My son was in a battle of the bands competition recently, and they gave him a promo package that included some picks. They are teardrop-shaped, with cross-hatching at the top for better grip. The unusual feature is that they have a smile-shape cut out about a third of the way down. The result is a moderately thick pick with flexibility.
Tried it out on my OM and there is a substantial volume increase with some additional attack. I suppose it's probably only making up for bad habits.
It can't have been a very successful promotion because my son can't remember the name of the manufacurer ("some string company, maybe?' he says.) Has anyone seen these and can you tell me who makes them?
grego, I haven't seen the smiley face picks, but you can make your own by taking a thick pick and using a paper-hole punch to cut a hole--the closer to the tip, the more flexible it will be.
Have you tried Jim Dunlop nylon picks, grego? The black heavy gauge (1 mm) pick has a good combination of thickness and flexibility, if that’s what you like.
As for pick grips, if there were any justice in the world, I would have been awarded a Nobel Plectrum Prize for my discovery that dipping the pick grip into Plasti-Dip creates a non-slip, perspiration-proof plectrum. [For thesession.org bonus points (redeemable for cheesy merchandise), read the preceding sentence out loud without stumbling or spitting on your computer screen.]
Never thought of the paper punch! That makes a 1/4" hole. I have been drilling a 3/8" hole a little higher, which gives a better grip (but more work than using a hole punch).
I get the yellow ones, with the alien faces on them, mainly so I can see them on the floor if I drop them in a dingy bar.
Personally I like the tone you get with a lighter or floppier pick, but you may find you have lost volume for a noisy session, or they will break if you put too much welly on them after your modification.
Anyone seen these smiley-face picks?
Anyone seen these smiley-face picks?
My son was in a battle of the bands competition recently, and they gave him a promo package that included some picks. They are teardrop-shaped, with cross-hatching at the top for better grip. The unusual feature is that they have a smile-shape cut out about a third of the way down. The result is a moderately thick pick with flexibility.
Tried it out on my OM and there is a substantial volume increase with some additional attack. I suppose it's probably only making up for bad habits.
It can't have been a very successful promotion because my son can't remember the name of the manufacurer ("some string company, maybe?' he says.) Has anyone seen these and can you tell me who makes them?
# Posted on April 12th 2009 by grego
Re: Anyone seen these smiley-face picks?
grego, I haven't seen the smiley face picks, but you can make your own by taking a thick pick and using a paper-hole punch to cut a hole--the closer to the tip, the more flexible it will be.
# Posted on April 12th 2009 by Will Harmon
Re: Anyone seen these smiley-face picks?
Have you tried Jim Dunlop nylon picks, grego? The black heavy gauge (1 mm) pick has a good combination of thickness and flexibility, if that’s what you like.
As for pick grips, if there were any justice in the world, I would have been awarded a Nobel Plectrum Prize for my discovery that dipping the pick grip into Plasti-Dip creates a non-slip, perspiration-proof plectrum. [For thesession.org bonus points (redeemable for cheesy merchandise), read the preceding sentence out loud without stumbling or spitting on your computer screen.]
# Posted on April 13th 2009 by Bob himself
Re: Anyone seen these smiley-face picks?
Never thought of the paper punch! That makes a 1/4" hole. I have been drilling a 3/8" hole a little higher, which gives a better grip (but more work than using a hole punch).
# Posted on April 13th 2009 by oldstrings
Re: Anyone seen these smiley-face picks?
I get the yellow ones, with the alien faces on them, mainly so I can see them on the floor if I drop them in a dingy bar.
Personally I like the tone you get with a lighter or floppier pick, but you may find you have lost volume for a noisy session, or they will break if you put too much welly on them after your modification.
# Posted on April 14th 2009 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Anyone seen these smiley-face picks?
Thanks all.
I'm going to try the hole punch idea on one of those black Dunlops just as soon as I track down the hole punch...
# Posted on April 14th 2009 by grego