Polished Stone Picks vs Plastic ?

[Dennis D]

I luckily found and started using Moshay picks exclusively some years ago, and love them. They are hard plastic and have, for me, a really good feel. I will probably never change - but I saw some polished stone picks at a show over the weekend, and I was just wondering about anyone else's experiences with polished stone picks. Can't seem to remember exactly, but I think I tried one years ago, and probably wrote them off. I just thought they looked cool. Any thoughts appreciated. Dennis

[NiAg]

Polished stone picks were sold in the late 70's / early 80's under the trade name "Min'd Picks" or something similar. I recall Pat Martino was the endorser.

They made quite a bit of noise against the strings - both as a clicking sound on contact and a scratching sound if you angled the pick to soften the attack a bit.

But someone must have liked them; I remember them being around for a while.

[kris]

I have one stone pick....not for me...

[P.J.]

Originally Posted by NiAg

Polished stone picks were sold in the late 70's / early 80's under the trade name "Min'd Picks" or something similar. I recall Pat Martino was the endorser.

They made quite a bit of noise against the strings - both as a clicking sound on contact and a scratching sound if you angled the pick to soften the attack a bit.

But someone must have liked them; I remember them being around for a while.

David Torn still uses them when he plays w/ a pick. I find them too "chirpy" but they can be cool if you play w/ them sideways because you get lots of weird harmonics. Good as an effect, but I would not want to use them as my primary pick.

PJ

[the*doctor]

Doesn't sound great to me, especially not very jazzy sounding.
I bet they'd cost a bit too, especially if you're like me & lose picks all the time

[jzucker]

martino used a sea shell when i studied with him!

[Tom Karol]

Originally Posted by NiAg

Polished stone picks were sold in the late 70's / early 80's under the trade name "Min'd Picks" or something similar. I recall Pat Martino was the endorser.

They made quite a bit of noise against the strings - both as a clicking sound on contact and a scratching sound if you angled the pick to soften the attack a bit.

But someone must have liked them; I remember them being around for a while.

I have one (Min'd pick), and yes, I bought it in the '70's. I used it once for less than a minute.

[burchyk]

I imagine stone would have a bright "clicky" attack

[Dad3353]

Good afternoon, all...
Here's quality picks of all sorts (including stone, and with comparative sound files...).

dugain-picks

No affiliation, just that they're excellent picks; hope this helps...

[M-ster]

I've used agate picks for 30+ years or so. When the Min'd picks first came out, I had a jeweler cut some down to Fender jazz-pick size. In the past year or two, I found 2 more sources who have made me more. Mine are generally in the 3 - 4 mm range (thickness) and the size/shape of a Fender jazz pick (small teardrop).

They do produce a "chirp" or "plink" that can be noticeable with extreme high-gain settings. But, they also produce a significantly darker/thicker sounding tone than plastic.

The odd part for me, that I'm currently sorting out, is that I love them with lighter strings (i.e., a "rock" setup); but the combination of heavy strings ("jazz" setup) and heavy pick seems like too much to me. There's too much mass to get moving, or something.

As I said, I'm still sorting this out ...

[jzucker]

i go through 5-7 picks a week. I can't imagine using a $20 pick!

[NSJ]

Originally Posted by jzucker

i go through 5-7 picks a week. I can't imagine using a $20 pick!

I have a $20 pick, one of those Red Bear faux paux tortoise shell (made from a protein in a Petrie dish) "Lil jazzers".

Would be a rip off only if I've lost it-thought I lost it 3 separate times in the course of 18 months. Wound up searching on the curb, by the sewer, near a dumster, and my house. Each time, it's turned up.

Best pick I've used--love the little holes in it--less slippage, best grip.

So, I've had 1 pick in 18 months. Pretty cost effective.

[jzucker]

i use a battery powered dremel to put "grip" holes in my picks. I typically use the rounded triangle 346 picks. That gives me 3 picks in one!

[fumblefingers]

ive tried the dugain. they're real pretty and everything, but felt and sounded horrible due to their extreme thickness.

thumbs down. sorry.

[fws6]

Over the years I experimented a lot and tried to make picks out of stone, ivory, metal etc. But if the material is too hard you get an awfully harsh sound. Works fro some players (Queen guitarist Brian May and his penny) but 99,99% of players wont like it

I personally use horn picks, very thick gypsy style (wish i could play gypsy style as well but that takes more than just the pick ;-) ). I like the feel of a thick pick, love the grip, and the sound they make. Articulate yet soft attack. They wear out too fast though, so I always have a dozen spares.

Plastic aint so bad afterall... durable, very study and still soft enough to have a pleasant sount when hitting the strings

[wizard3739]

Someone gave me several different stone picks. The are very pretty but I don't like them, too much click. I used a pick similar to the small teardrop heavy Fender jazz picks for many years but recently changed (because I could no longer find them) to a nice, heavy plastic pick with holes in it. (Pickboy jazz 1.5mm I think). These picks don't slip, are inexpensive, readily available and I can get a good tone with them.

wiz

[kris]

I use sometimes ebony pics.
I did wood pics myself...:-)

[Dennis D]

Yes - -that's the one The MIn'd....I couldn't remember the brand. I thought they looked really good, but couldn't remember trying one.
Anyway I am glad I got turned on to these Moshays - -no affiliation or 'plug' - -they just do what they're supposed to do, and feel good. Thanks.