alaska piks

Subject: alaska piks - McGrath are you there ?
From: GUEST,Betsy
Date: 06 Jul 05 - 09:32 AM

I've searched through the previous threads, trying to find where McGrath of Hounslow told me, where I could buy these in the UK ( on line ) .

I bought 10 Nos. ages ago ,but am down to my last one and need some more .If you could give me some info of reliable people from who I could purchase I would be grateful.

The people I bought then from before ( was it in Derbyshire ? ) were fast and courteous , but I can't remember who it was.

The picks didn't wear out, a lot of people took a fancy to them and I couldn't resist parting with them, especially if the picks help people as much as they have helped me .

Whaddya reckon McG of H.

Subject: RE: alaska piks
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 06 Jul 05 - 10:34 AM

I'd say start at google...

I got 289 hits for "alaska piks"

Subject: RE: alaska piks
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 06 Jul 05 - 12:59 PM

.................I couldn't resist parting with them, especially if the picks help people..................


I'll part with mine if they'll help someone. As far as I'm concerned, they are two thirds of no use at all.

I'll stick with the plastic picks that I can find in just about any local music shop.

DC

Subject: RE: alaska piks
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 06 Jul 05 - 01:08 PM

"McGrath of Hounslow"????   I don't happen to know him.

I know McGrath of Harlow, sort of.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: alaska piks
From: GUEST,Andy
Date: 06 Jul 05 - 01:10 PM

They have them at Music room in Cleckheaton I think they are now UK distributors I was searching for some last year and emailed them to see if they had some. Its worth a trip to the shop I live a fair way from them but always popin if I'm in the area Also there a great Curry place in an old chapel just down the road Stunning place

Subject: RE: alaska piks
From: Leadfingers
Date: 06 Jul 05 - 01:37 PM

And dont forget Music room does Mail Order !!

Subject: RE: alaska piks
From: Mr Happy
Date: 06 Jul 05 - 07:32 PM

http://www.the-music-room.com/system/index.html

Subject: RE: alaska piks
From: GUEST,Betsy
Date: 07 Jul 05 - 03:02 AM

Sincere thanks all - especially thanks to Andy , Leadfingers and Mr Happy , I've ordered from Music Room and its all done and dusted.
I didn't need Clinton's 189 hits on google after all.
BTW I live in the U.K. but work in Azerbaijan, so they will be at home when I return next month.
Sorry to Doug - I've been playing guitar for 40 years, and these are the first thumb picks which have ever suited me after searching all these years. My theory ( totally untested of course ) is that they suit people who have learned picking by using your natural thumbnail, but anyhow, no personal product suits everyone.
To Uncle Dave O ., I can only say I am still biting my fist after my unforgiveable mistake attributing McGrath to Hounslow instead of Harlow . I'm you will both understand ,that as a Northener,and Hounslow and Harlow being in the South,I simply made a geographical slip of the pen / digit fingers.

Stay well all and thanks again.

Subject: RE: alaska piks
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 07 Jul 05 - 04:41 AM

I've got a mate who plays autoharp with alaska picks, they fly off all the time.

eric

Subject: RE: alaska piks
From: GUEST,Betsy
Date: 07 Jul 05 - 06:33 AM

Hi Eric,
I had a bike like that once - the chain used to fly off !!
Obviously like my bike , something with your mates set-up isn't working correctly, and if they did that to me, I wouldn't use the bloody things.
For me, they're good for pulling on the string ,but I suppose you would need to be careful on the down stroke , and maybe they're unsuitable for the autoharp when flailing up and down , back and forward.
I tend to use them just for a thumb pick to get a bit more sharpness out of the bass notes ( on a normal acoustic guitar ).   
Come on Eric there's got to be a reason ,the right tools for the right job. Your mate probably needs those thumb picks which come out from the side , besides as I said to Doug. " ..No personal product suits everyone " and apparently neither does this.
Cheers

Subject: RE: alaska piks
From: GUEST,Grab
Date: 07 Jul 05 - 08:00 AM

That's the problem I found - if your style only involves up-strokes ("standard" fingerpicking) then you're fine. But if you tend to add strums as well on the down-strokes, they fall off a bit too readily.

StringsDirect do them as well, I think. (Add the relevant www and .co.uk.)

Graham.

Subject: RE: alaska piks
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 07 Jul 05 - 10:26 AM

Funnily, even though they come off occasionaly he wouldn't use any other picks for autoharp, he also plays nylon strung guitar but only with his fingers.

Subject: RE: alaska piks
From: JohnB
Date: 07 Jul 05 - 04:18 PM

Electrical Tape is the answer, what was the question?
I agree with whoever said it's a more natural hand position, if you started to play with just nails.
JohnB

Subject: RE: alaska piks
From: GUEST,Betsy
Date: 08 Jul 05 - 01:15 AM

Maybe a little refinement is needed on the design .
Obviously keep the slot where your fingernail goes, and remove the other slot ( I'm at work can't and remember whether there are 1 or 2 slots ). Filling-in the other slot(s) would help with the down stroke.
I suppose like Capos they will develop, think of what was available 20 years ago to the amount of different Capo designs today .
John B - you sound like my Dad in the 1950's / early 60's his amswer to everything was Electicians tape ,he would try to fix everyand anything with it !!!, seriously though , Eric implies that his autoharp player thinks these picks are the best of a ( bad ) bunch so where do we go from there ?.
Time will tell , hopefully some clever so-and-so will discover an improvement which will satisfy us all - well ....almost !!!!!