onewilyfool Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 Let me start off by saying, I don't use a thumb pick or metal finger picks, but I have been breaking nails lately, and so finally broke down and tried some of these: http://www.alaskapik.com/ It took me a couple of days to get used to them, I alternated between using a regular thumb pick and the Alaska pick, and find that the Alaska Pick works better for me. You can still "feel" the string, because of the pressure under the nail, and the pad of the finger also touches the string, so touch is there, and one interesting "technique" is that when you use the back of the picks, like brushing the strings with the back of your nails, you get a very nice soft pick sound, that makes for a great strum. Try them out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Lee Walker Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 Just might check those out. I like to fingerpick ragtime and blues on my National Steel, and an old '39 OS Stella that I have. That Stella sounds down and dirty with steel strings and metal fingerpicks. One of those doodle-on-the-sofa guitars while you're watching TV. Haven't found any fingerpicks that feel comfortable tho. These look good - thanks:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onewilyfool Posted December 12, 2008 Author Share Posted December 12, 2008 John lee....just a heads up....they come in small, medium, large and x-large.....My hands are big so X-large for all my fingers and thumb, but I may have to move down to large on my ring finger. One thing that I needed to get used to is the length. It is not longer than some pro fingerpickers I see who have natural or glue on nails....but it took me a while to get the "feel" or it. Note that these pics come in metal too.....which I haven't tried, but I'll bet they are MUCH louder.... let me know what you think. They can be found on line for $1.45 each, which is about the price of a standard thumb pic. I've been using them for quite a while....and they haven't appeared to wear down..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wonderful remark Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 whenever something gets stuck between my nails and fingers... it irritates me... when you wear those picks, do your nails get bothered at all? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suburude63 Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 These are also file able! Try it much better sound! subu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWilson Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 I used a thumb pick and 3 National steel finger picks for about 20 years then quit using them altogether. I have tried these recently and they seem to work quite well. You can feel the string on the pad of your fingers. http://www.elderly.com/accessories/names/propik-%22fingertone%22-nickel-split-wrap-fingerpick--PK47SP.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onewilyfool Posted December 13, 2008 Author Share Posted December 13, 2008 Es-335, it's not like bamboo under the nails to get you to spill spy secrets, but I do notice it. After a while like everything else, you get used to it. By the way, you STILL have to have SOME nail or they keep slipping off. Give them a try. The hardest thing for me was the "feel" of where the strings were.....good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wonderful remark Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 Thank you OWF, I might give them a try .. Good stocking presents.. from my wife... hahaha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Lee Walker Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 The more I read the more I like. Ordered a few just to try 'em out. They sound rather unique... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wonderful remark Posted December 13, 2008 Share Posted December 13, 2008 I just ordered 3 mediums and 1 large.. Yah.. I have small fingers.......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitarstrummer Posted December 14, 2008 Share Posted December 14, 2008 I bought several of these a couple of years ago and could never get used to the feel. Some people swear by them, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brians356 Posted December 15, 2008 Share Posted December 15, 2008 There must be similar ones from a different source. My friend has some that look just like them but I don't think they're "alaska" brand. He likes them, but whenever I try fingerpicks, I constantly clang them on strings because I mute certain strings at times with free fingers. If you play a free-ringing "hammer and tongs" banjo style and mute only with the palm, and never need to mute individual strings, they are probably fantastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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