This is a problem brought to my attention recently that I don’t have an answer to. Whether it’s because my website is new and untrusted, or someone somewhere in the ether flagged me as bad is unknowable. But it looks like some antivirus software and internet service providers have marked me as “dangerous”, but not all, and I can’t know which ones. I’m working on trying to get this fixed but it takes time since I have to contact every company separately and it’s ultimately out of my hands. And, just like it sounds, a huge pain in the butt.

There are a number of reasons. Click Here to go to the About page for a deep dive. Wears well, very little friction but sticks to fingers, a simple but pleasant feel, and the tone. The TONE was the biggest thing. Very full and louder than anything else I tried. I wanted to offer more options but this was voted the best by multiple people in multiple trials, so there was no reason to. I’m also the only maker using it for guitar picks.

A bevel is the name of the shaping done around the pick playing edges, mimicking the natural movement of the hand and fingers using angles. This is where the magic happens. A lot of cheap, mass produced picks have no bevel or what’s sometimes called a “straight bevel” (think a straight knife edge). These cause you to continually fight the pick until enough material is removed through playing that a bevel is forced. By shaping bevels beforehand, a pick feels more natural from the start and has better tone since more material is striking the strings evenly. Science!

A great question, and I realize that there’s a number of companies doing this. I’m very obsessed when it comes to picks (ask anyone who had to listen to me compare materials). There was something I always knew I wanted but couldn’t put my finger on (literally). It was a craving for a pick that inspired me and made me feel excited to play, so I decided to make one myself. The answer to that ended up being in the bevel, and through hundreds of experimental pieces I've refined my bevel to what I consider perfection in both feel and tone. Click Here for more info on that. I’m also utilizing a unique material no other maker is using that I chose specifically to heighten those properties. You’ll feel the difference.

I remember when I first had this question about “boutique” picks. It seemed silly to me. But when you know, you know. You get huge tone and playability boosts from a handmade pick that can be felt and experienced. You get better, higher end plastics that have to be machined by hand, not made in a mold. You get something truly one of a kind from the hands of an experienced artisan. I think if someone saw the work I put into making just one pick, they’d probably be surprised I’m not charging more. It’s laborious, time consuming, and arguably has some of the tightest tolerances among handmade products in general since a tenth of a millimeter makes a big difference. And I aim to be accurate to a hundredth of a millimeter. But for me, it’s a labor of love, and my goal is for you to get what you pay for.

Be aware that my shapes were devised by me from scratch, so exact copies are non existent. You may find similar shapes feel different due to inherent manufacturing differences as well. It’s also good to be willing to discover a new favorite shape, even if it doesn’t exactly match what you’re used to. Anyway, here’s the closest comparisons I could make:

Fox | TP, Tweener

Fox Apex | TAD, FS, TF

Fox Cub | STP, Mini

Cougar | TAD3R, Tweener 3R

Cougar Apex | FS 3R

Wolf | TP1R, Tweener 1R

Wolf Apex | TAD1R, FS 1R

Bear | M

Bison | SR

I get this question a lot. I think people get frustrated when they buy a pick with 3 edges and think only one is really usable. I even know someone who carves a line in their picks to mark the playable edge. I go to great lengths to try and keep my edges sounding and feeling similar, even going as far as counting the number of strokes on sandpaper. While I strive for perfection, at the end of the day I make these by hand so there will always be slight differences. There are 3 boxes I check with each tri pick edge: Similarity, Quality, Usability. So even if the edges don't play and sound exactly the same, you'll be able to use all of them nonetheless. I don’t let an edge leave if I wouldn’t use it myself.

Some people who have more aggressive attacks with these picks may, but not always, experience shedding initially on the playing tips. This doesn’t mean there’s a problem, the bevel is just adjusting to your personal play style. Every instance I’ve seen of this has resolved on it’s own with continued playing, but if it’s bothersome I suggest rubbing it on cardboard or jeans with a rolling motion along the edge. Just a few strokes should do. I don’t recommend using sandpaper since I polish to a high gloss and it could compromise the feel.

So you’ve spent some time with your pick and finally picked it up with grimy hands, and since these picks are extra tacky they WANT to be dirty. I personally like when these picks get dirty, they tell stories and look cherished like an old car. But if you like keeping your gear pristine, the best thing I’ve found is using the *soft* side of a sponge with dish soap. If it’s being extra stubborn: put the pick in a cup, throw in a little vinegar and baking soda, let it sit for a minute, and then sponge again. You can repeat this as many times as you want.

That’s currently being worked in the pipeline of ideas. Different challenges emerge than normal picks, and I won’t put something out that I don’t believe is of superior quality. All of my manufacturing practices are devised uniquely from scratch, and sometimes custom tools are built, so it can be time consuming. This will happen eventually though.

While I originally designed these picks using acoustic instruments, the same principles apply to both. I think they’re great electric companions and I have some people using them as such. I make a wide variety of gauges and shapes to accommodate most players.

I realize the irony in making small plastic parts and saying I’m trying to be eco friendly, but it’s really important to me that I am. You’ll see in my packaging I use no additional plastic or paper, no stickers, nothing not needed inside. I put a lot of thought into it. All of my shipping material is recyclable, including the tape, and there’s very little of it. Just pull out your pick and throw the rest in the recycling bin. I purposefully chose a pick material that would last longer and was a color people would lose less, resulting in less plastic being used in the long run. I’ve also devised a manufacturing process that creates little waste, and am constantly looking for ways to reduce what I’m putting into landfills. So I would say I’m being as eco friendly as I can be. If you have any further ideas, let me know.

I ask for the greatest amount of information available upfront. If I’m able to build a pick based off of that, nothing further will be needed. I’ll contact you if I need more information or if you have your own file to send me. It’s hard to give an exact turn around time on these since every case is unique.

If I get backed up from an abundance of orders or am away I’ll notate it on the main page of the website. I put time into each pick I make and can only craft a handful per day, and I intend to keep it that way. My goal is superior quality, not quantity. You can always place an order, it will just take longer to ship and you’ll be put on a waitlist. If I have an idea of a turn around time I’ll notate that on the main page as well. This can also happen due to a material shortage and it's possible I won’t have an estimation.

If you don’t like loud and punchy picks I understand, everyone has different tastes. I offer a two week return window on pick orders from the date of delivery. Buyer pays shipping. But, I’d prefer to work with you to figure out what wasn’t to your liking. Feedback has been critical for me to get to where I am today.

As of right now I do not, just U.S. sales for the time being. It’s not from a lack of desire it’s just a very complicated process. That will change in the future though, stay tuned. I appreciate all the people who have reached out to me requesting this, you’re not unheard.