that's the chance you take, having a wife with a good ear. Mine forbade me from selling the Alien, twice, even though we're stoney broke. She wouldn't blink at a twenty buck pick if it really sounded better. I need to find one close enough to home to give it a go. even if it's the wrong size/thickness, I'd get an idea. Yes? I do not cotton any longer to thin picks, or big triangles. Standard size or smaller, and thick- well over 1, preferable over 1.5. The search continues. thanks tom

CCG,

I've had the same experience as you describe....I prefer the knife edge bevel to the speed bevel. The speed bevel sounds raspy to me, while the knife edge bevel sounds rich and full. This does not make since in light of the fact that Wegen picks come with speed bevels and play fine.....but they don't sound as good as Red Bear!

Howard

quote:

Originally posted by howardc:
CCG,
I prefer the knife edge bevel to the speed bevel. The speed bevel sounds raspy to me

Howard

Same here. The Tri-cornered C in heavy is my 2nd favorite pick. I tried every Red-Bear pick at Kevin's HCG last March on a D2H before I settled on 2.

I have spent a large sum of money on every pick that is available. Are they worth it? It was either buy the picks or a varnish CJ.

I never have claimed to be the sharpest knife in the drawer. Anyway...Camp Bluegrass starts this morning. I have about 20 Wegen picks to give away this week. If I have any left over, I will post them on the forum.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: El Jefe,

I have (or had) a Red Bear, currently lost, and I've tried a three-pack of Wegens. I might still have one of those. They are all good in their way and I like them, but I seem to lose or misplace them. Thus, I gravitate back to Dunlop 1.14 mm, 1.5 mm, or 2 mm, depending upon the sound and feel that I want. I also use Collings XH, which are a bit bigger than the Dunlops, but just barely. I never thought that the megabuck picks sounded better than everything else, but they were good. Like $125 capos, $5 to $20 apiece picks are only good if you actually have one when you need it. I gig a lot, and cannot afford to be too particular.

I use a medium, regular size, and really like it. It tames the edge in my D1a, which is itself, starting to open up after 13+ months. These Adirondack tops need a good while to mellow.(or so I'm told)

By the generosity of one of our forum members, a thick, B style speed bevel Red Bear came in the mail today. Kinda pretty, but that's of no consequence. I was hoping this whole thing was, as Phil Graham so eloquently put it, just psychological. Maybe not. I've only played with it for 45 minutes, hardly long enough to really evaluate the tonal complexities. But: it holds really well, and feels both soft and hard at the same time, if that's not too bipolar. The tone seems both warmer and of greater weight that either the Dunlop Jazz II or the mystery semi Wegen thick as a brick black pick that showed up somehow. It just says 207, USA, a tri cornered number with two holes in it. No brand name. I like it, but the Bear is better. Damn. It seems to make more difference with a smaller, brighter guitar (the koa OM, vs the CJA), but, so far, it seems like you fellow loonies are on to something. I had to ask, didn't I? Now, what to I do. The site says you can't carry them in your wallet or your pocket, so what means do I carry one- a necklace? Later. but, thus far, I'm impressed. Rats. tom

Get a nice leather pick pouch to carry it in and attach it to your keychain.

I just put mine in my pocket.
Like Dmargo, I have lost them before and they are pretty expensive. They sound good, but i'm not sure they sound that much better for what they cost.

My red bear pick just broke inside the pick pouch that I have on my keychain. Actually, it was sandwiched between two other picks (wegens) and it still broke.

I liked the pick, particularly the stickiness, but its the last one I'll buy, ever.

I've broken maybe three or four picks in 43 years, and those were Fender mediums. I've never broken a heavy pick of any brand. if the Bear breaks, it's done. But, pending that event, I do think it makes a tonal difference, and I do like, at least on acoustics. As far as pick karma: the dunlop jazz II picks I've been using I can't seem to lose. I won't tempt fate about the Bear. it's stays, or doesn't. tom

To be less equivocal. Now that I've played several hours- three at a gig, two at a practice last night- I'll climb right out on that limb and say it sounds better than my other picks. Feels better, too. To my ear, it gives a more complete tonal palette- not louder, but fuller, and coaxes out whatever overtones there are in the instrument. I find this more true in single note lines, but those are inherently more defined and cleanly drawn than strums. In sum: I intend to buy a couple, and have one in each case. I can still carry the dunlop ll in my wallet, one in my pocket, one in every room except the shower- and leave the Bears for serious practice and performance. If they break readily, that'll be it. I can't afford to blow off 20 a pop on picks. but I can afford to take the chance for better tone. I have "only" three acoustics, worth a total of 12K or better, and why scrimp on an appurtenance when it might make a difference. I'll report back on Bear behavior. tom

i ordered 2 picks from red bear after reading earlier posts about these picks (and the wegens). i ordered jade colored tri-corner heavy gauge, and had holes drilled in them. the tri-cornered picks have one round edge, one pointed edge, and one beveled edge. it's nice to be able to fine tune the tone. that being said, i still prefer the feel and the crisp sound of the wegens.