Thumb picks

Howard Tate · From: Leesville, Louisiana, USA, R.I.P.

Just curious about experiences with thumb picks. I've been using the large white Nationals for years. I recently ordered a dozen from Musicians Friend. They are the tortoise shell color. I thought they would be the same but they are slightly larger then the whites. That's not normal is it?

Hal Higgins · From: Denham Springs, LA

Howard......I use "Zookies".....they have three different styles; L-10, L-20, & L-30. The end of the pick has an angle of either 10,20, or 30 degrees. I really like them. HAL
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HAL...Excel D-10 w/ 8 & 5. SteelSeat.com w/back,SteelSeat.com Pedal Board on Legs with Quilter Tone Block 200 amp, Boss GE 7, Boss DD 3, Boss RV 6, Boss RT-20 Hilton Expression Pedal, Evans Cabinet with 4 ohm Eminence 15" speaker. BJS birthstone bar, Powder coated Tone bar by Michael Hillman. Dunlop Coated finger picks and Zookies L30 thumb picks.

Jody Sanders · From: Magnolia,Texas, R.I.P.

I agree with Hal. I like the Zookies. Jody.

Dennis Graves · From: Maryville, Tennessee

Another vote for the Zookies

Eric West · From: Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.

I had an "AHA!" moment a couple years ago.

I have always had rather large thumbs and Blue Hercos got wimpier, and weaker. Never were they long enough.

I FINALLY decided to try a Dunlop Tortoise, though they are WAY too wide which is why I never used them.

Using a Blue Herco as a pattern I filed and rasped a Dunlop to the same width and profile as a Blue Herco. Sanding and of course polishing the edges afterwards.

VOILA!

TONs more gripping power and at least a 1/16th of an inch longer.

National Browns Ivories, and Golden Gates work too.

Try it.

Hint:

If you find you need to "reshape" a celluloid pick, DO NOT heat it with a lighter. a small capful of boiling water will soften it, and you can cool it pretty easily.

Wish I'd done it twenty years ago.

JMHO.

Smile

EJL

Rick Abbott · From: Indiana, USA

Eric's right...they burn rather rapidly!
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RICK ABBOTT
Sho~Bud D-10 Professional #7962
Remington T-8, Sehy #112
1975 Peavey Pacer 1963 Gibson Falcon

Larry Clark · From: Herndon, VA.

After using the blue Herco picks for many years, I stumbled across these at a Doyle Dykes seminar.

Fred Kelly Picks

Don Drummer · From: West Virginia, USA

Zookies, L 10

Jody Sanders · From: Magnolia,Texas, R.I.P.

I started with Zookies M-10, then M-20 and now am using Zookies M-30. Jody.

Ernest Cawby · From: Lake City, Florida, USA, R.I.P.

DON SALUSKY TURNED ME ON TO GOLDEN gATE THEY LAST FOR YEARS, STILL USING SAME PICK 2 YEARS.

ERNIE

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

I've never been able to get any to fit/play right except the white Nationals. Even with the boiling water reshape the Dunlops are too small. I've been using Nationals for 25+ years, with Dunlop .015 fingerpicks (squeezed flat to remove the uncomfortable "comfort curve").
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No chops, but great tone
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Dick Wood · From: Springtown Texas, USA

I'm with Larry Clark on this one.

I've used pretty much all popular thumb picks and Fred Kelly speed picks fit great,don't break at the bend like some do,no wide blade and it isn't too tight or loose.

Jim S. get one and try it,I really think you'll like them.

I really like the Orange Mediums.

bob Ousby · From: Nevada, USA

Howard...On a recent trip to California, I stopped off at several music stores just to see what they carried. I bought a pair of L Nationals. I then compared them with my L Dunlaps. Side by side, the Nationals appear to be extra large. They don't fit as snug as the Dunlaps. Then I bought a pair of those Fred Kelly type speed picks, the thicker white ones. When I returned home, I tried them all out. And the winner is...the Fred Kelly speed thumbpick. It feels more natural.

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

Stu Schulman · From: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)

Zookies,Zookies,Zookies! Whoa!

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Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952.

CrowBear Schmitt · From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France

Zookie L20 here

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

I found different styles within a brand are not the same fit. I've been using medium Golden Gate thumb picks, just the plain white/ivory color and the last time I bought some I got a couple of the cream color ones that have stripes in them. I thought they would fit the same but they don't.

A. J. Schobert · From: Cincinnati, Ohio,

I like to use (I think this is what they are called)

Golden gate,

Charley Wilder · From: Dover, New Hampshire, USA

I use the old Dobro brand (the clear plastic ones) and have since I started. You have to buff the rough edges a bit when they are new but they still work pretty good.

Rick Schmidt · From: Prescott AZ, USA

Those blue Herco picks are just too light for me...they slip around when I really want to lay into it. I really like these:

http://www.greatmusicproductsonline.com/proddetail.asp?prod=GP%2D8

But then again, here's what I use for six string:

http://www.wegenpicks.com/#gypsy

Whoa!

Howard Tate · From: Leesville, Louisiana, USA, R.I.P.

I've got a couple of Zookies L-10s, maybe I should keep using them til I get used to them. My problem is I think I'm used to the Nationals hitting the string with the edge, the Zookies hit the string with the flat part and it seems to lose some drive. That may just be my imagination. I've tried the speed picks but never found any that fit right. Or maybe I should lose the new Nationals and stick to the white ones, but I was surprised at the difference. Thanks for the feed back.

Jack Ritter · From: Enid, Oklahoma, USA

Zookies is best for me!! L-20

Ben Jones · From: Seattle, Washington, USA

Blue Herco. not sure where I got it, but maybe it came with my carter starter? i returned the starter but kept the thumbpick Wink

Its the only pick Ive ever used and Ive managed 2.5 years without losing the only one I have. Now everything else seems really "wide" to me..I need the narrowness on the blade of that blue herco...and of course no one in my area carries em, so I could either pay $1.99 plus shipping for a single pick, or buy 50 for $32 and have lifetime supply for 25 people. Confused

guess I'll order a couple and a backup tuning wrench as well.

Bill Ford · From: Graniteville SC Aiken

Fred Kelly, Bought a couple a while back, nothing else feels right after using them...Now, if I could just remember where I got them. The ones I have are orange with no markings except the Fred Kelly name. Don't need 25..

BF
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Bill Ford S12 CLR, S12 Lamar keyless, Misc amps&toys Sharp Covers
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c c johnson · From: killeen,tx usa * R.I.P.

I used nationls ever since I was a kid. About three yrs ago I discovered Peaveys and I will probably be with them for the time I have left. cc

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