What qualities are desirable in a plectrum? I tried to answer this question by playing various tunes on my banjo with various gauges of dunlops over several days. To minimise prejudice, I muddled up several 46's, 60's, 73's and 88's and played various types of Irish tunes. Results? By short head 73 just ahead of 60 with 88 and 46 several lengths behind. Interestingly, I found one 73 way ahead of the other 73's which I did not find in the other gauges. Any suggestions for a valid and less subjective experiment? Also is there a normalish distribution at work and do dunlop take account of this in their manufacture? BTW I came across a 67 "glow" that the player can see in the dark recesses where these things fall. I found it.
Pretty subjective. Banjo players seem to get on fine with a thinnish .73 plectrum or thereabouts. As a mandolin player, I like the feel of a big stiff one. ;)Better for volume. Round about 1mm or Gibson "heavy".
Interesting when I play Mando I prefer a 73 and find the 1mm too restricting and stiff although I am probably alone in the universe in that aspect I also find 60s to soft so for Mando I find 73s perfect. Cojo just go with whatever feels best to you and do you know where I could get a glow in the dark one I always drop my pick well not always not even a lot but when it happens I can never find it.
I play mandolin. I like using the ones around 70. They are stable yet not restricting fast playing with ornamentation. I find that my playing is more accurate using this gauge.
Dear God, we're deep into train spotting territory here folks, but here goes anyway. Does anybody else use the wonderful German Herdim plectra? They are sort of triangular, with three pointed picking ends of increasing thickness and one serated edge that makes them look like a miniature Ninja weapon? The only place I've ever seen them for sale is in Waltons in Dublin. On my rare visits home I usually buy about half a ton of the things. Does any know what I'm talking about, or should I just go back to my anorak and my cheese sandwiches?
Hello unseen 122, I came across the 'glow' in my favourite music shop's miscellaneous jar but I confirmed their existence by entering "Dunlop 67" on the net. The 67 is an orange that whacks you in the face and they advertise that you can find them should you drop them. They also maintain that they have the same qualities as the standard plectra but that is what I am trying to get at. What are these qualities? Are violin bows as radically varied as plectra? Not to mention the grip that allows them to fall all over the place! And why are the standards perfect 'camouflage grey'?
Paul, I use those Herdim plectra and I swear by them.
Whenever any friends of mine are in Germany for a visit, they pick (pardon the pun) up a few of them for me. Everyone else requests tobacco and alcohol but I ask for little wedges of plastic.
I'll just fetch my anarok and a bottle of tizer now.
Funny word "plectra." A bit biological, like "flora" and "fauna".
I tried all kinds of Dunlops and Tortex's and so on for my banjo, and landed on my favourite pick: a no-name white shiny triangular thing I picked up somewhere (or borrowed from someone.) If I ever lose it I'm in big,big trouble. If I had to guess it would be in the 0.73 range.
For mandolin, nothing works for me except those black 1mm Dunlops. I may flirt with lots of other options, but it always comes back to the ole black magic.
I'm going to have to look for Herdim now. Funny word "Herdim". Sounds like a tribe in the bible, or something.
Sorry wished I could have joined this discussion earlier but I've been updating my train number book.Anyway, my mates got a genuine tortiose shell pick, and he reckons they are the best. Really can't seem to get my head round the fact that a tortiouse pick makes an instrument sound any better.
I know they are banned, he's had his for years.
When I'm playing my guitar, I swear by either Dunlop tortex .88 or the ones witht the rhino on instead of a tortoise, although I've only ever found one, but it's excellent.
When I first got my banjo, I went into a music shop and the guy there tried to sell me this plectrum which was about 5mm thick and furry!!? Bought it just for the comedy value!
After much experimentation, I use a clear acrylic 1mm jim dunlop for banjo, they give a really nice solid thunk to the sound. It took a while to get used to the stiffer feel, but now I have got used to it I can't go any softer.
Mind you it is almost impossible to see if you ever put it down! Many is the hour I have spent padding the carpet trying tyo find a dropped one....
haha like losing a contaact..eeww on a fuzzy carpet no less
a guy (a guitar player) made a funny joke at our sesion last week-- i dropped my pick and he quickly covered it with his foot, like. "you didn't see that, dibs!" or "You lose"
hahah we have three pick users in this house, all scatterbrains and you have no idea how many picks are on the loose.. literally hundreds and hundreds. We all go in and buy b bags and bags whenever we are passing a music store. But can anyone find just the one they need at any particular time? NOOO! BUt, hmm, the fridge breaks down and has to be moved, or the cushions on the couch get aired and whaddya know.. picks galore.
picks are marvelous things, much more compact than bows. I hope we have a l-ooo-oo--nggg discussion about them here...
I should go looking for those picks the 67s I mean not the ones I have lost. My Dad a guitar player insists that all the guitar picks in the house stay in this little bowl he has he goes crazy when they are on the floor and such. Bows vairy a lot more than picks/plectras pretty much the thicknes and shape is all that vairies but bows have other dimensions to them not like size like they are in more than one dimension I think next time I post anything should be after 12 am I seem to be going insane here...
plectra
plectra
What qualities are desirable in a plectrum? I tried to answer this question by playing various tunes on my banjo with various gauges of dunlops over several days. To minimise prejudice, I muddled up several 46's, 60's, 73's and 88's and played various types of Irish tunes. Results? By short head 73 just ahead of 60 with 88 and 46 several lengths behind. Interestingly, I found one 73 way ahead of the other 73's which I did not find in the other gauges. Any suggestions for a valid and less subjective experiment? Also is there a normalish distribution at work and do dunlop take account of this in their manufacture? BTW I came across a 67 "glow" that the player can see in the dark recesses where these things fall. I found it.
# Posted on June 4th 2004 by r&c
Re: plectra
Pretty subjective. Banjo players seem to get on fine with a thinnish .73 plectrum or thereabouts. As a mandolin player, I like the feel of a big stiff one. ;)Better for volume. Round about 1mm or Gibson "heavy".
# Posted on June 4th 2004 by Bren
Re: plectra
Interesting when I play Mando I prefer a 73 and find the 1mm too restricting and stiff although I am probably alone in the universe in that aspect I also find 60s to soft so for Mando I find 73s perfect. Cojo just go with whatever feels best to you and do you know where I could get a glow in the dark one I always drop my pick well not always not even a lot but when it happens I can never find it.
# Posted on June 4th 2004 by Why Bother?
Re: plectra
..my experience is I am going heavier and heavier, thicker and thicker as the years go by. No! not my middle! I'll hit you with my handbag.
# Posted on June 4th 2004 by vboyd100
Re: plectra
I play mandolin. I like using the ones around 70. They are stable yet not restricting fast playing with ornamentation. I find that my playing is more accurate using this gauge.
# Posted on June 4th 2004 by azo
Re: plectra
I'm really attached to .38mm (x approx. 1cm X 2cm) but the double strings of my guitar and 'zouk tend to wear them away pretty quickly
figure out what works for your style and go with it.
# Posted on June 4th 2004 by mike henry
Re: plectra
Dear God, we're deep into train spotting territory here folks, but here goes anyway. Does anybody else use the wonderful German Herdim plectra? They are sort of triangular, with three pointed picking ends of increasing thickness and one serated edge that makes them look like a miniature Ninja weapon? The only place I've ever seen them for sale is in Waltons in Dublin. On my rare visits home I usually buy about half a ton of the things. Does any know what I'm talking about, or should I just go back to my anorak and my cheese sandwiches?
# Posted on June 4th 2004 by sergeant fox
Re: plectra
Hello unseen 122, I came across the 'glow' in my favourite music shop's miscellaneous jar but I confirmed their existence by entering "Dunlop 67" on the net. The 67 is an orange that whacks you in the face and they advertise that you can find them should you drop them. They also maintain that they have the same qualities as the standard plectra but that is what I am trying to get at. What are these qualities? Are violin bows as radically varied as plectra? Not to mention the grip that allows them to fall all over the place! And why are the standards perfect 'camouflage grey'?
# Posted on June 4th 2004 by r&c
Re: plectra
Paul, I use those Herdim plectra and I swear by them.
Whenever any friends of mine are in Germany for a visit, they pick (pardon the pun) up a few of them for me. Everyone else requests tobacco and alcohol but I ask for little wedges of plastic.
I'll just fetch my anarok and a bottle of tizer now.
# Posted on June 4th 2004 by Jeremy
Re: plectra
Funny word "plectra." A bit biological, like "flora" and "fauna".
I tried all kinds of Dunlops and Tortex's and so on for my banjo, and landed on my favourite pick: a no-name white shiny triangular thing I picked up somewhere (or borrowed from someone.) If I ever lose it I'm in big,big trouble. If I had to guess it would be in the 0.73 range.
For mandolin, nothing works for me except those black 1mm Dunlops. I may flirt with lots of other options, but it always comes back to the ole black magic.
I'm going to have to look for Herdim now. Funny word "Herdim". Sounds like a tribe in the bible, or something.
# Posted on June 4th 2004 by grego
Re: plectra
Sorry wished I could have joined this discussion earlier but I've been updating my train number book.Anyway, my mates got a genuine tortiose shell pick, and he reckons they are the best. Really can't seem to get my head round the fact that a tortiouse pick makes an instrument sound any better.
I know they are banned, he's had his for years.
# Posted on June 4th 2004 by Justintime
Re: plectra
When I'm playing my guitar, I swear by either Dunlop tortex .88 or the ones witht the rhino on instead of a tortoise, although I've only ever found one, but it's excellent.
# Posted on June 4th 2004 by To-Tretur
Re: plectra
When I first got my banjo, I went into a music shop and the guy there tried to sell me this plectrum which was about 5mm thick and furry!!? Bought it just for the comedy value!
# Posted on June 4th 2004 by cat o'f
Re: plectra
If you broke your plectrum and cried would that be Mourning becomes the plectra??
# Posted on June 5th 2004 by breandan
Re: plectra
After much experimentation, I use a clear acrylic 1mm jim dunlop for banjo, they give a really nice solid thunk to the sound. It took a while to get used to the stiffer feel, but now I have got used to it I can't go any softer.
Mind you it is almost impossible to see if you ever put it down! Many is the hour I have spent padding the carpet trying tyo find a dropped one....
# Posted on June 5th 2004 by nick b
Re: plectra
haha like losing a contaact..eeww on a fuzzy carpet no less
a guy (a guitar player) made a funny joke at our sesion last week-- i dropped my pick and he quickly covered it with his foot, like. "you didn't see that, dibs!" or "You lose"
hahah we have three pick users in this house, all scatterbrains and you have no idea how many picks are on the loose.. literally hundreds and hundreds. We all go in and buy b bags and bags whenever we are passing a music store. But can anyone find just the one they need at any particular time? NOOO! BUt, hmm, the fridge breaks down and has to be moved, or the cushions on the couch get aired and whaddya know.. picks galore.
picks are marvelous things, much more compact than bows. I hope we have a l-ooo-oo--nggg discussion about them here...
# Posted on June 5th 2004 by vboyd100
Re: plectra
I don't know about that Breandan, but this thread is fast becoming a geek tragedy.
# Posted on June 6th 2004 by sergeant fox
Re: plectra
Right then - I'm off to Sandy Bell's for a few tunes. See y'all later.
# Posted on June 6th 2004 by breandan
Re: plectra
I should go looking for those picks the 67s I mean not the ones I have lost. My Dad a guitar player insists that all the guitar picks in the house stay in this little bowl he has he goes crazy when they are on the floor and such. Bows vairy a lot more than picks/plectras pretty much the thicknes and shape is all that vairies but bows have other dimensions to them not like size like they are in more than one dimension I think next time I post anything should be after 12 am I seem to be going insane here...
# Posted on June 6th 2004 by Why Bother?