Tiptonic finger picks

[dreadnut]

OK, I'm tempted to try these finger picks. Anyone else? Beuller?

Tiptonic Fingernail Picks - Tiptonic.com

Tiptonic Fingernail Picks are a leap forward in finger pick technology, providing better volume, control and tone, and a more intimate connection to your instrument.

www.googleadservices.com

 

[HeyMikey]

Oh, these do look interesting! I looked at the sizing and it is a little complicated. I wonder how exact they need to be. I like the idea of the sample set with + and - extra widths but that ain’t cheap. Has anyone tried them and do the widths run correct?

Still these seem like they are worth a try as I’m constantly breaking my nails right when they get to the point where they are long enough, which takes me about 6 months.

It would be wonderful if these actually worked well. I’ve tried most to the popular fingerpicks and they all have shortcomings and even the best feel awkward.

 

[Nuuska]

Interesting indeed

 

[adorshki]

OK, I'm tempted to try these finger picks. Anyone else? Beuller?

Tiptonic Fingernail Picks - Tiptonic.com

Tiptonic Fingernail Picks are a leap forward in finger pick technology, providing better volume, control and tone, and a more intimate connection to your instrument.

www.googleadservices.com

Go ahead, take one for the team!

 

[Guildedagain]

I thought you meant to say Triptronic, like BMW's transmissions with "modes".

 

[spoox]

They do look interesting--but I just got this yesterday--Dobro nickel silver picks are scarce enough, but this is the first "Patent Applied For" one I'd ever seen, and now I need at least one more! I found for me it's more comfortable than the National ones. I'm guessing it's something either John or Rudy came up with when the Dopyeras left National to start Dobro--why use a rival's pick?

 

[Guildedagain]

Now you know how they get that vampire look when needed in the movie ;]

 

[dreadnut]

The problem I had with fingerpicks is they point the wrong direction. They're great for up-picking, but they go flying off when I try to down-pick, they restricted me to down-picking only with my thumb pick, but the finger picks got caught on the strings and came flying off anyways on occasion.

Now that I'm not using them, and using only my fingers and nails, I can pick up and down with relatively equal volume, and the fingernails are great on the downstroke.

I have though about getting acryilic nails, but these look like they might be the cat's meow.

 

[HeyMikey]

 

[wileypickett]

Interesting -- thanks for posting!

I've been a nail salon guy (every three weeks without fail) for a dozen or so years. Acrylic nails work better than anything else I've ever tried -- wish I'd discovered them 40 years ago.

But I'll check these out.

BTW, my thumbpicks are made of the same material -- Delrin. They're my favorite by far, and I've tried every style thumbpick ever made. I've lost a bunch of the Delrin, but I've never worn one out.

 

[wileypickett]

When guitarist Sean Smith started to play, he didn't know you were supposed to put the metal fingerpicks on with rounded side striking the string. He thought the picks were meant to imitate your fingernails, and so put them on upside down, so the rounded area was on top of his finger and just the leading edge struck the string.

If you've ever tried to play that way you know it's practically impossible to do without the pick getting caught in the strings.

But that's how Sean learned to play and that's how he plays -- expertly! -- to this day.

 

[dreadnut]

That's real interesting, Wiley, I was just thinking of the same thing but I never tried it. I used a Fred Kelly Speed Pick on my thumb, and Pro-Pik double-wrap brass fingerpicks with an inward curvature. But I never tried them backwards. At any rate, they would always get bollixed up in the strings at some point.

 

[wileypickett]

The Delrins I use are also by Fred Kelly.

 

[Zelja]

Very interesting. I actually prefer the sound of plastic fingerpicks to metal ones but find they are far less comfortable. The plastic ones tend to be a bit too tight & my cuticles seem to get a bit tender (or I'm a wuss). Painful after a while. I thought about widening the loop and putting some sort of padding on the inside but haven't successfully carried that out yet.

Now these seem to approximate actually using your (longer, if you have them) nails. Question - is this a fairly different technique than using pads of your bare fingers or standard fingerpicks? Would there be much adjustment from one technique to the other?

 

[wileypickett]

Now these seem to approximate actually using your (longer, if you have them) nails. Question - is this a fairly different technique than using pads of your bare fingers or standard fingerpicks? Would there be much adjustment from one technique to the other?

Kinda depends on what you're already used to, I suspect.

If these work as the maker describes, they should feel pretty much just like your fingernails (if you have good nails) or like acrylic nails, which are the next best thing IMO.

But I'll let you know. I just ordered a sizing chart from Tiptonic and once I figure out my nail size, I'm going to order a set.

 

[Zelja]

Kinda depends on what you're already used to, I suspect.

If these work as the maker describes, they should feel pretty much just like your fingernails (if you have good nails) or like acrylic nails, which are the next best thing IMO.

But I'll let you know. I just ordered a sizing chart from Tiptonic and once I figure out my nail size, I'm going to order a set.

I'm not really used to anything! I have tried fingerpicks of different kinds but never got really comfortable with any of the various types. The standard metal ones were the most comfortable but didn't like their tone as much.

Never grew the longer nails to try that but it seems nails may be the most natural, technique wise. Can't really keep the longer nails or acrylics but may try growing them out for a short while to see how I go with that. Would definitely be interested with your experiences with these. The initial investment in sizing these seems a bit of a pain but once you are sorted on that end it looks like they may be ok.

Here's another demo from the highly respected Doug Young:

 

[HeyMikey]

I have a sizing chart on the way as well.

I also asked but didn’t get a response regarding more information or pictures of the three curve profiles - flat, regular (semi curved) and curved. From the long video review it seems like that has as much impact on proper fit was the width.

 

[HeyMikey]

Anybody try these yet?

 

[wileypickett]

I did the sizing thing and bought a set.

I’ve been going to the nail salon every three weeks and getting acrylics applied, for a decade plus.

Now I’m just waiting for my nails to grow out so I can try these these things.

(I am impressed with the quality of the Tiptonics, and the company’s service too.)