Surprising results with plastic fingerpicks.

Lap steels, resonators, multi-neck consoles and acoustic steel guitars

Moderator: Brad Bechtel

Post Reply
User avatar
James Mayer
Posts: 1596
Joined: 5 Sep 2006 12:01 am
Location: back in Portland Oregon, USA (via Arkansas and London, UK)

Surprising results with plastic fingerpicks.

Post by James Mayer »

I had never tried plastic picks and ordered THESE.

I had read that the attack was softer which makes sense. What I didn't expect is that they are significantly louder than any metal picks I have tried and have a more direct fat tone. I'm using these on a resonator guitar and haven't tried them on electric yet but this is a revelation to me. It's an instant improvement at barely any cost.

I've read how they are uncomfortable and, indeed, even the largest size is waaaay too tight for my medium-sized fingers. After sticking boiling them in water and shaping them, they were better but still uncomfortable. Now, I simply put them around the "handle" of my stevens-style bar so keep them stretched when I'm not playing. Now, I can play for long periods of time without any discomfort.


Image

Anyone else using these?
Modified Emmons GS-10 3X4 and too many iPad apps to list.
User avatar
Jack Hanson
Posts: 5454
Joined: 19 Jun 2012 3:42 pm
Location: San Luis Valley, USA

Re: Surprising results with plastic fingerpicks.

Post by Jack Hanson »

James Mayer wrote:Anyone else using these?
Absolutely! I have used them for decades on my resos, and sometimes on my Weiss. But never on electrics.

viewtopic.php?t=400081&highlight=plastic+fingerpicks
User avatar
Paul Seager
Posts: 502
Joined: 20 Aug 2010 7:41 am
Location: Augsburg, Germany

Post by Paul Seager »

Same here, although my picks are from Dunlop. They are great for acoustic and give a lot more dynamic control. And yes leaving them on the bar during down-time helps retain their shape and comfort.

However not so nice on electric. My electrics are all 8 string and the spacing is too tight for the bulkier plastic picks. But I bet someone out there will say different so definitely try for yourself!
John Dahms
Posts: 559
Joined: 14 Feb 2005 1:01 am
Location: Perkasie, Pennsylvania, USA

Post by John Dahms »

Hot water helps to resize them so I thought "if I put them in the microwave for a few seconds..."
They burst into flames, stunk up the house and filled the kitchen with black smoke! Old nitro-cellulose is very flammable.
Time flies like an eagle
Fruit flies like a banana.
User avatar
Jon Light (deceased)
Posts: 14336
Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
Location: Saugerties, NY
Contact:

Post by Jon Light (deceased) »

For a different type of plastic ... some sort of nylon, I think ... for which boiling water temperature of 212° was not doing it, I was instructed to use a heat gun. With lots of caution (don't direct it in one spot for too long and, um, don't hold the pick in your fingers) it did get hot enough to reshape.
Rich Arnold
Posts: 358
Joined: 28 Dec 2022 9:32 am
Location: Tennessee, USA

Post by Rich Arnold »

John Dahms wrote:Hot water helps to resize them so I thought "if I put them in the microwave for a few seconds..."
They burst into flames, stunk up the house and filled the kitchen with black smoke! Old nitro-cellulose is very flammable.
Lol! This post made me laugh!
My daughter put a bowl of Nong Shim noodles in our microwave but forgot to add water!!! Hell, we all exited the house on our hands and knees! 😄
Rich Arnold
Posts: 358
Joined: 28 Dec 2022 9:32 am
Location: Tennessee, USA

Re: Surprising results with plastic fingerpicks.

Post by Rich Arnold »

James Mayer wrote:I had never tried plastic picks and ordered THESE.

I had read that the attack was softer which makes sense. What I didn't expect is that they are significantly louder than any metal picks I have tried and have a more direct fat tone. I'm using these on a resonator guitar and haven't tried them on electric yet but this is a revelation to me. It's an instant improvement at barely any cost.

I've read how they are uncomfortable and, indeed, even the largest size is waaaay too tight for my medium-sized fingers. After sticking boiling them in water and shaping them, they were better but still uncomfortable. Now, I simply put them around the "handle" of my stevens-style bar so keep them stretched when I'm not playing. Now, I can play for long periods of time without any discomfort.


Image

Anyone else using these?
I've been using plastic picks for as long as I can remember and I swear by them. I prefer bare fingers to steel picks.
But I don't preach this. It's up to everyone to decide for themselves what works best.
Post Reply