gold ones which are their faux tortiseshell picks. I like the .94 mm rounded triangles which I power sand to a straight triangle. These are fairly stiff ....I use medium strings and play Bluegrass/ fiddle tunes and jam regularly with a fiddler. The downside is that they are sort of honey colored and can be hard to see if you drop one. Also they're more expensive than a regular plastic pick; I think they were about $1 each here in Canada.

March 28th, 2004, 04:45 PM	#9 (permalink)
Tylercaster Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Mississippi Age: 31 Posts: 379	Thanks again, for giving me a straight answer. I'll have to give em a try. :D __________________ Psalm 33:3 - Play skillfully as you shout out your praises to Him!

March 31st, 2004, 12:55 PM	#10 (permalink)
Wally Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 4,225	I use the yellow .73 mm Dunlop Tortex picks. I have A/B'd them against the real deal and they do the job. Don't give me grief about having held a real tortoiseshell pick, please. It came out of another person's pocket and went right back to him. (These bluegrass people have their own circles.) I started using these Tortex picks because they sound most like my fingernails, which I supposed sound like tortoiseshell....similar chemistry and all(I am real slow.). After many years of using them, it was interesting to compare one with a specimen of the real thing. Side note: at a garage sale a few weeks ago, I ran across a box of shells. There were holes drilled in every 'segment', making the shells useless for picks. I would have taken advantage of that find if not for someone's 'creative' bent with a drill.

April 3rd, 2004, 02:05 AM	#11 (permalink)
Bluewolf TDPRI Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 97	where can i get tortis shell picks? I have never tried em and the music shops here dont have em!!!! Where can i get some? Also i use .88 mm dunlop nylon/plastic pics, you know the grey ones. Always like em, but if i can find something better, i will use it. Tried the Claytons, didnt like em, but hey, thats just me!!! Weird thing is, i use a heavier pick on my electrics, i use fender extra heavies. Now could that be because i use a lighter gauge string on electric guitar?? Or, is it because you naturally play differently when you play accoustic?? And get this, i am finding that i can play faster and smoother lead lines on my accoustic than on my electric!!!! Its a confusing world.