Special Thumbpick Type?

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 8 Dec 2003 4:15 pm

I posted some time ago a special type of National Fingerpicks I was looking for. They INdeed ended up being not the "old type" like the 1941s, OR the "new" type. Both of which were too narrow and malleable. I FINALLY was given a set by HArley James ala Doug Jones that WERE the late 70s "special run" with a blade wide all the way down. He and a friend had bought a bunch of em in 80 and kept them.

ANYHOW

THe Thumbpick:

I have always used Blue Hercos, BUT have had to go through the box and fine that ONE SPECIAL one with a slightly longer blade, and slightly stronger "grip". It's wearing out, and my other ones aren't as "strong" or long.

What I need is something as close to the shape of the blue hercs, "Slightly longer pointed blade" and a slightly tighter fit.

Nationals won't get it, too big and clubby. nor any I can find any hercs that "fill the bill" or other brands.

I seem to see some on pictures of players that have a type similar to the hercs with a "pointy" blade, and for a slightly large thumb as I have.

I do have a Frenchy's cat on the way.

Anybody got any ideas about that type of thumbpick?

TIA

EJL

Chris Lucker · Post by **Chris Lucker** » 8 Dec 2003 4:54 pm

I have been playing for just a handful of years, but I was a Blue Herco devotee after using National thumbpicks for a while. I recently tried one of Jeff Newman's candy cane looking red/white plastic fingerpicks and I like it. It has a slight angle to it like a little bit of a Zookie, it is pointy and stiffer than a Herco but not clunky like a National. They are brittle, and they do wear, nut I think I am going to stay with the Newman thumbpicks.
I also like to use one of Newman's fingerpicks along with an old National so I can tell them apart.

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 8 Dec 2003 5:04 pm

Checked the Jeffran site but didn't see any pix.. I'll keep looking.

EJL

John Macy · Post by **John Macy** » 8 Dec 2003 5:34 pm

I have been using the Fred Kelly picks and absolutely love them.
http://www.fredkellyspicks.com/

I use the Slick Pick (in Delron) and sometimes the Regular (in polycarb).

Awesome...

Bob Knight · Post by **Bob Knight** » 8 Dec 2003 7:35 pm

Eric,
These are a lot like the hercs, but will stay tight on your thumb. They are the best I've found.

<center><img src="http://imagehost.vendio.com/bin/imagese ... tpicks.jpg" ALT="Image Hosting by Vendio" ></center>
www.jpstrings.com

Bob[This message was edited by Bob Knight on 08 December 2003 at 07:39 PM.]

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 8 Dec 2003 7:40 pm

The Freds look tryable but a bag of 25 is a little too much for a "trial". I see the red ones on Elderly Instruments. Still looking. I'm afraid the Hearses don't look long enough.

EJL[This message was edited by Eric West on 08 December 2003 at 07:41 PM.]

Paddy Long · Post by **Paddy Long** » 8 Dec 2003 8:19 pm

Eric, I used to use Jeff Newmans thumb picks and they were great, but I kept wearing the left hand edge off them because I guess I don't hit the strings perfectly square on. So I tried out the Zookies and they work fine - you can order them with different angles in the blade, marked in degrees off centre. The don't wear out at all now, so the half dozen I bought should last me for years. They might be worth considering.
cheers Paddy

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 8 Dec 2003 8:36 pm

Eric, the Geo.L's are the most comfortable that I have found..although
I'm not sure the point is any longer than the JP's...just something else to check out. Good Luck!

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 9 Dec 2003 9:18 am

Like John Macy, I've been hooked on the Fred Kelly picks. I like the slick pick but have been mostly stuck on the speed pick for a couple of years now. I believe I saw Mr. Emmons using the orange speed pick this year in St. Louis, FWIW. I use the heavier white one.

Brad Sarno

[This message was edited by Brad Sarno on 09 December 2003 at 09:22 AM.]

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 9 Dec 2003 10:47 am

Anybody got any pix of the Jeffran picks?

I'd think there'd be a pick that is closer to the hercs but a little more substantial without going to the "clubbier" picks.

Like I said, the hercs don't seem to be quite what they "used to be", but then what is..?

Also don't see a current Geo L website.

THanks

EJL

Bob Knight · Post by **Bob Knight** » 9 Dec 2003 11:27 am

www.georgels.com

Darvin Willhoite · Post by **Darvin Willhoite** » 9 Dec 2003 12:48 pm

I used small, narrow thumb picks until they all disappeared. They were only about 1/4" wide and evidently no one has made them for several years. I started using Fred Kelly picks a year or so ago and like them really well. They are just a little small for my thumb so they don't last but a couple of months before they break, but I always have a spare handy.

------------------
Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording

Bobby Snell · Post by **Bobby Snell** » 9 Dec 2003 2:43 pm

Golden Gate brand thumbpicks are real nice.

Ben Slaughter · Post by **Ben Slaughter** » 9 Dec 2003 4:17 pm

Another vote for the Fred Kelly pics.

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Ben
Zum D10, NV400, POD, G&L Guitars, etc, etc.

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 9 Dec 2003 6:25 pm

The Red Freds looked OK until I saw a pic of a green one that looked way too thick and wide. I wish there was a lical place I could look through a selection. If I have to wait til Feb to descend on Bobbes store I'll just have to..

I got a pic of the Red Jeffrans, and it looks like it might be worth getting a couple and fire up the old cutting torch and form one myself and see that they are like.

I have always liked the blue herc like I said, but it seems that the qualoty has gone down from when I first started using them. I end up superglueing them on for gigs.

Thanks for anybody posting pix. I'll still be looking around.

EJL

matt uelmen · Post by **matt uelmen** » 9 Dec 2003 6:30 pm

i like the propik with the plastic bolted onto the metal.

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 9 Dec 2003 7:01 pm

Eric, if you're having trouble with the blue Herco's slipping off, here's a tip that Jerry Fessenden passed along to me years ago.

On the inside of the flat portion of the pick, where it rests on your thumb, score some vertical lines in the plastic with a utility knife or even a sharp pocket knife. It makes a world of difference.

This might work on other picks too, but works especially well on that type of flexible plastic.

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 10 Dec 2003 5:36 pm

Just like Paddy, I really dug the Newman picks, great feel and "tone", but wore 'em out way fast. The Zookies are the thing for me. Some folks make fun of the angle idea but it's really great in my book. I never wear 'em out, they eventually break at the top.

------------------
Stop by the Steel Store at: www.markvanallen.com

Larry R · Post by **Larry R** » 11 Dec 2003 3:16 pm

All, Jeff Newman was carrying 2 different style of picks, the Red/White and the Yellow/Black. The Red/White wears out quicker and is more brittle that the Yellow/Black pick. Here's the good news, Jeff still carries the R/W pick. Now the bad news, his supplier can no longer get the material to make the Y/B pick which was stronger and more stable than the material used in the R/W pick. I have contacted Jeff about trying to get the Y/B picks and he told me his supplier could no longer get the material (resin) for the Y/B model. Hopefully this will change but at present, Jeff can not get the Yellow/Blk picks.

Larry

Eddie D.Bollinger · Post by **Eddie D.Bollinger** » 11 Dec 2003 7:56 pm

Peavey has some Great Thumbpicks Too!

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Eddie B.
Carter D-10
8 & 2many
msm@tycom.net

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 11 Dec 2003 10:12 pm

I've been using the Fred Kelly thumb picks also.
Frenchy sells them. As many or as few as you want.

Bob

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 12 Dec 2003 1:42 am

ANybody got a better pic of the Freds? Can't make much of the website photos.

I'm still looking. Harley James says he's got a couple OLD dark Hercos, and Bob Knight is sending me a couple to check.

It's just hard to find the one that you want to use for a couple years or more.

I wind up scraping the skin/superglue layers off my pore old blue herc, and the replacement is a newer onr that is just not going to cut it.

I'll also check into the peaveys, George Ls if I get on the phone tomorrow.

You'd think Portland woulf have places with a better selection, but ROTB I can't think of anywhere that's even got blue hercs. Maybe Pioneer Music. Seema like I checked there though.

Thanks.

EJL

Robert Thomas · Post by **Robert Thomas** » 12 Dec 2003 2:10 am

HI Eric, I have used Dunlop for years now and I don't have a problem with them at all. I guess it's all in what we assume is best. They come in small, medium and large. Weathers Music in Salem always has a fine selection to choose from.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 12 Dec 2003 7:20 am

My grandson broke my favorite thumb pick a couple of years ago. I looked around and finally ordered one from Frenchy' in Belen, NM. It has a piece of tortoise shell stuck onto the picking part and I really like it for feel and tone. It was a little pricey but I only buy a new thumb pick every 10 years or so, so what the heck!
Erv

Jerry Clardy · Post by **Jerry Clardy** » 13 Dec 2003 6:48 pm

Jeff Newman has picks I like.

Here's the link. http://www.jeffran.com/accessories/accessories.htm