Gold-Plated Picks?

[Michael Luxem]

I am curious about the benefit of gold-plated picks. Does anyone have experience in comparing such picks to other coatings? Does gold give a softer tone? Or a smoother release off the string?
BTW, I am not finding any gold-plated picks for sale and in stock online.

[Howard Parker]

Gold plate is fragile. I've never seen or heard of a gold plated pick. Unless I'm mistaken, that photo is probably of 2 unplated, brass picks. Very common.

hp

[Michael Luxem]

Howard -- I agree that brass picks are common and may be mistaken for gold-plated picks. And yes, gold is a soft metal, so durability could be a problem depending on the alloy composition. One of the websites where I found gold-plated picks listed ($14.95 a pair), but sold out, was this one:
https://store.banjobenclark.com/product ... dividually

Michael

[Howard Parker]

You got me there.

They wouldn't last long on my fingers. I burned through gold plated hardware on my dobro in 8 months.

Good luck with em'.

If you can find them.

h

[Jon Voth]

And as a tubist, I had a gold plated mouthpiece. In about a year it reverted to a silver plated mouthpiece. It looks pretty but won't last!

[Jeff Peterson]

The plating would probably wear off at string contact in one night. I tend to melt nationals in a matter of months, so for me harder/tougher is better. Jeff Newman's picks were too soft for me, and kinda too light.

[Franklin]

The National gold plated picks sound awesome. I have been using the same set of gold plated picks for about four years now. No complaints!

[David Wisson]

Hi Michael I have national gold picks been using them for about 20 years. 0.13 and 0.15 thou with a Dunlop thumb pick. They are part of my hand now. I wear them pushed all the way on. Love em Dave