This blog has been updated.
Howdy,
I thought I'd talk shop for a change and address the issue of guitar picks.
Over the years, I've tried quite a bunch of 'em, and got a lot of them at gigs and encounters with other guitarists, who always say "hey, it works for me! try it!". The past 13 years as guitarist for CARRERA, I've used Jim Dunlop 0.60 grey picks mostly, for all purposes. At first I bought a handful everytime, but later I started ordering display cases of 12 matchpick ("matchbook") booklets, which in turn hold 6 picks each, so I basically created an infinite supply of fresh picks.
More recently, I started playing the mandolin, and brushing up on my acoustic guitar playing; mainly learning how to flatpick, and got a good acoustic guitar (Gibson J100 Xtra). My friend Marty (with whom I form "ThickShag & Marty" ), has always used thicker guitarpicks to play with, because he was more into "technique" than I was, playing everything from Van Halen to Django.
I can't take any credit for finding the following guitar pick makers; Marty ordered and tried them first, but I'd like to get your attention for these two extraordinary specialist pick brands:
Wegen Picks (http://www.wegenpicks.com):
Order:
I ordered two packages from the website, I errored by paying in us dollars instead of euros, effectively shortchanging them, we worked it out in euros. Order came in a couple days later in good condition. Wegen prefers PayPal orders (in euros). Make sure to choose the correct playing direction: left- or righthanded.
Review:
I ordered a set of mandolin "M150"- and flatpicking "bluegrass" picks, 4 each for 30 euros in total. Quite expensive. But if you experience the material these picks are made of, it just doesn't wear at all! I guess it does, but very very slowly. The material feels like a hard nylon-like almost ceramic feeling yet flexible plastic. It's apparently cut from a larger piece and shaped. The picks are shaped according to left- or righthanded playing.
The "bluegrass" pick is very precise, holds great due the drilled holes, sound is strong, good hi, firm mid- and big bass tone, some stringbuzz.
*with stringbuzz I mean the chirping noise of the pick being held against a vibrating string; like when you're about to play a string while it's still ringing.
"bluegrass" model guitar pick by http://www.wegenpicks.com
The "M150" mandolin pick is different. It's fatter and it rolls over the strings smoothly, although I think it's not flexible enough, good tone though. Maybe I sould try the "M100" model next time around. I can imagine that advanced mandolin players might like this pick better than I do for now.
"m100 & m150" model mandolin pick by http://www.wegenpicks.com
I decided to try out the "bluegrass" pick on my Les Paul, practising with CARRERA, and one of our friends said he thought the sound was different. After I checked all knobs, volumes and stompboxes etc, we came to the conclusion the only difference was the guitar pick; it just produces more sound!
In all, I think Wegen Picks are not for everyone, an expensive gamble; but if you like them, it's a real quality product, you're all set. I definitely recommend them to anyone who is serious about improving playing technique. There are plenty models and gauges to choose from.
Only drawback for both I think is the color I got; white, they get smudgy overtime, but I guess you could clean them!
Verdict:
Excellent quality, not for everyone.
Funny that both of the pick brands I chose are individuals who strongly and boldly believe that the world would be better off with a quality guitar pick. I didn't really think it mattered all that much, but I now too must admit that a better guitar pick improves your playing, sound and playing experience, so I'd advise you to give it a shot. Try comparing it to writing with a normal disposable ballpoint versus an expensive fountain pen.
V-Picks (http://www.v-picks.com):
Oh yeah, we were talking shop about V-Picks. Vinnie and Nancy Smith run V-Picks, and just reading the website, they too are a special story in the guitar world. Vinnie basically decided to try some acrylic mixture to make some picks, forgot all about it for a number of years, and then rediscovered his invention, and started to market it.
Order:
I wrote Vinnie, after trying some of Marty's v-picks, to ask him for a promo set, so I could try them out. Only days later, received a full promo pack with 6 (!) free picks! All 6 different models ranging from superthin to 3mm thickness.
Review:
The 100% acrylic material is strange at first, because you expect it to frill like plexiglass, but it just doesn't. The V-Picks are molded and shaped, some have (lasered?) logo's in them. The 3mm one really is the smoothest playing pick I ever held, and it has a huge warm tone, but due to it's thickness and roundness, it has less harsh "attack" on the string. They all produce an awesome sound, the ones with sharper edges produce more stringbuzz.
V-Picks stated that these picks have enough friction despite their smooth appearance. I didn't really believe it at first reading it, but once I tried them; as your hand warms the material, it develops more grip, it really does. So I guess it's true.
Verdict:
Excellent quality, hard to choose, although I like the rounded ones best.
Small collection of picks by http://www.v-picks.com
Conclusion
I can't really say that I like either pick manufacturer better than the other one. What I can say is that I'm now convinced that there are better sounding and playing guitar picks out there and really content as a player that I no longer rely on bad sounding, flimsy picks that don't do anything but lay around looking picky.
So, I hope you find all of this useful, and I'd like to hear your own experiences on the matter!
Happy picking,
ThickShag
Update:
Since I wrote this blog I've had the opportunity to visit the factory where Wegen picks are handmade by Michel Wegen. I promised him not to disclose any details, but I can write that I was astounded by Michel's workplace and his skill and attention to the product. He showed me the entire process from start to finish. It takes a lot of different steps to make a perfect Wegen pick. We watched him work in awe, he is a true engineer.
Later, someone else told me that apparently Chris Thile (Nickel Creek) uses or used Wegen picks. If anyone can verify this that would be great!
