Guage of finger picks

Ashoke kumar Das · Post by **Ashoke kumar Das** » 3 Aug 2015 4:01 am

Dunlop company make diffarent guage of sheet metal for finger picks. I have no idea about that. I want to know the knowladge.
what is the concept behind that?
Ashoke.

Dom Franco · Post by **Dom Franco** » 3 Aug 2015 5:36 am

The lighter gauges are easier to bend and shape to your fingers, but the heavier gauges give you more attack and volume.

For my amplified steel guitars I prefer light gauge but for my dobro or banjo I use the heavy ones.
Dom

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 3 Aug 2015 7:02 am

I prefer the lighter gauges for the reasons mentioned. You can shape them to your fingers better. I looked at my picks and I have a .018 on the my 1st finger and an .020 on my second finger. I have tried picks as light as .013 and as heavy as .025 but I have finally settled in on the above gauges.

C. E. Jackson · Post by **C. E. Jackson** » 3 Aug 2015 10:45 am

Through the years I have been a collector of various name picks. After trying old and new picks, my favorite picks are the National Pat. No. 1787136, and National Pat. No. 1787136 (USA). A search of patent numbers shows that Pat. No. 1787136 was issued in 1931. I don't know what the gauge of these picks is, but I don't have any problem with shaping, attack or volume. I have found that the best way to shape picks is with a small pair of needle-nose pliers.

C. E.

Ashoke kumar Das · Post by **Ashoke kumar Das** » 4 Aug 2015 3:58 am

Well Jackson,
Did u compair the diffarence of guage between national and dunlop picks ?
Ashoke.

C. E. Jackson · Post by **C. E. Jackson** » 4 Aug 2015 4:21 am

Askoke, my preference is the old Nationals, rather than Dunlops.

C. E.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 4 Aug 2015 4:28 am

Ashoke, I have tried all the various types of metal fingerpicks in different gauges. My preferred pick is the Dunlop .015 gauge. I also like the other gauges, but .015 gives me some of the feel of my fingers on the string while providing just enough stiffness. I can shape them perfectly and easily and they are very comfortable. I do not like stiff picks unless I am playing an acoustic resonator guitar.

I have many National picks, but they are .025 gauge--a little too stiff for my taste on electric steel guitar. The NP1 and NP2 picks are very nice, though.

I have also experimented with mizrabs, but they are a little too stiff, although I can do things with them that I cannot with standard fingerpicks.

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 7 Aug 2015 5:58 pm

i prefer the.025 nationals. i think that is what the earlier unmarked ones are also.

Mark Kocon · Post by **Mark Kocon** » 8 Aug 2015 2:55 am

Have both, prefer the National patents.

Gary Sill · Post by **Gary Sill** » 17 Jun 2016 8:57 am

They do not make your fingers sore and they are easy to shape the way you like them.
Gary

www.sillmusicsupply.com

Frank James Pracher · Post by **Frank James Pracher** » 17 Jun 2016 10:25 am

Dunlop .018 here.... although I have went with .015 on occasion.

Peter Jacobs · Post by **Peter Jacobs** » 17 Jun 2016 5:48 pm

Most of the time, I use Dunlops .020" brass fingerpicks, sometimes the same gauge in nickel-silver. Since I switch off between steel and banjo, these work well for both.

Brent Marklin · Post by **Brent Marklin** » 17 Jun 2016 7:06 pm

Quick and probably dumb question... what is the purpose of holes on metal fingerpicks? Particularly the string striking part.

Stefan Robertson · Post by **Stefan Robertson** » 18 Jun 2016 1:34 am

Brent Marklin wrote:Quick and probably dumb question... what is the purpose of holes on metal fingerpicks? Particularly the string striking part.

I always thought:

It was to help the bending of metal
Keep fingers cool and dissipate sweat
Feel less present to the player- think less of an add on than extension.

Ted Duross · Post by **Ted Duross** » 18 Jun 2016 3:20 am

Interestingly, the patent for the National picks was held by George Beauchamps who (along with John Dopyera) co-founded the original National guitar company (1927). He applied for the patent in 1928.

He gives a couple of reasons for the perforations in his patent application. As was mentioned above "a plurality of recesses or perforations that provide means whereby perspiration ... is reduced to a minimum and thereby tends to eliminate slipping of the pick on the thumb or finger."

And... "The perforations also provide means whereby the flesh of the thumb or finger securely engages the pick by protruding therein and further reduces to a minimum likelihood of the pick slipping."

An interesting footnote in Dobro history... hmm, I guess it would be a fingernote

Brent Marklin · Post by **Brent Marklin** » 18 Jun 2016 12:36 pm

Interesting.. thanks!

Miles Lang · Post by **Miles Lang** » 21 Jun 2016 7:06 am

Peter Jacobs wrote:Most of the time, I use Dunlops .020" brass fingerpicks, sometimes the same gauge in nickel-silver. Since I switch off between steel and banjo, these work well for both.

Is there a tone difference between brass and steel picks?

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 21 Jun 2016 7:36 am

Brass is mellower.

Stefan Robertson · Post by **Stefan Robertson** » 22 Jun 2016 7:21 am

Erv Niehaus wrote:Brass is mellower.

Agreed brass has a more jazz softened tone.

+1 for Brass.

Peter Jacobs · Post by **Peter Jacobs** » 22 Jun 2016 5:00 pm

Yeah, it's a bit mellower sounding, but on stage, it doesn't make a noticeable difference. But even though I don't think I have a nickel allergy, sometimes the nickel ones sting my cuticles. The brass ones don't bother me.

Andy Henriksen · Post by **Andy Henriksen** » 23 Jun 2016 5:10 am

Inspired by the comments in this thread, I decided to try some .018s last night instead of my usual .0225. I'm sure it's just a function of what I'm used to, but I found the thicker ones to be more comfortable. Because they are stiffer, they stay in place better, and are more consistent. I don't feel like they 'flop around uncontrollably' on my fingers (huge exaggeration, mind you - it's a relatively minor difference).

Also, I think being thicker, they are less likely to get bent or damaged rolling around in the cigar box of steel bars, harmonicas, bottle caps, etc., that travels with my guitar.

That all said, I didn't really spend an adequate time shaping the 18s, so I may try again after some careful needle-nose plier time.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 23 Jun 2016 7:22 am

After you get them fitted properly, they'll feel differently.

Tim Whitlock · Post by **Tim Whitlock** » 23 Jun 2016 9:14 am

I used .015 Dunlops for years just because that's what I started with. They are really easy to shape to your finger and they are very comfortable.

I recently tried some of the new Saddle Picks (http://www.saddlethumbpicks.com/) - just the fingerpicks, not the thumb. I immediately noticed a significant increase in volume from the .020 gauge steel. I found that I didn't have to pick as hard with my middle finger to match the volume of my thumb, so the output was more balanced and picking required less effort. The .020s are harder to shape but the extra slot does hold them securely on your fingers. They are not as comfortable as my .015s. I keep switching back and forth. I'm thinking a Saddle Pick in a slightly lighter gauge would be the best of both worlds, or maybe I'll just try a heavier gauge Dunlop.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 23 Jun 2016 11:17 am

Try an .018 or .020 Dunlop.

Ashoke kumar Das · Post by **Ashoke kumar Das** » 29 Jun 2016 3:29 am

well, i think picking weight is a matter & related with the guage. am i right ?
thanks.
Ashoke.

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