Dannyalcatraz Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 I'm in an experimental mood, and I'm thinking about trying out some alternative plectrums. What are your opinions on: 1) The Jellifish http://www.musiciansfriend.com/navi...q=jellyfish&st= 2) The Ebow. I've seen Andy Timmons use it in concert, but I don't personally know anyone who has used one. Easy? Hard? http://accessories.musiciansfriend....itar?sku=219005 3) Stone guitar picks http://www.picksandstones.com/ http://www.expectone.com/jpick.html http://www.realrock.us/ https://shop.rocks4u.com/index.asp?...earch=GO&Page=1 http://www.suncreekmusic.com/produc...products_id/980 Sturgeon's 2nd Law, a.k.a. Sturgeon's Revelation: âNinety percent of everything is crapâ My FLMS- Murphy's Music in Irving, Tx http://murphysmusictx.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skipclone 1 Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 Jellifish sounds interesting. Stone picks are really nice for gliding across strings with little or no friction but they can be slippery and some break easily. I`m a fan of these, lots of choices and the shape allows a pretty solid grip: www.dugainpicks.com Same old surprises, brand new cliches- Skipsounds on Soundclick: www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandid=602491 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dannyalcatraz Posted January 2, 2009 Author Share Posted January 2, 2009 Thanks for that link- I particularly liked what he said about the mammoth ivory picks. Hilarious! Sturgeon's 2nd Law, a.k.a. Sturgeon's Revelation: âNinety percent of everything is crapâ My FLMS- Murphy's Music in Irving, Tx http://murphysmusictx.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillWelcome Home Studios Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 For years I used stone picks, but they do break when you drop them, and it is hard to find that perfect thickness, so when you do and you break it... I don't think too much of my ebow. Hardly ever use it. I used to be pretty particular about picks... I liked the Gibson heavys, because they did not flex at all. The Fenders flex when they warm up. I have a stainless steel pick given to me by one of the Def Leopard guys, but it just chews the strings up very baddly. Neat sound, though. Now I don't care what I use, I'll play with anything handy. I do buy either gator grip or pro grip by the half gross bag, around a 1mm. Bill "I believe that entertainment can aspire to be art, and can become art, but if you set out to make art you're an idiot." Steve Martin Show business: we're all here because we're not all there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
02R96 Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 I like the free picks they give out at Guitar Center! Dan "I hate what I've become, trying to escape who I am..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caevan O’Shite Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 Say, Dannyalcatraz- wouldn't a sturgeon's thoughts be more like, Ninety percent of everything is carp?? Personally, I play fingerstyle most of the time, no picks of any kind; but I do find good quality picks to be a fun novelty and an impulse-buy (at least I don't wear 'em out!). I have a "Tuskbuffer" (no longer in business) fossil-ivory mammoth-tusk pick that was a gift; the material does give a nice tone, less plastic-y sounding than, well, plastic picks; but it also has a terrible taste (y'know, when you stick the pick in your mouth to hold it while playing fingerstyle or with a bow, etc.?). Makes me wonder if mammoths went around all day thinking, "Yiiickh, what an awful aftertaste I've got in my mouf..." (Well, they probably played their guitars fingerst- ehr, toe-style now and then, too!) Here's another maker of large, interesting picks: Wegen Picks His Gypsyjazzpick model (can you guess who the targeted players are? ) is made from a proprietery material that's supposed to have properties very similar to tortoise-shell with higher durability; apparently popular with the European acoustic jazz camp. You can do a lot with an E-Bow, if you want to put some time into it. They have demos of a guy doing all kinds of stuff with one; he's like a frickin' E-Bow magician. They're not hard to use at all, really, especially for the most basic applications. But most folks don't seem to experiment with 'em much, and their novelty wears off soon. The Jellifish is worth having, even if you don't use it as your main pick all the time. Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GovernorSilver Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 I bought a Jellyfish but haven't used it yet. I tend to spend too much time working on songs that don't require it. That doesn't mean that I wasted my money - it's just the sort of thing that tends to get more use when I'm working with my bandmate on song ideas. I also play cello, which we intend to record for our band demos. But for live shows, I'll probably use Ebow for my cello parts because I don't have a big enough vehicle to fit my guitar and my cello at the same time, as well as other gear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dannyalcatraz Posted January 2, 2009 Author Share Posted January 2, 2009 Thanks for the info, everyone. I also play cello, which we intend to record for our band demos. Hey, brother in bows- I play cello as well! That's why I thought I'd suggest to you my favorite alternative tuning: Robert Fripp's New Standard Tuning. NST is: C-G-D-A-E-G. Seem familiar? You might want to try that tuning out with the ebow. Sturgeon's 2nd Law, a.k.a. Sturgeon's Revelation: âNinety percent of everything is crapâ My FLMS- Murphy's Music in Irving, Tx http://murphysmusictx.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dannyalcatraz Posted January 2, 2009 Author Share Posted January 2, 2009 Caevan, you might want to check out that thread linked to by skipclone 1. That guy carries mammoth tusk picks, just in case you lose the one you have and want to replace it. Sturgeon's 2nd Law, a.k.a. Sturgeon's Revelation: âNinety percent of everything is crapâ My FLMS- Murphy's Music in Irving, Tx http://murphysmusictx.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caevan O’Shite Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 Oh, yeah, the various Dugain picks look sweet! If you like thick picks, and if you use picks... If I happen to use a pick, I do tend to prefer stiffer and heavier types, including those types of massive, thick picks. Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GovernorSilver Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 Thanks for the info, everyone. I also play cello, which we intend to record for our band demos. Hey, brother in bows- I play cello as well! That's why I thought I'd suggest to you my favorite alternative tuning: Robert Fripp's New Standard Tuning. NST is: C-G-D-A-E-G. Seem familiar? You might want to try that tuning out with the ebow. I have a VG-99 so it would be easy enough for me to try Ebow on NST. I'm not that good a cellist, but our band's music does not require more than slow, moody cello parts which I can handle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RocketRick Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 This thread has got me thinkng..I have some ivory. Petrified and regular. I made tear drop earrings once and made my ex's wedding band. Metal with ivory ring glued and inset into the silver.. Hmm....maybe I'll try and carve an ivory pick..Neat idea! Thanks Money may buy a fine dog, but only kindness will make him wag his tail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theTragicRich Posted January 2, 2009 Share Posted January 2, 2009 Never used a jellyfish, sounds interesting though not sure how often something like that could be used. Similar to my Ebow. The Ebow is cool when used in the right context. They take some getting used to, and to be honest, mine has been it it's bag most of it's life. For $99, you'd better have some good ideas up front or it'll end up like mine LOL. [Carvin] XB76WF - All Walnut 6-string fretless [schecter] Stiletto Studio 5 Fretless | Stiletto Elite 5 [Ampeg] SVT3-Pro | SVT-410HLF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dannyalcatraz Posted January 3, 2009 Author Share Posted January 3, 2009 Thanks for the info, everyone. I also play cello, which we intend to record for our band demos. Hey, brother in bows- I play cello as well! That's why I thought I'd suggest to you my favorite alternative tuning: Robert Fripp's New Standard Tuning. NST is: C-G-D-A-E-G. Seem familiar? You might want to try that tuning out with the ebow. I have a VG-99 so it would be easy enough for me to try Ebow on NST. I'm not that good a cellist, but our band's music does not require more than slow, moody cello parts which I can handle. Well, my cello has been gathering dust for some time, but with NST, I feel I could pick it up and be able to be competent with it...maybe. The added dimension of playing full chords on an NST tuned guitar is, to me, a lot more fun than synchronized bowing, though. Sturgeon's 2nd Law, a.k.a. Sturgeon's Revelation: âNinety percent of everything is crapâ My FLMS- Murphy's Music in Irving, Tx http://murphysmusictx.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
souvenir Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 Apparently the Jellifish doesn't last very long. I guess you could get a triangular pick and tape some old guitar strings to it to get a similiar sound. I use a 1.14mm Snarling Dog nylon pick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillWelcome Home Studios Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 There are a lot of cool picks out there, and all of them have some good points about them which make them fun to use. But in the long run, it was just too much to keep looking for them. If I ever get real egotistical again, I'm going to have Dunlop make some with my logo out of the Ultex material. I love the couple of Ultex picks that I brought home from NAMM a few years ago. But when you buy common picks like the gatorgrip or progrips in large qualities, they are always laying around and they are what gets used. The Rock'N'Roll GirlFriend bought 2 different hardwood picks and an ivory pick for me. Interesting, but not an every-day tool. Bill "I believe that entertainment can aspire to be art, and can become art, but if you set out to make art you're an idiot." Steve Martin Show business: we're all here because we're not all there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caevan O’Shite Posted January 3, 2009 Share Posted January 3, 2009 This thread has got me thinkng..I have some ivory. Petrified and regular. I made tear drop earrings once and made my ex's wedding band. Metal with ivory ring glued and inset into the silver.. Hmm....maybe I'll try and carve an ivory pick..Neat idea! Thanks Keep us posted, and give us pics of your picks! Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skipclone 1 Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 The difference between plastic or celluloid and other materials is just too huge to ignore for me. Interestingly I think almost every country in the world produces some kind of small zippered case made of leather or some sort of textile. I have several that I use for pick cases-I did lose one a long time ago in Taipei which fizzed me off tremendously since that means there goes the whole collection, but no problems since then. Picks laying around randomly is not cool in my book, too messy. Same old surprises, brand new cliches- Skipsounds on Soundclick: www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandid=602491 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillWelcome Home Studios Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 ... Picks laying around randomly is not cool in my book, too messy. Well, I have the two small plastic boxes of various picks which sat open in the studio so that any player had access to picks when they needed them... amazing how many guys will show up to record without a pick, and they never seem to want to use the brand/thickness that you use. So all those odd picks that I have tried or picked up at NAMM over the years live there so that they are readilly available. Granted, that was much more useful in the studio than in my little writing room, but it is still better to have them out than to have to stop and go look for them. And thent he ones that I use... yeah, they're on every flat surface of the writing room, and I like it like that. Bill "I believe that entertainment can aspire to be art, and can become art, but if you set out to make art you're an idiot." Steve Martin Show business: we're all here because we're not all there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skipclone 1 Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 As a side note, there are more materials than shown on the Dugain site. I have several wood types that are not shown and I also have one of abalone-kind of expensive but it plays like butta. Of the ones that are there I always go to the red jasper, it doesn`t slip or slide around and it`s basically frictionless. Anyway IMO picks are one of those things that don`t just affect sound, it really changes what you can play. Same old surprises, brand new cliches- Skipsounds on Soundclick: www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandid=602491 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillWelcome Home Studios Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 ..., it really changes what you can play. I feel the same way. Bill "I believe that entertainment can aspire to be art, and can become art, but if you set out to make art you're an idiot." Steve Martin Show business: we're all here because we're not all there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RocketRick Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 I was wondering how they are sized. Looks like some use mm. I like the real thins ones that have the grip surface etched in or that raised thumb-hold deal on them. Need to find a good source. I usually go to the music store and pick up several and bend them. If their very flexible, I use em. No brand names on them. Money may buy a fine dog, but only kindness will make him wag his tail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GovernorSilver Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 Well, my cello has been gathering dust for some time, but with NST, I feel I could pick it up and be able to be competent with it...maybe. The added dimension of playing full chords on an NST tuned guitar is, to me, a lot more fun than synchronized bowing, though. Bowing is the hardest part of playing the cello for me. I was lucky enough to attend New Directions Cello Festival 2006 while Lindsay Mac was there as one of the instructors. She has all but abandoned the bow, using her cello to accompany her singing. She has a strap rigged so that she can play her cello standing up like a guitar. She uses her thumb to strum chords - it's amazing how fast she can strum with her thumb and fingers. She taught a class in which we learned some strumming basics and the fingerstyle cello accompaniment to one of her ballads. Man, playing those chords with good intonation is so hard for me. I learned guitar before cello, so I'm used to normal guitar tuning. The VG-99 though lets me instantly switch to other tunings such as DADGAD, open G, etc. so I've had fun with those. A cello is roughly in the 27" scale range, so a baritone guitar tuned all 5ths, highest string being E, might be worth considering as a fretted companion to cello, just like fiddlers like mandolin (tuned just like violin/fiddle, all 5ths). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trushack Posted January 4, 2009 Share Posted January 4, 2009 Some days I like Tortex, some days I like celluloid, some days I like nylon, some days I like Heavys, some days mediums, yada yada yada. Lately, I've been using this thin, red Fender Custom Shop pick I had lying around. It's probably something like .50mm. This is partly the reason why I can't use picks made out of stone/ivory/whatever. I'd just lose 'em! As for the Ebow, it's one of those things that you either have to be very inspired by and/or willing to put in some time with. All it really does is make the string vibrate forever, though where you place it in relation to the pickup you're using will have some effect too (as well as the harmonic mode, if your Ebow has that). Getting all the woodwind, brass, bowed and other sounds can take a bit of work, and it's hard to do that stuff on the fly. BUT, I did use one with one of my old bands for bowed/cello sounds on a couple of songs and every once in a while someone would come up to me and say "Holy crap, how did you get that sound?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Iverson Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 I love the E-bow, but haven't used it enough to master it. Everyone should hear the cassette that comes it - it's INCREDIBLE the variety of tones the thing is capable of! But the couple of times I've used it on stage people have always enjoyed it. I have a sarod pick that I like to use - the sarod is an Indian fretless string instrument with a very powerful sound. My pick is made out of coconut and is great for lead, but not good for fast strumming. I'd use it onstage, but unlike my plastic picks of which I keep several in my wallet, the sarod pick is prone to break in that context. I had to pay $20 for it, so that's a factor, too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlChuck Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 I'm surprised this thread got as long as it has without anyone mentioning the V-pick! http://www.v-picks.com/ I just started using them a couple of weeks ago, and I'm really liking them. I like the way they feel, they glide over the string almost like a stone pick, but they sound better and are more comfortable to hold. When I first started playing, and for many years, I played heavy Fender Jazz picks (small teardrop shape). I always seemed to have trouble hanging on to them, especially while playing rhythm parts... so one day the light bulb went off and I thought, maybe if I change picks and experiment I'll find something I can hang onto better? So I started just buying every new pick I came across that satisfied certain criteria - basically, heavy (rigid) picks. I have a couple of little bowls full of many different shapes and sizes and colors and materials of heavy picks. I reached the point where almost any of them were pretty satisfactory, though I gravitated to some favorites, like the Dunlop Ultex, Gator Grip, and JazzTones, PickBoy Jazz, Metacarbonate, and Ceramic raised-grip, and Cool Picks Ultra. I tried a couple of other picks too, like an agate pick, a pick from TuskBuffer made of fossil woolly mammoth tusk, and some other pick made from some sort of animal horn. All had their various charms but, until the V-picks, none really excited me very much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caevan O’Shite Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 I wish I knew what the Hell ever happened to Tuskbuffer! Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad Thorne Posted January 10, 2009 Share Posted January 10, 2009 Makes me wonder if mammoths went around all day thinking, "Yiiickh, what an awful aftertaste I've got in my mouf..." http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e397/reifspano/Smileys/lol-045.gif I use extra-heavy Herco flat/thumbpicks for guitar and mandolin both; bass, too, when I play pickstyle (not often). BTW, not to be a dink (actually, I love being a dink, it's fun for no money), but the plural of "plectrum" is "plectra." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dannyalcatraz Posted January 12, 2009 Author Share Posted January 12, 2009 Makes me wonder if mammoths went around all day thinking, "Yiiickh, what an awful aftertaste I've got in my mouf..." http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e397/reifspano/Smileys/lol-045.gif BTW, not to be a dink (actually, I love being a dink, it's fun for no money), but the plural of "plectrum" is "plectra." According to Merriam-Webster and others, either form is correct. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plectrum http://www.thefreedictionary.com/plectrums Sturgeon's 2nd Law, a.k.a. Sturgeon's Revelation: âNinety percent of everything is crapâ My FLMS- Murphy's Music in Irving, Tx http://murphysmusictx.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad Thorne Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 ...BTW, not to be a dink (actually, I love being a dink, it's fun for no money), but the plural of "plectrum" is "plectra." According to Merriam-Webster and others, either form is correct. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plectrum http://www.thefreedictionary.com/plectrums Others? What others? I want names. While we're at it, it's not "forums," it's "fora." Don't get me started on so-called "power chords..." Or "12:00 a.m. or p.m." Please try to understand. I can't help myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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