The Steel Guitar Forum

Fred Kelly white nylon picks. These are not the ones with the real thin flexable blade but like a regular thumb pick,and have not had one to break. I had some of the same,but in a clear, different color that broke after using several times.

Mine.

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Carter D10 9p/10k, NV400

my best thumb pick was in Florida lying om my Emmons as I was in Michigan trying to pick at Danny's jam at Harrison. Thanks to Danny's beautiful wife, as she found a pick somewhere.
Old Bud

Ernie

Use the ones that don't break!!!!

JD

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There is no such thing as too many steels!!

Earnie, I used a bent rusty nail once.. Poor tone, scratchy too.........jw

Just play steel for the Sound of It.

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EMMONS D10 10-10 profex 2 deltafex ne1000 pv1000, pv 31 bd eq, +

Ernie:

Try to find one with two tips. It makes you sound like you're playing twice as fast.

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<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR=BLACK><P ALIGN=left>Visit my Web Site at RoysFootprints.com
Browse my Photo Album and be sure to sign my Guest Book.

Roy you hit the pick on the head, I play so slow that may fix my problem.

ernie
now how do you learn faster????????????
play faster

Blue Herco's brightness matches the finger picks for me. Others sound "dull"

bob

Jon Light,

Thanks for that link and everyone else for your thoughts.

I'm in an experimental stage on thumbpicks. The Jeffran were the ones I liked the best so far, but my first one broke at the bend in 2 or 3 weeks. The one I had left I ordered from Jeff on the phone and I've just been avoiding using it to hang onto it just for the fact that he took the order. I never met him, so it's just a little personal thing for me. I'll probably order more of them at some point. I really liked the feel of them across the strings and how easily they adjusted to size. I did use Jeff's instructions for getting my National's to size, (the curling iron thing).

I think I'll order about 10 different ones from the site Jon gave the link to.

Bob P.

I like the Fred Kelly delrins myself.


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Bob
intonation help

i'm using the Goldengate ones. Actually a single Goldengate one (used it for at least 6 months, as opposed to 2 weeks for a National).

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www.tyack.com

ProPik - metal/plastic
http://www.guptillmusic.com/propik/thumbpicks.html

One day, you'll thank me...
http://kpobluesband.com/cd.htm

I like the Bone colored Goldengate.
I have used the same one for a couple of years .They are about two dollars each.

I used the blue Herco for years because I liked the shape,however I always was unhappy that it seemed too limber and loose and I felt I could not really drive my thumb into my playing.

I bought the white John Pearse from Frenchy. It has an almost identical shape but it fits has a stiffnes which makes it stay on my thumb much better.

Never break one either wear them out in 2 or 3 years or lose them.

I struggled for 24 YEARS using blue Hercos that were NEVER long enough, or big enough for my thumb.

I used them because Bud Charleton did, and never thought that his thumb was DIFFERENT than mine.

I finally got a couple Large Tortoise Dunlops, put them in boiling water, shaped them as close to the Herco shape as I could, except longer, and it's been ALL the difference in the WORLD. Also Golden Gate ivory ones bent, cut and shaped similarly work as good or better.

I actually sent a couple out to a couple guys, and never heard back how they liked them.

Shaping them in boiling WATER is the secret,

Don't use a lighter. Or ask me how I know...

They basically explode just after the point where they are bendable..



EJL

Used most of the styles out there, use the Peavey narrow blade for all of my playing (steel, dobro, and six-string). They wear out faster than I'd like but I guess just under 2 years isn't bad.

Jonathan

For a long time now, I've been using the Fat/White Dunlop thumb-picks.

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“Big John” Bechtel
(2)-Fender ’49–’50 T–8 Customs
Fender ’65 Reissue Twin-Reverb Custom™ 15”
click here
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I'm actually experimenting with the "Zookie" thumb picks. They are the ones with the blade at an angle, to try and get the pick to hit the string straight on. My right hand technique isn't what it once was...

Anyone else tried them?

Later on,

David Spires

Hey Chris (seldomefed) I tried the file-down job on the blue hercos and really like the results. it really helped on my speed pickin.
I just took a pair of sizors and cut about 1/8 inch off, and then filed it to a semi-point. works really good. thanks for the tip!
Terry

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84 SKH Emmons Legrand D10
session 400'rd Steelin for my Lord.

I use the Newman thumbpick. I order them 20 or 25 at a time and spend a day with my wife's hair curling iron and get them all formed to my thumb. I've never had one break on me unless I was spreading it apart without heating it up. Everyone who is having trouble with them breaking, I suggest you do as the instuctions say and heat them up and shape them. They do wear out though. I can only get about 3 monthes of use before I have them filed down thin a a razor. I give them away when someone from the crowd asks for my pick. It happpens quite a bit.

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Whip Lashaway
Sierra E9/B6 12 string
Sierra E9/B6 14 string
78' Emmons D10 P/P