NAMM 2017: Graphtech Tusq Guitar Pick Review

Aloha!

I stopped by the Graphtech Guitar Labs booth at NAMM 2017, and they slid me one of their Tusq guitar pick to try out. When I saw the pick I was kind of like “Meh – another pick,” but Dave from Graphtech told me that these picks were different as they have their own harmonics. This got my attention, and then he dropped their pick on the counter and it made a resonant “clink” as if he had dropped a shard of glass. One of my fake tortoise shell picks produced a dull click when I dropped it, so I left it there on the counter and decided to go home and give their pick a fair test drive.

Surely you know a thing or two about Graphtech by now, or at least the guitar stuff that they build. This Canadian company produces products under the Tusq, Nubone, and String Saver names (plus many more), and they sell really good nuts, bridge saddles, bridge pins, machine heads , and… guitar picks!

Tusq picks are available in three different harmonic tones: Bright (white), Warm (cream) and Deep (gray). Each of these comes in three different shapes, including standard, teardrop, and bi angle (kind of a bigger triangle), as well as plenty of different thicknesses. I ended up with a bright tone standard pick that is 1.0 mm thick.

The pick itself is blindingly white, with raised logos on either side which allow me a bit more grip than my picks. The edge is a tad sharper, and it is the stiffest non-metal pick I have ever tried. My A/B testing was the Tusq against my regular celluloid picks on a Telecaster, a Stratocaster, and my Takamine EF acoustic. It was not a blind test, but there was an obviously difference in tone between the two types of picks.

I really dig the stiffer feel of the pick, as it gives me the kind of control I look for. It is indeed much brighter than I am used to, though not as gnarly as aluminum or titanium picks that I have tried in the past (and later gave up on). The difference with the Tusq’s brighter tone is that it is less strident, and a little more musical. I wish I had gotten the Warm and Deep models too, as it would have been nice to include them in this comparison.

As far as longevity, after about an hour of playing with the Tusq pick there was noticeable wear to its edges. This was with normal strumming and picking, with no Pete Townshend windmills added in for flair. I have never actually worn a pick out before as I usually lose them in a day or two -- I have no idea where they go, and think that maybe my cat is hiding them somewhere. So, for me this wear would be a moot point, but for those that can keep better track of their stuff, they might be able to actually wear them out.

If you are interested in the Graphtech Guitar Labs Tusq picks, they seem to cost around $6 for a half dozen from most retailers, and there are combo packs available if you want to see which ones work best for you. For more details head on over to graphtech.com

Mahalo!

Pickworld Custom Guitar Picks Review

Aloha!

I do not know if it is hubris or a marketing ploy, but at some point in time many guitarists think about getting personalized guitar picks made up. In the old days this would have been a pretty tough task, but in the age of the internet this is a surprisingly easy task.

After searching around, I decided to order my picks from pickworld.com, which is a division of the Wilmington Fibre Specialty Company in Delaware. My decision was based on checking with other bands and musicians to see who they used, as well as their prices and options, which are all pretty darned good.

There are myriad choices and prices for their picks, all of which are clearly listed on their website. You can choose any shape or color you can imagine, in a variety of materials, including, celluloid, Delrin and PVC. Printing can be done on one or two sides, in oodles of colors, and you can even have them imprinted in gold foil (very classy). And you can order any amount you want, in quantities as low as 25 for $25. What a cool Christmas of Hanukah present that would be!

Oh, yeah. And their picks are all made here in the United States.

I stuck with traditional heavy thickness celluloid tortoise shell 351 picks. This is the most common shape around, and these are the ones that I actually use when playing guitar. Ironically, I do not use picks when playing bass, even though I run rexbass.com.

It was easy to order, as I submitted my art via email and placed the final order via phone. It took only a few weeks to get my bag of picks, and they looked exactly like I thought they would. A 1000 screen-printed picks with my web address on one side and my logo on the other set me back $260, which not too bad when you consider I can reach that many new viewers for only 26 cents each.

The picks have worked out well, and I pass them out like a mad man. Other musicians love to get something for free (that they can actually use), and it is a great promotion for my blog. By the way, I have never seen anybody throw away a perfectly good guitar pick!

Mahalo!