[Tech] Pick Scoring

[Cheesebuiscut]

I looked around for different ways to keep the picks from slipping and ended up doing this:



Silver duck tape! Stuff sticks to your fingers if you press down a little bit and holds up well when sweat gets into the mix. Though it doesn't always feel amazing when you do get really sweaty but your pick doesn't go anywhere.

[damigu]

i just score with a knife, but i'm going to try out that heated paperclip idea--it sounds really promising and safer than the knife.

[oldbulllee]

for me, the best and easiest way to mod it, is to apply 4-5-6 ( to your preference, and according to the size/shape of the pick) SMALL drops of cyanoacrylate ( super glue) on each side of the pick, of course, only on the grip area.
works great, and lacerations are not an option.
remember: small drops, just a touch with the opening oh the glue bottle. if you put too much, it could just spread across, and it wouldn't work as well in providing more grip.

[Deadbrog]

Originally Posted by nitelightboy

Is it me or do the black JazzIII's seem to have more grip? I love the black ones, but when ever I need picks, I usually need them right away and can only find the reds. And of course, I never order the black ones online in case I need them later

lol, i do the exact same thing. the red ones slip too much if your hands start to get sweaty.

[jymellis]

i have no problems holding onto my pics, but my buddy srills a single hole through the middle of each pic so his fingers touch.

[Mn3mic]

This is a nice Idea but I think it takes too much time...

You can get the same/similar result by simple carving an X on each side of the pick with any sharp object.

But still a nice idea though

[damigu]

Originally Posted by Mn3mic

You can get the same/similar result by simple carving an X on each side of the pick with any sharp object.

my experience says you are incorrect, sir.

when i first tried scoring a pick, all i did was put an X on each side. it only made a minor difference and i gave up on it for years because it wasn't good enough.

then i decided to make a waffle pattern on each side and it makes a much more significant difference. the dimple thing helps even more.

but these days i use a soldering iron the melt a hole in the center of the pick. once the plastic cools, there are raised edges around the hole that improve the function of the hole itself.

[Mn3mic]

It works for me and is less time consuming.

But my only concern was the live playing, sweat and all that, so basically the carved X was more then enough to get me through live performances...

[stevo1]

i just burn a couple of holes on both sides where i grip on the pick with a soldering iron... i never have a problem, and it lightens the pick.

[Bevo]

I take the tip of the knife and spin it a half turn or so into the pic, it raises the plastic up. About 5 divots on each side works, just don't cut yourself!

Put the pic on a wood surface with is point at 9 O'clock, hold tip with your finger. Put blade on at 12 sharp end up, then rotate clockwise to 6.

[Mukersman]

I don't know how deep you guys want you picks scored, but I just take a key and put a bunches of multidirectional scratches on the thumb side of my dunlop tortex things.

[Unto The Sky]

Cheers for this. Definitely going to try a couple of the methods here. I'm absolutely terrible for dropping picks, a load of my friends have a running joke about it. Sweaty hands FTL!

[AliceAxe]

I don't realy have a problem with holding onto picks myself, i hold them in a way that they pivot between my thumb and first finger , that for me they never silp, I hardly ever lose picks.

But some of my students have had issues and these have been very sucessful for them.

Cactus Picks - Home


as far as the original post, IMO anything that even remotely risks serious harm to a guitarist's hands, especialy over something like better pick grip when there are other options available, is a big FAIL.

[lookralphsbak]

I just use Jazz III max grips. 24 pack is $9.99 on musiciansfriend.

[Jet9]

I just use V-Picks, they actually work BETTER for people with hot/sweaty hands.

[Facebones]

Originally Posted by Jet9

I just use V-Picks, they actually work BETTER for people with hot/sweaty hands.

I used them and personally they work for 5 minutes, then my sweat wins. They might work if you only have mild sweat, but for those of us who produce more than most, they aren't what they claim to be. I didn't even find them to be very good picks in general, they wore down quite fast. I bought some real carbon fiber picks from ebay that need no scoring and won't slip out of your hand. Best of all, they are hard as hell and last for months.

[Jet9]

Originally Posted by Facebones

I used them and personally they work for 5 minutes, then my sweat wins. They might work if you only have mild sweat, but for those of us who produce more than most, they aren't what they claim to be. I didn't even find them to be very good picks in general, they wore down quite fast. I bought some real carbon fiber picks from ebay that need no scoring and won't slip out of your hand. Best of all, they are hard as hell and last for months.

I actually sweat a ton, have really hot hands, and have very acidic sweat(if I don't use elixirs, I have to switch strings 7 times a week ) I've had my 4.1mm dimension junior unbuffed since christmas(just one), and it's been the only pick I've used since then on all of my guitars, and my bass when I'm not playing fingerstyle. I've never once dropped it, and it hasnt shown any signs of wear at all. I haven't tried any v-picks thinner than 2.75mm, maybe that's why our experiences are opposite.

I've actually been looking for carbon fiber picks, what company makes them?

[Facebones]

Originally Posted by Jet9

I actually sweat a ton, have really hot hands, and have very acidic sweat(if I don't use elixirs, I have to switch strings 7 times a week ) I've had my 4.1mm dimension junior unbuffed since christmas(just one), and it's been the only pick I've used since then on all of my guitars, and my bass when I'm not playing fingerstyle. I've never once dropped it, and it hasnt shown any signs of wear at all. I haven't tried any v-picks thinner than 2.75mm, maybe that's why our experiences are opposite.

I've actually been looking for carbon fiber picks, what company makes them?

It was on Ebay, they have crossbones/skull or lighting bolt thing (grateful dead looking thing) on them, I don't know if I'm allowed to post a link here. (They aren't always up, sometimes the listing ends and they seem to wait a little while to post it up again) A little expensive but nice, i got the mediums. I don't use giant picks, mostly between .7 and .9 mm but the mediums are .5 and feel nice. How do big picks work for you??

EDIT: Beware fake carbon fiber picks/ nylon carbon fiber picks, they aren't the same thing, the guy will explicitly say REAL CARBON FIBER

[Jet9]

Originally Posted by Facebones

It was on Ebay, they have crossbones/skull or lighting bolt thing (grateful dead looking thing) on them, I don't know if I'm allowed to post a link here. (They aren't always up, sometimes the listing ends and they seem to wait a little while to post it up again) A little expensive but nice, i got the mediums. I don't use giant picks, mostly between .7 and .9 mm but the mediums are .5 and feel nice. How do big picks work for you??

EDIT: Beware fake carbon fiber picks/ nylon carbon fiber picks, they aren't the same thing, the guy will explicitly say REAL CARBON FIBER

I like to use thicker picks because they allow me to play with a much more loose grip and still hold on well. also, they're good for people with hand cramps for that same reason.

[TRENCHLORD]

I've no idea as to the purity of the fiber itself, but the jazz3 carbon fiber maxgrips are very easy to hold on to sweat or no sweat. After you get used to them(a couple hours or so) you'll notice yourself relaxing more than ever. The tip does seem to wear out alot quicker than the regular nylon or nylon stiffo's wich are also offered in maxgrip. I've heard a couple guys say the grip is so tacky that they have trouble repositioning the pick for certain techniques or when it does accidently get out of position. I personally found that that problem went away after no time at all once you get used to relaxing a hair more.

[saovi]

Stone picks are the only thing I use for 8 string. They are fabulous for digging in and adds a nice detail and resonance to your sound. After using this stone picks years, going back to plastic or carbon fiber just doesn't compare in my opinion. The difference is startling.

[McHeathen]

saw this thread and had to throw in my two cents, i'm partial to clayton 1mm, they're made of something called "acetyl polymer" and have this interesting adhesive to them. if your hands are dry it simply provides friction so the pick don't fly off. but if you start sweating the logo(adhesive) absorbs the sweat and gets slightly stickier, thereby removing the possibility of slippage. it's still manageable enough to move around or reposition, and they also sound pretty good. i used to swear by tortex 1mm, and since i tried these, ain't looked back. they got diff shapes and sizes for em, and the company also does custom logo orders. check em out.

[MatthewLeisher]

Pictures are broken in the OP

[Iron Beard]

ive used this and it works great for me...

Gorilla Snot Musicians Gripping Resin at zZounds

[Max Dread]

Originally Posted by MatthewLeisher

Pictures are broken in the OP

Yeah...

Is there a way of fixing them?