The Steel Guitar Forum

If you're using stick 'um, put it on the meaty part of your fingertips where they meet the blade, opposite the fingernail.

John Limbach wrote:Had this problem. Several months ago in a previous thread on this subject someone recommended Saddle picks. Got some. End of problem. They stay put and are comfortable to boot.

Guys, when recommending something like this, please include the web address.
http://www.saddlethumbpicks.com/

I might be repeating my self but a steeler friend Kenny Radas from Edwardsville Illinois suggests a 50/50 mixture of STA Flo liquid starch water mix. Take a small pill bottle about one inch in diameter and steel a foam cleaning pad from your wife and cut a small piece fold it and place in bottle. Pour a small amount in the bottle. Stick your thumb or finger between the fold pull it out then place pick on finger. If your picks are well adjusted I guarantee that with in minutes they will be difficult to pull off. Once amonth or so clean the sponge and bottle and put fresh liquid in as it tends to get sour. Your nose will be your guide.

Mike Perlowin wrote:

John Limbach wrote:Had this problem. Several months ago in a previous thread on this subject someone recommended Saddle picks. Got some. End of problem. They stay put and are comfortable to boot.

Guys, when recommending something like this, please include the web address.
http://www.saddlethumbpicks.com/

Good point. Would have if I'd remembered it. By the way, I absolutely hated the thumbpick, but fell in love with the fingerpicks. Go figure.

try putting shrinkwrap on your picks works great hair spray also works i keep a small bottle in my packaseat

Finis Spier wrote:try putting shrinkwrap on your picks works great

I have some of the late Andy Hinton's powder coated picks, and some uncoated ones. I put shrink wrap on the uncoated ones, and must agree. It works great.

I usually just go up to the bar at the beginning of each night and get a slice of lime or lemon and take it up to the stage and keep it on a napkin on my amp. Then I rub it all over my fingertips each set before putting on the picks. Dipping your fingertips in beer works too or better yet a shot glass of peach brandy which is stickier(and tastier). Both remedies are always close at hand...
My experience with Gorilla Snot was that it's sticky at first and then when my fingers warm up it seems to turn slippery. Never checked out heat shrink tubing but it seems worth a try.
Another thing I did for 40 years was keep my nails a little longer on the fingers that I use fingerpicks on so that the long nail tucks inside the curve of the pick and closes off the gap between the tip of the pick and a shorter nail which would tend to snag on the next higher string than the one I was attempting to pick. A few years back when I started playing Chapman Stick the long nails had to go so I had to get used to that and re-bend my picks accordingly. I'm good to go now as long as the picks stay put.

I keep a little bottle of acetone or naphtha and a cloth in my seat. It's good for getting the chicken grease off after a break if you can't wash your hands, and the picks stick good to the dry skin.

I find the harder you play with Alaska Piks the firmer they stay on. They feel more intuitive in terms of "where my fingers end" than conventional picks. It is early days yet but I think I may stay with them for a long time.

Alaska Pik: http://www.alaskapik.com/

If nothing else works, there's always super glue.

Another vote for licking the fingers. The picks just dont seem to loosen afterwards. My plastic thumb picks dont need anything. Georg, those finger picks hardly extend at all. Do you get better control that way?

A quick lick will make the pick stick. I've been using the same picks for about 5 years and they always stay put.

Fred,
It works for me!

Eyeglass pads. Snug and comfy and you can get 'em at any Walgreen's. When they wear peel 'em off and put on a new set. And keep ya fingers outcha mouth. I know where they've been.

Frog or Gorilla snot work great!

I know this is an older thread but this is an on going problem with many. I never had any trouble with picks falling off. I always use thin ones .018 gauge and give them a little extra squeeze after I put them on and the thin gauge forms to my fingers well. I cannot do this with heavy gauges therefore I don't use a heavy gauge finger pick. They dig into my fingers and have a gritty metallic sound. I like the .018 Dunlops. I have some Andy Hinton half coated .018 that I love. Reduces even the slightest irritation. What I always have trouble with is a slippery bar before the show starts. It feels like a slippery ice cube I can't hold on to so what I do before I start is breath some heavy breaths on my bar and the heated moisture gives it some traction. After the first song I don't have that problem anymore. Guess my bars need to be heated. Anyone making a bar you can control the temperature on?

David,
I agree with you on the lighter gauge Dunlop picks.
Also, have you ever tried a zirconia bar?
I find them to be more used friendly than a steel bar.
Up here on the tundra, they don't feel as cold on the hands and are easier to hold onto.
Erv

Thanks Erv! I'll get me one of those and check it out.

Carl Kilmer wrote:I've always used (heat shrink tubing) on National picks and
on Dunlop brass picks finger licking always does the job.
The most comfortable thumb picks for me are Dunlop "Ultex".

Another plus... heat shrink will stop the pick from tearing your cuticles. As you well know this is a painful problem!

Thanks! I'm gonna try the heat shrink too. I got some of that in my electronic repair box. Never thought about that. I guess you need the bigger sizes to go over the pick.

I figured this out the first day I brought my buddy's 8-string Fender home back in May. It took me a day or so but then I commenced to sticking my fingertips in my mouth and it has bee all good since. I did order some of the Tool Magic this morning because I still have a little problem with the thumb pic rolling around. I like the medium tortoise shell (plastic) Nationals the best as, they are the best fit. But, the guy above was right: They do wear out and ya have to chuck em.

Pete,I just ordered some"Blue Stuff"from Amazon!

Keeping picks on is not a consistent problem. I have times when they don't stay on and other times that they stay on and feel just right. My wife gets something called "Sort Kwik". Its sold in sewing or quilting shops. It works pretty well. The only problem I have is that I try to keep the picks on for the whole gig. It causes and problem when nature calls!