Red Bear Picks

[ankolistoflower]

DAddarioPlanet Waves » Instrument Accessories > Picks » SurePicks

These little things I got in a accessories pack for xmas a few years back... Imagine the round warm tone of your finger with the attack of a pick.

Breezy Ridge New Products

For a controled slightly bright tone.

SURFPICK handmade wooden guitar picks - best for recording or performing on acoustic or electric - custom made rare wood lignum vitae guitar pick. Cool. Surf Pick.

Bright and the easiest playing pick youll ever get your hands on. I use these guys when I play gypsy style. Theres a high oil content and it makes sweeping deadly simple.

The red bears were too bright for me too clicky too. Id use them if i were a country or bluegrass player.

[JohnW400]

Neat Stuff. Too bad they don't give out samples to try before you buy.

[derek]

No way am I paying $20 or anything close to it for a pick. Heck I am still grousing about paying $1.25 for the Dava Jazz picks. Way cool though, I am hooked.

[Bill_J]

There is a cult of accoustic players who swear that the only good sound comes from tortoise shell picks. When I was much younger, and tortoise shell was not illegal, we used to carve and shape our own picks. If you were playing gypsy jazz, or bluegrass, etc., they were very good, and you could really hear the difference when played against plastic picks.

When tortoise became illegal, a number of manufacturers tried to come up with a pick material that had the sound and durability of real shell. Red Bear is one of (if not) the best. The Red Bear picks are best if you are playing accoustic. They are bright, clear and loud . . . as well as enhancing your ability to rip off those blindingly fast licks.

I use Red Bear on my Martin, when I am playing accoustically, however, I use Dunlop Tortex for electric. I play with a much lighter pick and a lighter touch on electric guitar.

You can still get real shell picks that have been made from recycled Victorian hair brushes, etc., however, there is some question as to their legality. As well, I think that the better shell substitutes are as good or better than tortoise. A real, recycled shell pick runs from $50 up, so the price of the Red Bear is not expensive by those standards.

Bill

[derek]

There is a cult of accoustic players who swear that the only good sound comes from tortoise shell picks. When I was much younger, and tortoise shell was not illegal, we used to carve and shape our own picks. If you were playing gypsy jazz, or bluegrass, etc., they were very good, and you could really hear the difference when played against plastic picks.

When tortoise became illegal, a number of manufacturers tried to come up with a pick material that had the sound and durability of real shell. Red Bear is one of (if not) the best. The Red Bear picks are best if you are playing accoustic. They are bright, clear and loud . . . as well as enhancing your ability to rip off those blindingly fast licks.

I use Red Bear on my Martin, when I am playing accoustically, however, I use Dunlop Tortex for electric. I play with a much lighter pick and a lighter touch on electric guitar.

You can still get real shell picks that have been made from recycled Victorian hair brushes, etc., however, there is some question as to their legality. As well, I think that the better shell substitutes are as good or better than tortoise. A real, recycled shell pick runs from $50 up, so the price of the Red Bear is not expensive by those standards.

Bill

$50 picks? The ultimate in gear cork sniffery.

But hey, if a guy thinks he sounds great with his fiddy dollar pick, then more power to him.

[al pierce]

There is a cult of accoustic players who swear that the only good sound comes from tortoise shell picks. When I was much younger, and tortoise shell was not illegal, we used to carve and shape our own picks. If you were playing gypsy jazz, or bluegrass, etc., they were very good, and you could really hear the difference when played against plastic picks.
Bill

I used to hang out at a guitar shop a few decades ago, with close ties to Japanese manufacturers and retailers (they both imported and exported lots of stuff). They had three shipments of tortoise-shell picks, probably two thousand or more in all. A friend of mine bought a bunch and cut and shaped them specifically for Dave Grisman. I have played tortoise shell picks of all thicknesses and shapes, hand-carved ivory picks (made for me as gift from a foreign friend), several kinds of metal picks, and just about anything one can imagine that finds its way through a music shop. I have played, and do play, everything from very aggressive bluegrass to pretty pop-tunes. I did spend $4 a few months ago on some sort of lamimated plastic tear-drop thing, but it did't have the sound I wanted -- too noisy. For my money, the Dunlop nylon picks (choose the thickness you like), give the best balance of crispness, control, long wear, low pick noise, and are priced so you won't get in a fight with your better half if you lose a few. Sometimes I DO have to clean up the edge a bit with some very fine sandpaper. I have also used nylon picks from other manufacturers, and they seem to have all the benefits mentioned above. A $35 pick? It's not going to make you a better player. Spend the money on a lesson or a ticket to a Bela Fleck concert or something

[Art Vandelay]

In my very humble opinion, the pick can make at least as much difference to your tone as your strings. I was blown away when I first tried D'Andrea Pro Pleks because the improvement was immediately obvious (I was using various Dunlop picks before that). That experience made me curious about Red Bear picks so I tried a medium gauge T-II. At first I was undecided as to whether or not it sounded better than the Pro Plek but I stuck with it and now it is my preferred pick. It sounds good and has lasted a very long time (but then it would need to given the price and the fact that I had to wait for about 3 months to receive it!) This is obviously very subjective though and ultimately I think you find a way of making the sound you have in your mind regardless of the tools you have to hand. Some tools just make that easier though.

[ruger9]

Red Bears are my favorite amongst the "expensive" picks... I like them better than Wegens, Blue Chips, and those clear ones (forgot the name). However, it really depends on the guitar. It's a bit of a PITA to be thinking all the time "which pick do I want for this guitar?", but it can make quite a tonal difference. I liked the Red Bear enough I ordered 3 more.

[Kuz]

I really like Red Bear picks too. The notes and guitar is SO much louder & 3D sounding. But each pick has a different tone and the speed beveling will make the tone louder and even brighter. I am going to order some more as well, because I am eq'ing my rig to match the tone of these picks (and yea, they really sound that much different and make that much difference in the tonal pallet).

[Patrick2]

Dunlop 1.14mm . . . $0.75 . . . when I do pay for them, which isn't too often as I mostly get them for free. I just can't see my lines or phrasing getting any better with a $35 pick. When I need a different pick response . . I alter my pick attack and orientation. "Different strokes for different folk . . . and so on and so on and shooby dooby do . . . oooh sha sha"

[SamBooka]

. It's a bit of a PITA to be thinking all the time "which pick do I want for this guitar?", but it can make quite a tonal difference. I liked the Red Bear enough I ordered 3 more.

I look at it the other way.. what pick do I want to use today...

If I were a one-pick kind of guy maybe.. but I change picks more than I change my socks...

Loved black ice for a few months.. then dunlop gatorz.. then propplec.. then the gatorz again.. now I am on the golden gate kick (been about 5 weeks now so somethign new had better get here soon!!)

[FrankyNoTone]

Switching picks is more precise than EQ because EQ shapes by frequency with notes and overtones treated indiscriminately while picks shape the overtones for each note as its plucked. Picks are pretty powerful tone tools.

There is definitely overlaps in pick tones but there is no way (for example) that a 3mm Dunlop Stubby will sound the same as a .80mm Clayton Ultem small teardrop across all types of attack. And I don't believe in a "best" pick since it all depends on what is appropriate for a given situation.

[Philco]

Oh I had a major love affair with Red Bear plectrums. I have quite a collection and they do sound wonderful.

BUT.....they can crack and break and they bend all the time. If I play for a couple of hours I can feel that the plectrum has bent and I have to reverse it.....which feels strange.............and then it eventually bends the other way. Of course only the lighter ones do this. But they are the ones I like.
And forget about getting the holes in the lighter ones. The holes eventually develop cracks from one to the other and that's where the pick will eventually break.
So I bought a bunch of their "Tuff Tone" plectrums. Same gauge and shape because there is a blurb on their site that claims they sound the same.
But they don't at all. They sound and feel completely different and in a bad way.

I gave up on them and changed back to a Fender heavy or medium.
Right now I'm trying some V Picks and Gravity Picks.
The Gravity Picks have a 1.1 thickness that I like better than the Fender.
Great sound.
Cheapest way to experiment with your sound I reckon!

[jorgemg1984]

Switching picks is more precise than EQ because EQ shapes by frequency with notes and overtones treated indiscriminately while picks shape the overtones for each note as its plucked. Picks are pretty powerful tone tools.

IMO they are both powerful tone tools but they serve completely different purposes and it's hard to say one is more powerful than the other.

[Kuz]

Dunlop 1.14mm . . . $0.75 . . . when I do pay for them, which isn't too often as I mostly get them for free. I just can't see my lines or phrasing getting any better with a $35 pick. When I need a different pick response . . I alter my pick attack and orientation. "Different strokes for different folk . . . and so on and so on and shooby dooby do . . . oooh sha sha"

So you admit that you have never tried them?

We have $5K instruments, $2K amps, $70 input cord, but not try a $20 pick?

I am not in anyway bashing you, if they work for you great. I am just suggesting why others, like myself can easily justify spending $20-35 on a pick.

And $20-35 is the least expensive way to get different tones. But like you said to each there own. (:

[Tom Karol]

I've got a bunch of Dunlop Ultex Jazz III's. I use the 1.14 mm amber ones (the newer version seems to be 1.38mm) with my Tele and 335 clones and the 2.0 mm black ones with my acoustics.

But I bought a single Blue Chip Jazz 60 - Jazz III shape and 1.5mm - to try even though I felt somewhat silly about it. It cost 100 times what the Dunlops cost and it's maybe 10% 'better'. I bought 2 more. So now I have 3 of them which I use exclusively with my archtop. If they last as long as they're purported to, that's a lifetime supply.

No axe to grind, but that's just my experience.

[Eddie Lang]

I have a whole bunch of picks, worth anywhere from 20 cents to $50 each. There is no question that different picks can and will give different tonal qualities. There can also be ergonomic differences between them.

When you think about it, with everything that we spend on gear, a $30 or $50 pick is not the end of the world for what it procures... At least for me, since I do not loose them. If I did, I may think differently...

My favorite pick changes from time to time, depending on mood or other things. There is also certain picks that I will prefer for certain songs only... And I seem to prefer certain picks with certain guitars...

I have two Red Bear picks that I like a lot: a Style A heavy and and Tri-Tip TT-XH. Among expensive picks, I love Wegens the most, especially the Twin and Fatone, but also the Big City and the TF-140; the Button is kind of weird though, but it can work sometimes. I can't say that I liked the Blue Chip I played with... I also have a few cheaper picks that I like a lot: the Dunlop Big Chubby, the Golden Gate. My favorite cheap picks are the Clayton Ultem Gold small teardrop 1.20mm, and, right now, Dawg picks at 25 cents apiece. All these are very different in many ways and they are all part of my toolbox. Sure, only one could work, but they all have a specific job that they seem to do better.

[rkopald]

Hi there everybody, I'm new-ish around here.

I ordered a Red Bear pick to try it out. Yes, it seems insane to pay that much for a pick, but I look at it in the big picture; it's really NOT that much money. I've paid far more for a bottle of wine. Plus I'll have it forever.

Right now I'm using the Dunlop Ultex, and I like em well enough.

In fact when talking to John Greven a couple months back I was amazed at how different his guitars responded to different pick thicknesses. It was informative, to say the least. Well to be fair every time I talk to that guy I learn a LOT about guitars.

[Klatu]

I have two Red Bear picks that I like a lot: a Style A heavy and and Tri-Tip TT-XH. Among expensive picks, I love Wegens the most, especially the Twin and Fatone, but also the Big City and the TF-140; the Button is kind of weird though, but it can work sometimes. I can't say that I liked the Blue Chip I played with... I also have a few cheaper picks that I like a lot: the Dunlop Big Chubby, the Golden Gate. My favorite cheap picks are the Clayton Ultem Gold small teardrop 1.20mm, and, right now, Dawg picks at 25 cents apiece. All these are very different in many ways and they are all part of my toolbox. Sure, only one could work, but they all have a specific job that they seem to do better.

Could you compare the Red Bear picks to the Wegens? I play Wegens on my gypsy guitar and I must say that it is the best option for getting an authentiv gypsy tone. I don't, however, like them on my archtops because I feel they are far too bright. They are the brightest, hardest picks I have used, and I much prefer the Dunlop Jazztone 207 for acoustic or electric archtops.

[Eddie Lang]

Could you compare the Red Bear picks to the Wegens? I play Wegens on my gypsy guitar and I must say that it is the best option for getting an authentiv gypsy tone. I don't, however, like them on my archtops because I feel they are far too bright. They are the brightest, hardest picks I have used, and I much prefer the Dunlop Jazztone 207 for acoustic or electric archtops.

It's funny, I find most of my Wegens warm and somewhat dark. Perhaps because I use flat wound strings?

I have never used any of the Jazztones but I plan to. Them and the Pro-Plecs.

Here is a few notes I took on different plectrums. Of course, your mileage may vary (you find the Wegens bright, I find them warm -- could be the strings, the guitars, or what we are looking for -- it's alright either way).


Wegen Picks

Wegen picks are expensive, but they all have a good grip and provide good tone. They will last a lifetime if you don't loose them. I choose the white ones because that's the colour that is usually the easiest to spot if you drop the pick.

Wegen - Fatone

Wegen - Twin

Both the Fatone and the Twin are the perfect picks for "four to the bar" type of strumming in swing and jazz as well as gypsy swing rhythm playing. They help provide the tone, speed, control and volume needed for these styles. Very fat and warm with flat wound strings. The Fatone is the loudest of the two. The Twin is the most versatile as it also works well for single notes. There is a bit of a click but it is as not bad as some other picks.

Wegen - Big City

Nice little jazz pick. Brighter than the Fatone and the Twin. Works well for single line playing. Good choice to play mandolin.

Wegen - TF-140

Nice large pick. Good for rhythm and flatpicking. Great grip. I find it better suited for folkier than jazzier music and therefore don't use this one that much.

Wegen - The Button

Big fat pick that almost looks like a crude rock, but it's got all kinds of bevels as you turn it around. You couldn't tell just by looking at it, but it works well in many situations.

Red Bear Picks

Red Bear TT-XH

Nice large pick with a nice grip, but I never got as comfortable with it as I am with the Wegens, the Clayton teardrop, or the Dawg. The nice thing about it: the three points offer three different feels. It is quite expensive though and I feel like I could cover the tone colours that it provides with cheaper picks. I have only one of these and I don't think that I would replace it if I lost it.

Red Bear Style A Heavy "Speed Bevel"

I prefer this pick to the TT-XH. In fact, I like it a lot. I like its size and the way it feels. It has a nice tone and provides a very good attack. It could become a favourite, after the Dawg, the Clayton Ultem Gold Small Teardrop, and the Wegen Twin.

Clayton Picks

Ultem Gold Tortoise Pick - Small Teardrop 1.20 mm

This has become one of my favourite all around picks. Perfect size and shape for my taste, with the right thickness, stiffness and bevel for both rhythm and single line playing. It provides a very nice warm tone. Great for both guitar and mandolin.

Dawg Pick

The dawg is a very nice pick. It feels good in my hands. It has a nice thickness and is very stiff. It is one of the closest to real tortoise shell picks. The combination of its shape and specs makes it the darkest pick I have played. This is probably the pick that works best for me when switching between playingwith a pick and with fingers (with the pick tucked in the palm of my right hand) during a same song.

[ruger9]

Oh I had a major love affair with Red Bear plectrums. I have quite a collection and they do sound wonderful.

BUT.....they can crack and break and they bend all the time. If I play for a couple of hours I can feel that the plectrum has bent and I have to reverse it.....which feels strange.............and then it eventually bends the other way. Of course only the lighter ones do this. But they are the ones I like.
And forget about getting the holes in the lighter ones. The holes eventually develop cracks from one to the other and that's where the pick will eventually break.

That differs from my experience... my RB (which is technically a "medium" but is comparable to a "heavy" in other picks), will not bend. At all. My Blue Chips, on the other hand, definitely do end up bending just as you describe (as well as other cheaper picks).

My "normal" pick of choice has been the Dunlop Ultex, 1.14mm, for years. They don't bend like that.

[Philco]

Only the Light RB plectrums will bend. With or without holes.

[Kuz]

I have played only my Red Bear picks, exclusively (medium, heavy, and extra heavy) and they have not chipped, bent, or even showed any signs of wear.

I know there are a lot of great picks out there, but for me, right now... I am totally all about Red Bear!!

But this 3 plus months waiting period is rediculus. I don't care if they are hand beveled 3+ months is too long.

[Philco]

Ouch!

Attachment 4594

[Rick Kay]

I've been using Red Bear picks for my flattops since 2003. I love the tone, especially with a speed bevel. Dave Skowron is great to work with and will practically custome make a pick for you.

Picks for the archtop are another story. I cannot abide the thin tone I get on the archtop with any Red Bear Pick, no matter the thickness. I prefer a 3.5mm Wegen for archtop playing.