Alaska Pik Finger Guitar Pick Small


Description

Features
Reviews
3.76
49 Reviews
69%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend
Most Liked Positive Review
Great for slide players!
I've been a guitarist for more than fifty years. All of my playing is fingerstyle. I never liked the sound or the feel of old-style fingerpicks -- they are uncomfortable, and they cover the soft part of your fingertips so completely that you lose all "feel" for the strings. Those "old style" fingerpicks can really limit your options if you play slide guitar. Whether you are playing Duane-style slide, lap-slide (including regular acoustic guitar, dobro, Weissenborn-style, or you're using a tone-bar on your Strat), damping the sound of unused strings is absolutely essential to getting a the best sound with your slide. Conventional "old style" fingerpicks -- whether metal or plastic -- cover the soft-pad of your fingertips, making fast, delicate individual string-damping nearly impossible with your right hand. I personally love the tonal range and "touch" of bare fingers and fingernails. Unfortunately, my natural fingernails are very brittle. They're thick and they grow fast, but my nail ends fray, split, and break very easily -- especially in the winter season. The best "fix" for this problem came along in the '90's, when fingerstyle guitarists began using the KrazyGlue/acrylic-powder method of nail reinforcement. If you're a gigging musician, though, and you also use your hands for real-life activities like athletics, working on your motorcycle, raking leaves, whatever, you are going to break fingernails. When your melody-line disappears behind a no-nail picking finger, your Saturday night audience just isn't going to buy your Saturday afternoon riff that "the dog ate my fingernail." Alaska Piks are a real gig-saver. It doesn't take long to get used to them, and once you trim and file a set to match your personal finger-ends, the feel and sound is very close to that of your natural nails. Best of all, since Alaska Piks leave the meaty tips of your fingers (and a good bit of your soft fingerprint) exposed, string-damping while you play slide-guitar is exactly the same with Alaska Piks as it is with bare fingers. I personally prefer the "harder" sound of a conventional plastic thumb-pick when I use my Alaska Piks on my fingers. Other players prefer an Alaska Pik on their thumb, too -- it's a close call, either way. A set of Alaska Piks is really inexpensive. If you are a fingerpicker or a slide-guitar player, give them a try. I keep a spare set on hand in case I lose or break one (hard to do: they're tough little rascals!) Can't say I always use them -- but I certainly "... don't leave home without them."
Most Liked Negative Review
Mixed reviews for a reason...had to return.
I was very hesitant to order these as the reviews were incredibly mixed. I'm sorry to say that although they tried very hard to design these correctly, they come nowhere close to glued on acrylic nails. For one they aren't rigid enough, and they design on the top of the nail area is flawed because it catches on the strings when stroking downward across all strings. Another problem is that when wearing one on the thumb, it catches on the edge underneath the thumb on the string and hooks your thumb. I was hoping they would relieve me of the difficulty of having acrylics permanently attached but no such luck. If those two design issues were addressed I may consider buying them again. The ribbed open design and underneath edges just get caught up too easy.
- Back-Up7
- Practicing4
- Concerts2
- fingerstyle1
- I bought them to use on HARP w/metal strings1
- Difficult To Use2
- Not Functional2
- Heavy / Bulky1
- Poor Quality1
- Experienced10
- Professional Musician4
- Novice3
- Functional10
- Good Quality10
- Easy To Use9
- Improves Sound4
- M & L/ same XL is bigger1
Reviewed by 49 customers
Great for players without strong nails
Verified Buyer
submitteda year ago
byVicky
fromTucson, Arizona
Submitted as part of a sweepstakes
I started using Alaska Piks when they were first introduces, and I was learning fingerstyle guitar. I can't grow nails that are long enough or strong enough to play guitar. I tried acrylic nails, glue on nails and all kinds of nail strengtheners. I have kept coming back to Alaska Piks. They stay on my fingertips very well and I find them quite precise. The only reason that I gave them 4 instead of 5 stars is because the plastic material is not as strong on the new ones vs my originals.
Works for finger picking
Verified Buyer
submitted2 years ago
byKarl
fromFredericksburg VA
Submitted as part of a sweepstakes
I trimmed the picks to the shape of my finger tips with nail clippers and a little sandpaper. Feels pretty natural only issue is they slip off sometimes when pressing too hard. I ordered two sizes to be sure they would fit. The smaller size picks stayed on my finger better than the bigger more comfortable sized ones. Neither size works perfectly for my thumb. I use a thumb pick for those duties.
Somewhat bulky
submitted2 years ago
byKevin
fromScience Hill, KY
I ordered these for finger picking. I found that they are somewhat bulky and clack together when trying to play. I found it easier to use my fingernails.
I would buy again
Verified Buyer
submitted3 years ago
byJohn
fromRipon, Ca.
These picks are great when I break a fingernail. I like to strum sith my bare fingernails so these picks are good for practice to protect my nails for strumming and finger picking.
Size is an issue
submitted3 years ago
byShon
fromUmatilla, OR
The concept for these is sound. I was worried about pushing the nail out with the device under it but so far, no issue. My issue is with size. I ordered XL and L thinking they would be a good fit between the large finger and pinky. Problem is there is a good 1/4 inch separating on the locking mechanism when I ware these. I have large hands but XL seems to work for other products for fingers.
Finger pick
Verified Buyer
submitted3 years ago
byPJ
fromKnoxville
Feels a little awkward at first, but you get used to it. Like it much better than metal picks
Q&A
Have a question about this product? Our expert Gear Advisers have the answers.
submitted4 years ago
asked byWarrington
fromKansas City, MO
I like the concept. The reason I don't use fingerpicks when playing guitar is that I frequently do a "brushdown" lick where I strum across the strings like I would with a flatpick. Will your pick stay in place if I do this?
The finger pick may not always stay in place when playing with this type of technique.submitted5 years ago
asked bySally
fromundisclosed
Is this price for one single pick? or is it the price for a set of picks?
This is for one picksubmitted6 years ago
asked byFingerstyletech
fromOreogn
I'd like to inquire regarding the radius, diameter, or circumference of these sizes are. Don't matter which, I'll sort it out. I'd just like to order 2 of the appropriate size for each finger and thumb. That'd be great thanks!
Item Weight 0.64 ounces Package Dimensions 2.2 x 0.7 x 0.4 inches