Alaska picks

I have owned a couple of 12 strings and I love them but I never found a good way too pick with them as I play alot of blues tunes. I hope you can find a way that will wok for you.

Yes, but mine are metal. I'm not sure what all the filing is about.

I think Amy advised gel treatment for nails.  For the life of me, it sounded like a fiberglass & resin buildup for canoe repairs.  Which would probably work.  I tried some super glue and paper fiber layering and filing and it works in the short run.  Proper mesh instead of paper fiber, and proper resin instead of super glue would be a whole lot better.  Still probably wouldn't be the thing for finger picking a 12 string, though, because the nails get awfully thick that way. 

I'm going to have to do some shaping.  The metal Alaska picks are flat, and have to be curved around the fingers.  I did it by hand yesterday, but the result was poor curves that caught on one another.  So I'll redo it this weekend with some proper tools (which fortunately means a trip to the adult toy store of Harbor Freight Tools!).

Nope.  I mean a tool store.  I've got a lot more use for a good set of pliers than any of that other stuff.

Cool idea.  I have a replacement bone saddle already, because I want to file it down to try for lower action.  I'll have to pick up some super fine files while I'm at the adult toy store.  I haven't the foggiest how to go about replacing the nut, so I'll have to hire that done.  I'll get a bone 12 string nut on order. 

- Zurf

Yeppers, I did create a whole video on how to do nail wraps with details on what and where to buy supplies.  You can see that here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XoDnpkPfFQ

Gel Nail Wraps and acrylic are a different beast though than fiber.  Both Gel and Acrylic are things that I wouldn't suggest doing yourself, but they are stronger than fiber.  You'd surely want to go into a nail salon for those (and I'd suggest Gel over Acrylic but since most of you won't go, we won't get into why here).  If you ever heard your Grandma talking about cutting a piece of tea bag and super gluing it to her nail to save a broken nail, that's the same idea as the fiber nail wrap.  If you haven't heard of this, ask some woman over 50 about it.  Or not... but yeah, it's an idea that's been around a long time.    Zurf's explanation was good, " For the life of me, it sounded like a fiberglass & resin buildup for canoe repairs. "  The fiberglass and resin isn't as thick as you'd think it would be.  If you really want to grow your nails though, just go start taking prenatal vitamins!  Ha ha ha!  OH - and don't bother trying to just glue a fake nail on.  It won't stay.  Those are meant to be glued on and then covered with acrylic. 

OK... back on topic... Zurf, I like those picks!  They are pretty neat, and look like they'd work really well.  I think my nails are about that length (as shown in TF's pic), maybe a little shorter.  I personally find that sometimes I like to pick the strings with my finger pad, other times the nail.  I've seen some basic finger picks and thought, "Holy Hell those are long!  How could someone play with those?  I can't button my pants with nails that long, how could someone pick a guitar?" -- so, I think you're onto something good with these!!  Keep us updated on how it's working for you.  At one point I liked thumb picks a LOT.  Sounds like you found a seriously low profile pick.  I've considered filing mine down and trying it again.  If I were unable to grow my nails for some reason, I would absolutely run out and buy some of those picks 12 string or not!

Heh-heh-heh-heh. He said tool!

That's actually not where I was going when I wrote out that long list. I was trying to bring the "joke" back on myself making it sound like I had visited such an emporium once or twice in my life.

But I suspect you knew that, my friend and I sure hope you didn't take offense at me having a bit of fun.

Seriously, I'd like to see what you come up with when you get done, so please post picks. Pics.

Bill

I think I have a set of Alaska picks around here somewhere..... they were plastic and yes did need a little shaping to get them to work well (at least for me).  Can't hardly imagine metal ones!  The good thing about them is that you get the "feel" of using your natural nails, and they protect your own until they get long enough to use alone.

My nails grow pretty fast and get filed almost daily, which stimulates growth.  But I should add that there should be no stigma about having gels done professionally if it's within your budget.  Doing it yourself with your non-dominant hand is trickier than it looks!  We've got enough musicians around town that salons don't even blink when you walk in the door and request only one hand done.  Could be a niche for a nail technician to set up a stall inside a larger music store and schedule a couple of days a week......could stay real busy!

I tried the plastic Alaska picks for a while but didn't like the feel.  Plus you need fairly long fingernails to keep them in place.  I finally gave up and went back to regular metal picks in .013 and .015 gauges so I could bend/mold them into the shapes I wanted.

DE

Absolutely brilliant!!!

Thanks for posting, Chevo ... enjoyed this thoroughly.

Amy ... you now have me asking myself, "Why wouldn't I go in to an aesthetics parlour, and get some gel nails put on?" It's not like I'm going try and be some Tibetan monk looking for a place in the Guiness Book, but if I can have enough fingernails on to play my classical guitar properly, why not? Why on earth not?

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ...

You know those rubber thingies folks put on their finger to make it easier to turn pages? Maybe y'all can get some of those to cover your nails when you need to, uh, you know...... use them elsewhere? Need a devil smiley here. heh-heh.

Bill