fitzy - Posted - 12/01/2013:  00:21:34

Hi l am New to the site and also new to bluegrass mandolin. I've been playing tenor banjo for few years and u use a. 50 pick.I am looking for advic. On picks that are recommend to play blue grass on mandolin also what strings is best suited. thanks. fitzy.

fitzy - Posted - 12/01/2013:  01:00:24

Sorry found a great thread on picks and got my answer there! So any suggestions on which gauge and brand of strings would be greatly app. Thanks fitzy.

Rob Beck - Posted - 12/02/2013:  00:40:51

Hello Fitzy,

I personally use D'Addario J74 Mandolin strings.  Although I don't play bluegrass, these strings seem to be  fairly popular with those that do.

Rob

fitzy - Posted - 12/02/2013:  02:24:49

Il Them a go thanks Rob.

Joe Mangio - Posted - 12/02/2013:  09:53:24

I use J74's also, and a Golden Gate MP-12 pick exclusively for a great Bluegrass tone.

fitzy - Posted - 12/02/2013:  12:17:55

Thanks lads. this is a great site loads if help and sound advice.il look up them golden gate picks.I got a Tpr 45 blue chip pick! What do u think if these fir mandolin? Bought it off the cuff! nit sure about it! Like is it to heavy or what? Bought this before I found the site.

TI_USER - Posted - 12/02/2013:  18:59:12

You will find that a large majority of Bluegrass mandolinists use a pick between 1mm and 1.5mm.  The Blue Chip TPR45 is 1.12mm and should work nicely for you.  You didn't waste any time.  Most players buy several dozen different types and sizes of picks over years of playing to determine which pick to buy.  You went right for the pick Holy Grail.  Good job!!!

As far as strings are concerened, the previous posts mentioned D'Addario J74's, which is what the overwhelming majority of Bluegrass players seem to use.  However, strings are pretty cheap to experiment with.  Try several different types of strings, and I don't mean D'Addario's bronze vs. GHS's bronze.  I mean try GHS Silk and Steel or GHS Stainless steel or try D'Addario's FW74 flatwound strings (which I use and love).  Maybe give the Gibson Monel wound strings a try.  You will be surprised at the different tone each produces and you will find which works best with your mandolin.

fitzy - Posted - 12/02/2013:  22:09:07

Threat stuff thathis for that sound advice.the only worry I had above buy-in and tryin diff kinds if picks was that like the Tpr45 was about 30 dollars and I was thinkin if all the good picks are this price it will be expensive to experiment with the picks! Have ordered couple of Doug's and golden gate mp12 they a fairly cheap to buy. have no prob messing around with diff picks at that price! thanks again.

TSSN - Posted - 12/03/2013:  03:58:26

I have some Golden Gates and Wegens and V-Picks that I like, but my go-to pick these days is a Gravity pick. 

As for strings, I have used GHS of varying gauges, and they are good.  Lately, I have trended toward J74s, though I just bought a set of D'Addario's EXP74s that I am going to put on in the next week.  No info on those just yet...

ErikForGod - Posted - 12/03/2013:  04:08:14

I'm using J-74's with my new mandolin (D Addarrio that is) and also the Wegen picks...the 1.5mm and 1.2mm I also bought some Dunlop Jazz picks that are 2.0mm and they give some really nice tone when used.

fitzy - Posted - 12/03/2013:  11:54:01

Which gravity pick do u recommend? Ya heard alot about them wegen picks! expensive tho! I shouldn't be surprised about pick selection as I have gone throw about 2 dozen tryin to find the right one fir my banjo! Right lads here's the big one!!!is there a mandolin book that's a must have ???

TSSN - Posted - 12/03/2013:  12:17:31

quote:

Originally posted by fitzy



Which gravity pick do u recommend? Ya heard alot about them wegen picks! expensive tho! I shouldn't be surprised about pick selection as I have gone throw about 2 dozen tryin to find the right one fir my banjo! Right lads here's the big one!!!is there a mandolin book that's a must have ???

I use the Striker, standard size, 0.75mm thickness.  $4.99 USD.

fitzy - Posted - 12/03/2013:  12:26:47

Nice 1. I'll look them up thanks.

TI_USER - Posted - 12/03/2013:  17:09:47

Gravity Picks are made of acrylic just like V-Picks.  I have tried several models of each brand and finally gave up on them.  Although the overall tone that acrylic provides is complex and full of wonderful overtones that I have never heard with any other pick, the material seems to be very difficult to get a clean, smooth edge and they have a very bright, edgy sound on the higher strings.  Some people like that quality.  It drives me nuts.  Wegen is another brand that was mentioned.  I use a custom made Wegen.  It is a large triangle similar to the TF-140, but is is 1.8mm thick and has no beveled edge.  Wegens are not that expensive as far as high end picks go.  You can buy a 2-pack of the TF-140 for about $15. One of the things I like about Wegen is they produce a very full, loud tone.  It produces more volume than any other pick I have tried.

BTW, if you are interested in trying Gravity Picks, you can email the owner, Chris.  Let him know you would would like to try a sample and he'll send you a couple to try.  I know lots of people who have done this, including me.

Here's the info.

Web site: gravitypicks.com/

email: chris@gravitypicks.com

I would start with the Striker XL 1.5.  Go for the XL (Extra Large).  The large is smaller than you would think.

The good news for you is that by starting with Blue Chip, almost anything else you buy will be cheaper.  One of the high end picks to be careful of is Red Bear.  Lots of people use them and like them.  However, they are known for being fragile and have been known to break in half.  At $20, it's not worth it for me.  Also, if you order one, it will take at least 6 weeks to receive it.

Another pick to try is actually very cheap.  The Planet Waves celluloid picks is what I keep as a back-up to my Wegen.  It has a very warm tone, good volume and is really cheap.  The Extra Heavy is 1.25mm and has a great sound for mandolin.  You can get 25 of them for $12 on Amazon.

Edited by - TI_USER on 12/03/2013 17:21:22

fitzy - Posted - 12/04/2013:  13:31:21

Hi got in touch with Chris and he is sending me some picks!just have. To pay fir post fair play to him and thanks alot for puting me intouch with him.

TI_USER - Posted - 12/04/2013:  18:03:51

No problem.  Let me know which ones you try and what you think of them.  I forgot to say in my previous post that one of the really good qualities of the acrylic picks is the grip is unbelievable.  Once the pick warms up to your fingers, it's really easy to hold on to.

UsuallyPickin - Posted - 12/06/2013:  06:27:00

Fitzy ... go the JustStrings site and order several different sets, try them all out , record them , then make an imformed personal choiceala the scientific method..... I will say barring that J74's are a good place to start. I like the J75's personally. Luck... R/

fitzy - Posted - 12/06/2013:  07:17:04

Nice 1 R. Thanks

ErikForGod - Posted - 12/10/2013:  08:37:33

I talked about the JD picks above but I think I've actually settled on my 1.5mm White Wegen mandolin pick for now actually....it was good purchase. The first time I've ever used these Wegen picks and I like them.

fitzy - Posted - 12/13/2013:  13:37:26

so far the oick im liking is blue chipTPR 45, the only thing thats difficult is getting ang volume out of the E string? the gda, are great and a tone that is just beautiful.

paulbrett - Posted - 01/25/2014:  01:30:31

Hi Fitzgerald, I'm in Kilkenny. I play a Moon A2 mainly folk and trad, I use J74s but I like the EXP daddario strings too and am going to try Newtone strings from strings.ie. I use a BC pick, the CT55. I would have started with the usual cheap picks but only use the BC now. I do have a few Wegens which have lovely tone but I need the BCs volume to be heard above the guitars.

Cluedo54 - Posted - 02/18/2014:  15:05:33

Glad I'm not the only one who likes Wegen picks.  I've disciplined myself to keep them in one of the pouches of my wallet!  I use the T46 model.  They improved my playing overnight.  Also d'Addario J74 flatwound strings are another 'find'.  Tried most brands and, probably because most strings are made in Sweden and just branded differently, never came across any that felt just right, until I tried the J74s.  Now I wouldn't be inclined to change.  They just feel so much more 'professional' somehow.  Not too bothered about longevity, because they're pretty cheap to buy (not that I have any complaints... they last just fine) but the worst advice I ever had was from Stefan Grossman at a guitar workshop who once told me to change the strings when they broke.  New strings give new life.

Edited by - Cluedo54 on 02/18/2014 15:06:54

TSSN - Posted - 03/21/2014:  05:06:38

quote:

---

Originally posted by Cluedo54

 

New strings give new life.

---

Amen.

Also, found a Gravity pick that I wasn't so fond of for mandolin.  I have put the Gravity Axis in my guitar case (seems better suited to guitar to me), and switched back to the Gravity Striker for my mandolin.

rbrazz - Posted - 05/05/2014:  17:56:37

I like snarling dog 1 mm grey picks. They do not slip when your hands get sweaty. I like the Sam Bush strings and never change them till they break. Picks are personal.

hizaleus - Posted - 05/14/2014:  08:22:10

I have been very pleased with Wegen Gypsy Jazz guitar picks. I initially tried them to reduce picking noise, but was delighted to find that they enable smooth transition between single note picking and tremolo. They grip the fingers with an initially disconcerting feel like a cockleburr. You have to clean them to keep this non-slip grip.

However, they do not last forever -- as they gradually wear out, they gradually lose some of their advantages (something I found out after ordering one for each of my instruments and seeing the difference between the new ones and the one I had been using for about 3 years.) You have to first get in the habit of always putting the pick under the strings when finished playing; at $15 each, few can afford to have these disappear into your couch cushions.

Like all thick picks, they take getting used to for strumming instead of picking. The way they catch the fingers allows loosening the grip for strumming or less volume without losing control. I strongly believe that thin picks cover up, but ultimately promote, poor technique. For single note picking, you need a pencil, not a brush.

hizaleus - Posted - 05/14/2014:  08:39:01

quote:

---

Originally posted by Cluedo54

 

Glad I'm not the only one who likes Wegen picks.  I've disciplined myself to keep them in one of the pouches of my wallet!  I use the T46 model.  They improved my playing overnight.  Also d'Addario J74 flatwound strings are another 'find'.  Tried most brands and, probably because most strings are made in Sweden and just branded differently, never came across any that felt just right, until I tried the J74s.  Now I wouldn't be inclined to change.  They just feel so much more 'professional' somehow.  Not too bothered about longevity, because they're pretty cheap to buy (not that I have any complaints... they last just fine) but the worst advice I ever had was from Stefan Grossman at a guitar workshop who once told me to change the strings when they broke.  New strings give new life.

---

You will see my remarks on Wegen picks.

Flat wound strings are more comfortable to the left hand.  It should be noted that all bowed strings are flatwound.  Flatwound strings have two significant problems:  They are not as bright as round wound, and there can be a lot of variation of intonation from set to set.  A former employee who was a lounge singer used to set the intonation of her guitar every time she changed flatwound strings.  Both of these problems are fairly insignificant on electric, and fretless, bowed instruments.

People pay too little attention to strings and picks on plucked string instruments.  You can only get out of the instrument what the string produces as a result of being picked.  Worn strings gradually lose intonation.  Slightly off intonation  sounds  to the ear  like poor tone.  Worn strings have overtones that are out of tune with the fundamental, which is poor tone.

hizaleus - Posted - 05/14/2014:  08:44:09

quote:

---

Originally posted by Rob Beck

 

Hello Fitzy,

I personally use D'Addario J74 Mandolin strings.  Although I don't play bluegrass, these strings seem to be  fairly popular with those that do.

Rob

---

D'Addarios seem to be the default string for consistent general utility. They are a good first choice.  Although the gauges are nearly identical to Gibson Bill Monroe model strings, the D'Addarios feel less stiff.  Possibly the core of the wound strings is thinner.