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Joined: Aug 2011
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Did you know there is a device to make your own instrument pick? Neither did I until recently. ++ Pick Punch ++
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Well, I guess I now have a use for all the tortoise shell I've been hoarding..... 
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos are here on our website.
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Interesting. Watched several of the videos on the site. Will save $$$ and trace and cut out picks with scissors ;=)
BIAB 2025:RB 2025, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.
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speaking of picks, there are some creative ideas out there.
If you search for finger picks, for example... there are all kinds of interesting ideas.. from wires bent to wrap around your fingertips to allow exposure of flesh so you can feel the strings... to many adaptations of the standard finger picks.
Regarding regular picks, I've seen picks embedded into a pistol-grip device to make it harder to drop the pick... picks made from exotic materials (selling for $50 per pick!) picks with ragged edges to get that gritty sound when you pluck the string... picks with rough surface to make them slip-proof...
google "guitar pick" and just see what crazy (and cool) stuff comes up
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speaking of picks, there are some creative ideas out there.
If you search for finger picks, for example... there are all kinds of interesting ideas.. from wires bent to wrap around your fingertips to allow exposure of flesh so you can feel the strings... to many adaptations of the standard finger picks.
Regarding regular picks, I've seen picks embedded into a pistol-grip device to make it harder to drop the pick... picks made from exotic materials (selling for $50 per pick!) picks with ragged edges to get that gritty sound when you pluck the string... picks with rough surface to make them slip-proof...
google "guitar pick" and just see what crazy (and cool) stuff comes up I'm till searching for the perfect pick. Every pick that I have picked (pun intended) up has the same problem, i.e. I still suck 
I'm in a fitness protection program. I'm been hiding from exercise.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Joined: Oct 2008
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Here's a good example of an innovative pick idea: you slip your middle finger through the circle like wearing a ring, and the pick ends up right where it needs to be. You can't drop it. Zero Gravity Pick I have a real problem with dropping picks because I had a pinched nerve in my spine and it affects how tightly I can grip things. This design solves the problem.
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Joined: Jan 2002
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A friend of mine has one of these and he inherited a bunch of expired gift cards - I think they were from Starbucks, and he made a bunch of these. He doesn't necessarily like using the picks made from those cards - maybe he needs thicker cards to start?
I don't know if there's a real benefit here. I have been using the same Jim Dunlop Nylon picks for a several years. Yes, the same half dozen individual picks. I have recently switched over to the Dunlop Max-Grips, and I think I have found them to be perfect - they have some type of thing that feels like sandpaper grit molded into the grip part of the pick that works fantastically. I had tried a similar pick called "Cat's Tongue" which had a similar kind of grit thing molded in, but their grit wears down over time, in my experience. I keep the picks in the coin purse of my wallet. I have a big bass/Triangle Fender Heavy pick in there for when I play bass, a Jim Dunlop nylon .73mm and a Dunlop Max-grip 1.14mm in with the coins. Then I have another triangle in the bass case, and a couple of the JD picks in each of my other guitar cases. Pick expense perhaps 15$ total max. With selected thicknesses and the extra useful grip on the JD Max-Grip, which is why I don't think I lose many. I actually like them when they get some wear on the picking edges.
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I still have three tortoise shell picks left from back when they were legal to purchase and own. I also have several legally acquired shell cosmetic boxes that picks could be cut from. I rarely ever pick up my Martin any more but IMO the shell picks FAR exceeds sound of any others. Janice plays more often and she uses one also.
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos are here on our website.
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last night , just for the heck of it, I experimented with a bunch of "can't drop pick" ideas I've been thinking about.
Came up with 4 totally different ideas all of which work very well for my needs, and one of which works so well I may apply for a patent. So, I can't describe any of the ideas here. ;-(
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The only pick I use. Last forever and great grip. 
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Expert
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I've never found fingerpicks that I like, because of the loss of feel. I'm sure with all the new supermaterials out there this must be possible now - but not until some super materials guy that also plays guitar decides to combine the 2 concepts.
Has anyone found fingerpicks they liked ? I once tried those 'plastic see-through' fingerpicks that go under the nails - but the curvature just wasn't right and they weren't nearly as easy to heat up and reshape as they were advertised to.
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The only pick I use. Last forever and great grip. That looks like something I would like to try. I'm fully spoiled/dependent upon the gritty grip type picks. This looks like it might be similar.
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Joined: Oct 2007
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The picks I like are the Wegen TF140. They last forever and you probably won’t lose them since they cost $7.50 a piece. I sent one to Mac and he became a convert. It’s the closest thing to tortoise shell I’ve found and the holes in the center make it easier to hold on to. http://www.wegenpicks.com/
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thanks 90db and BobC for the links... I've never seen any of the wedgies or wegens in my local music store.
I'll give them both a try
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Joined: Apr 2010
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The only pick I use. Last forever and great grip. That looks like something I would like to try. I'm fully spoiled/dependent upon the gritty grip type picks. This looks like it might be similar. Here is a link to the .60's. http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/391039173745?lpid=82&chn=ps
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Joined: Oct 2007
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Pat,
The TF140 is an extra heavy pick. If you prefer something lighter, then just order a lower number.
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Man those wedgies must be popular! I placed an order today, and they cancelled it because they were all out of stock!! The store owner personally apologized in the refund email!
And the Wegen picks... they have an eBay store, and I always like to use that if its available because paypal works so well there.
I selected what I wanted, and even after the unfavorable dollar to pound ratio changed the price from 10 pounds to 15 dollars... the shopping cart doubled it to $30! For one pick!
I backed out and retried several times to see if I could get it to register the correct payment, but after getting the same result 3 times I decided it wasn't me, it was the shopping cart. So I sent the owner an email telling him what's happening. I'll try again in a few days to see if it's fixed.
Both of these picks look interesting to me. Thanks for the heads up, guys!
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another idea for making picks easy to hold onto: you know those colored rubber rings that slide around keys to help you differentiate between the front door key and the back door key that look alike? (THESE THINGS) Well, if you put one of them on a pick, the working end of the pick will stick out, and the rubber ring will give you an indentation that enhances your ability to hold on
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Pat, Maybe try here. http://www.bigcitystrings.com/wegenfp.htmThat's where I bought them the last couple of times. I'm down to 2 picks now after sending Mac one of the 3 I had. If you can't get one from there, PM me your mailing address and I'll send you one.
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Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: The Newly Designed Piano Roll Window
In this video, we explore the updated Piano Roll, complete with a modernized look and exciting new features. You’ll see new filtering options that make it easy to focus on specific note groups, smoother and more intuitive note entry and editing, and enhanced options for zooming, looping, and more.
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- MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
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