Gus,

I just got the Ultimate Thumb pick and a set of three Ultimate Finger Picks, and wanted to give you my impression of them in the way of a review. I have pretty much [tried] every thumb and finger pick available. I saw a YouTube video on your product and thought I needed to add it to my collection. I was really pleased by what a great product this is. It far exceeded my expectations. Here are some unbiased pros and cons:

Ultimate Thumb Pick

Pros: I inserted my favorite pick (Blue Chip TD 40) into the pick pouch of your Ultimate Thumb Pick and it fit perfectly. Your thumb pick sleeve fits snug but does not cut off blood circulation. I was able to strum chords and play lead with my fingers free, not holding the pick. I was pleasantly surprised to be able to strum chords with upstrokes, without the pick twisting or loosening on my thumb. Up and down picking patterns for lead were a breeze as well. Of the dozens and dozens of different thumb picks I own, this is now my favorite.

Cons: The thumb pick feels like it is a medium size and it is a little snug. Not terrible, but I think the Large size will fit me better when it becomes available. I will be playing the one I have until the Large is available, and then I will order several.

Ultimate Finger Pick

Pros: I have the Large Clear ones that are first generation [nail design]. They fit perfectly and are by far the most comfortable finger picks I have. They slide on, stay put, and then come off when gently pulled from the top [or "rolled off"] - perfect fit. They do not cut off the blood supply to your fingers either. The nail design is genius. It is positioned exactly like a fingernail and is perfect for anyone used to playing with their nails. There is also the added benefit of being able to do [downward strumming] with them. Another pro is that you can shape them how you like, though the shape they come in is very usable (I may not change the shape of mine).  I can change from an open hand finger picking to a closed hand where I have a grip on the pick in the thumb pick. It is a very natural grip and I can feel the pick between my index finger and my thumb (unlike plastic or metal finger picks). It’s like holding my pick in a natural way while wearing thin rubber gloves - sounds funny, but works great. I can get a lot of pick dynamics this way.

Cons: Seriously - None. My only complaint is that I like the next generation nail design, but it is not available yet in Large. When it is available, I will be ordering several sets.

As a final note in this review, money doesn’t lie and these were so good that I immediately bought another set. I will be ordering several Ultimate Thumb Picks in Large as soon as they are available. I will also be ordering several sets of the second generation nail Ultimate Finger Picks, in Large, as soon as they are available. They were nice enough to include a 20% discount coupon code in the package with my first order. I like this product and I want to support the development of them, so I chose NOT to use it on my second order. I want to support this product and hope to see them have the funds to continue to grow.

Don L.

Hello again Gus,

My package of picks arrived today.  I decided that, before I trimmed them to where I think they should be, I would try them as is, right out of the package.  I won't say it was a mistake, but for my playing they needed some trimming.  Not a surprise, there's a generous amount of material to play with.  I trimmed & filed both first and second gen picks to approximate where I like my fingernail to be.

My first impression is WOW... just as I'd hoped, there's none of that rattle that I spoke of, from when the pick hits the vibrating string, with the resonating chamber effect from between the pick and the nail.  The first gen pick has a much more dramatic attack on the strings, which is more than I like, but I suspect trimming it to shape a bit better, and possibly thinning the leading edge to give it a bit of flexibility, may address that; it's been a long day, so this is a tomorrow project...  if I get to it.  The second gen pick is pretty darn near perfect as trimmed, so I'm not sure when I'll get around to doing any more work on the first gen pick...

Both the first gen pick in Large size, and the second gen pick in Medium size, fit my ring size 10&1/2 just fine...  the extra elasticity in the second gen pick works as described, no slit needed.  It's always good to find a web-based product that actually works as described, when you get it in your hands.

I do have to get used to them, but I expected that.  The good news is that I can tell right from the start that they'll work.  I'm going to become a rolling advertisement for The Ultimate Fingerpick...

THANK YOU!!!

Paul

Just wanted to let you know that I am very glad you invented these picks.  I’m teaching myself lap steel guitar, and these picks are perfect for me.    I am primarily a pianist, so I guard my fingertips at all times against stress, callous formation, soreness.  These picks are just perfect for that, and also allow me to use my fingers on the lap steel with the same directionality as I would use my fingers on the piano.  This is speeding up the learning process for the lap steel for me...because I am used to using all my digits from piano playing, I am using 4 fingers (one thumb pick & 3 fingers), reserving my pinkie for balance.

~Paula

[caption id="attachment_4694" align="alignnone" width="205"] the new "beak technology" incorporates two types of finger pick designs into one[/caption] [caption id="attachment_4921" align="alignnone" width="321"] Proof sheet, showing thumb pick, and the two nail types and different over-mold materials[/caption]