The Steel Guitar Forum

The rounded edges give no more string noise than plastic picks (unlike the flatter metal picks), which is the usual reason for not using metal on your thumb (i.e., on the wound strings)..at least according to my unscientific testing....

It seems metal is better for picking - or why use metal finger picks on the unwound strings?

...and they don't get soft or slippery when hot, and can be sized to fit comfortably.....I have them from my slide guitar/dobro days and haven't switched to plastic....

Is plastic better? Why?

Thanks...

My experience is that they give more scratch noise. I don't need to add more noise.

Steve I use them and have for 4 yrs. I had a problem with the plastic one breaking. I read were Bobbe Seymour of Steel guitar Nash. said that a lot of Pros were using metal thumb picks so I gave it a try. I really like them and they don't break. PS Sarah Jory uses them.

I like to use the same thumbpick for steel and guitar which requires some back and forth movement (like a flatpick) and these don't work well for that. Also I can sense a little sizzle when attempting to pick block with a metal thumbpick which you don't get with the Herco nylons that I use.......JH in Va.

I bought 2 thumb picks from Blue Chip Picks to play my reso. I have not had a chance to try them on the PSG. Hope to try them when I get home next week. Here is a link.

http://shop.bluechippick.net/

I also ordered some ProPicks. Again I will try them next week when I get home. Here is their link.

http://www.guptillmusic.com/index.html

Has anyone tried these?

Pat-
I switched from propicks (from slide and dobro days) to National or Jeff Newman picks....the propicks bend too easily and get folded over, and the double tab kind are really comfortable but the lower tab catches on the strings of a pedal steel...

See my avatar. I also use blue Chip thumb picks...but I LOVE my OLD National!

I have used metal thumbpicks for many years. I use an old National (very similar to the Dunlop) for banjo and Dobro. They don't wear down as easily as plastic, and I really didn't like the raspy sound I got from a worn plastic thumbpick. They do wear down eventually, fwiw.

I use a Propick for my pedal steel work. I like the thin blade, feels very accurate and precise. I do like the fact that a metal band is pretty easy to fit to the thumb. And to adjust.

I have found that metal picks are a tad heavier than plastic, and my speed (especially on banjo) is affected, but not in a terribly significant way.

The Blue Chip (great flatpicks) was a little too slick on the strings for me. I like a bit of grab.

Because I use something else. Actually, I have never heard or tried a metal thumb pick that I like the tone from. I am perfectly happy with my Golden Gate thumb picks.

I have a couple of the National style ones in my bag, but for the past several years I've used the Propicks metal thumbs..... I like them a lot, and have given some away to fellow steelers around here, with positive feedback. Even when playing tele, I now find it hard to go back to plastic.

I gave Russ Hicks a thumb pick made out of tortoise shell,very hard to make,to give to Buddy Emmons.He kept it and never gave it to him.Great sounding pick.

I guess metal thumb picks aren't as uncommon as I thought....some like 'em, some don't, that's just the way things go...but at least I don't feel like I am crazy or stupid, now...