Introduction to Metal Picks

ShredCow

New member
Ahhh... so, typical of the wanna-try-everything-else lust in me... I've been exploring metal picks.

Metal picks have pretty much interested me... They have excellent attack, lots of power, bright/clear, allows you to use new techniques, pretty much lasts forever and well, who doesn't want to try and be different? (even in a superficial manner like this. heh.)

However, the bad side of a metal pick? They "kill" strings. They feel (very) scratchy when playing on the wound strings. The pick attack isn't desirable all the time. And preference of course.

However, the metal picks that are readily available are usually of the thinner sort. 0.8mm or 0.6mm thick. And I found that these thin picks are the ones that "catch" in the wound strings and get all scratchy + icky feeling. Also, the thinner they get, the brighter they sound... so you don't get a tone thickening effect at all.

So I went around looking for metal picks that had a concept like the V Pick. Wide tip. Thicker edges. And yeap... verdict - if you can get a metal pick that has a wider tip - the scratchy-ness is reduced (note, REDUCED. Its still slightly scratchy) - so if you can machine one for yourself from a sheet of metal, try to do a shape that is like the V Pick Psycho pick. But if you get a thicker edge - the scratchy-ness is .. gone. But you introduce a heavier pick and really, you'll notice it. Perhaps one could get used to it though. Main thing, scratchy-ness is GONE.

Pretty cool.

Now those thicker/wider picks are expensive, e.g. Dugain. But I found a locally available alternative that has a good compromise of width + thickness.

Its that Planetwaves Satriani Chrome Dome pick. http://www.planetwaves.com/js_chrome_dome.aspx

The chrome pick itself is what, 1 mm thick? 1.1? Its thick enough to reduce scratchy-ness by quite a bit. The tip width is like a regular pick which is okay, familiar shape and stuff - at least its not a pointy tip.

Tone-wise, its surprisingly warm (for a metal pick) plus it does fatten your tone. And its chrome - doesn't tarnish like brass.

Go and try one - its $6.50 I think, for 1 x Chrome Dome + 4 limited ed (yeah, like real) satch plastic picks.

I think the chrome domes are a great way to get started on metal picks.
 
Well... actually Sub...

People don't like metal picks because of the way they feel and the perceived belief that the metal picks will "kill" strings.

But they seem to enjoy the tone a lot.

So I think a good way to start is to make sure you get a pick that feels reasonably familiar. The Chrome Dome above is a pick I'd recommend to get started on - its actually cheap (seriously) for the thickness.

As for "killing" strings - wear-wise, unless you have been playing on the same set of strings for the last 3 mths, i.e. you don't change strings regularly, then there's a cause for worry. Otherwise, if you change a set ever month - then the wear isn't an issue lah. Another string killing technique is to hit your strings really hard and a metal pick will accentuate your pick attack to levels so metal only a metal pick will get you there. So yeah... relax the picking attack ya?


If you got the dough - try the Dugains. Go to ebay and search, you would find some website for Gypsy guitar music stuff. Try the brass pick. Its about the size of a Jazz III but with wonderful tone. Its not meant for jazz btw. There might be large brass/metal dugains available too - these have a hole in the pick, and they are abt the size of a Big Stubby. I have that too, and yes, the weight is an "issue" (gotta get used to it) but the tone is ridiculously heavy yet clear. All the metal dugains have no scratchy-ness.

Oh, side track a little - a bone dugain is wonderfully warm sounding yet clear. Nice for mellow guitar work.

Let's see... Ebay has Q-Pics. Brass stuff but slightly thin. You can request the maker to do a V Pick sized pick though - helps lessen the pick attack. Custom work seems done by hand though - I prefer more consistency in the shape.

There's also the Wirething guitar picks. Google them up. Frankly, while they don't scratch as much - they don't sound very good for a metal pick. Sounds like a thick plastic pick and the way they are made makes pinch harmonics a rather difficult process.

Pickboy makes some metal picks - I got 0.6mm and 0.8mm stainless steel picks. Nicely made. Has the problems of a thin pick. Very bright too.

Uh. There are tec picks but I dislike the sound they have.

Hmmmm... Something like that...
 
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woah, metal picks! \m/

got blues picks, rock picks, jazz picks (hmm, i think I knew it exists, the little red one :D) or not? :D
 
of course, you already own the nose pick(s), yes?

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i was right- you've been using the wrong tools for the wrong job...
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on another note, i was trying to imply that there's no one pick meant for a particular music genre. even the ones labelled 'jazz' aren't meant for that exclusively.
 
Nice article.. You were spot on what I dislike about metal picks..

For one, it sounds scratchy (to my obvious dislike, I react to this sound similarly to how people react to metal forks scraping on a plastic plate)..

It kills strings.. I only used the pick for a week or two before I left is somewhere and misplace it.. And unfortunately, at that point of time I was using coated strings.. Well the coating did come off quickly (I know, I was dumb at that time).. But I believe it will kill strings (non-coated) ones as well..

But one thing is for sure, it sure as hell lasts! Tone-wise, I still like em Stubby picks or Jazz IIIs.. :mrgreen::mrgreen:
 
i was right- you've been using the wrong tools for the wrong job...
121fs725372.gif


on another note, i was trying to imply that there's no one pick meant for a particular music genre. even the ones labelled 'jazz' aren't meant for that exclusively.


LOL, of course I know bro :P, the reason i put this ":D" smiley on my sentence. Just because there's a word 'jazz' doesn't mean it's for playing jazz :D You are too serious, encik guru.
If that's the case, so Blues driver is for playing blues only then LOL
 
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my only experience with metal picks are the teckpick aluminium and brass ones.

the aluminium ones are pure crap, i wear them out after 2-3 songs of lots of heavy palm muting :P
the brass ones last longer, has a pretty decent warm attack also.
 
I been quite skeptical about using metal picks from the start. Maybe i should give them a shot soon. But me love delrin picks. Heh.
 
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