V-picks question

[blindacolyte]

Hi everyone. i had acquired some v picks a few months back, and i am totally satisfied with the tone produced by the picks playing lead. But i have a problem, whenever i switch to playing fast rhythm i find that i can see scratch marks on the pick, which causes friction and thus my rhythm playing -50% compared to other picks.
Does anyone else encounter this problem? i tried changing vpicks but this problem comes back after 2 or 3 days. Don't tell me to change picks, cos i really like the tone produced by vpicks. Thanks

 

[EugeneSmasher]

Actually I had almost the same problem as you. I'd usually play harder to overcome the friction, but the sheer hardness and thickness of the picks really wears my strings down, main reason why I don't use V-picks anymore. But if you wanna stick with 'em, ya gotta play harder (i.e. use more wrist strength).

 

[ShredCow]

Hi everyone. i had acquired some v picks a few months back, and i am totally satisfied with the tone produced by the picks playing lead. But i have a problem, whenever i switch to playing fast rhythm i find that i can see scratch marks on the pick, which causes friction and thus my rhythm playing -50% compared to other picks.
Does anyone else encounter this problem? i tried changing vpicks but this problem comes back after 2 or 3 days. Don't tell me to change picks, cos i really like the tone produced by vpicks. Thanks

When you play rhythm - you're usually playing on the wound strings correct?

Unless the scratches on the V Pick are so ... big and deep... I don't see how they affect your rhythm playing (on the wound strings).

I think what you are experiencing is just the new-found feel of the V Picks especially if you got the pointy ones. Those have a bit more friction than the regular rounded V Picks.

Check your picking position, your fingers and your wrist movements.

In time, you'll notice yourself flying with the V Pick... and if you switch to thinner picks, you'll notice you actually play faster, more accurately and better - just that the change in tone is significant.

So yah, just chill, watch your technique and please report back here on any progress.



btw, I'm using a psycho v pick - that is 5.66mm thick. I can still play okay fast.

 

[theblueark]

I've found the thicker v-picks aren't too good for funky rhythm riffs. They're really nice for leads though. I found a good balance with the v-pick lites.

 

[klover]

any of you guys find the your v pick gets blunt after a while? i'm using the psycho now which is ok.. but my previous vpick pointed became blunt after a while..

also.. anyone noticed that the acrylic sounds of the pick is overly pronounced when playing dotted 8s? that's a problem i've experienced.. with the psycho at least.. on the smaller picks it isn't so bad.

 

[gsonique]

Maybe this can help for the strum-a-lots.....

 

[ShredCow]

any of you guys find the your v pick gets blunt after a while? i'm using the psycho now which is ok.. but my previous vpick pointed became blunt after a while..

also.. anyone noticed that the acrylic sounds of the pick is overly pronounced when playing dotted 8s? that's a problem i've experienced.. with the psycho at least.. on the smaller picks it isn't so bad.

i think the psycho just forces one to play properly in order to minimise such things.

Its so big, its so ... clumsy!

I do think there's a limit to how agile one can get with that fat thing but then again... it sounds great....

 

[Whitestrat]

I've found the thicker v-picks aren't too good for funky rhythm riffs.

You should watch Shredcow do exactly just that with his scary looking monster V-Pick... It's so bloody big and chunky that I can't even think of using it... For some reason, he can handle it rather well... I still stick to my familiar Dunlops...:mrgreen:

 

[Danelectrico]

I think at the end of the day it's personal preference. I had the smaller pointed Vpick which I thought would be perfect for me as it's about the same size as the Kradls i've been using for years...turned out i hated it, the pointed edges were getting in the way. The medium rounded Vpick - found the edges too smooth, i didn't like the tone.

The medium pointed Vpick is perfect for me, i don't find the thickness a problem at all (in fact it's almost like the Kradl's raised stepped ledge). It's really fast, and the smooth material doesn't catch the strings so it's perfect for sweeps, especially downward. The tone's excellent too, you can pick hard or soft and the nuances come out. To me it's fantastic for rhythm as well, anything from funky 16ths to chugging - way better in that department than other pointy picks such as the Jazz III or the Hio Speedpick - so no issues there.

So far I haven't got the catches / dents at the sides as the TS mentioned. I was kinda skeptical about these Vpicks at first but I have to say I'm pretty much converted now.