Pick Boy Felt Picks

[iBudd]

Hi Chaps
I just did some recording and the producer wanted a certain specific bass sound - after a bit of discussion and listening to some reference tracks we decided a felt pick would get the sound he was after. I'd never played with a felt pick before, and hardly ever with any sort of pick, so I brushed up on my Carol Kaye method and got to work. What a revelation! Such an interesting tone.
The only felt pick I'd been able to find though was one of the cream-coloured Dunlop ones. It certainly did the job but I was really trying to get one of the red Pick Boy felt picks which have a hard pick sandwiched in the middle. But it seems you can't get them in this country.
So my question is firstly, does anyone have one kicking around? And failing that, it seems you can buy a box of 12 from Germany [url="http://schneidermusik.de/shop1/product_info.php?products_id=22729&language=en"]http://schneidermusik.de/shop1/product_info.php?products_id=22729&language=en[/url]
but that'll be about £30. I'm keen but not that keen. If I could find a few likely souls to split a box a few ways with me though, I might go for it.

[discreet]

[quote name='iBudd' timestamp='1354700397' post='1889198']
If I could find a few likely souls to split a box a few ways with me though, I might go for it.[/quote]

I'd be up for that.

[charic]

It kick in for a couple, just for trying some different sounds

[jaydentaku]

Is that the going rate? That is a hell of a lot for 12 picks

[iBudd]

You're not wrong there jaydentaku, €24.49 for the box o'picks and €9.90 to deliver them comes to €34.39 which today is £27.93. The Dunlop one I picked up in a local guitar shop was £2 so these won't work out much more....
I dunno, maybe it's a silly idea just to get a pick! It's just a shame there doesn't seem to be a UK distributor though.

[jaydentaku]

make them?

is it two thin slivers of felt and a regular pick on the inside?

[iBudd]

That's a crafty idea...
I think that's how they are - feel the enthusiasm in this vid!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvIsboypRkw

[jaydentaku]

Ahh, Andy Irvine and his amusing pronunciation of the word 'Warwick'.

If I was in your position I would make a concerted effort to try and make my own.

[Matt P]

if you decide to order a box then i'll take a couple to experiment with.

Matt

[Legion]

Count me in for a couple as well if you go for it.

[franzbassist]

I'll take a couple.

[discreet]

That's six! That makes the division of cash and picks easier!

Edited December 5, 2012 by discreet

[iBudd]

Yeah that makes six so let's go for it! I'll order up a box and PM everybody when they're here. Delivery about a week I think...
Cost will be at cost plus the price of a stamp!
Laters!

[discreet]

Very good.

[iBudd]

Aargh I'm having a world of problems with the German storefont for the shop! Will keep you all posted, but this might end up being more trouble than it's worth...

[barkin]

I'm up for it, if you're still looking for interested parties.

[KingBollock]

They're a doddle to make, I've just made one. Got a sheet of thin but dense felt from my wife and, using strong double sided sticky tape (meant for holding carpets down), stuck it to both sides of a red Dunlop pick and cut to size. I used double sided tape because I figured if I used a liquid glue it would soak into the felt and make it go hard. I have to say it sounds really cool.

EDIT: Been experimenting a bit. I have found my ideal combination. I have a green felt that is thinner but more dense than the other felt that I used. I have used it on a slightly thicker, orange, Dunlop pick. This time, instead of sticking two separate pieces, one either side, to the pick I have used one piece of felt, applied the tape and folded it over the pick around the pointed end. I believe this will help the felt last longer, where as on the first one I did the felt started coming away from the tip quite quickly. Sounds absolutely bloomin' lovely.

Edited December 5, 2012 by KingBollock

[KingBollock]

Until I started using the nylon version of the 3mm Big Stubby I used the old Lexan ones. I thought they would be too thick if covered in felt, but I was wrong. I wasn't enjoying the flat feel of the other Dunlop picks that I had covered so I thought I'd give the Stubby a go because of the shape and the dimple. It works a treat!
It'll be interesting to see how long they last.

[iBudd]

Hi all - afraid Im giving up on the picks order - I finally got emailed back from them but I still couldn't put the order through and I'm not sure they totally understood what was going wrong with the order anyway so I've given up and cancelled it. Sorry! If I find another source for these I'll let you all know.

But that's some great advice about making our own, I might well get experimenting.

[franzbassist]

I've managed to register no problem. What was the difficulties you were having?

[iBudd]

It was trying to charge me the Euro amount in Pounds and wouldn't take no for an answer. Then my order was kid of stuck half way between done and not done and I couldn't get into it to change it either way so I gave up - it didn't seem worth it just to buy some picks. Sorry to anyone who was looking forward to getting them. Also it looks like you can pay in Pounds, but you can't, just Euros, which will add to the cost. Folks might balk at a fiver for two picks...

But I think we might be doing it wrong ordering these in bulk... they only seem to be €1.50 here and here
http://www.hieber-lindberg.de/Pickboy-SPIELBLAeTTCHEN-FILZ-253859.html
http://www.emma-music.com/boutique/fiche_produit.cfm?ref=GEW-525420&type=75&code_lg=lg_fr&num=111
but neither my French nor my German is good enough to order from there. We really need a Euro connection to sort us out.

Edited December 6, 2012 by iBudd

[Owen]

If any appear I would love some,

[KingBollock]

Get yourselves to a craft shop. All you need is the thinnest (~1mm or less), densest felt you can find and some double sided sticky tape. The sticky tape I used was from a carpet shop, so it's quite strong. You need a strip of felt slightly wider than the pick and a little more than twice as long. Cover one side of the felt with the sticky tape, place the rear edge of the pick to one end of the strip of felt and then fold the felt tightly over the tip of the pick, covering both sides. Folding it over this way helps to keep the tip of the pick covered, else playing will wear the felt away from the tip. Use something stiff but not sharp (I used the back edge of a pair of tweezers), to score around the edges of the pick and then cut the shape out with scissors, leaving the tip edge uncut and being careful not to cut into the pick. Easy peasy.

[discreet]

[quote name='iBudd' timestamp='1354830678' post='1891109']
But I think we might be doing it wrong ordering these in bulk... they only seem to be €1.50 here and here
[url="http://www.hieber-lindberg.de/Pickboy-SPIELBLAeTTCHEN-FILZ-253859.html"]http://www.hieber-li...ILZ-253859.html[/url]
[url="http://www.emma-music.com/boutique/fiche_produit.cfm?ref=GEW-525420&type=75&code_lg=lg_fr&num=111"]http://www.emma-musi...g=lg_fr&num=111[/url]
but neither my French nor my German is good enough to order from there. We really need a Euro connection to sort us out.
[/quote]

First one has a minimum order of 25 euros and the second a minimum shipping cost of 15 euros, so not a great way to order one pick, really! I can't believe they're not available closer to home!

@KingBollock - maybe you should go into production, there's obviously a niche in the market!

Edited December 7, 2012 by discreet

[KingBollock]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1354842454' post='1891259']
First one has a minimum order of 25 euros and the second a minimum shipping cost of 15 euros, so not a great way to order one pick, really! I can't believe they're not available closer to home!

@KingBollock - maybe you should go into production, there's obviously a niche in the market!
[/quote]
That's what my wife said when I told her what I was nicking her felt for.