News/Newsletter 4.08
"Pic-turesque"
With most recipes there is usually more than one
component. This of course is true for a guitar's
sound. Whether it's the weather outside or how much
your own PH affects the longevity of strings, there
are a host of factors contributing to the sound of
your guitar. One challenge for most guitarists is
finding strings that suit their taste. A second
challenge is the choice of pic or plectrum, if you
will. The type of pic to use may not be a concern for
many people, but for me it's paramount.
When I complete an instrument, I spend a lot of time
in the first two weeks playing it, trying to examine
the guitar's tone. There is no better way to test a
guitar's sound than by playing it with a cornucopia of
pics.
I generally gravitate towards pics that range from
1.14mm to 2mm, with a 2mm graphite being my mainstay.
If you like to play driving bluegrass, maximize the
volume potential of the guitar or warm up the low end,
these are the boys. The thickness of the pic is half
of the story - the other half is the pic's material.
Violin players can spend thousands upon thousands of
dollars on high priced, well-made bows. I have seen
violin bows in excess of $70,000!! So consider
yourself lucky if you play guitar. An investment of $5
to $25 will do the trick. If you have never taken the
time to experiment with pics it is worth every penny.
You will be amazed at the results.
There are so many different kinds of pics available it
will make your head spin. Some examples of materials
are celluloid, stone, graphite, tortoise and imitation
tortoise plastics. Here are two websites I strongly
recommend:
www.redbeartrading.com - well-made imitation tortoise
pics.
www.wegenpicks.com - another variety of
tortoise-inspired pics.
Take a look at these two websites, and you'll discover
a huge assortment of great sounding pics. Buy a bunch,
and give your instrument a new lease on life. Changing
your pic to something that really suits your personal
needs can do amazing things for your tone and your
playing. And you may just discover it wasn't your
guitar after all. Take your pic!
Frankie Montuoro
4.08
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