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Posted by: kaznie_NL Aug 3 2008, 06:55 PM

Hey guys,

I got in contact with Mrs. V from V-picks (check http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=17777 for more on V-Picks), and she wanted me to post a thank you on our forum! After some more corespondation, here's what she wanted to tell us:

Very kind right? She also contacted Kris about offering a leather porch with a pick as a competition price, so they have spotted GMC. I saw Mr. V was a frampton fan, so we'll just whait for him to see the Frampton lesson and then he'll sign up

Posted by: Bondy Aug 3 2008, 07:06 PM

Thats excellent they did ask me where i heard about them from and i said gmc forum very nice people to deal with cant wait to get my hands on my screamers

Posted by: MickeM Aug 3 2008, 07:58 PM

Cool! I had missed this the last time but ordered now, one Diamond (10 dollar pick ) a couple nightglow screamers and couple regular screamers and one small pointed.

Will be interesting to see how well they work. I'm used with 1-1.14 mm picks so this is something new

Posted by: JeroenKole Aug 3 2008, 08:18 PM

Well it is beneficial for both companies.

But it is great how V picks treat their customers.

Can't wait to have my order in now

Posted by: Trond Vold Aug 3 2008, 09:08 PM

Thats great
I'm addicted to the Screamers now, will definetly order a new bunch whenever i loose the 5 i have now

I tried replying to the email about where i found out about v-picks a few times, but i always got a failed delivery notice. Dont know why.

Posted by: Outlaw2112 Aug 3 2008, 09:09 PM

DAVA master control picks are all i want to use... nickel tip makes it never wear out

Posted by: fkalich Aug 3 2008, 09:17 PM

I have some of those. and they are one of the more interesting picks, and I expect to still use it some. but, I think a person that likes the Dava would be the first one to really like a v pick. order a couple medium rounded. you will be blown away.

Posted by: Rolls Aug 3 2008, 09:29 PM

I ordered a few of these and they are as good as everyone says they are.

Posted by: Fran Aug 3 2008, 10:19 PM

I will definitely have to order some screamers! been reading so much about them that I'm really needing to try them now

Maybe they will make me play like Muris!

Posted by: etrodai Aug 3 2008, 10:22 PM

I ordered some a couple days ago, the fab 4 pack and a screamer just to try them out. I let them know i heard about them through this site too. Looking forward to trying them out.

Posted by: Muris Varajic Aug 3 2008, 10:35 PM

I ordered few as well,those are great news!

Posted by: Canis Aug 3 2008, 11:25 PM

Wow, I gotta order me some screamers, I guess
Extremely nice of them to care about their customers so much, and especially to thank GMC =)

Posted by: MickeM Aug 3 2008, 11:40 PM

but he says he ordered these picks too so that means Muris with V-picks will play better than Muris of today. But reaching up to the "old" Muris with new picks sounds fair to me

Posted by: fkalich Aug 3 2008, 11:44 PM

make sure you pony up another $4 and try a medium rounded when you do that. i got a screamer. not sure I will use it, I might grow into it, who knows. but I got it, to see what it would be. the rounded is much different, but you really can get a great and distinct ringing tone out of it.

Posted by: Canis Aug 3 2008, 11:55 PM

Hehe, I actually ordered two screamers, a small pointed, a medium rounded and a leather pouch before I saw your post ^^
The medium rounded looked extremely good for rhythm guitar

Posted by: Fran Aug 4 2008, 12:20 AM

Damn! I knew something like this would happen! Oh well, I guess that will suffice

Posted by: RIP Dime Aug 4 2008, 03:28 AM

I ordered some, I can't wait to get them!

Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Aug 4 2008, 09:49 AM

Seem like very nice people , and professional too.

Posted by: kaznie_NL Aug 4 2008, 01:55 PM

would be cool if we could get some price decrease, for GMC members only

Posted by: holoshreder Aug 4 2008, 02:00 PM

wow cool

i have also ordered 3 screamers and told Nancy i heard about V picks on GMC (GMC ROCKS!)
i think they are great people very kind persons and they deserve everything good that is happening to them
i realy hope their pick becomes an industry standard

maybe open a custom shop?

TY gmc for letting me know of these FAB picks

Posted by: Guitar1969 Aug 4 2008, 09:57 PM

Should we merge this thread with the other V-pick thread going on in the "Gear" subforum" I just posted to the other one, thinking I was posting to this one?

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Aug 6 2008, 09:52 AM

I have been contacted by the V-pick creators (Vinni and Nancy)- and since there is some discussion around these picks at GMC, I thought we could invite them in to say few words and answer questions!

Also - it seems Vinni and Nancy have lots of knowledge on other topics - so hopefully they will be able to answer a few other questions as well!

Posted by: DeepRoots Aug 6 2008, 10:12 AM

Awesome! It'd be great to chat with them about which is the most suitable pick for each of us

Posted by: Bondy Aug 6 2008, 03:43 PM

I just got my order today less than a week delivery time from the US top service cant wait to try them out

Posted by: Caelumamittendum Aug 6 2008, 03:44 PM

Damn, they are a bit expensive, I must admit, and at my rate of throwing away picks, I think I should just stick to making them myself!

That said, I might some day check some of these out, they seem to be very neat.

Posted by: Bondy Aug 6 2008, 04:33 PM

Just had a go with the Screamers ohh my god there awesome never thought a pick would change my tone so much liked the feel of it straight away felt a bit thick when i picked it up but started playing bang plays so well iam goona order some more well worth the money.

Posted by: fkalich Aug 6 2008, 04:52 PM

REVIEW OF DIAMOND


Summary:Diamond is great, nice to have, and worth ponying up an extra $6 to give it a try, but you can live without it if you like and have the medium rounded. Probably a good one to check out if you like the pointed, but are thinking of getting a more rounded one for some purposes.


Like many of you, I have tried a zillion picks. These are definitely my main pick now.

At this time I like the rounded. Don't know if I will ever change to prefer a pointed pick, could happen, but I doubt in the foreseeable future (GMC has taught me to spell, great spell checker).

Anyway, I think the Diamond will appeal to those who like the medium rounded. It is a bit fatter, but I don't really hardly notice that. When I first tried a V Pick I (like others) noticed that they are fatter than most picks. But I have gotten used to that, so if you are happy with the medium rounded's size, you will be happy with the Diamond.

Because it is a little fatter, the bevel is not as sharp. But they compensate for this by making it a little less rounded. But it is not pointed like say, the screamer.

So primarily it is a somewhat different feel than the medium rounded, but kind of the same broad category of pick, if you like the medium rounded, you will like the Diamond, and visa versa.

Is it worth $10? Compared to $4. Well to tell you the truth, I think I like it better, but the difference is not overwhelming I would say, if you like the medium rounded, get one. Or maybe if you like the screamer and want a more rounded (but still a bit pointed) pick for some stuff, get one. The tone might be better on the rounded. But it is a fairly close call I think, after a few days of using the Diamond. The are different, but not that different. They play similar.

I probably like the Diamond better, maybe.


edit: I did the review before comparing them again today. Yes, pretty sure I prefer the Diamond. You know, the medium rounded allows you to be more sloppy. With the Diamond pick technique means more I think. But I do seem to to like it maybe 8.5% more than the rounded today, and yesterday it was only 4.5% with a margin of error of 6%. Today I am pretty convinced that I like it at least slightly better. Maybe not $6 better though, I lose picks.

Posted by: kaznie_NL Aug 6 2008, 05:49 PM

Great Review Fkalich!

Posted by: Nancy Smith Aug 6 2008, 07:03 PM

Hi there, everyone! I am delighted to join your group. I have corresponded with several of you when you ordered V-Picks, and I appreciate that fact that you have been talking so much about our picks.

Kris has set me up to be able to take any questions that you might have. I can also help anyone who may not know which pick to try........I usually can point you in the right direction after I ask a few questions about your playing style, which type of guitar you play, what guitar pick do you play now, and more.

Vinni, (my husband and the maker of the V-Pick) is a guitar player who looked for 35 years to find a pick that would do what he wanted. He made picks out of every type of material that crossed his path, ....wood, metal, plastics, glass, stones, coins, and much much more......just trying to get some life from his guitar pick. He finally found a material that worked, and then he started experimenting with shapes and thicknesses and the edge. After years and years of work and experimenting, we now have what we think is the best playing guitar pick in the world. We want to share this with everyone. Sure, we have made it into a business, but the passion for music is still there and will always be there for Vinni. It is exciting to see a guitarist play with a V-Pick for the very first time, strum a bit and then look up with wonder in his eyes and ask, "What IS this?!!!" We live for moments like this.

It is not just a business to us. It is our joy to help others get more from their instrument.

Vinni will be registering soon. He is a fantastic musician, loves the guitar with a passion, and loves to talk about tone and sound.

So , if anyone has a question .....ask away. I'll check in later.

Thanks so very much to all of you. I posted thie above on the other thread, but I want to add a few things here about the diamond and losing picks that cost more than brand X's " 24 picks for 3.99".

It is amazing how when you pay $10 for a pick, you no longer lose them as easily.

We make a leather pick holder that you put on your keys.......it reminds you to take your pick with you when you are at a friends house or gigging.

The Diamond does have a different sound than the Medium Rounded......also is similar to the Large Rounded too. It is our newest premium pick. 100% hand made. It has faster action than these, a fatter tone, is a Lazer cut pick, hand ground and buffed by Vinni himself. It has the V-Pick logo on it that you don't get with the other picks, and the corners are not rounded or pointed either.....somewhere in-between.

As far as worth and extra 6.00, others here can answer that better than me.

Posted by: Trond Vold Aug 6 2008, 07:15 PM

This is just great!
Welcome to you both!

I'm totally addicted to the screamers now, but i'm going to order some of the other models as well soon.

Posted by: Bondy Aug 6 2008, 07:18 PM

Welcome your picks are great i love em

Posted by: Muris Varajic Aug 6 2008, 07:24 PM

Welcome to the site Nancy!!

Actually I got my picks this morning
and when I checked my email inbox
there was an email from you.
Then I log in at GMC forum and there you are!

Picks feel great indeed.

Posted by: Guitar1969 Aug 6 2008, 08:07 PM

Nancy:

Due to all the peer pressure, I would like to try out your picks, but not sure what I should start with, keeping the initial investment down(Just bought a big order of Dunlop Nylons a few weeks ago), but also want to give the V-picks a fair chance - But the thickness is scaring me.

Up until recently, I've always liked thinner picks that flex a bit - initially using Dunlop Nylons .46mm, but more recently using Nylon .88 or .73s, but the tips wear out quick. I also recently started using the Jazz III pointeds(Small red ones) on Electric and seem to like them, but they are soo small and have a hard time keeping a good grip on them - Cannot use them on my Acoustic at all - just doesn't feel right.

I am a somewhat hard picker/strummer which is why I like the flex of the nylons, especially when playing acoustic guitar.

Can you recommend 2 or 3 picks to cover my acoustic and electric playing - I was thinking the Screamer and the medium roundeds might be good for me, but then I notice you also have some thinner picks for acoustic too.

Thanks,

Posted by: Nancy Smith Aug 7 2008, 03:26 AM

Sure! I'm be happy to help.....and maybe this will help a few others that have the same reservations as you have. I have Vinni here...he's playing guitar while I write this.....and I am going to ask him to answer (he will register soon and have his own screen name soon.........we just haven't got that far yet. )

Vinni says:
Believe it or not, since you are a hard player, this makes you a perfect candidate for playing with a thick pick. Why??? 9 times our of 10 the reason we play hard is because our thin picks do not deliver the tone that is inside our head. If we play with a thick pick the tone is already there and we don't have to dig for it. This simple fact allows us to play lighter handed. And in time a new habit will be formed.

I would recommend the Medium Rounded and Medium Pointed for you on your electric. Normally I would recommend the Small Pointed for a Jazz III player, but you have already expressed that they seem too small for you.....so I would have you try the Medium Pointed....it is a bit larger and has a bigger tone. The reason I am recommending the Medium Rounded is because the tone is so fat, you may prefer it once you hear it. Plus, this pick is very fast.

We have an Acoustic pick specially designed for the acoustic guitar. It looks, to the eye, very similar to the Medium Pointed, but has a very sharp beveled edge all the way around and delivers a crisper, mid-range scoop sound. Plus, a lot more volume with the same effort used as with your old pick.


Nancy here again. Hope this answers your question. Play the V-Picks side by side with your old picks when you get them. You'll be very happy.

Actually I got my picks this morning
and when I checked my email inbox
there was an email from you.
Then I log in at GMC forum and there you are!

Picks feel great indeed.



Ha ha!! I bombarded you, it sounds like.

Glad you like the picks. We really want our customers to be happy.

Posted by: Praetorian Aug 7 2008, 04:02 AM

Nancy - It's Ben Ahrberg...I just placed another order a few days ago for a medium rounded and a Slide! Guys, the slide sounds amazing!! I couldn't believe how fast the items came to me also...literally two days after I ordered!

I had one question though, that seems to be only me! I have read a lot of other posts about the V-picks and seem to be the only one with this problem. When I play with the Screamer, I seem to be getting a lot of what sounds just like fret buzz when I pick the string for a second time. Obviously this does not happen when I pick the string for a single note, but if I pick a few notes in a row on the same string, there seems to be a lot of vibration from the string that vibrates on the pick for a split second before I strike the string again. It seems menial, but it is a noticable sound. Maybe I am not holding it correctly...don't know. It is a little distracting I have to say.

Besides that I love the feel of them!

Posted by: Nancy Smith Aug 7 2008, 04:28 AM

Hi, this is Vinni Smith.

I think this issue you are referring to can be corrected with pick angle. It is common to get some pick/string noise, especially if you are not used to playing with thick picks. There is a video on our website that deals with this exquisite little inconvience.

Hope this helps.

Vinni

Posted by: Enucleation Aug 7 2008, 04:32 AM

I ordered a Screamer and Shredder Lite (normal shredder seemed a bit too thick for me) recently, I intended to email you after I tried them but now I can just tell you here XD.

Can't wait to try them outc

Posted by: Praetorian Aug 7 2008, 05:02 AM

Thanks Vinni, I'll check it out!

Posted by: Tjchep Aug 7 2008, 07:17 AM

Screamer.. = Best pick in the world..

Very reasonable price too.. and the thickness is the best guys..

Posted by: Velvet Roger Aug 7 2008, 07:42 AM

Hmmm reading up more and more on the V-Picks on this forum makes it just impossible to not order a couple to try them out, which I did 5 min ago

Posted by: Juan M. Valero Aug 7 2008, 09:09 AM

it's great to have good comunication with customers !!! 10 points to V-picks staff

Posted by: wollace03 Aug 7 2008, 09:21 AM

by reading all this comments i wonder, how it is possible to play guitar without these picks....

sounds like a revolution to me..

by the way: i ordered a screamer and the fab four pack......

Posted by: DeepRoots Aug 7 2008, 09:39 AM

As pay day is approaching i'd love it if either one of you could reccomend me a pick, these really do sound exciting

I'm currently using Dunlop Tortex 1.14mm and also Ibanez extra heavy Sand Grip Wizard picks, which i prefer for the better grip and also the thickness of the pick. I like the pick attack of both.

I want a warmer, fatter tone for my phrasing (I'm thinking Andy timmons, Satriani) without losing the pick attack for my speed runs ( aka Paul Gilbert, John Petrucci).
I'm also playing a fair amount of sweep picking lately and would like a pick that doesn't handicap my sweeping too much (doesnt need to pick designed for the sweep-aholic though).

So to summarise: fatter, warmer, same pick attack (or slightly more harsh) that won't stop me sweeping!

Thanks alot for helping out

Posted by: fkalich Aug 7 2008, 10:48 AM

Regarding losing $10 picks. I am skeptical on myself. Already misplaced a medium rounded. Keys and billfold are important to, and that has not helped me to ever know where in the heck I left them after many years. I might get the glow in the dark ones next time, so I can find them with the lights off. If I ordered today, I would probably get a Diamond and two medium rounded, I like them both, at least that is how I feel now. Not sure which I will end up liking the best, or maybe I will just always like them both. The Diamond is great, but the medium rounded is awfully nice to. I think you need them both. Same as my needing 8 electric guitars.

edit: found it!!!!!

Posted by: Rooks Aug 7 2008, 11:19 AM

I mailed an inquiry to Vinni & Nancy, these picks I have got to try out.
I hope this will soon lead to placing an order As I live far away from the states (like many other GMC'ers) I'd like to get recommendations on which V-pick to use (I asked this in the mail, writing too what I usually use)

And I'm gonna try out some different ones so I will limit the shipping costs if one V-pick suits me better than another

Rooks

Posted by: superize Aug 7 2008, 11:47 AM

I am planning on doing another order but i am not sure what to get. I am planning on getting a screamer but then i would love a pick that is suitable for rythm playing and fast tremelo picking, what can you recomend to me there.

I am not really sure what pick i ordered last time(dident relly check) but i think they were, Medium rounded, Medium Pointed and a shredder.

Thanks for all your help

Posted by: Marcus Siepen Aug 7 2008, 04:36 PM

I just ordered a couple of those picks, lets see if they can be a match for my stone picks

Posted by: Vinni Smith Aug 7 2008, 04:48 PM

I finally got signed up and I'm glad to be here! I'd be happy to recommend a pick or two that will suit you......this may l help many others that have the same type of question. And I love to talk about guitar picks and tone!

First of all, you won't need that sanded spot on your picks anymore..... V-Picks cling to your skin once they warm up, and they don't move around in your hand like other picks. It is hard to believe or understand until you have one in your own hand and play with it.

I would reccomend trying the Medium Pointed V-Pick. It is thick, 2.75mm but you won't even notice after you start playing it.

Are you opposed to playing with a rounded pick? If this is ok, I highly reccomend the Medium Rounded. A very fast action and big tone. Satriani is now playing with the Large Rounded V-Pick.

Thanks for the question. Hope this helps.

Vinni

Posted by: JeroenKole Aug 7 2008, 05:28 PM

I told Nancy I would give some feedback about the picks after I got them. Well I got them this afternoon in my mailbox (ordered the fab 4), and WOW!

My favorit is the freakishly large rounded. The others were nice but this one, it was love at first sight when I held it.

Here is the deal, you do have get accustomed to them but after 15 minutes trying them and going back to my old pick made me realize how much better these just feel.

Tone. The tone is very warm and allows notes to blend together while allowing the notes to be articulated as well. These picks bring me one step closer to the tone I invision.

Quality: I am an very heavy picker and after 15 minutes of going crazy I can throw away the very cheap picks, after 30 minutes the high quality picks of some very big companies. I went crazy with the V pick for a whole hour, and the only thing I can notice are a few minimal scratches on the outside and my own fingerprints.

Speed: Speed of light baby! These picks are very fast, they increased my picking speed by at least 10%, if not more.

Service: I ordered them on saturday and got em on the thursday after. Very fast, especially when you consider it had to be sent overseas. Also, after my order I got an e-mail from nancy thanking me for my order and asking me where I heard of the V-picks. Great service.

Downsides: Everything has it's downsides. The V pick is so fast my left hand can't keep up with my right hand. And you can't eat them, which could actually be a good thing

All in all. The V pick is a wonderful product. I wish Vinni and Nancy the best of luck with their product, because they deserve it. Great product, great service, and each order is absolutely worth the money and the wait.

JeroenKole

Posted by: Caelumamittendum Aug 7 2008, 05:38 PM

Thanks for the review.

I'm not sure how you can eat up a pick in 30 minutes though My picks can last for a long, long, loooooooooong time, if I don't throw them away.

Posted by: Vinni Smith Aug 7 2008, 06:48 PM

You didn't say whether you liked the Med Rounded and Pointed. Is there something about them that you are trying to get from them and are not? This would help in my recommendation.

I will tell you that the Rounded picks are very fast and suited for tremelo playing.
The Screamer is a very sharp pick and great for rythym and bright, biting harmonic leads.







You'll throw those stone picks away!

"And that's all I have to say about that." (in a Forest Gump voice)

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Aug 7 2008, 06:48 PM

Glad you found you way Vinni! And thanks for the advice!

Posted by: Vinni Smith Aug 7 2008, 06:54 PM

I'm so glad you are happy! I know don't if we told you, but that pick model, The Freakishly Large Rounded, was made for Carlos Santana and he still uses it today. If you see him on tour , he will be using this pick. It is our only 3.0mm pick. This is why it gets such a huge, warm, fat tone.

Thanks again!

Posted by: Fsgdjv Aug 7 2008, 06:57 PM

Vinni! I'm just about to order some, and I'm not sure what to get either, I've been using Jazz III's and love them, so maybe something similar to that? Screamer? But I don't want to miss any mid range.

Posted by: Guitar1969 Aug 7 2008, 07:01 PM

Nancy and Vinni:
Thanks for the replay - A couple more questions and then I'lll get an order in.

I understand what you are saying about strumming harder(acoustic) with a thin pick to overcompensate and that a thicker pick will help you play softer(But will produce louder results) but up until now, I have always had a hard time with a thick pick as I felt they didn't cut across the high tensioned acoustic strings the way I like when strumming, causing a bit harse sound - I think the thinner Nylon pick flexing compensated for this and gave me a smoother strumming sound- Is there any validity to this, or can it be chaulked up to bad technique on my part(Which is very likely). I do notice you are now offerring thinner acoustic picks as well - When are those a good option.

Lastly - Where does the Screamer fit in that everybodies talking about, related to the medium pointed V-pick?

Thanks,
Michael

Posted by: chast Aug 7 2008, 07:07 PM

I just ordered some V-Picks again and finally also at V Picks because my PayPal finally seems to work now.

1 Screamer
1 Small Pointed
1 Shredder Lite
1 Freaksihly Large Pointed

The Small Pointed is the pick I use now instead of the Jazz III
Welcome Vinni and great picks you are doing there

What about doing a lesson for us ?
I really like your tone in your videos

Posted by: Vinni Smith Aug 7 2008, 07:10 PM

A tip on finding the V-Picks if they are laying on the floor. Some people have no problem , ever, in seeing a V-pick laying around. Others simply can't see them. If you look from an angle, the V-Pick edges pick up the light in the room and shine. If it is dark in the room, use a flashlight.....the edges will reflect the intense light and really light up.

The glow in the dark picks are amazing. With just the light in the room, they will glow. If you put them up lights for 15 minutes to 30 minutes, they will glow all night. They glow so strongly we say that they look like you are holding a piece of nuclear waste.

Posted by: Rooks Aug 7 2008, 07:12 PM

Just put an order for some

Screamers
Shredders
small pointed Niteglo's
Lite large pointed

and 3 of each, and 2 of the Lite Large Pointed


Edit: Though I seriously doubt V-Picks will top Glenn Tipton's pick that I caught from stage, on the other hand I don't play with it, ever

Posted by: Vinni Smith Aug 7 2008, 07:33 PM

Nearly every single Jazz III players that have tried our Small Pointed say that they will never go back.

Kris said that was a possibility for me. I would enjoy doing that. I'd need some help in finding out how to do that.




Our Small Pointed gets TWICE the mid-range of the Jazz III's. You'll be very happy.



Good questions! Thank you!

If you like a softer sound on your acoustic, then the Ultra Lite V-Picks will be perfect. They have plenty of flex and give. The do not assault the strings as hard as the Acoustic model does. They still have the wonderfull V-Pick feel and "grippage". I think you will like them a lot. If they are too thin for you then graduate up to the regular Lites, which are 1.0mm. They ask more of the strings and give a much louder, forcefull sound. Maybe good for you, maybe not.

The Screamer is the exact same pick and the Acoustic. I made the Acoustic for a couple of years and even though it was great on an electric, my electric artists would not order it because of the name. So, I gave it the second name, Screamer. Voila! They started selling like hotcakes! We guitarists are a weird bunch, aren't we?

Anyway, the Screamer has a mid-range scoup to it's sound. I am not comforable with a pointed pick, therefore I do not use them but I have a lot of customers that will only play the Screamer. Lots of harmonics and some say they can play faster with them than the rounded picks. I personally have always played with the rounded corner of any pick. I learned that from Robben Ford. Much fatter tone and faster action. But that is just me. My opinion and $2 will buy you a cup of coffee......

Hope this helps.

Posted by: Jeff Aug 7 2008, 07:45 PM

Hi Vinni,

I am the same way. I use the rounded corner and I usually play Fender Heavy picks. I like the corners on that particular pic. So my question is that I would like to order one of your picks and based on what I have said, which would you recommend? I usually play slower blues and more classic rock type of stuff.

thanks!
Jeff

Posted by: 2mazzo Aug 7 2008, 08:00 PM

I just ordered small and medium pointed, and ultra lite medium pointed and rounded. Looking forward to try those picks out

Posted by: Guitar1969 Aug 7 2008, 08:41 PM

Can you clarify one thing for me - Are the Ultra Lites .5mm thick or .8mm thick - Your Website cites both specs:

At the top here in the yellow header it says .5mm:

http://www.v-picks.com/UltraLites.html

But In this description it says .8mm:

"Due to artist's request we also now have V-Pick Lites and ULTRA Lites!!!
They are the same shape and size as regular V-Picks, but they are only 1.0mm thick (Lites) or .8mm thick (ULTRA Lites). They still have that same V-Pick "grip" and cool look and feel. You can also order them with pointed or rounded points. "


I figure its .5mm since there are more references to that spec.

I just placed an order - Didn't see a place to reference GMC on my order.

Looking forward to trying them out.

Thanks,
Michael Hallerbach

Posted by: superize Aug 7 2008, 09:47 PM

[quote name='Vinni Smith' date='Aug 7 2008, 07:48 PM' post='238827']
You didn't say whether you liked the Med Rounded and Pointed. Is there something about them that you are trying to get from them and are not? This would help in my recommendation.

I will tell you that the Rounded picks are very fast and suited for tremelo playing.
The Screamer is a very sharp pick and great for rythym and bright, biting harmonic leads.


The thing about the rounded picks is that i cant get a good and comfortable grip while i am playing some rythm. I tried today and the pick just slipped away from the grip i was having

Posted by: DeepRoots Aug 7 2008, 10:49 PM

Thanks Vinni!

Posted by: Caelumamittendum Aug 7 2008, 10:52 PM

Glue is the answer, my friend!

Posted by: Vinni Smith Aug 8 2008, 01:52 AM

For Blues and Classic Rock, it is hard to beat our Large Rounded. It has a super fat, thick tone.....really warm and rich. If you have large hands, or just love a really large pick in your hand, the Freakishly Large has an even bigger sound....which is hard to believe if you have ever heard the V-Pick Large Rounded.

The right pick really does make a difference.

Posted by: Nancy Smith Aug 8 2008, 02:13 AM

Vinni just left for practice, so I will try to answer for him until he gets home late tonight.....

Ok, both of those measurements were right. Here's why.....

V-Picks are made from cast acrylic. That means that simply put, the acrylic is poured into a large flat pan (so to speak) and then it dries and becomes solid. The temperature of the day, the humidity, and more can have a drastic effect on the material. Also, if the "pan" is not level.....at one end of the sheet it can be one thickness, and at another it will be a different thickness.

I know that Vinni just bought a ????mycromitor"???? or something that sounds like that. Hey!!! I'm the wife! I'm not the tool expert. I just know that it measures how thick something is, and Vinni used it. The thickness had changed from one big order we had for acrylic and he had changed the wording on the site to reflect that. I guess he didn't get all of the text changed. Which one is the right measurement now???? Gosh, I don't honestly know. lol But he does! He's off playing guitar now, and his head is filled with music right now, so I'm not going to call him and ask him. I'll find out for you tomorrow.





Hmmmmmmm..... That is unusual.

Vinni is gone, but let me suggest that the pick is too small for you. You were playing with a Medium Rounded?? Do you have a Large Rounded? Or, gasp.....a Freakishly Large Rounded??

Vinni may have another answer. I know that he will say if that Medium doesn't work for you, send it back and we'll replace it with something else that we think may be the ticket. We'll work to find the right one for you. It's important to us.

Posted by: RIP Dime Aug 8 2008, 02:30 AM

Very cool of you two to join and help us, I've ordered a couple V-Picks, and can't wait for them to arrive.

Posted by: superize Aug 8 2008, 05:43 PM

Hmmmmmmm..... That is unusual.

Vinni is gone, but let me suggest that the pick is too small for you. You were playing with a Medium Rounded?? Do you have a Large Rounded? Or, gasp.....a Freakishly Large Rounded??

Vinni may have another answer. I know that he will say if that Medium doesn't work for you, send it back and we'll replace it with something else that we think may be the ticket. We'll work to find the right one for you. It's important to us.
[/quote]

There is no need to return them i really like the picks for lead playing. I think i might try order the bigger picks to try them out. After i have been playing with theese picks for a while i really like them better then the picks i was using before.

Posted by: blindwillie Aug 8 2008, 09:32 PM

This was my experience exactly. After playing the V for a while I noticed I had switched to play with a lighter touch.


So true.

And big thanks to fkalich, you where right.
Holding the pick the way you suggested felt natural with the bigger V pick and the grip was a non-issue. I'm getting used to it.

Posted by: RIP Dime Aug 8 2008, 11:27 PM

Well I got them, and they feel great, they are fast, and great for strumming as well as single notes. But there is one BIG problem, whenever I do fast picking on the high strings I get this terrifyingly annoying sound, every time I hit the string with the pick it squeaks incredibly loud. It sounds like I'm tapping my pick on the strings. It's not a pinch harmonic, it's just a pick noise. Just try tapping your pick on the strings over the bridge pickup and that's the same sound. But this sound only happens on the bridge pickup.

I tried it on a crunch setting as well, and I still got that noise. I tried angling my pick the way Vinni does, and it didn't work. I tried changing my pick angle, from holding it parallel to the strings to diagonally and everywhere between, it's just not going away.

I love the way these picks feel so it's a bummer that it makes that noise. Anyone else have the same problem? Any advice from the Smiths?

Posted by: Vinni Smith Aug 9 2008, 02:05 AM

Thanks for this statement and question. I like it when people bring up this subject. If I may, please allow me to cut and paste the article I wrote on this very issue about a month ago. It was posted on The Gear Page. I hope this helps.....

I would also like to thank everyone here for letting us become part of your forum. This is a very friendly and professional atmosphere here. Unlike some of the forums I have been part of in the past. Please forgive me if I ever step out of line and say something out of context or if I break any rules. I will try my best not to, but again, I have been part of so many forums that I have picked up some pretty bad habbits here and there. You have to develop a thick skin when you put your product on forums for everyone to look at, try, buy, and talk about. You have to take a lot of criticism and sometimes attacks and I have learnd to deal with this over the past few years. I only say that to say this, if I ever come off as a know-it-all or arrogant in any way, please understand I do not mean to for even a minute. That is not who I really am.
Thanks again for allowing Nancy and I to become part of your fun here at GMC.





Every now and then I get a question or complaint about the "chirp" noise you can get when using a V-Pick. I would like to address this issue head on. Now, before I do so, please understand, I do not want to come on as a know-it-all or a guitar god in any way. I consider myself to be a fair guitarist at best. I can downright embarrass myself in music stores at times. On an off day it sounds like I have fallen on my guitar and cannot get up! So, I do not intend to put my playing on a pedestal, or anyone's playing style down at all. We are all different players with different hands, ears, equipment and techniques. I am not addressing this issue to make myself look big in any way. Nor am I trying to make myself look intellegent. Believe me, I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer. What I have learned about guitars, strings and picks has taken me since 1972 when I started as a 14 year old wanna-be rock star trying to sound like John Fogarty, Carlos Santana and Peter Frampton. I am simply writing this because we are talking about something near and dear to me, the guitar pick. And to be exact, our guitar pick! So, please take this with a spirit and intent of humbleness, honesty and love for our art.

First issue to address is, does the V-Pick make a chirp noise? The answer is yes. Just as any pick makes some kind of noise of it's own, the V-Pick, like all other thick picks makes a chirp noise. Please note at this point, EVERY pick makes some kind of noise. Scratch, chirp, click, flap, scrape, etc. Does the V-Pick make any more chirp than other thick picks? I would answer this by saying it makes less chirp noise than 80% of the thick picks out there. There is one pick on the market that I love dearly that is made of Lexan that I had to stop playing because the chirp was unacceptable. And I like a lot of pick noise! So, I am confident we are in good company with this issue of noise.

What makes this chrip noise. To put it very simply, it is a result of putting a hard material, cast acrylic in this instance, against an already vibrating string. Please note that the string does not need to be previously plucked to be vibrating. Any time you have a string fretted, unless you have muted it with your other hand, it is vibrating to some degree. Why do thicker picks do this more? The answer is very simple. It is because there is more material contacting the string at one given time. Thinner picks do it as well, but to a much lesser degree.

Well then, why play with a thicker pick if it creates these problems? Good question. Because with a thicker pick something is possible to do that is not available with thinner picks. With a thicker pick there is more traveling distance for the bevel to create a "longer point of release". This creates a totally different attack, tone and bloom of the note. Please note at this time, this does not only affect the beginning of each note. Oh no! It sets up the tone and sustain for the complete lifespan of that note. I have proven this time after time over the years and the results are quite eye opening. This is why I have chosen, many years ago to play with very thick plectrums. The other benefit of this bevel design is faster action. The proper bevel coupled with a rounded corner makes for quite a speedy guitar pick with very little resistance to hold you back.

Can this issue be resolved? Can I play with a V-Pick and not get that "Chirp"? The answer is a resounding YES. The fact that it happens to some players and not others, tells me the difference is in the players, because the picks are all exactly the same. It is eliminated with pick angle and a more diciplined right hand. "Are you saying I play sloppy"? I am not saying this at all. I can asure you, I am no better player than you are. However, I have spent enough time with these things that I have studied my playing inside and out, and know exactly what causes the pick and string to react the way they do. "So, I have to change my playing to use V-Picks?" If you don't like the chirp, you may have to make some small adjustments. But I have found the adjustments I have made thus far, has helped me to become a better player due to this. "Why should I have to adjust my playing style?". Whether you realize this or not, we adjust our playing with EVERY pick we use, to some degree.

Most of us play with our pick at an angle. We do this to create less resistance. It is easier to push a rounded corner over a string than it is to push a flat, more abrupt edge. Therefore, we turn the pick, ever so slightly to accomplish less resistance. Some us us angle our pick in a downward fashion and some of us, me included, angle it in an upward style. I do this because I get much more mid-range response and because my hand is much more relaxed than the other, more popular method. But what I am about to propose to you is this; we do not need to angle our picks nearly as much when we are playing with a thicker pick that is beveled correctly! The reason is this, the "longer point of release" accomplishes the same goal of less resistance against the string. Therefore, you can play faster with a thick pick held horizontally to the strings than you can a thinner pick without the bigger, longer bevel. Am I making any sense? In the 80's I worked in quite a few country bands and did a lot of Chickin' Pickin' or what is also called Flat Pickin'. To to this, you need a lot of pick slap and you need the string to really release in a very hard action. This is how you get that sound out of a Tele. If you angle your pick too much, and sometimes at all, it just does not accomplish this. I said this to say, I can play at most any pick angle, but I am more comfortable playing in the manner of angling the pick up. However, since playing with my V-Picks for some years now, I have found my pick angle to be very little, if any at all most of the time. I still get that fast action because of the bevel, however, I get very little pick noise.

Believe it or not, the very reason I started playing with thick materials back in '85 was to sound like two certain artists, Brian May from Queen and Ed King from Lynyrd Skynyrd. They both had a lot of pick "noise". We later learned that BHM played with a sixpence coin, of course, and most do not know this but Ed King played the solo from Sweet Home Alabama with a seashell! This same "chirp" noise is all over that LS song. I loved to hear these two players because they sounded different. Not just their tone but their attack. Just like each one of us speaks differently. We all have a different way of saying our consonants and vowels. Our voices are not made up of the tone from our vocal chords only, but the shape of our mouths, teeth, lips, etc. These things all make up our speaking style. So it is with our picking style. And so it is with these two artists that I love to hear so much, still to this day. So, I set out to create a pick with as much noise as I could muster up. Wood, metal, plastic, rubber. It didn't matter to me what I used. I even left the picks I made unpolished to accomplish this scratching sound because I loved it that much. And guess what, IT WORKED. I also got my own sound and style from it. Now, over the years, I have come to understand that not everyone wants this effect. Some do and some don't. Therefore, I polish the V-Picks to a sheen like a mirror. This reduces this noise/reaction to it's minimal state. A lot of thick picks out on the market today do not even trim off the mold seam around the pick. You get the pick, take it home, play it for about 5 hours before you get the edges completely worn down to where they should have been when you bought it brand new. However, this takes time to do this on every pick and is not cost efficient to do so for a lot of big companies. That is why V-Picks are still hand done. Every pick that goes out of this place is ready to play. No break in period for these guys!

So now, for the meat of this discussion. How to get rid of the chirp. Simply hold your pick with less angle and give the string just a bit less pick. Or, if you like, angle it in an upward fashion like I do. Also, avoid placing your pick on the string when it is vibrating. This is not as hard as it sounds. It just takes a bit of consentration on your right hand. I have watched players for years looking at their right hands, practicing and developing their picking technique. It just takes some dicipline and practice, but not a lot. If you think about it, most of us work real hard on our fretting hands. When we watch our favorite players, do we watch their picking hand or their fretting hand? I say, we should be watching both. The fretting is only 50% of guitar playing. I believe we tend to pay far too little attention to our picking hand, in general. Anyway, to rid yourself of this "chirp", it is easily done by changing your pick angle. The less angle you put on your V-Pick, the less chirp you will get. Just for fun, try flat-pickin' with one of our picks sometime. You will love the tone you will get by doing this.

Now, another piece of good news for you. If you have tried V-Picks a year or so ago and did not like them, a lot of research and designing has been done since then. The new V-Picks have much less of the noise in question. And now, the new V-Pick Screamer has been thrilling the socks off of the most skeptical players out there. I have had many customers say that they can turn and manipulate the angle with the Screamer to give their playing different colors and textures. So, the new V-Picks are very impressive, if I do say so myself.

For a small example of the principles I have listed above, please view this short video posted on our website. It is a very primitive video, shot with a small digital camera in my living room. However, it does show how to eliminate unwanted noise created by using any thick pick. http://www.v-picks.com/SessionOne.html

Well, thanks for taking the time to read this article. If you play V-Picks, I want to tell you Thank You Very Much! I you have never played a V-Pick, I would like to invite you to do so. We have been working hard to get them into stores in every city of America and internationally as well. If you have tried a V-Pick years ago and just did not like them and thought of them as problematic, then I ask you to give them one more try. The new V-Picks are better than ever and the Screamer will knock you out! It is my promise to you that I have done my best, and will continue to do my best to help you to become the artist you were destined to be. I will continue to listen to guitar players and search their minds for any need they may have that may be keeping them from attaining that goal they are working so hard to reach. It is also my job to get you into the correct guitar pick for you. We now have over 20 models of V-Picks to choose from! That is a lot of picks, indeed! So, if you have ever tried a V-Pick and thought it is not for you, then I say, you simply did not play the correct V-Pick for you. I challenge you to try another model. Email me or call me anytime. I love to talk about tone, amps, guitars, techniques, and yes, guitar picks!

Vinni Smith

Posted by: RIP Dime Aug 9 2008, 04:18 AM

Cool man, I'll spend some more time with it, and again, I love the feel of these picks!

Posted by: Ian Bushell Aug 9 2008, 08:31 AM

Hay!
These picks sound pretty cool, never heard of them, checking it out now. thanks!

Posted by: kaznie_NL Aug 9 2008, 02:07 PM

Hey Nancy, good to see you here!

Woot...this must me my biggest thread

I have one little question, if I want to speedpick with the medium rounded pick, I tend to angle it a bit (like in Kris' 101 lesson about speedpicking basics) but then the round pick just slides over the string and gives no sound. Does this mean I just need to adjust the angle a bit?

Question 2
With the screamer on speedpicking, I get quit some resistance from the string, know what I mean? Like I put the tip if the screamer to far between the strings, but it doesn't like I do it that far!

Thnx for your time!!

Posted by: Vinni Smith Aug 9 2008, 03:12 PM

There is no need to angle the V-Pick as much as Brand X. Due to the thickness and bevel design, you can even flatpick with them at high speeds. I do that a lot and get a magnifcent tone.

If you are going to speed pick with the Screamer, you can only put a little tiny bit of the the pick point in between the strings. Otherwise it will catch and have resistance.

Posted by: Marcus Siepen Aug 9 2008, 04:01 PM

Hehe, I will give you my feedback as soon as the picks arrive :-)

Posted by: Andrew Cockburn Aug 9 2008, 04:05 PM

Welcome Vinnie & Nancy


I got my V-Picks on Tuesday - have been away on business though so I am just about to try them out!

Oh, and Vinnie, don't worry about your forum manners - we're pleased to have you and you are giving out some awesome advice!

Posted by: DeepRoots Aug 9 2008, 05:17 PM

Just ordered the Fab Four and the screamer! (fingers crossed)

Posted by: Enucleation Aug 9 2008, 08:31 PM

I'm kind of anxious to see Marcus's opinion on the V-Picks, stone picks seem cool enough anyway.

Posted by: Marcus Siepen Aug 10 2008, 09:43 PM

I am very curious myself I love my stone picks, but I am always open to try new things, so I ordered a couple of V-Picks, as soon as I have them I will spend some time with them. I am pretty sure in the beginning they will feel kinda weird, after using the same pick for 20 years any other one will be weird, but I will give them some time, then I will see if they can make me abandon my holy stone

Posted by: Andrew Cockburn Aug 11 2008, 12:38 AM

I'm loving my V-picks ... the screamer is most like a big stubby but is smoother.

Problem is, I now really like the rounded picks - unlike the dunlops I used before - somehow they are smoother for fast runs, but at the same time feel a little less precise than the pointed tip. So, I am agonizing between a Screamer and a F.L Rounded

Posted by: MickeM Aug 12 2008, 04:45 PM

Got mine yesterday and tried them out a bit, screamers, diamond and medium rounded... and a glowing screamer, got to try that in the dark later on

There was a big difference in how the picks performed. The fat stubby diamond sounded just like that, a fat and bassy sound. Was fairly easy to "squeal" though I'm more used to 1.14 picks where the pick and thumb flesh are almost united as one Great for rhythm this one!
The Screamer was more diffcult for me to get harmonics from but I could feel I have to get more used to it. Plenty of mids, more aggressive sound, and when I got the squeals to work properly it was wild

Havn't tested the medium rounded yet, but so far, the diamond is my thing and the medium rounded is thinner so should be no problem adjusting to that.

Usually the pick ferry seem to steal picks all the time, I don't know how many I lose per year. I'll be extra careful with these especially the $10 diamond, it's a gem.

Posted by: Marcus Siepen Aug 12 2008, 07:39 PM

Mine arrived today, I didn't do some serious testing yet but of course I played around with them already. So far the screamer is my fave, sounds good and it even feels pretty good, not thaaaat different compared to my stone. Medium pointed and large pointed are nice ones too, both are pretty close to the screamer in my opinion, they just sound slightly different. And of course the big one feels different, there is just much more pick in your hand The one that I like the least so far is the medium rounded. The size is fine, it feels fine, but the rounded tip takes away a lot of my attack. No idea if I can compensate this if I get used to it, but from the picks that I have now it definitely offers the least attack (while the screamer offers almost as much as my stone, not exactly as much, but close at least) The rounded one might be very nice for my acoustic though, I will give this a try tomorrow. More impressions will follow...

Posted by: Toni Suominen Aug 12 2008, 08:25 PM

Well, I must try these picks after what all of you guys on here have been saying about them

Posted by: Mrblomme Aug 12 2008, 09:13 PM

I didn't visit the forum for a few months now and am a bit to lazy atm ..
What's about the V picks? Did GMC promote them or something?

Posted by: MickeM Aug 12 2008, 10:00 PM

I think it was Kanzie_NL who found them (correct me if I'm wrong) and posted a link and ppl got curious.

Posted by: Matt23 Aug 12 2008, 10:09 PM

It was mmasters who recommended them.

Posted by: Enucleation Aug 12 2008, 11:30 PM

I agree with Marcus so far, the screamer is my favorite so far. I really like it, the shredder lite I ordered, isn't so much for me.

I hope it lasts long though, don't have 5 bucks to be shelling out all the time for picks XD.

V-Picks Pros: They just straight up rock, every guitar player may eventually use them

V- Pick Cons: Guitarists may never throw picks to the crowd again, in fear of having to buy more.

Just kidding though Vinni, awesome picks.

Posted by: Nancy Smith Aug 13 2008, 05:43 AM

Posted by: Marcus Siepen Aug 13 2008, 11:15 AM

Haha, I have special picks to throw them to the crowd, fancy ones with the BG logo and the Tribal Dragon, but they are only and exclusivley for this, I once used one of those on stage and after 2 fast songs the tip was gone I can only play with solid picks

Posted by: Guitar1969 Aug 15 2008, 09:02 PM

I like the medium rounded , but also bought the shredder lite to try and don't really care for it - It is a sharp edge(not beveled) so it doesn't cut across the strings well.

I like the medium rounded for soloing or picking indiv notes, and for downstroke rythmn, but can't really rythmn strum well up and down with it - Is this a deficiency in general for thicker picks(I previously used thinner picks and still prefer them for this) - Thicker picks don't glide across the strings well from what I've seen so far. Problem is I don't see myself switching picks for different songs.

Anyone else feel this way - can't do 16ths rythmn strumming smoothly with a thick pick.

Posted by: black and white Aug 15 2008, 09:12 PM

Is everyone still on the V Pick bandwagon??????

I'm onto the new fad. I want one of Marcus' BG tribal dragon picks

Posted by: Enucleation Aug 16 2008, 01:22 AM

I also want to play on a stone pick

Posted by: Vinni Smith Aug 16 2008, 04:42 AM

I have found that the longer you play a V-Pick, the looser you tend to hold the pick and the more your hand will relax. This is where the faster rythyms come in.

Hope this helps,

Vinni

Posted by: Shifted-Paradigm Aug 16 2008, 06:06 AM

If you are willing to promote your product in such a way, Vinni, I'll take a free sampler pack

Regarding how the product is being marketed, I have an opinion pertaining to the possible quality of the product, but of course would prefer to not assume. If any of the picks will replace the Jazz III ultex's I utilize, I'll be sure to write a favorable review and purchase your product.

Posted by: midnight Aug 16 2008, 06:30 AM

I play with Tortex 1.14 and 1mm, but I think I'll give these beasts a try.

I can't believe how thick some of the picks are...crazy! Whatever works though.

Posted by: jdriver Aug 17 2008, 07:06 AM

Okay, I am a Lemming, so I ordered some last night, a Medium Rounded, a Diamond, a large Slide, and the key pouch.

Had an email waiting when I got up this morning... SHIPPED.

Rocket Service

Posted by: Rooks Aug 17 2008, 08:52 AM

My Post in the other V-pick topic yesterday:
I received my V-picks 2 days ago, From US to Denmark in 6 days. To me that is incredibly fast delivery.

I have only tried them out 2 days but I already have a lot to say, even though I'm a beginner.
I don't know if theres better picks out there.. I tried some different Dunlops and George Dennis picks, both different thicknesses and shapes. But these V-picks really rock that's for sure ..

Here's a small review from me.

My favorite of the ones I've ordered is the Screamer and Large Lite Rounded.



This is my V-picks, from left to right: Small Pointed Niteglow, Screamer, Large Lite Rounded, Shredder.
Below is a Dunlop .60mm for comparison

The Large Lite Rounded has a really juicy and full tone, very smooth attack thats easy to control. And the grip is far better than I expected. The size is close to the average pick, only a bit more triangular. This is my favorite of the V-picks I've tried.

The Screamer is a lot like the large rounded in size and shape, just thicker and with sharp corners. It has a more agressive attack than the Large Lite Rounded, and I think it is the pick with the best finish of those I ordered; The edges have a very soft curve, and the corners are very fine, even and contoured.
Personally, this one hits my thickness limit. I think I get used to it, but it feels a bit awkward to have the fingers holding it so far apart.

The Shredder has extreme sound with hardly any attack, but I think it too easily makes unwanted sounds having 4 sharp edges coming to a point. The edges are far more rough than the screamer, and the points are uneven with the edges. I ordered 3 and 2/3 are a bit uneven. This could be solved with angling, but don't think there ought to be difference from pick to pick. Considering this is a precision and speed pick, the grip doesn't amaze; The complete triangular shape with radical machined edges makes it narrower to hold, and I think this compromises the grip. At least for me.
Despite all this, the shredder makes a full sound with hardly no movement of the hand and hardly no force to the attack and allows very fast and very precise playing.

The Small Pointed Niteglow is very similar to the screamer in shape, just thinner and a bit smaller. The glowing material is not very good for grip, but very good for just being awesome. To me this pick is just too fat for it's size, however I did order it just to show off with a glowing pick, and to that task the Niteglow definately pass the test. Some of my guitar-playing friends were in a state of awe when I showed them.

Thanks to the V's for great service and fast delivery. I definately think I will order more V-picks when I have played some more with the ones I got.

edit: should not forget to add +1 to V-picks for aesthetics. My regular picks are plain black/matte brown/grey and white, some subtle some just ugly. The glasslike V-picks looks pretty cool, and when you care about
the aesthetics of your guitar, then if a really good pick is a treat to the eye that's a finish bonus.
Mr. V told me that in near future they will be able to make custom gravings, and that would be an even cooler finish feature.

Rooks

This post has been edited by Rooks: Yesterday, 06:39 PM , and reposted

Must say, since my review yesterday, I've been playing all night yesterday after I posted. And I really grow more and more to like the screamer. The grip is the best improvement for me.

Posted by: fkalich Jul 30 2010, 02:16 AM

V-Pick has their pointed Snake on sale for only $7.50. Yes boys and girls for $7.50 and $3.00 shipping to the US, you can have you own GUITAR PICK!

Actually I think it is money well spent, I got two of them. They are like the Diamond, only Sharper at the points and a little bigger. Either it or the Screamer is my favorite, the Screamer is sharper. Although I like a lot of their picks, even more rounded ones. They make a pointed diamond as well.

I tried them a few years ago, and went back to regular flat picks. But I always remembered how Trond Vold (who I have always felt was one of the best sounding GMC teachers) said he like the Screamer. And then I saw a Teacher here recommending a pointed pick. So I went back to trying them, and realized they are the Cat's Meow. I think that flat picks are more forgiving about your technique, but stiff picks, especially pointed ones, allow you to take it to a higher level.

I think my picking technique has improved to the point where a sharper stiff pick works for me, I don't think I will ever go back to a flexible pick. The Diamond is nice, I like it also, for a more full tone. It is more rounded, but but still a little pointed. And you can play fast with it, you can pick out the notes cleanly, I am very particular that every note I hit is clearly accentuated, and you can do that with a Diamond. But I like the pointed more for general use I think, you really can make notes stand out. And V picks have such a nice tone I think.

Anyway, Sale lasts to end of Month on a pointed Snake.

Posted by: Azzaboi Jul 30 2010, 04:16 AM

I just got my v-pick order (parents got them for my birthday) in the mail today

I got...
Small Pointed (recommended by Vinni)
The Screamer (recommended by Vinni)
Shredder
Pointed Snake (on special)
Medium Rounded 2.75mm (freebee)

They also threw in a freebee with the note
"Enjoy your Free V-Pick - We picked out this special V-Pick just for you to try. We want to make sure that you find the perfect pick for you and we thought this might help."

I thought I would love The Screamer, but it's the hardest for me to get use to and create harmonics off. The Snake is better... the fatter picks I just guess will take time for my hand to get use to? I have yet to try the Medium Rounded.

I'm actually loving the Small Pointed and the Shredder at the moment! I cruised through playing 'Flight of the Bubblebee' with the Shredder, something I've been struggling with before to play from beginning to end.

I haven't used them much yet, but you can feel it's less grip and a fatter tone. I think they are great for developing speed and keeping the hand loss/relaxed at the same time, without the pick flying across the room!

Posted by: thefireball Jul 30 2010, 05:58 AM

I ordered a Shredder and found I like the Screamers better. I like the duller part of the screamer. The Shredder is too sharp of a point for what I usually do. But I'll still use it.

Posted by: fkalich Jul 30 2010, 06:15 AM

I am going to try the shredder, and the medium pointed (don't think I care for small picks). But I doubt I will dramatically improve on my stable, i.e. screamer, pointed snake or pointed diamond, regular diamond, and rounded regular.

I don't have trouble getting harmonics with the screamer. But I hold my pick in a way that facilitates that (thumb and side of finger, horizontal to strings, just bare tip showing. I do agree that the pointed snake is a bit easier for harmonics, but it is still pretty easy with the shredder holding the pick in my described fashion.

I am finally satisfied with my pick. But I think that I had to reach a certain mental/physical level before that was possible, with any pick.

Posted by: Sollesnes Jul 30 2010, 08:18 AM

After really loving the V Picks for a few months, thinking they were the best picks ever.. I came to the conclusion that they just dont last for as long as I want them to last. Within hours the sharp edge is gone (which is fine), and it doesnt take that long before its completely used up (including having sharped them with a knife). Time to move on to try Red Bear