Thumb Picks

[Don McClellan]

I use the Zookie L-30 which I guess means Large 30 degree. I can't imagine you don't know that you can adjust the fit of any plastic thumb pick by putting the pick into very hot water for a few seconds and then taking it out of the water and quickly adjusting it to fit while its still soft enough to reshape. It will quickly harden again so you must not wait after you take it out of the water. It will not be too hot to handle because plastic does not hold heat.
I've tried all 3 of the different angles they offer and I like the 30. I buy them 10 at a time and they last about 4 or 5 years (?). I like my thumb picks tight and because of this they will eventually break in half no mater what kind of pick I use.

[Billy Mostyn]

Yeah I know about heating them Don. it's just that even with my small/average size thumb. I have found thumbpicks quite often marked as Large actually tight on my thumb and I have had to heat them. I looked at the way I rest my hand when fingerpicking lead guitar and steel (have a long way to go with steel) and 30 degree may be better. I'll order a couple of 20s and 30s.

[John Brabant]

I bought a bunch of thumb picks from Jeff Newman and am very happy with them. Problem is now that the plastic seems to be drying out on them and they are breaking apart. Anyone know who made these picks for Jeff Newman and where I can get new ones? They are a layered 2-toned in color (red and white). They are no longer available at the Jeffran webpage.

[Chris Templeton]

I may be wrong, but he might have made them himself. I don't remember anything written on them.

[John Billings]

Having always done double-duty, I fingerpick everything. I like my picks to be as close to the end of my fingers as possible, not sticking way beyond the fingertips.
My fingerpicks don't slip around, as, after using the same set for thirty years, my fingertips are the shape of the picks. I use an ancient Dunlop, with the blade cut way short. I use a double-sided index fingerpick that a jeweler friend soldered up for me thirty years ago. I can take the short-bladed thumbpick, and press it up against the two sided index pick as if I were holding a flatpick. Very handy when playing on my Tele!

[Chris Templeton]

That's a cool idea, John. The "flatpick" is metal and a heavy gauge (meaning no flex)?

[John Billings]

No flex, and that's how I liked my flatpicks, Jazz size and very, very stiff. 3mm, no flex. It got to be a pain taking picks on and off when going back and forth from Steel to Tele. I started fingerpicking guitar in '62, so the transition to fingerpicking both instruments took about ten minutes. And the ability to hold the two-sided index pick lets me do everything I could do with a flatpick, even Gatton stuff. The shortblade on the thumpick keeps it up high enough to be out of the way. Works well for me, ymmv.

[Chris Templeton]

Nice adaptation