Guitar Strings and picks

[Dave Engel]

Hi All,

So being new to the flatpickin scene, what is the "norm" for strings used on a flatpickers guitar? All I've ever had on any acoustic I ever owned has been light/mediums (E string = .011). All I ever used for a pick was a "thin" as most of my acoustic playing was "strumming" in the church rhythm section from 8th grade up untill about 10 years ago when I stopped playing the acoustic and started playing classical. Can't keep my fingernials from splitting anymore, so laid the classical down and bought a new acoustic and have fallen in love with this flatpicking style (always liked old country and bluegrass). Inputs appreciated! Thanks.

Dave

[Dave Skowron]

Hey Dave,

Try working your way up to mediums (.013 on the 1st string to .056 on the 6th). Getcha a set of 12's and string up that Epi. and see how you like it. You'll notice more volume and punch with the heavier strings. Or, just jump right up to the 13's. Try a set of the Elixir's or one of the other coated strings as they are a little easier on the fingers, IMO.

Dave

[Matthew Smith]

I agree with Dave. Most prefer a medium guage string, and a heavy pick(somewhere around 1 mm).

[Charlie Merriman]

Dave,

I agree with Dave in a group mediums are the way to go. When I'm practicing or just knocking around I use medium/lights. Also the coated strings seem last a little longer. Red Bear or Wegen picks you can order either one thru Flatpicking Mercantile.

Charlie

[Dave Skowron]

I tend to drift toward the Red Bear picks myself. :-) At 1mm they are considered light gauge though. Our heavies are 1.3 to 1.6 or so.

[Wayne Taylor]

Dave I haven't used the Red Bear pick personally but they seem to have a devoted following. I've played Dobro for about 30 years and have gotten a little tired of it. I'm really excited about getting into Bluegrass Flatpickin'. I played county-rock lead guitar for about 10 years before getting into Bluegrass. I currently used whatever I can find in a heavy (.80 to ?) gauge in what looks like the B style pick offered by Red Bear. Some of the guys are using what they refer to as speed tip (?). Could you please elaborate a bit?? At $20 per pick I really want to be careful about what I order. The info. given with these picks doesn't mean too much to me. Would really appreciate any advice you could give me.

[Darrel]

Speed bevel: As you use a Tortoise shell pick (horn picks do the same), the leading edge of the pick will wear at a bevel that matches the angle that you hold the pick. On the Red Bear picks, they bevel the picks for you. Keep in mind that their bevel may not match your angle and you may have to modify it slightly.

Once you get a pick that is beveled to match your style, it will be much smoother and faster. I think they even sound better.

I have a couple of the Red Bear picks in heavy guage, and while they are nice, I still prefer the sound of real shell. On a side note, in personal sound test; a heavy guage (.94mm +) Clayton Ultem Gold pick came closer the the sound of real tortoise shell then the Red Bear picks. You can find them here www.steveclayton.com/ultem.html

Darrel

[Jimmy Love]

Mediums tend to move the big top of a dreadnaught-sized guitar better than thinner strings. Although they allow for easier playing (smaller gauge = less tension), you might sacrifice in the tone department playing lights or light/mediums on a D. They are made for mediums. A nice compromise might be the "bluegrass" sets which have medium gauged lower strings and one size lighter-gauged high strings. OM and smaller sized guitars seem to take to lights with better results. AAMOF, my experience with my OM sized rosewood guitar is that it doesn't like mediums at all, but lights allow more expression and nuances to come through.

As far as picks are concerned, my take is that there is a place for all of them. Its the cheapest way to immediately change your tone. Strumming and cross picking are two different things. For years I used thinner picks for strumming and rythym playing, and thicker picks for lead playing and cross picking. Now, I grab one of my favorites, a Dunlop Ultex 1.14mm or a thick pick made of a certain-substance-that-I-don't-officially-have and play with it regardless of the role I'm playing in the group. I now prefer a thick pick almost exclusively, choosing to hold it more loosely to allow strumming and rythym playing without the harsh attack, but to hold it more firmly to allow cross picking and lead playing whenever the rest of the group foolishly allow me to take a break.

I'll hush now.
YMMV

Jimmy

[Dave Engel]

Thanks Jimmy,

I have an Epiphone Masterbuilt cutaway model with rosewood sides, back with a cedar top and found that mediums were a bit much for it, so medium/lights are what I have to use to get the most out of that cedar top. I went out this weekend and bought like $10 worth of picks. WOW! after a lifetime of using nothing but Fender light picks, I discovered alot about how a pick can feel against the strings, tone production, ease of playing etc. One that is really sticking out is the Dunlop Big Stubby. No other pick can make any string brighter regardless of gauge (on my guitar). So I must have played "Goin Down Town" 50 times this weekend trying all the different picks. Several of the "you must have one of these" (music store experts) like the Dunlop Gator and Tortex have already made their way to the "I'll never use" jar.

Dave

[Jimmy Love]

It makes sense that the cedar top on your Epi would get a bit overwhelmed with mediums, but that lights would allow it to express itself more precisely. Another thing about picks: you can get a different tone based on which side of the pick you use. I learned that many of our heros use the rounder sides their picks, not the more pointy sides, and even adjust the bevels to get the feel and release they want. Not only the material and thickness affect tone, but the angle of the bevel as it releases the strings.

I just realized I might have a problem. Am I too obsessed with this stuff?

Enjoy that Masterbuilt! Rosewood and cedar. Hmmm. Sweet.

Jimmy

[Trevor]

Wow, after reading through some of the responses to this I have to say that you folks know a LOT about this sort of thing.
I just know that I used to use medium D'Addario's because of both the tone and the resonance, but then I bought a Taylor Guitar. The guy at the store recommended I use lights
to save on the guitar. I think it would handle it personally but then again I don't know everything so I went with it. They seem fine. Now I go through so many that I'm starting to buy them in bulk from Musicians Friend. But thats just cause I change them a lot.
D'Addario's use less landfill space which is important to me.

How about Eixir's? What are you thoughts on them? I use them for recording in order to reduce the squeak, but other than that I don't like them. They feel weird.

Trevor

[Dave Engel]

Hi Trev,

The Elixers do feel weird at first, but just leave a set on for a month or whatever and then go back to a regular 80/20 set... see what you say then.
:-) Dave

[Ben Clark]

Dude, you just need to drop some cash and buy a tortoise pick. They last forever and you can't beat the tone. There's a reason pick makers continue to try and imitate the real deal. As far as strings go, I'd just keep experimenting until you find some you like, but I suggest you stick with mediums.