Telebass Posted April 16, 2016 Share Posted April 16, 2016 [quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1460586528' post='3027156'] Now that does look useful, and affordable! [/quote] And you can get a free sample! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubit Posted April 16, 2016 Share Posted April 16, 2016 [quote name='AndyTravis' timestamp='1459971966' post='3021461'] My Ashdown cabs have the velcroed fronts, the gap between the cab and grille makes an ideal pick holder. The reason I have them to hand is because I'm lazy and instead of using the same technique I used to where I'd use a pick, switch to fingers and then back - keeping the pick in my palm...I now just throw them on the floor and get another when I need it. I collect them all back up when I'm unhooking my pedals. [/quote] Better still, throw them to the fans who are eagerly watching your every move ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 (edited) Picking is whole new skill set for many.It's not easy if your looking to become a really good pick player. There are a lot of good YouTube tutorials I found very helpful. Blue Edited April 19, 2016 by blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted April 18, 2016 Author Share Posted April 18, 2016 Cheers, Blue, my band seem to think I'm doing OK, they like the clearly, better defined sound...and so do I, but I miss the direct contact with the strings. Gig on Friday in my village, so the audience won't hold back from telling me what they think! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted April 19, 2016 Share Posted April 19, 2016 [quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1460996714' post='3030499'] Cheers, Blue, my band seem to think I'm doing OK, they like the clearly, better defined sound...and so do I, but I miss the direct contact with the strings. Gig on Friday in my village, so the audience won't hold back from telling me what they think! [/quote] First gig since your accident? Blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted April 19, 2016 Share Posted April 19, 2016 (edited) [quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1460996714' post='3030499'] Cheers, Blue, my band seem to think I'm doing OK, they like the clearly, better defined sound...and so do I, but I miss the direct contact with the strings. Gig on Friday in my village, so the audience won't hold back from telling me what they think! [/quote] First gig since your accident? Blue Edited April 19, 2016 by blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted April 19, 2016 Author Share Posted April 19, 2016 [quote name='blue' timestamp='1461033371' post='3030822'] First gig since your accident? Blue [/quote] No, but the first since the tendon tore a few weeks ago. I was already unable to play finger style as the tendon was 'hanging on by a thread' (according to the doctor) but last gig was 12th March, then I had a third operation a few later and a day or two later the tendon went. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted April 19, 2016 Share Posted April 19, 2016 [quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1461051755' post='3030886'] No, but the first since the tendon tore a few weeks ago. I was already unable to play finger style as the tendon was 'hanging on by a thread' (according to the doctor) but last gig was 12th March, then I had a third operation a few later and a day or two later the tendon went. [/quote] Man, I hope your up and running back at your normal speed soon. Is a full recovery realistic? Blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingBollock Posted April 19, 2016 Share Posted April 19, 2016 [quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1460996714' post='3030499'] Cheers, Blue, my band seem to think I'm doing OK, they like the clearly, better defined sound...and so do I, but I miss the direct contact with the strings. Gig on Friday in my village, so the audience won't hold back from telling me what they think! [/quote] I believe that once you get comfortable using a pick, that feeling of disconnect will go away. A pick really can be versatile and subtle, an extension of the fingers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted April 19, 2016 Share Posted April 19, 2016 (edited) Gauge of the pick will be important. I use these paper thin picks. I like using just a tiny bit of pick to the string, and getting the grip and keeping it through a whole song can be challenging. Blue Edited April 19, 2016 by blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted April 19, 2016 Author Share Posted April 19, 2016 [quote name='blue' timestamp='1461089206' post='3031402'] Man, I hope your up and running back at your normal speed soon. Is a full recovery realistic? Blue [/quote] Thanks. Full recovery very unlikely, but it should improve on what I have now. Starting with specialist hand physiotherapist (physical therapist) next week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted April 19, 2016 Author Share Posted April 19, 2016 [quote name='blue' timestamp='1461092435' post='3031443'] Gauge of the pick will be important. I use these paper thin picks. I like using just a tiny bit of pick to the string, and getting the grip and keeping it through a whole song can be challenging. Blue [/quote] I have been using thicker picks, my grip isn't strong enough for the thin ones I started with. I am making my own so I can fine tune them, now using 2 laminations of .7mm (about 1/32") for the picks, with two more laminations that end about 3/8" from the tip, and then I add a layer of 400 grit wet & dry to the outer layer which helps them stay put between finger and thumb without needing too much pressure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted April 19, 2016 Share Posted April 19, 2016 (edited) The right thumb/index finger ratio to exposed pick is key. Blue Edited April 19, 2016 by blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted April 19, 2016 Author Share Posted April 19, 2016 I agree, I am steadily reducing the amount of exposed pick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted April 19, 2016 Share Posted April 19, 2016 [quote name='FinnDave' timestamp='1461098666' post='3031536'] I agree, I am steadily reducing the amount of exposed pick. [/quote] Cool, I'm constantly trying to improve my picking, so every note from my lines, riffs and licks is clean and clearly defined. Getting your up and down pick strokes accurately also makes a huge difference. Blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted April 19, 2016 Author Share Posted April 19, 2016 I'm working on it, but can't practice much at home as it leaves my hand too tired and sore for rehearsals. Maybe 10-15 mins a day if I want to get through this gig without too much pain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted May 1, 2016 Share Posted May 1, 2016 Thanks to this great thread I have been inspired to experiment with a thumbpick rather than my usual 1mm black Dunlop, and the experiment is a roaring success. My fingers don't get achey any more, plus I find i can swap easily between pick and fingerstyle on the fly mid-song, which has already proved useful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Si600 Posted May 1, 2016 Share Posted May 1, 2016 I use really thin picks by the sound of it, Dunlop 0.6 ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingBollock Posted May 2, 2016 Share Posted May 2, 2016 [quote name='Si600' timestamp='1462139735' post='3040627'] I use really thin picks by the sound of it, Dunlop 0.6 ones. [/quote] Yeah, they're what I've been using on bass for the last year or so. I can't use them on electric (I generally use .5s on acoustic guitar) guitar, though, I still use 3mm Big Stubbies for that. It was actually playing old school death metal on my five string (and then my four string tuned to C# (five string set tuned up)) that got me using the .6 over 3mm for bass. I find I get a clearer sound when playing fast on the thicker strings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckydog Posted May 2, 2016 Share Posted May 2, 2016 [QUOTE]FinnDave said: I am steadily reducing the amount of exposed pick.[/QUOTE]As blue says, this should really help I think. It reduces force needed to to grip the pick, it twists less. I end up with only about 1/8" sticking out, just the point really, just enough for the pick to be the thing that hits the strings rather than my index finger nail. But whatever works ! HTH! LD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted May 2, 2016 Author Share Posted May 2, 2016 LD, I think I showed you the pick I am currently using, but basically I start off with 4 gibson 352 shapes punched out of .75mm plastic card (credit card). Two are glued to together, then the other two have about 1/4" cut off the the tip and the remainder is glued to each side of the 1.5mm composite. I then glue 400 grade wet & dry to these 'thickeners'. I got through the last gig (set one about 55 mins, set two about 75 mins) without any serious pick problems, though I did need a few painkillers to make it to the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckydog Posted May 2, 2016 Share Posted May 2, 2016 Hi FinnDave, man that's so tough on the pain. Yes I recall that DIY pick looks good. All picks that size from point to top stick out further though, because the top of the pick sits in the crease of index finger knuckle - that's where it's comfortable to hold. A shorter pick can sit entirely on the pad of the index finger, so doesn't stick out as far when top is sitting comfortably below the crease of yer index finger knuckle......hope this makes sense. So you might try making a shorter pick, strangely enough they require less grip because they don't stick out as far? Then there's no point in making the body bigger than the area of grip, so can be pretty small and ironically much easier to grip with less force I find? I find I have to grip tighter with a normal pick, because the point sticks out further and the pick gets levered when it hits the strings. HTH! LD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingBollock Posted May 2, 2016 Share Posted May 2, 2016 (edited) If looking for a smaller bodied pick that is still thick, there is the standard (though a lot smaller than ordinary picks) sized Dunlop Stubby in 3mm (Stagg make a version of it, too). A pick I remember trying in the early 90s were something called Speed Picks. They were thin, but the body was very small and the tip was twisted so that they made better, more parallel contact with the string while playing. I have no idea is they still exist. Edit: Turns out they do still exist and they are also made by Dunlop. http://www.jimdunlop.com/product/Speedpicks It was the smallest size that I remember. They were gold coloured back then. I know you're not looking for thin picks FinnDave, I'm just throwing up as many ideas as I can in the hope of something maybe giving you an idea that helps. It was Luckydog's small body suggestion that made me think of the Speedpicks, but the twist at the tip might be worth exploring, too. I bet, with a little bit of heat, you could add a twist to a home made pick. You could tailor the twist angle to what suits you better. If it could allow you to hold the pick more naturally whilst still striking the string squarely, it might be worth trying. Edited May 2, 2016 by KingBollock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted May 2, 2016 Author Share Posted May 2, 2016 Good ideas, KB, I'll give them a try when I can get to my workbench, currently reorganising everything upstairs and my room seems to be where everything is getting dumped! LD - you gave me a stubby pick last week and I meant to try it at rehearsal but completely forgot! I'll try it next week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubit Posted June 20, 2016 Share Posted June 20, 2016 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/141133762717 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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