Has anybody tried brass or plastic picks?

[Mike Perlowin RIP]

And it so, how did you like them?

Inquiring minds want to know

[D Schubert]

I have used brass fingerpicks for 15+ years...Dunlop 0.025" gage. Started using them because they produced an audibly deeper tone on finger-picked guitar and Dobro. Have tried others -- including the real-deal collectible vintage Nationals -- but have decided to stick with my old reliables.

[Fred Justice]

Hey Mike,please read my thread under steel players,im looking for a special kind of dunlop pick,maybe you can help me ,thanks,Fred.

[Travis Bernhardt]

I've tried plastic fingerpicks on my reso.

The good: They're much more comfortable than metal, especially over a long period of time since they don't dig into your fingers. They're quiet on the strings, and they're smooth and fast.

The bad: They're a little quieter.

The subjective: The tone is slightly different, maybe not as bright, and it's hard to get ones that fit just right, although I suppose you could heat and bend them.

-Travis

[David L. Donald]

I have a brass Dunlop on finger 2. it is a bit less bright, but only slightly and since that finger is almost always on higher notes, it seems to balance well.

[Kevin Post]

I use ProPiks for steel guitar. They are brass, double wrap (or single wrap) finger picks that angle back to strike the string evenly.

They are as thick as dunlop .025s, but more comfortable, and pliable.

Also, they have a quieter attack.

Their webpage is guptillmusic.com
<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Kevin Post on 26 May 2003 at 12:21 PM.]</p></FONT>

[Joe Kaufman]

I have a pair of brass finger picks that I use quite a bit, they seem to be a little more comfortable and allow me to "feel" the strings a little bit better. But they tend to not stay on as well and are a little less bright sounding.

[William Steward]

Kevin - which of the models of Propik have you found you like the best....I see they come in different shapes and styles. Did you try a variety before settling on one in particular. Less accomplished, but nonetheless inquiring...minds need to know.

[Kevin Post]

I ordered a whole bunch of different picks several years ago to try them out. I wound up ordering several more of the large reso single-wrap.

The thumbpicks are amazing. I love the metal-plastic good-grip picks. The metal bands form to your thumb, but the plastic striking edge has the right tone.

Try the split-wrap reso picks. I still use those sometimes.

I believe that any musician could easily get hooked on these topshelf picks.

[Wayne Cox]

I started using the Dunlop Brass finger picks about 13 years ago. I started by fitting one to my 3rd finger,because of my lack of dexterity in that digit. The 3rd finger would "clank" occasionally,and the brass was simply quieter when it did! The ones I have are slightly different from the ones currently marketed. I think they discontinued the ones I use. Of course,I bought enough to last me awhile. The ones I have,do not have the curved or cupped picking surface,but do have the curved surface that wraps around the cuticles. When my hands started getting a little stiff from age,use,& arthritis, I found that my string attack was getting a little bit "clanky" on all my fingers. (I never did like hearing those picks hit the stings,as is common among Dobro players) Anyway,I found that the softer Brass picks reduced the amount of "pick noise". Sooo,I've happily used them ever since 1989.
Also, I have found them to be as durable as the old Nationals.~~W.C.~~<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Wayne Cox on 28 May 2003 at 04:13 PM.]</p></FONT>

[Joe Miraglia]

For years I used plastic,had too change so I could keep up with the big boys. You know that Tone . Joe