Picks that last + Attentuation!

[PhilKing]

Tortoise shell!

I have 2 real ones that are over 20 years old, and I use them on accoustic a lot - they never wear down!

[_tom_]

So are tortoiseshell picks such as the Planet Waves ones not the real deal.. just plastic made to look like it I assume, which wont wear aswell.

[PhilKing]

So are tortoiseshell picks such as the Planet Waves ones not the real deal.. just plastic made to look like it I assume, which wont wear aswell.

Yes - it's illegal to sell real tortoise shell now I believe. Even when I got mine, there was a ban in some countries, but I was in the Bahamas and they had them there.  Lots of people use celluloid picks, these look more like the tortoise shell ones, but eventually break.

Sometimes you can find real ones on eBay

[HJM]

I think power scaling has to be HT voltage reduction, so my guess is it'll have to be cathode bias??? Be interesting to find out!

On Webervst.com message boards there's a  attenuator design, they work really well and the bits cost a few £££ plus a box. They reduce the volume by a fixed amount, and sound more natural than you'd expect. The ones I built hold up pretty well against my Hotplates.

As for picks.....they wear away! Choose them on tone and feel and get used to throwing them away when they're done. You can file the BKP picks back a bit.


celluloid sound great, I used to have half an old tortoise shell pick, it sounded great but alas no more. Celluloid tone is better than plastic, and D'Andrea are better than Dunlop IMHO...

Just remember, listen to the TONE and pick the one you like!

[maliciousteve]

Well i use Dunlop Jazz III's. They've lasted longer than any pick i've used before. I still have the ones that i bought months and months ago.

[_tom_]

I've found a couple of hotplates on Ebay, from Worldwide sellers in America and I'm thinkin about just going for one of them now, as the price seems to be right!

[HJM]

I've got a bag full of Dunlop Jazz III reds, anybody want 'em.....I went off them in favour of the BKP picks tone, plus they're easier to keep hold of so I use less tension in my picking hand....I've probably got about 10/20 some have light wear.

[sambo]

^ ill have em hayden... lol

[HJM]

PM me an address

[_tom_]

If sam hasnt allready taken em, would you split the bag half each  :lol:

[Bainzy]

I think power scaling has to be HT voltage reduction, so my guess is it'll have to be cathode bias??? Be interesting to find out!

It can be either fixed or cathode bias. The kits that are installed inside the chassis can be bought in either fixed or cathode bias version, and IIRC the power scaling box can cover either. The power scaling kits/box generate their own bias supply.

[nuntius]

i think the dunlop ultex ones last pretty well (got one free with a mag once), but i can't use them as they don't go up to 1.5mm-

I use 1.14mm ultex and find them thick enough.

Before ultex I was using either 2mm stubbies, or sharp point Jazz III's.  The ultex 1.14s are hard wearing, stiff enough, and have nicer tone than both of the above ^

IMO of course :)

[HJM]

I think power scaling has to be HT voltage reduction, so my guess is it'll have to be cathode bias??? Be interesting to find out!

It can be either fixed or cathode bias. The kits that are installed inside the chassis can be bought in either fixed or cathode bias version, and IIRC the power scaling box can cover either. The power scaling kits/box generate their own bias supply.

It's been years since I looked at all this, it'd be good to hear your opinion when you get it installed

[Bainzy]

You won't just get that - there'll be lots of VHII clips with it to follow too! With my new Rola G12M25!  :D

[_tom_]

You won't just get that - there'll be lots of VHII clips with it to follow too! With my new Rola G12M25!  :D

Nice one  :D