mandolin picks

Subject: mandolin picks
From: banjomad (inactive)
Date: 23 Jan 03 - 05:21 AM

For most of my playing I use a Dunlop 1mm pick for mostly English or celtic music. Bluegrass pickers seem to use very heavy guage picks
compared to what we use in the UK. What is the general consensus of opinion on guages and types of mandolin picks.
Dave

Subject: RE: mandolin picks
From: GUEST,Sir Roger de Beverley
Date: 23 Jan 03 - 07:21 AM

I find that everyone uses heavier picks than me on both mandolin and guitar. For mandolin I use a 0.6 and lighter on the guitar. I like the percussive sound of a floppy pick.

R

Subject: RE: mandolin picks
From: GUEST,Davetnova
Date: 23 Jan 03 - 07:28 AM

I started with light picks vacilated back and forth between light and heavy and settled on purple big stubbies, very thick and a bit pointy so I round the points down. I get some strange looks if someone borrows a pick but I like the control that heavy picks give ( no flexing, the pick picks where I expect it to.

Subject: RE: mandolin picks
From: mooman
Date: 23 Jan 03 - 07:28 AM

0.6 Dunlops for me on guitar, mandolin, octave mandolin and tenor banjo for many years now. No one can accuse me of not being a creature of habit!

moo

Subject: RE: mandolin picks
From: Mooh
Date: 23 Jan 03 - 08:23 AM

Now that I've got a local source of Dunlop Ultex picks I've gone back to that make and material in the .73 guage, and occassionally .60 guage. I either use the dull rounded corner or I round off the sharp point to match. This material lasts much longer for me, seems to have more snap on the fast or percussive tunes, and sounds smoother on slow tunes to my ears. Because they're smoother than the Dunlop Gators I was using for so many years, I will rough the gripping surface slightly with fine sandpaper, but usually only on one side.

I've flirted with very heavy picks on mandolin in the past and though they're okay for melody playing, I find them less than smooth on chordal things, including doublestops.

I dislike changing picks for every instrument, and I find the Ultex perfect for everything. Results will vary according to a variety of factors like angle of attack, choice of strings, type of mandolin, repertoire, technique considerations, and so on. Make sure the pick edge is smooth...I shape, buff and polish mine, obsessively.

My 2 cents (Cdn).

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: mandolin picks
From: Stu
Date: 23 Jan 03 - 08:48 AM

I recently discovered these round picks with holes in. The heavy gauge one suits me for tunes on the mando, although I have to say I more often than not play with my orange Dunlop.

For my bouzouki strumming I use a thin (.44) Eagle, which is big and triangular.

Subject: RE: mandolin picks
From: DonMeixner
Date: 23 Jan 03 - 08:53 AM

I use the white Tortex picks from Jim Dunlop.   They come to a sharp point. I find them to be very fast on the banjo and great for flat picking fiddle tunes on the guitar. Our mand/fiddle man in the band likes the David Grisam Dawg Picks which are like very well used very heavy traditional style flats.

To each their own.

Don

Subject: RE: mandolin picks
From: GUEST,Davetnova
Date: 23 Jan 03 - 10:12 AM

Anybody else tried the metal picks with the holes in?

Subject: RE: mandolin picks
From: Willie-O
Date: 23 Jan 03 - 10:55 AM

Metal flatpicks with holes in them? Nope. Never seen such a thing.

I stick with the Dunlop .73's on mandolin and guitar these days. And they must be yellow.

I've gone as high as 1.14 mm. But those heavies tend to dig into the strings and get dropped which makes for an unmusical moment, and they don't sound that great.

Less than .73 has too much flex. .73 has just enough for a little give and take. (I do play fairly hard). They ring nicer and feel better.

W-O