V-Picks Acrylic Guitar Plectrum Round-Up

V-Picks Acrylic Guitar Plectrum Round-Up

Sometimes it pays to be picky ... (yup! I just went there)

by Chris Loeffler

V-Picks have been around for over a decade, and I’ve see them many times at various tradeshows. I’ve spoken with the owner, Vinnie, at several of them and heard the pitch that they sound and stick better, but I confess I hadn’t really looked beyond that as I am used to picks being a disposable thing… buy them by the dozens and plan to eventually buy more as they slowly disappear in washing machines, desk drawers, and as choking hazards on the floor for toddlers.

In a recent drive to re-assess my plectrum preferences and knowledge, I reached out to V-Picks with a request to evaluate whatever their newest pick for electric guitar was and they immediately responded saying they would send something out.

What You Need to Know

I was sent a dozen V-Picks to evaluate and compare; a Small Pointed Ultra Lite, Small Pointed Lite, Fusion, Medium Lite, Medium Round, Large Pointed, Screamer, Black Hole, Dimension, Euro, Chicken Picker, and a Mummy. All picks appear to be made of the same proprietary acrylic, and the ground bevels look hand-ground.  

The acrylic material of the picks has a firmer feel than the materials used in most picks I've experienced, and is unique in that it truly does warm up after a minute or two of playing and start behaving in the interesting ways V-Picks fans like to discuss. First and foremost, the texture of the pick changes slightly as it rises to your body heat; it becomes slightly more adhesive and feels just a touch softer. True to their marketing claims of being a pick you can’t drop, I indeed found it difficult to drop a pick accidentally after it warms up.

The wide variety of shapes and thicknesses means there’s likely an analog to whatever a player’s current favorite pick is, but it can be intimidating to go through them all. As a Jazz III player I was most drawn to the Fusion and Euro, which offered a very similar playing experience with a slightly brighter tone. While there certainly were differences in how they felt, the picks were comfortable and not so obviously different as to be distracting. After a few minutes of playing they felt like second nature.

I played through all the picks, and while the thicker, larger picks were not my preference, they offered amazingly strident tones and were especially diverse in their use, depending on where on the top and even the side bevel I leaned in. In that case, more technical players would likely find a lot to love, especially when focused on pinch harmonics and general overdrive. I also noticed slightly less pick noise in both acoustic and electric settings.

Limitations

The uncolored, transparent picks “disappear” easily when absentmindedly set down - an issue exacerbated by poor lighting or weak eyesight.

Conclusion

V-Picks are the real deal: a rare product whose claims sound like marketing Hoodoo, but it actually delivers. At a higher price point than run-of-the-mill picks, V-Picks ask players to be a little more mindful of their pick storage behaviors in exchange for a toneful, more durable pick that sticks without being sticky, and even disappears into the playing experience. - HC- 

Resources

V-Picks Product Assortment Page

Buy V-Picks at Amazon.com

____________________________________________ 

Chris Loeffler is a multi-instrumentalist and the Content Strategist of Harmony Central. In addition to his ten years experience as an online guitar merchandiser, marketing strategist, and community director he has worked as an international exporter, website consultant and brand manager. When he’s not working he can be found playing music, geeking out on guitar pedals and amps, and brewing tasty beer.