Just recently acquired some of these picks in a trade from a forum member. I like what seems to be a fast response off the string from the beveled edge..well..no more..at least for the one that broke in my hand a few days ago!

I was demonstrating to a friend how I love a really stiff pick, as I play bluegrass almost exclusively. Put the Red Bear between my index finger and thumb and pushed on it to demonstrate, and it snapped in half. I was by no means abusing the pick, it was just a firm grip. Does the protein recipe for these picks come into play with the easy break? I thought I had gained some kind of superhuman strength, but alas the phone book I tried to rip in half afterwards didnt budge..

I'm going back to tortoiseshell.

quote:

Originally posted by GrierRiceFan: Put the Red Bear between my index finger and thumb and pushed on it to demonstrate, and it snapped in half.

They will indeed break under this exact circumstance. The Red Bear website now has a caution statement to that effect. Don't carry them in your pocket, pick your teeth with them, etc. One of mine broke a few years ago.

I suspect Blue Chip picks are not as brittle.

Lateral flexing will almost always break a Red Bear pick - frustrating, but just a fact of life for that material. The warning also mentions the bad things that happen when you get one wet...

I have not heard of any super human pickers breaking a BlueChip pick, at least yet

Gave a RB to a friend, and he snapped his in a similar way. Sure wish I had it back, 'cause I love these RB picks. He let me try his Blue Chip, and the tone and feel didn't come close.

I would, BTW, be very interested in acquiring any RB Style C heavy picks that folks have set aside.

B

Hey B, why not post your interest in the FS,WTB or Trade area.
Maybe it'll get more views, I'm sure people have some Red Bear picks that have been set aside for something different.

quote:

Originally posted by B Woods:
interested in acquiring any RB Style C heavy picks that folks have set aside.

B

PM me and I might be able to help you out.

Personally, although I like the tone of some of the RB picks, I've stopped buying them. I haven't flat out broken one, but I have 2 or 3 that warped and one (my favorite) that developed hairline cracks. I'm back to a small collection of TS and some thick dunlops (violet color) and some 208 jazz picks. At what they cost i expect more stability from the material.

If you break a Blue Chip pick, you're not a guitar player, you're an airline baggage handler. One reason I switched from Red Bear (although I do like the look and the feel) is the list of things you can't do. Carry them in your wallet or your pocket with coins. Forget them in your jean and send them through the wash. You know: the things that ALWAYS happen to picks in the real world. I've been on the same Blue Chip for four months or better and it looks virtually unused. I like that. Me, I look way, way used. Good to have a product that counters that trend! tom