Super Fast 2mm Aluminium Metal Picks or Plectrums

[Steven Stanley Bayes]

Important : Read this first :

 

Pictures and information available at : http://www.steven-stanley-bayes.com/Picks.html

 

For more information, email to Steven.Stanley.Bayes@gmail.com

 

These picks can be purchased directly from the manufacturer. Please, email for this. Various types of these picks are also available in these Toronto and Ottawa stores :

 

Ring Music : 416 924 3571 ; www.ringmusic.com

Remnyi House of Music : 416 961 3111 ; www.remenyi.com

Elite Music : 416 406 5355 ; www.elitemusic.ca

Scarboro Music : 416 699 8333 ; www.scarboromusic.com

Ottawa Folklore Centre ( OFC ) : 613-730-2887 ; www.ottawafolklore.com

 

Best call first. You can test drive the picks in these locations.

 

The manufacturer manufactures five type of picks at present : Non Standard ( Own Design ) Sharp, Non Standard ( Own Design ) Round, Standard Rounded ( also with Vertically Rounded Edges ), Standard Sharp ( also with Vertically Rounded Edges ), Miniature Sharp. Please, see the pictures. You can also purchase these directly from the manufacturer when you reply to this adv.

 

Price per Pick : $1.

Postage : For 8 picks or less :

Canada : $1

USA : $1.35

International : $2.85

See : http://www.canadapost.ca/cpo/mc/pers...tagestamps.jsf

PayPal Fee : 2.9% and another $0.30.

All prices include tax.

 

Suggestion for a good try : Assorted Picks ( one of each type ) with the appropriate postage and the PayPal fee ( in case PayPal is the payment option ).

 

Please, note : Handcrafting does not yield 100% the same product but, in this case, the manufacturing tolerances are not so significant and the picks are 100% the same as far as playing is concerned.

 

Pick Specifications of the NON STANDARD Picks :

 

Do NOT Forget : Give the picks a week to get used to before you decide.

 

Please note : I am able to easily make a 1mm or 0.88mm Aluminum pick. This will be even easier BUT this defies the purpose : There is no way to make a wide vertical angle on the blades of a thin pick and the pick will not be as slick and will catch or drag the strings as all thin picks do. The only advantage may be the pick may bend as the thinnest picks do and this may give a possibility for playing some styles. Dangerous, however, may be to use a thin pick on some strings because the thin pick may cut the strings. Aluminum is soft and should be OK on standard wounds, although I am not much too sure. Thin pick, even Aluminum, may damage flat wound and nylon strings. Thin steel does this for sure as well as damages standard wounds. The problem is there is no way to make the picks dull because they are very thin. Plastic picks have the same problems. A good possibility for a safe plastic pick for nylon strings would be a soft rubber like, almost jelly like plastic. This does not provide slickness, though, hence lack of speed for some styles.

 

For Those Concerned with Strings Safety : Aluminum is a very soft metal. The picks have been tested with heavy abuse on nylon strings, flat wound strings and wound strings. No problem at all! Those who cannot trust can take a simple yet unnecessary step for even safer pick on any strings : with a simple kitchen knife or any knife, start to “ peel “ the pick edges off in the same way like potatoes are peeled off : towards the thumb. Make sure you do not cut yourselves. This way, you will make the pick edges duller. You can dull them as much as you want. You can also dull them with a metal file or, even, with a nail file. The blades of the pick may become rough after you dull with a file. Thus, you are advised to smoothen them up either with a knife as described or with sand paper gradually from as low grid number as you wish to 600 or higher. Please, note : I have managed to cut a flat wound with a steel pick but never with an aluminum pick and I have been playing with these picks ever since I started to make them.

 

Description : 2mm Aluminum, Vertically Sharp ( from top to bottom ) Playing Edges at a Wide Angle. 1mm to 1.5mm also available upon request but 2mm are better.

 

Dimensions : 2.5cm ; 2.5cm ; 2mm

 

Weight : Less than 4g ( 4 grams ), less than 1 / 8 ^th of an ounce ( measured to be 3.3g). SUPER LIGHT.

 

Horizontal Angle : 30 degrees

 

Playing area : 0.1 to 0.75cm ( Depends on the version : Sharp picks work best with low playing area which gives a sharper vertical angle thus faster playing. )

 

Features : Provides a possibility for the vertical angle ( in some rounded versions ) ; vertically and horizontally flat ( except the vertical bump which is smoothened ), angled. Each pick is polished and passivated with the safe Sodium Bicarbonate NaHCO₃ ( Baking Soda ).

 

Performance : The large horizontal and vertical angles, combined with the slickness of Aluminum give a possibility for fast solo playing. Aluminum is a soft metal and will not cut even nylon strings. Picks perform well and safe on flat wounds. OK on wound strings.

 

Grip : The pick has a good grip anyways and no other provisions have been made since most people prefer flat picks to avoid discomfort. Because Aluminum is soft, anyone who wants can make grip points just with the edge of a kitchen knife, drill, file, etcetera. The best way to make a grip a pick, however, is to use this sticky rubber which the banks use to stick the credit cards to the piece of paper. Rubber glue for bicycle tubes is best and permanent. Blue tack can be used.

 

Safety and Environment : Aluminum is a safe element which is neutral and does not react with other elements, just as gold, silver, copper and platinum. Does not rust as well but gets covered with a passivated layer just as copper. The World Health Organisation ( WHO ) claim consumption of 50mg Aluminum per every 24 hours is safe.

 

Re Shape Ability : Anyone who wants can re shape Aluminum with a file or, even, a knife. However, I think, this is the best shape in the class.

 

Other : PURE, HOUSE USE APPROVED, POLISHED AND PASSIVATED ALUMINUM : no anodisation, no chemical, no electrolytics, no any treatment except passivation with the safe baking soda which is a strong base and passivates Aluminum at around 60 degrees Celsius. Two half holes for extra grip in some versions. Treatment with bicarbonate soda ( baking soda ) is added for passivation and grip but not recommended. Polished. Slick on the strings and soft. Light. Tone : more like plastic than steel yet as fast as steel and extremely loud. Picks “ adjust “ to the player : the more one plays the better they get : they get slightly polished with playing. No maintenance required. Simple sand paper sanding can be performed should the player desires and is not necessary. The same applies for custom filing : can be done with a simple, inexpensive metal file. Aluminum is very soft thus very easy to customise unlike steel. Polishing with 600 and 1500 sand paper would give best results. For heavily deformed ( impossible under normal use ), filing with a metal file and sanding with approximately : 100, 150, 220, 400, 600 and 1500 can give best results although so many grid increments are not necessary. Yet, sand paper is inexpensive and largely available. Steel wool and synthetic steel wool with a grid of 0000 can be used for fine polishing. Strong real wool would give the best results. Do NOT be afraid : none of this is necessary unless the purchaser so desires.

 

Condition : Brand New : Hand crafted in Canada.

 

Delivery : Shipping paid by the purchaser. Canada Post have the lowest price. Non registered mail is a risk of the purchaser.

 

FEEDBACK :

 

Note : The feedbacks and the emails of the people who provided the feedbacks are available upon request to those interested.

[Steven Stanley Bayes]

A lot has happened in the pick world since this post. I have many picks from many metals such as Brass, Silver, Copper, etcetera and many sizes and thicknesses from 0.6mm through 5mm.

 

Anyone interested, please, give a shout.