Guitar
The good people over at Graphtech (which happens to be based about fifteen miles from my home) were kind enough to send me a sample pack of their Tusq picks, one of each size: .68mm, .88mm and 1mm.
Graphtech are the manufacturers of String Saver Saddles, which I've been using for at least fifteen years; indeed, they were usually the only modded parts on any of my guitars, and definitely helped my string breakage problem without any noticeable tonal compromise. Graphtech's basic thrust has been to use high tech materials to replace traditional guitar parts in order to alleviate string binding and breakage problems and improve harmonic content. The question of harmonic content comes down to subjective criteria: although Graphtech has lab tested their product's claims, ultimately the player has to decide whether things sound better or not. In the case of the String Saver Saddles, I've never been able to discern the difference in tone between the graphite saddles and the metal parts they replaced.
The Tusq products are meant to emulate the sound of ivory in a workable, chip resistant format. Up until recently Tusq was used for nuts and bridge pins, but lately Graphtech has marketed string retainers (sounds like a good idea to me. I want 'em for my Frankentele.) and now guitar picks.
The Tusq picks offer an exceptional stiffness/thickness ratio, designed to mimic genuine tortoise shell, which is rare, expensive and endangered. The Tusq 1mm pick is considerably stiffer than the 1.14mm Dunlop 500 nylon plectra I've been using for nearly twenty years. The raised lettering offers a good texture for grip and helps with orientation by touch- I can feel which way is up on this pick, although players who prefer the wide back end of their pick might have some trouble negotiating the raised lettering of the Graphtech logo.
I was struck by the chiming note these picks generate when dropped on a hard surface. Giving the Dunlop 500 a similar drop offered a dull clack, but the Tusqs give up a bright clink, almost like glass, regardless of their weight.
I tested out the picks on my acoustic guitar at home and with my standard live rig on a couple of gigs (rig consists of '93 Gibson ES-335 through booster and analog delay into a Fender Deluxe Reverb reish). I found the Tusqs really brought out some added upper-mid/high end brilliance in both settings. The easiest way to describe it would be articulate. I actually attenuated the top end on my amp a bit, and this at a gig I've done for years with the same gear and settings. I didn't notice any clackiness poking through, which is good, 'cause I can't stand that...
I had a little difficulty getting used to the feel; after using the same picks as long as I have, any difference would throw me a little, but the Tusq pick's stiffness is pretty drastic compared to using some other similar weighted nylon model. A couple of hours into the gig I ceased to notice the physical adjustments, so it's not like it's a life-altering change to deal with.
I haven't noticed any physical wear on the 1mm pick that I used the most at the gigs. Usually a couple of shows is all it takes for me to wear the tip off the 500s, but it would seem the Tusq material wears a bit better than that. I'll post an update on this point as I have a better idea of their durability.
After using the same picks for nearly twenty years and swearing by their relatively clack-less, transparent character, I can safely say that I wasn't planning to change my picks anytime soon. I tried out as many as I could back in the day to find a model that suited my needs, and ultimately, found just that. (I still keep a grab-bag of random picks around for recording; sometimes a different pick helps achieve a specific tonality to fit into a track). But these Tusq picks are so different from all the others I've used that I'm somewhat captivated. Will I continue to use them over the long haul? That will depend on their availability, durability and my overall impression after a bit more use.
I would recommend these picks to anyone looking for a more articulate picking voice. Players who favour darker sounding guitars may find a little extra mid-range juice and top-end clarity using these. If you like floppy light-weight nylon plectra you'll probably want to steer clear of these; even the .68mm model doesn't give a whole lot under heavy picking. Conversely, if you've ever chafed at picks that start to bend under heat and stress (I'm looking at you, Fender Heavies) you'll love the stability on offer here. If you do studio work you should have scads of different picks around anyhow, so give 'em a go. At a buck a go they're a little more expensive than the ubiquitous Dunlop products, but if they are as durable as I hope, that small cost will be well worth it.
Graphtech was also kind enough to send me a sample of their PrePlay hand conditioner which claims to balance the ph of your hands and reduce string oxidation due to sweat and skin oils. I haven't tried it out yet, and there's not enough to test out the 'extended string life' claim, but I'll try it out and let you know what I thought.
- Dragon's Heart Picks From C. Whitney Guitars
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Here is a nice litle Supro LAp Steel - llooks like a Comet - circa late 50's. This is missing one knob but they sell Dakaware brown repros for these and you can even find the originals. This one still has the original palm rest/cover over...
- Regal Resonator (dobro) Guitar In Mountain Grove, Mo For $150
This is one of the recent Chinese or Korean made Regal Resonators but it looks decent and has the nice slotted headstock - and he is including a stevens bar and picks and a case. Not bad. Dobro accoustical guitar - $150 (Mtn. Grove, MO.) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------...
Guitar
Graphtech Tusq picks
 |
| Graphtech Tusq 1mm guitar pick. Could I be changing picks after twenty years? |
The good people over at Graphtech (which happens to be based about fifteen miles from my home) were kind enough to send me a sample pack of their Tusq picks, one of each size: .68mm, .88mm and 1mm.
Graphtech are the manufacturers of String Saver Saddles, which I've been using for at least fifteen years; indeed, they were usually the only modded parts on any of my guitars, and definitely helped my string breakage problem without any noticeable tonal compromise. Graphtech's basic thrust has been to use high tech materials to replace traditional guitar parts in order to alleviate string binding and breakage problems and improve harmonic content. The question of harmonic content comes down to subjective criteria: although Graphtech has lab tested their product's claims, ultimately the player has to decide whether things sound better or not. In the case of the String Saver Saddles, I've never been able to discern the difference in tone between the graphite saddles and the metal parts they replaced.
The Tusq products are meant to emulate the sound of ivory in a workable, chip resistant format. Up until recently Tusq was used for nuts and bridge pins, but lately Graphtech has marketed string retainers (sounds like a good idea to me. I want 'em for my Frankentele.) and now guitar picks.
 |
| Old faithful, Dunlop 500 1.14mm, hangs with the new guys: Tusq 1mm, Tusq .68mm and Tusq .88mm picks |
The Tusq picks offer an exceptional stiffness/thickness ratio, designed to mimic genuine tortoise shell, which is rare, expensive and endangered. The Tusq 1mm pick is considerably stiffer than the 1.14mm Dunlop 500 nylon plectra I've been using for nearly twenty years. The raised lettering offers a good texture for grip and helps with orientation by touch- I can feel which way is up on this pick, although players who prefer the wide back end of their pick might have some trouble negotiating the raised lettering of the Graphtech logo.
I was struck by the chiming note these picks generate when dropped on a hard surface. Giving the Dunlop 500 a similar drop offered a dull clack, but the Tusqs give up a bright clink, almost like glass, regardless of their weight.
I tested out the picks on my acoustic guitar at home and with my standard live rig on a couple of gigs (rig consists of '93 Gibson ES-335 through booster and analog delay into a Fender Deluxe Reverb reish). I found the Tusqs really brought out some added upper-mid/high end brilliance in both settings. The easiest way to describe it would be articulate. I actually attenuated the top end on my amp a bit, and this at a gig I've done for years with the same gear and settings. I didn't notice any clackiness poking through, which is good, 'cause I can't stand that...
I had a little difficulty getting used to the feel; after using the same picks as long as I have, any difference would throw me a little, but the Tusq pick's stiffness is pretty drastic compared to using some other similar weighted nylon model. A couple of hours into the gig I ceased to notice the physical adjustments, so it's not like it's a life-altering change to deal with.
I haven't noticed any physical wear on the 1mm pick that I used the most at the gigs. Usually a couple of shows is all it takes for me to wear the tip off the 500s, but it would seem the Tusq material wears a bit better than that. I'll post an update on this point as I have a better idea of their durability.
 |
| Dunlop 500 showing wear. Will Tusq prove more durable? |
After using the same picks for nearly twenty years and swearing by their relatively clack-less, transparent character, I can safely say that I wasn't planning to change my picks anytime soon. I tried out as many as I could back in the day to find a model that suited my needs, and ultimately, found just that. (I still keep a grab-bag of random picks around for recording; sometimes a different pick helps achieve a specific tonality to fit into a track). But these Tusq picks are so different from all the others I've used that I'm somewhat captivated. Will I continue to use them over the long haul? That will depend on their availability, durability and my overall impression after a bit more use.
I would recommend these picks to anyone looking for a more articulate picking voice. Players who favour darker sounding guitars may find a little extra mid-range juice and top-end clarity using these. If you like floppy light-weight nylon plectra you'll probably want to steer clear of these; even the .68mm model doesn't give a whole lot under heavy picking. Conversely, if you've ever chafed at picks that start to bend under heat and stress (I'm looking at you, Fender Heavies) you'll love the stability on offer here. If you do studio work you should have scads of different picks around anyhow, so give 'em a go. At a buck a go they're a little more expensive than the ubiquitous Dunlop products, but if they are as durable as I hope, that small cost will be well worth it.
Graphtech was also kind enough to send me a sample of their PrePlay hand conditioner which claims to balance the ph of your hands and reduce string oxidation due to sweat and skin oils. I haven't tried it out yet, and there's not enough to test out the 'extended string life' claim, but I'll try it out and let you know what I thought.
 |
| Articulation. This pick doesn't lie. |
- Dragon's Heart Picks From C. Whitney Guitars
guitarz.blogspot.com: From Fort Worth, TX, in the United States come three varieties of Dragon's Heart picks by C. Whitney Guitars: Original, Pure and Hardened. They are made from Polyamide-imide with glass fibre or graphite fill respectively for...
- Epicgrip - The Titanium Guitar Pick
guitarz.blogspot.com: It sure looks cool but what are the advantages of a EpicGrip Titanium guitar pick to the modern guitarist? EpicGrips mainman John Wundes spills the beans: Solid Titanium, super strong, incredibly light-weight, solid grip, durable...
- Reeve Brian May And More Reeve Guitars. . .
Another long delay - Sorry about that - loads on, at the moment! :) The next part of the story, which Val sent to me a few weeks ago, I put down onto a memory stick, which I have left behind, somewhere!! Think I know where it is, so no panic. In...
- Supro Comet Lap Steel In Cape Canaveral Fl For $150
Here is a nice litle Supro LAp Steel - llooks like a Comet - circa late 50's. This is missing one knob but they sell Dakaware brown repros for these and you can even find the originals. This one still has the original palm rest/cover over...
- Regal Resonator (dobro) Guitar In Mountain Grove, Mo For $150
This is one of the recent Chinese or Korean made Regal Resonators but it looks decent and has the nice slotted headstock - and he is including a stevens bar and picks and a case. Not bad. Dobro accoustical guitar - $150 (Mtn. Grove, MO.) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------...