Your Cart is Empty
Free shipping in the US on all orders $50+
Free shipping in the US on all orders $50+
For many years we’ve been offering a variety of wood picks. They offer a warmer sound compared to materials such as Celluloid and Delrin. As much as we loved our series 1 & 2 wood picks, they were a bit more fragile than we would have liked and the edge often times required a break in period that was not player ready right out of the bag.
As innovators at our core, we never stop working to improve things and we believe we have nailed the perfect wood pick with our 3.0 Series wood picks! These picks are far more durable, and the edge is just as good as any plastic pick you may have used in the past. The result is a superior, player ready wood guitar pick right out of the bag. You will not find picks like these from anyone else! You have to hold them in your hand to truly understand how amazing these picks are.
The common threads
For our new line of picks, we will be offering them exclusively in rosewood, which is sourced from managed forests where sustainability practices preserve the natural ecosystem, protect endangered wildlife, and promote the rebirth of new timbre growth. Our picks are also made in the USA by our team.
The majority of our wooden picks have been made of rosewood, though we have also offered picks in other woods such as bubinga, tigerwood and purpleheart. On the Janka Hardness Scale, rosewood is the softest of these offerings, coming in at a rating of 1,960 lbf (pounds-force). This rating allows us to make picks that still have a flex and thickness that compare to a Fender Medium on the thinner side, and a Fender Heavy on the thicker side.
The Improvements Made
While wood picks, particularly rosewood picks, offer a much warmer sound and a lovely alternative to the bright sounds of regular picks, durability can be an issue. While the thinner picks had good flex, because of wood’s natural characteristics, they tended to wear out much faster than regular picks.
Our thicker picks tended to last longer; however, they were designed with a flat edge. This means that it took a while for the pick to develop a natural bevel along the edge that made them easier to play. This was different from regular guitar picks which are already beveled. The performance of the wood picks improved as the bevel formed on the edge, however, they weren’t 100% player-ready out of the pack.
We’ve addressed these two main concerns with our newest line of wood picks. The wood veneer in our picks is now assembled cross-grain, which gives them improved strength while maintaining good flex. We’re confident that this new construction process will give you a pick that lasts longer and feels good while you play.
The second improvement is with the edge. After construction, our picks are tumbled for hours and hours in a multi-stage tumbling process, allowing a beautiful, beveled edge comparable to Celluloid and Delrin picks. They are now 100% player-ready with the same feel that players will be used to.
Every shape and size
Our new wood picks will be offered in two different thicknesses. The thin picks will come in at 1.0mm, while the thicker ones will be at 1.5mm. Both sizes are 0.1mm thicker than our previous two offerings, which we believe helps with durability while maintaining a good level of flex.
If you’re a strummer, or rhythm player, you will probably enjoy the 1.0mm pick. If you’re more heavy-handed and need something with more attack, the 1.5mm pick is likely the way to go.
351
We will also be offering four different shapes. There is the classic 351, which is the guitar pick shape you imagine when you close your eyes. Many companies have copied Luigi D’Andrea’s iconic pick shape so much that it’s become the industry standard.
358
Next, we have the 358, which is also commonly known as the “teardrop”. It’s a small pick with a sharp tip that is ideal for players who want to fly across the strings.
346
Third is the 346, which is a large, three-sided pick that also has plenty of surface area to grip onto. A great choice for those who use heavier strings and for bass players.
651
Finally, there is the 651, which is similar to a certain company’s famous “jazz” pick. Though small with a sharper edge, it offers just a bit more grip than the 358, while still being built for speed.
Aesthetically, we find that a wood pick is hard to beat. The unique grain pattern inherent in wood makes each pick visually unique. There is also a beauty in natural wood that you just can’t find with any other material.
We’ve worked hard in creating a pick that is beautiful to look at, sounds nice and warm when played, and builds on the versions that were pioneered before it. We hope that you will agree!
Please take a look, you won’t regret it.
By Kevin Daoust - instagram.com/kevindaoust.gtr
Kevin Daoust is a guitarist, guitar educator and writer based in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. When not tracking guitars for artists around the world, or writing music-related articles around the internet, he can be seen on stage with Accordion-Funk legends Hey, Wow, the acoustic duo Chanté et Kev, as well as a hired gun guitarist around Quebec and Ontario. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Guitar Performance from Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
When we’re young, there are several firsts that we’re not aware of, though our parents may relish in those moments. These are milestones such as first steps, first words, first trips to the potty, and so on.
As we age, there are more firsts that we become more aware of, such as our first kisses, first dates, and first times behind the wheel (often to our parents’ great fear in the passenger seat).
While punk and pop-punk are arguably defined by stacks of power chords and clean guitar passages, incorporating capos benefits the genre.
They can make some things more accessible to play. In interviews, Mike Ness of Social Distortion said he has a Gold Top Les Paul tuned down from E standard to Eb standard and capos the guitar at the second fret. This is to make playing certain things more accessible and comfortable, accommodating an old injury on his fretting hand. Thanks to capos, Ness can play in different keys.
While he can imitate the greats, his voice on the instrument is also distinct, blending virtuosic technique, great tone, incredible musicality and a healthy dose of humour. All of that has made him an in-demand clinician and very busy player, recording and touring with Asia, Dizzee Rascal, Steven Wilson, Hans Zimmer, and his project, The Aristocrats.
One does not travel this world without gaining experience and wisdom, which Guthrie has shared with many through the years. Without further ado, here is some of the knowledge he has passed on over the years.
