Heavy, medium, light … tiny and pointy or big and chunky … plastic, stone, or steel? Here's how to make sense of the confusing array of plectrum options.
No dis on plastic, but there are many more ways to skin a pick.
While the majority of picks you'll see at the shop are likely a plastic varietal, there are loads of alternative-material options like the 10 here—from wood to bone to stone—that might open a new tone window for you.
BREEZY RIDGE INSTRUMENTS
Handcrafted in India, these rosewood picks are intended to produce full, rich, and strong tones, and have a rounded depression for the thumb and an index-finger curve on the opposite side.
Coconut Stub Tones
These picks are produced from surprisingly hard coconut husk, which delivers clean, bright tones. An indent detail for the thumb and a scooped detail on the underside for the first finger help prevent rotation.
Carbon Fiber Max-Grip Jazz III
Made from molded carbon fiber and featuring a molded-in grip with a combination of coarse and fine textures, these picks are designed to deliver a sharp attack and superior pick control.
Mammoth Ivory Large Triangle
Handcrafted from fossilized woolly mammoth ivory, the material density of these picks produces a bright, strong tone, and provides a surface that doesn’t slip like plastic when fingers sweat.
Designer Series Brazilian Agate
These picks are individually handcrafted from rough stone. Common tone descriptors from players include clean, balanced, buttery, and smooth—depending on the chosen thickness of the pick.
USA Quarter Coin
These copper/nickel “George” picks have liquid-smooth beveled edges that don’t promote string wear—but do help provide standout attack and smooth, bright tone.
Amber Traditional Style Finger Groove
Amber was tree resin millions of years ago, but when condensed and polymerized, it becomes the same density and texture of forbidden-fruit tortoise shell, resulting in similar rich and warm tones.
Rubbers
Made from a unique elastomer (rubber) material, these picks are designed to remove pick noise and provide warm and clean tones reminiscent of finger play.
Mother-of-Pearl Dugdeluxe
These mother-of-pearl picks are ergonomically carved for a comfortable fit between the thumb and index finger, and for a profile that delivers an upstroke sound similar to the downstroke.
Sleek Bone
These warm-tone producing picks are created from very hard, select bone. The bone is worked into a thinner gauge for more universal play and the tips of the picks are sharpened for lead-guitar play.
The picks are made of wear-resistant, high-grade thermoplastic.
San Francisco, CA (May 1, 2015) -- The Gold Series is the new premium line offered by Gravity Guitar Picks. Through three years of research and development with the most premium synthetic materials, along with our new, groundbreaking beveling system, we are proud to finally unveil The Gold Series to the masses. The new beveling system used with The Gold Series enables us to shape each piece with exceptional precision. The logo and pick information is laser-engraved following the shaping process.
The picks in The Gold Series come with a premium price tag and are meant for the player who wants a pick made with the finest material and craftsmanship available. This line compares with top boutique picks such as Red Bear and Blue Chip, which are the same price or significantly higher.
The material is a high grade thermoplastic which is amazingly wear-resistant and has a great grip. There is a sizable difference in volume when compared with a normal pick, enabling you to cut through the mix. The Gold Series is available in 4 thicknesses: 1.0mm, 1.5mm, 2.5mm and 5mm.
For more information:
Gravity Picks