I picked celluloid and Ultex. If I could only have one pick material and gauge, it would be celluloid heavy. I like Dunlop Ultex 1.14 rounded triangles for mandolin and celluloid 351's for everything else.
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Battle of the Pick Materials!
- Thread starter FattoneTele
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Maybe there is a total of 200% available if everyone picks two choices? For example, I picked two materials, so my selection for each would show up as two different percentages, even though I'm only one voter.View attachment 394717
just wondering if anyone else is seeing this glitch in the pole, since when does 30+35+35+15+5=100? I'm getting 120% in total haha
Edit: nevermind it fixed itself
JayFreddy
Poster Extraordinaire
I understand how people used to think this. Technology has closed the gap and it is no longer true.
Good replacements are out there. Please, look a little harder.
With the REALLY BAD KARMA associated with natural tortoise shell, tortoise shell is arguably THE WORST possible pick material...
Not to stir the pot, but it needs to be said, and the turtles can't speak on their own behalf.
Dead baby skulls would be worse, but only if they were harvested from live babies.
http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/2016/09/26/the-ploughshare-tortoises-countdown-to-extinction/
https://wrscomsg.wordpress.com/2016...ion-at-singapore-zoos-new-tortoise-shell-ter/
http://www.npr.org/2014/02/27/28343...ortoises-conservationists-deface-their-shells
Asmith
Friend of Leo's
Asmith
Friend of Leo's
I've looked into it before just to see what people who have uses them think of their tonal qualities. Overall not very conclusive and my favourite unearthed opinion is that, "They are a 'forbidden fruit' and that's what people want psychologically. If lollypop sticks were in short supply guitarists would use them claiming because they're a natural material they have a natural tone."
It's not a word for word quote but I'm just paraphrasing. Also I would never buy one or keep one if given to me, I don't agree with the cruelty involved.
I will admit to having one tortoiseshell pick. It was given to me by a bluegrass picker. I never would have given money for it, and I accepted it in order to fully understand the sonic aspect through hearing direct comparison. As I had suspected, tortoiseshell does sound like fingernails. Dunlop Tortex is as close as a synthetic pick comes to that natural material that makes up the shell no the fingernail....A/B testing. If one wants a natural approach, cow hoof and cow horn picks do the job. AllParts sells them.
thebowl
Tele-Meister
I have two tortoise shell picks, both gifts from the same friend, and both very old. One is a vintage Gibson pick, which I am afraid to actually use, because of how thin it is. The other was homemade, and is actually too thick and not particularly well shaped. Bob Colosi offers Buffalo horn picks, and also bone picks. The horn picks have an excellent sound, comparable to the Blue Chips, except the horn picks wear as they are used. The bone picks remind me of Tusq picks.
My shell pick was given to me as well. It's teardrop shaped and thick. I keep it with me all the time, but I rarely use it.
I wasn't looking for a tortoiseshell pick when I received mine, and I wouldn't seek or buy one; the killing of turtles for their shells is abominable. But I can't give this one back to the turtle, and selling it would make me part of the problem, so I keep it and use it for trying out guitars while I'm out browsing, and for comparing to picks I do buy. It has a very satisfying sound and feel.
The best comparison method I've found is the "tabletop test", where you drop both picks on a wooden table surface and listen to the sound they make. To my ear the casein/galalith picks come closest to the sound of a tortoise pick. I haven't tried buffalo horn picks, but I suspect they'd come close too. Blue Chips sound a little different, but they do make the poker-chip clinking sound that you want to hear.
I wasn't looking for a tortoiseshell pick when I received mine, and I wouldn't seek or buy one; the killing of turtles for their shells is abominable. But I can't give this one back to the turtle, and selling it would make me part of the problem, so I keep it and use it for trying out guitars while I'm out browsing, and for comparing to picks I do buy. It has a very satisfying sound and feel.
The best comparison method I've found is the "tabletop test", where you drop both picks on a wooden table surface and listen to the sound they make. To my ear the casein/galalith picks come closest to the sound of a tortoise pick. I haven't tried buffalo horn picks, but I suspect they'd come close too. Blue Chips sound a little different, but they do make the poker-chip clinking sound that you want to hear.
adamsappel
Tele-Holic
I recently bought a heavy pick collection and last night I tried the Dunlop Ultex. I was blown away! I am amazed at how much tonal difference they bring.
Pthought, do you try out guitar strings on the tabletop as well? (;^)... Chuckle... I do understand hearing the difference in that sort of test, but pick on string tells me what I want to know. And....I do play a mean table!!!
thebowl
Tele-Meister
Yeah, an Ultex 1.14 is, for me, the best for the cost. Very, very close to a Blue Chip, at a fraction of the cost.
screamin eagle
Poster Extraordinaire
These are suppose to be Ultex, but the feel a little different then the average fair ultex. They do seem to wear a little quick though.
JayFreddy
Poster Extraordinaire
Agreed.
As far as feel and tone, tortoise shell aren't bad, but they're not great either. I truly believe that advances in technology have surpassed tortoise, but the "unobtainium" aspect creates a demand with some people.
It's like choosing, "Coke vs. Pepsi", but if you want Coke you will be complicit in torturing innocent animals to death.
Under those circumstances, anyone who would still choose Coke is an A$SH0LE.
Sandhill69
Tele-Holic
They make different kinds of picks? I thought they just made these in different colors.
They make different colors??? THIS I've got to check into!!!
jackinjax
Friend of Leo's
Chicago Matt
Friend of Leo's
Nylon, only because I've been using Dunlop USA Nylon .88mm picks for the past 30 years or so and never felt the need to change. They seem to last forever too.
Deckard
Tele-Afflicted
Stone. Not only do they look stunning but they sound good and feel good too.
Endless Mike
Friend of Leo's
I don't know what material the D'Andrea Pro Plec is, they won't tell. But I've been using those about four years now.
All they will reveal is that it is a "proprietary thermoplastic." I still experiment from time to time, but with a limit. I won't pay 10.00 and up for a single pick.
All they will reveal is that it is a "proprietary thermoplastic." I still experiment from time to time, but with a limit. I won't pay 10.00 and up for a single pick.
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rainbowbear998
Tele-Meister
I'm using the blue dunlop nylon picks... I think they're 2.1mm?
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