Light blue thumbpick...

Dave Alfstad · Post by **Dave Alfstad** » 31 Jan 2012 3:08 pm

I have noticed lately that most players I see are using a light blue thumbpick. Is this just a coincidence or is there a certain pick that is popular?
For many years I have used Zookies with the 20° angle, but I am open to switching becase I do not like them for 6-string guitar and it would be nice to find a thumbpick that I like on both.
What is this blue thumbpick? I saw Mike Johnson on Larry's Country Diner (which was AWESOME) and it looked like he was using one.

Dave Alfstad

Georg Sørtun · Post by **Georg Sørtun** » 31 Jan 2012 3:15 pm

Like the one here?

http://www.elderly.com/brand/PK_herco.html

Todd Brown · Post by **Todd Brown** » 31 Jan 2012 4:18 pm

Dave, If the picks your talking about are like the ones pictured on the Elderly site, second one down, Flex 52, those are similar to the ones I've used since I started playing psg about 3 1/2 years ago. They are widely available from several sources. I got a stash of about a dozen or more from Bob Simmons. Mine are a little darker blue but same shape.

Bill Miller · Post by **Bill Miller** » 31 Jan 2012 6:25 pm

Those blue hercos are too small for me and they only seem to come in one size. I used the large Zookies for several years but those too were so tight they'd nearly squeeze my thumb off until they started to lose a bit of their tension...and then they'd break in the bend. Now I use these Dunlops in large, which are a bit roomier with a bit longer blade than the Zookies. I heat the blades with steam and bend them slightly, like the Zookies.

Jerry Hayes R.I.P. · Post by **Jerry Hayes R.I.P.** » 1 Feb 2012 5:51 am

I've been using those blue Herco thumbpicks for almost thirty years on steel and guitar and have never broken one because they're nylon instead of plastic. I always file mine to a point because you get a sharper sound on the bass strings which is better on lead guitar or steel........JH in Va.

Roger Francis · Post by **Roger Francis** » 1 Feb 2012 5:59 am

You can check out the bugablue picks here, i thought about trying them cause the ones you find at the music stores this color seem to spin around on you thumb to much and not much of an attack

http://www.frenchyspedalsteel.com/

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 1 Feb 2012 7:27 am

I love the tone and the fact that the nylon NEVER goes scratchy.
They definitely loosen and spin as they warm up. I always have three of them: one on my thumb and two cooling. After two songs, the one I'm using goes to Interneck Valley to cool.
Where do S-10 players keep their picks, anyway?

Dave Alfstad · Post by **Dave Alfstad** » 1 Feb 2012 7:59 am

Well, I've never bought thumbpicks through the mail but I've got 12 of these magic picks on the way. Thumbpicks always seem so personal regarding proper fit, that I always like to try them on. However, thanks to the declining supply of stuff at my local stores, I no longer have that luxury. Hopefully I can find a few out of a dozen that fit well.
Thanks to everyone for cluing me in on these picks!

Dave Alfstad

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 1 Feb 2012 8:19 am

Unless you have tiny hands, they should do you fine. They'll feel soft, but they sound good.
I don't use them on Dobro because they don't stand up to diggin' for acoustic power

Dennis Saydak · Post by **Dennis Saydak** » 1 Feb 2012 8:26 am

I use Zookie L-10s and they are too tight on my thumb to begin with. I just heat the bend with a small hobby heat gun and they can easily be adjusted for a comfortable fit. They cool off in seconds but can be reheated & adjusted again if necessary. I suppose dipping the bend in boiling water would allow the same trick. So far I haven't broken one. I also file mine down a little (tip from Hank Ruf).

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 1 Feb 2012 10:27 am

Dave, I hope they are what you expected. I like the shape but they're too flimsy for me. Spin around on my thumb and won't stay put when they warm up. I bought a half dozen of them several years ago but never use them. Regular old polycarbonate, plastic picks fit snugger on me and feel better even though they might not wear as well.

I know lots of players use them, hard to argue with the likes of Mike Johnson, so it's just me I guess.
The older Blue Hercos were great, but these are different.

I noticed a picker at Robert's in Nashville one night kept a couple of them handy and would swap them out regularly as they got soft, I guess.

Best of Luck with 'em.

Dave Alfstad · Post by **Dave Alfstad** » 1 Feb 2012 11:22 am

Well, I expect them to make me sound like Mike Johnson, but I'd also settle for Buddy Emmons. Anything short would be an epic fail!
I'm not sure that I'll dig the flimsiness described here, but even if it ends up that I hate them I'm only out about $10. I've made bigger mistakes.
They must be pretty popular because I have seen several players using them.

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 1 Feb 2012 11:30 am

Yeah, they'll probably work out OK for you. Only way to know is to try 'em. Didn't mean to discourage you. I was just stating my personal experience.

They're definitely popular among many players, so they must do the job for them.

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 1 Feb 2012 11:47 am

If you don't like 'em, I'll buy 'em

Jerry Kippola · Post by **Jerry Kippola** » 1 Feb 2012 2:25 pm

Blue Hercos, I bought a whole box back in '78, and have used maybe 3 so far,

Brett Lanier · Post by **Brett Lanier** » 1 Feb 2012 2:36 pm

I like em too. Been using them for a little while. But... a couple times it's slipped off. It happens when I get to picking fast and with one swift back pick off it goes! Time to find something else.

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 1 Feb 2012 6:27 pm

Brett, does that happen when they're cool, or only after you've played for awhile?

Ray Montee (RIP) · Post by **Ray Montee (RIP)** » 1 Feb 2012 8:40 pm

For decades I used whatever was on the counter at the corner music store. Most were Dunlop, some Fender and until D.Kolars of this SGF loaned me one of his picks when I played in Dallas Texas last year, I had no idea there was a better pick in town.

After much frustration, waiting for 3 weeks for items on back order, etc., etc., I found a local store that does only mail order and he promptly supplied me with a dozen of the greatest picks I've EVER USED!

They're attractive, multi-colored "GOLDEN GATE" thumb picks, dubbed "CLOWN Barf" and I understand that Scotty also has them in stock in St.Louis.

I've found them to be a great pick, right out of the package. I have small hands and thumbs and didn't have to mess with heating them up, re-bending them or trimming them with a hunting knife.

I've had no problems with slipping and have found them to be perfect for my use; not loose and not too tight.

Brendan Mitchell · Post by **Brendan Mitchell** » 1 Feb 2012 10:05 pm

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 2 Feb 2012 2:17 am

Those aren't the same. picking with those is like dancing in swim fins

Tony Glassman · Post by **Tony Glassman** » 2 Feb 2012 7:10 am

I prefer the Red Solo Pick.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 2 Feb 2012 8:23 am

My grandson broke my favorite National thumb pick so started playing with a "Golden Gate" pick. Now that is my favorite.

Bill Miller · Post by **Bill Miller** » 2 Feb 2012 9:19 am

When it comes to thumbpicks it's too bad someone wouldn't invent some sort of high-tech adjustable model. Wouldn't it be great of you could take a mini-screwdriver and adjust all of the parameters ( snugness, blade length, blade angle, even stiffness by having interchangeable blades of varying gauges ) to suit your hand and ergonomics. Such a beast would be expensive but there are a few picks out there already that are selling for a ridiculous price, and for no good reason that I can see. If someone was clever enough to engineer such a pick they might as well design similarly adjustable fingerpicks and be done with it.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 2 Feb 2012 9:52 am

Bill,
It sound good!
But I don't need a thumb pick that weighs 5 pounds!

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 2 Feb 2012 10:27 am

Golden Gate for me too. I used to use the Herco, and like Lane, would have a couple to switch around with while playing. They never were real comfortable for me. The best thumb pick I ever had was some unknown brand I got for like 25 cents out of a local music store from a fish bowl on the counter. I used that pick for probably 10 - 15 years and still have it, and it still works fine (it's my emergency backup pick). But, I switched to Golden Gate a few years ago. Like 'em real good.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Light blue thumbpick...

Light blue thumbpick...

After many years..................