Great feedback folks...thanks! I've tried the hot water treatment this evening and got good results...then trimmed too much off of the tip! Trying it again. dwditty, I really don't have any interest in the glue-on nail thing. I'm liking the more percussive sound of the pick. My mission now is to find the right pick -- before Friday when I head out for a weekend festival and my first main stage set using a thumbpick. I'm actually having fun working through the nuances of the small rythmic changes...always up for a challenge...

pg