In Search of the Perfect Pick

[Tim2723]

There are several makers today using horn and hoof for picks. I've tried them and they are not the same as natural shell, but they do make very playable picks. At least those are from populous species. BTW, the Hawksbill is a sea turtle, not a tortoise, although the term tortoise shell is commonly used. Sorry for the typo.

[Nanohedron]

There are several makers today using horn and hoof for picks. I've tried them and they are not the same as natural shell, but they do make very playable picks.

Could you elaborate on the difference?

[Tim2723]

It's a subjective kind of thing. I find horn to be stiffer, more brittle, hoof to be rather 'leathery' in texture. Shell is stiff yet pliable and very smooth. Hard to describe, but if you had the three picks together you'd tell them apart right away. Shell is a material that plastic tried to emulate, and it has its own plastic characteristics that are unique. Nevertheless, I have absolutely no desire to ever buy another shell pick.

[Nanohedron]

Shell is a material that plastic tried to emulate...

The same has been said of horn, so thus my question. Very interesting, and thanks.

[Ceili_whistle_man]

liestman wrote;

I bought a $36 Blue Chip pick, liked it so much for the tone and functionality of it

And this;

have a bit better tone

Then this about V-picks;

The things I like is that they don't move around in your grip and the tone is good and bright

Mmm..interesting, I just held my plectrum between my finger and thumb and tried strumming it against the tip of my left thumb, definitely no tone produced there. Are you saying that a pick has 'tone'?

[brewerpaul]

I just got a Freakishly Large Rounded V-pick for my mandolin and I have to say that I'm really loving these fat picks. I find that I have to work less hard just to hang onto the pick and this leaves my hand and wrist much freer to pick. Think of writing with a thin pencil which cramps your fingers together, as opposed to a fatter pen.

[mutepointe]

Do the picks made out of hoof and horn not stink, especially once they warm up?

[Tim2723]

I didn't notice, but I didn't sniff them either. I wasn't impressed with them as picks, so they didn't hang around long. Sorry, but you now know all I know about them.

[MTGuru]

"Pssst ... hey ... you wanna sniff my pick?"

I'll have to try that line sometime.

[Nanohedron]

Do the picks made out of hoof and horn not stink, especially once they warm up?

It's the processing and working of horn that's stinky (boiling and heating at much higher temperatures than the human body produces), not so much the product itself when left on its own. My cane has a horn handle, and when I received it, the the cane and handle being newly-made, the handle smelled like leather. But that went away pretty quickly, maybe a week, give or take. Now, even though my hand will be on the handle for extended periods, the warmth doesn't excite any smelly molecules. So, I'm guessing that it's the same with horn picks (couldn't say about hoof, but it's basically the same substance); after a short while they should be pretty odorless and remain that way under normal use.

[Tim2723]

I could be worse with hoof, depending on what was trod in.

[Nanohedron]

I could be worse with hoof, depending on what was trod in.

You could.

[Thomaston]

Interesting to see so many using thick picks for mandolin. My experience trying out various shapes and sizes has left me most comfortable lately with a cheap 0.73 Dunlop. The thicker ones feel like they muffle the tone too much for session playing.

[Tim2723]

I feel the same way. I can never get a good tone or volume out of those thick ones everybody seems to like so much. They are muffled and unresponsive for me. I use a 0.5mm large, rounded triangle type. I choke up on it so that there's only a tiny point sticking out from my fingers, so it acts a lot stiffer than it is. That also gives me a huge surface to grip, and I don't have any of those slipping problems. I get plenty of volume and never have any trouble hearing myself as so many do, but my tone is brighter than a lot of players might prefer. The thick picks sound nice and woody, with that Bluegrass kind of tone, but I get no volume at all. I'm sure it's just my technique. Then again, I've never been one who would struggle with something just because somebody else says it's best, so I've never put a lot of work into learning to use a thick pick. I suppose that's why I still have a couple of ancient shell picks (I never wore them out and refuse to contribute to the issues by selling them) and why I didn't give a fair shake to the horn and hoof picks (I gave those away immediately).

All a matter of personal taste, of course.

[mutepointe]

Zombie Thread:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/62114343/ha ... uitar-pick
$49. Up to 25 characters. I'm not buying or selling this.