Stainless steel picks?

Re: Stainless steel picks?

I use Ice Pix metal picks. MY favorite is Copper, nice attack without the "pick noise." I do like the Stainless Steel, just prefer the Copper. Have you tried a pick made from bone? (like a bone nut and saddle?) Wooden picks are nice too–Ebony is my favorite.
 
Re: Stainless steel picks?

Copper eh? I would never have considered metal picks before, until I saw this offer on the "Alice" ones. But I am concerned about the string wear. But then again, since I'm not a pro player, string wear may not be an issue for me.
 
Re: Stainless steel picks?

ArtieToo said:
Copper eh? I would never have considered metal picks before, until I saw this offer on the "Alice" ones. But I am concerned about the string wear. But then again, since I'm not a pro player, string wear may not be an issue for me.
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Yup, copper! When my setup the copper gets a bell like response, mahagony and rosewood gets more of a mellow response, the bone pick is probably the loudest--barely strum at all...I don't care for it on my electrics like I do on my acoustics. It's subtle but enough of a difference in attack that I very it depending on if I'm playing a soft dog or a driving song. The copper is strong but very flexible. I have noticed string wear from the copper, but I like to change my strings pretty regularly.

I have tons of the copper picks because the youth group at the last church I went to liked to "borrow" them...lol I'll make sure a copper pick gets in the Iceman case before the trade ;)
 
Re: Stainless steel picks?

Cool. And I'll bring an "Alice" with me in case you want to check it out.
 
Re: Stainless steel picks?

I used copper picks pretty much exclusively in the late 80s. They had a bit of flex so they weren't as stiff as the stainless ones described above. I never noticed a major effect on string life but they did scratch the crap out of the top of my guitar. My #1 guitar from that period has crazy pick rash.
 
Re: Stainless steel picks?

aleclee said:
I used copper picks pretty much exclusively in the late 80s. They had a bit of flex so they weren't as stiff as the stainless ones described above. I never noticed a major effect on string life but they did scratch the crap out of the top of my guitar. My #1 guitar from that period has crazy pick rash.
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No big deal, just a little love stain:
FB_IMG_1419684932764.jpg


I have become much more accurate now with a much softer touch but when I first starting using a SS pick that's what happened. The very bottom marking is from heavy trem use.
 
Re: Stainless steel picks?

aleclee said:
I used copper picks pretty much exclusively in the late 80s. They had a bit of flex so they weren't as stiff as the stainless ones described above. I never noticed a major effect on string life but they did scratch the crap out of the top of my guitar. My #1 guitar from that period has crazy pick rash.
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I agree–the copper is not stiff like the stainless. I use to scratch the fool out of my acoustics, haven't had too much trouble with electrics but I like to rest my palm on the tremolo most of the time and rarely go into a full hard strum on electric.

SnakeAces said:
No big deal, just a little love stain:
FB_IMG_1419684932764.jpg


I have become much more accurate now with a much softer touch but when I first starting using a SS pick that's what happened. The very bottom marking is from heavy trem use.
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Natural relicing there! :D
 
Re: Stainless steel picks?

I've been using copper picks for years. They're the really thin ones, not sure who made them. They are the ones with three horizontal slits in them to help keep your grip. I have some "hot picks" brand still in the packaging because I haven't worn out the originals. Last time I was in Nashville, I picked up a V-pick and a thin stainless pick at Gruhn Guitars. I use the V-pick sparingly, haven't really gelled with the feel of it. But, the stainless pick has become my favorite. I'll have to grab a few more this summer when we go back.

I still have some red Gator Grips and light Ultex picks that I have use on acoustics, so I don't damage the tops on them.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Re: Stainless steel picks?

DKSEARS said:
I've been using copper picks for years. They're the really thin ones, not sure who made them. They are the ones with three horizontal slits in them to help keep your grip. I have some "hot picks" brand still in the packaging because I haven't worn out the originals. Last time I was in Nashville, I picked up a V-pick and a thin stainless pick at Gruhn Guitars. I use the V-pick sparingly, haven't really gelled with the feel of it. But, the stainless pick has become my favorite. I'll have to grab a few more this summer when we go back.

I still have some red Gator Grips and light Ultex picks that I have use on acoustics, so I don't damage the tops on them.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

I believe those are Ice Pix...they make the copper pics I use and are very thin with the 3 slits at the top
 
Re: Stainless steel picks?

I'm using a stainless steel pick on this jam, the person recording it didn't start recording until halfway through the jam so it kinda starts in a weird spot. Anyway, these are the Alice stainless steel picks that ArtieToo posted.

 
Re: Stainless steel picks?

Here are stages of wear on an Elixer acoustic G string played with steel picks (finger pics in this case). Shot through a 40x scope.

image.jpg

So yeah, they can wear out your strings faster than conventional picks.
 
Re: Stainless steel picks?

Sure, but it's just a little fray action. Nothing to panic about as I've stated before. I use the same strings for 3 to 4 months before changing them while playing 3 to 5 hours a day using a SS pick.
 
Re: Stainless steel picks?

I only use Dunlop Stainless Steel 0.51mm. There are stiff but also thin which I like for chords. I would describe 'em as slightly brighter than plastic & wood picks and much clearer. There are cheap and don't wore out, I bought five seven years ago and I'm still using the same pick.

 
Re: Stainless steel picks?

It of course depends on your attack, but the pics above don't show just a little fray action - those strings started life as round wounds, and ended flat wound on the picking side. The bronze wrap is worn half way through.

Might not be as bad with nickel plated steel strings, or on electric with less aggressive attack. Just saying that all else being equal, they will chew through strings faster if that is of any concern to you.
 
Re: Stainless steel picks?

What are the chances the fretting of the strings does more damage than the stainless steel picks? I usually have to change strings due to fret wear more than anything else.
 
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