Plectrum

[willsie01]

I can’t find a thumb pick of a thickness and shape that suits me so would like to make one. Any sheet plastics gurus on here?

 

[Fester]

60 years ago when I tried to play the guitar the only stuff I had available were old Barclay Cards. They seemed to work.

A quick look on YouTube shows a that there are a lot more exotic choices availble to you these days.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=how+to+make+a+plectrum
Good Hunting

Toodlepip

Fester

 

[marcros]

Celluloid was traditional wasn't it?

 

[RobinBHM]

I guess those cutters you can buy that chomp them out of old credit cards doesn't cut the mustard?

 

[willsie01]

Thanks chaps. I don't actually have an expired credit card to hand at the mo! Don't know why I didn't think of them tbh because I sure I have in the past. I've just examined my current ones and they are too soft. I need something stiffer and thinner.
I'l check out that YouTube link from Fester. Hope it's not a video on making them from credit cards!

 

[novocaine]

hopefully im not getting the wrong end of the stick but a thumb pick isn't a normal plectrum, it's a more like a finger nail extension.
I'd suggest something like a themoset plastic sheet, perhaps styrene which can be dumped in boiling water to soften enough for you to wrap round a form and can be cut with a knife.

as to the credit card punch for normal picks, it's reason I have a jar that is slowly filling with picks, it's great and no plastic card goes to waste now (including those rainbow lottery cards), heck I've even got a few very personalised picks with my face on thanks to I.D. cards from various sites.

 

[BillK]

Thumbpicks have a curl or loop to fit on the thumb, the curl then straightens out and projects down to form the plectrum part.

I went through a ton of thumb picks, cheap ones posh ones, some metal loops with hard plastic pick etc. In the end it came down to the cheap ones I started out with, with the pick part reshaped how I wanted. And heat & bend the loop so it fits (trial & error), one size definitely doesn't fit all.

After some gigs I got some skateboard grip tape, cut off a little piece and stuck it inside the loop. It's almost like sticky-back sandpaper, keeps the pick in place on a sweaty gig. I've still got a couple from about 9 years ago with the tape still on 'em. (Also amazing the pick monkeys haven't made the picks disappear like so many...)

edit - they're Planet Waves, a few squid for a 5-pack, but there's lots very similar poss the same but rebranded

 

[novocaine]

After some gigs I got some skateboard grip tape, cut off a little piece and stuck it inside the loop. It's almost like sticky-back sandpaper, keeps the pick in place on a sweaty gig. I've still got a couple from about 9 years ago with the tape still on 'em. (Also amazing the pick monkeys haven't made the picks disappear like so many...)

if you set a trap you can catch one in a very special jar. once you have one, you can train it and it will do your bidding, collecting picks from all and sundry and delivering them to you. I had one once, but it turned in to an amp because I didn't feed it enough.

https://www.thejamjaramps.com/

 

[BillK]

Those amps look like fun!

 

[novocaine]

Those amps look like fun!

They are awesome. The one man company deserves the support and having broken a jar and had to drill my own he deserves respect too.

I drive a 10" cab with one.

 

[Tuna808]

Thermo plastic is the way to go acrylic or vacuum forming plastics will make a good plectrum.
1 or 2 mms whichever you think suits you,1 should be good.Model or art shops should have the material.With 30cm x30cm piece yyou’ll have material to make plectrums for life.

 

[Tuna808]

Alternatively let your thumb nail grow

 

[Turnr77]

What about these or make your own version
Timber Tones: Largest collection of luxury Guitar Picks worldwide

 

[willsie01]

Not an option. Break too easily and frequently, with manual work.

 

[novocaine]

Agree with willsie on that one. The only wooden pick ive had that worked was resin impregnated and ot didnt play well.

I might have a sheet of styrene thata suitable. If i get time ill look to try it and let you know.