Have you ever played a pick, and for a reason you couldn’t put your finger on you just loved it? Or the opposite, you picked it up and it instantly made you put it down because you didn’t feel connected? This is because of the bevel, how a pick company does their shaping around the playing tip. It influences more than most people realize.

I doubt anyone in the world has put as much time and effort into perfecting pick bevels as I have. I made picks for fun for years and got a general idea of bevel design, but about a year before I opened my business I decided to go all in. I refused to release my picks until I felt I could make a bevel that was superb and repeatable. I probably went through more than 40 different bevel designs before finding the one. I was trying to push the boundaries of what could be gained as I experimented with things like different sanding methods, different angles, different amounts of material removal, and I think I’ve designed something exceptional. The majority of the cost for my picks is the amount of time I put specifically into the bevel shaping, so you can see how important it is to me. While I was in the experimental process I made sure I didn’t rely solely on my feelings alone. I did group testing and had continual back and forth conversations since feedback was crucial. Some people would take picks home and tell me how they felt about it over time, but the best bevel ended up being the one that people knew was great right away. That’s now the bevel I’ve been making ever since. I receive comments from people regularly who’ve gotten so used to it that they can’t go back. The usual benefits you’ll see are: increased speed, increased smoothness, increased presence, increased volume, more usable play angles, and less energy input. I expect some companies to try and copy the hard work I’ve put in, but know that nothing plays or sounds like a Picksmith.