Picks! Or, I'm finally figuring out my m20 (Oxnard).

[feet]

Have had my m20 for a few years now and I do love the thing. But it's been difficult to record. Try as I might, I was never happy with the results. Then I tried something crazy: different picks. And it kind of magically fell into place. Sort of.

My usual picks are for acoustics and electrics are Clayton black ravens. But they turn the poor m20 into a bright, clicky mess in front of a mic. Enter nylon picks. Now it sounds like itself when in strumming. Which is odd, because the nylons sound like wet ass on my other acoustics. But the m20 loves them, so I ordered a few more in different shapes and sizes, because they have too much give and I can't really play with them. But they sound pretty good.

And for single note lines, my old 207 picks are amazing. Darker than the ravens and less pick noise wow giving better volume and tone. They are a little more slick on the string, where the ravens kinda dragged a little more; it doesn't affect performance, but the mic can hear it holding on during more intricate passages and that got annoying.

So yeah. Happier now. I knew picks change the sound, but I thought of it as a more general thing, and not a "this guitar wants these picks and that one wants those picks" thing. Live and learn.

 

[davismanLV]

Huh. Very interesting concept that a pick would assist in the sound you want when recording. I'd never have thought it would make that big a difference but there's so much I don't know about guitars and playing that I'm not super surprised. I routinely use Jim Dunlop nylon picks in either .60 or .73mm. The .60's are super flexible so they tend to be a little clicky in some situations so I'll change to the thicker ones. Glad you figured it out. You back in love with your M20 now??

 

[feet]

I never didn't love it. I just couldn't record it worth a crap. I still use the ravens on it when I'm playing, they're fine for that.

I'm using an .88 for the nylon and the ravens. Aside from the size difference (I love my rounded triangles) they nylon flexes way more. Just can't get used to it. But nobody really makes bigger or thicker nylon picks for some reason. I found some jazz iiis I hope work.

 

[jcwu]

I remember years ago, reading about Eric Johnson's pursuit of pure tone, and he actually said (if my memory serves me) that the type of cable and - get this - the brand of battery you use in your pedals all make a difference in the sound produced.

I'm not surprised that the pick material makes a difference. And what's really interesting is what you hear with your ears and what the mic picks up are very different. I'm sure you were happy with the sound you were getting with the Claytons, otherwise this would've been an issue much earlier. Could be the mic is more sensitive to certain frequencies, or maybe playing around with mic placement could help alleviate some of the discrepancies.

But I also love the aspect of getting to know your instrument better through the years. It's like marriage. That's why I can't bear to sell my guitars.

 

[walrus]

Picks can make a big difference! I love trying different picks - a cheap (literally) thrill!

walrus

 

[curbucci]

I have been working on lo-fi recordings of solo guitar with my Oxnard M-20 using a Zoom H5 and found placing the H5 built in stereo like right in front of the soundhole produced a good sound. Playing bare fingerstyle solo guitar.

 

[AcornHouse]

When I was going to order custom picks from Clayton, I got one of their sample variety packs first. There was a distinct difference in tone depending on material. I haven’t gone so far as to have individual picks for individual guitars, but I do have acoustic vs electric picks. And the acoustic was the pickiest ( ) one as far as tonal changes.

 

[HeyMikey]

Picks fo make a big difference in tone. I’m a fan of Charmed Life casein picks. They make my guitars come alive.

 

[Al30906]

Tortex picks are very good for tone. The blue and purple are thicker, and produce a darker tone.

 

[Brucebubs]

Big fan of plain ol' Jim Dunlop .60mm nylon picks.
A couple of years ago they made a gold colored 50th Anniversary edition - I'm guessing the dye they use to stamp them was much fresher than their normal one because the dimples on the grip area were slightly more pronounced.
Love them.

 

[feet]

I remember years ago, reading about Eric Johnson's pursuit of pure tone, and he actually said (if my memory serves me) that the type of cable and - get this - the brand of battery you use in your pedals all make a difference in the sound produced.

I'm not surprised that the pick material makes a difference. And what's really interesting is what you hear with your ears and what the mic picks up are very different. I'm sure you were happy with the sound you were getting with the Claytons, otherwise this would've been an issue much earlier. Could be the mic is more sensitive to certain frequencies, or maybe playing around with mic placement could help alleviate some of the discrepancies.

But I also love the aspect of getting to know your instrument better through the years. It's like marriage. That's why I can't bear to sell my guitars.

I feel a little silly because I was taught this but I never really explored the extent of it. I just at some point I got a cheap sampler pack and happened to have a nylon by chance.

You can still tell by ear but it's very much a recording thing. And my ears are by no means golden. Just something to keep in mind if you guys ever find yourselves in front of a mic.

I have been working on lo-fi recordings of solo guitar with my Oxnard M-20 using a Zoom H5 and found placing the H5 built in stereo like right in front of the soundhole produced a good sound. Playing bare fingerstyle solo guitar.

I've been wanting to try stereo recording, too, but I'm just in a bedroom so it won't work out for me. I struggled with mic placement trying to mitigate the bright clicky sound, moving the mic further and further down the neck, but then I lost all body and warmth. The nylon and 207s really opened things up for me and between the 12th and 15th frets is working for me now.

Big fan of plain ol' Jim Dunlop .60mm nylon

those are the ones. Using the .88s here but they are too flexy for my liking. Would love a thicker or stiffer version in a rounded triangle shape.

When I was going to order custom picks from Clayton, I got one of their sample variety packs first. There was a distinct difference in tone depending on material. I haven’t gone so far as to have individual picks for individual guitars, but I do have acoustic vs electric picks. And the acoustic was the pickiest ( ) one as far as tonal changes.

it's probably overkill for most. But the m20 is so far removed from my other guitars that different measures make sense. But my standard ravens work for most everything else I do.

Picks fo make a big difference in tone. I’m a fan of Charmed Life casein picks. They make my guitars come alive.

haven't gone the fancy pick route just yet, though I keep hearing I should. I just know I'd lose it and they are expensive gambles if you prefer different shapes like I do. And they tend to be thicker than I like since I'm just a strummer, and they seem to be aimed at soloists and flatpickers.

 

[Antney]

The pick considered

The thread I started about Sex Wax and Wig glue veered terribly into a discussion about picks. Guildedagain's comments got me to thinking about our little friend, the pick. He's something we all use, some of us obsess over him, others give him little thought. A few have no use for him. We...

letstalkguild.com

 

[AcornHouse]

My choice for acoustics ended being the good old celluloid (or celluloid simulation, really) pick. It had the right sound for my ears.

 

[GGJaguar]

Yes, picks are another variable in the tonal equation. I settled on Dunlop Ultex .73 and their only drawback is their color so that if you drop one, they become nearly invisible and hard to find.

 

[Rayk]

Mic never lies I would think those little guitars are designed for finger pickers more so then pick players but I'm not overly sure . Glad you found something that works .

 

[walrus]

For a while I've been using Dunlop Primetone (no grip) .73 picks. Really like the feel and sound - made of Ultex, BTW.

walrus

 

[beecee]

Picks can make a big difference! I love trying different picks - a cheap (literally) thrill!

walrus

Same here. I've even used matchbook covers...back when you could GET matchbook covers

 

[howardjeffreymusic]

Mic never lies I would think those little guitars are designed for finger pickers more so then pick players but I'm not overly sure . Glad you found something that works .

I was shocked when I got my M-20 at how really, really good it sounds strummed. Yes, a finger picking guitar for sure -- but it's still a Guild and responds to a flatpick just really well!

 

[feet]

Mic never lies I would think those little guitars are designed for finger pickers more so then pick players but I'm not overly sure . Glad you found something that works .

my mic always lies and records the wrong notes when I play or sing. just like how the metronome slows down when I play really awesomely.

I suppose I should try more picks, then. I'm just so used to a certain shape and feel that I can't really play with any old pick. Maybe I'm lucky they don't make those fancy $50 picks in the shape or gauge I like.

 

[kostask]

I like Clayton Ultem/Ultrem picks in .73 or .88. They are semi translucent pale yellow with a matte finish and white lettering.

An alternative I use sometimes is Dunlop Gels in 1.5mm. They are poly-carbonate, and translucent purple.