R
R.D.
New member
O.K., about two months ago I wrote a review of my experiences with Red Bear picks as compared to V-Picks …. The review was basically between a Red Bear “Crafty” and a V-Pick “Shredder” ( because they were the most similar ) …. However during the review I had to admit that the V-Pick Shredder was no longer my favorite V-Pick. And at the end of the review I gave a very slight nod to my ( then ) favorite V-Pick even though I didn’t have a Red Bear that directly compared ….
Dave Skowron @ Red Bear read my review and all things considered, he was extremely gracious !
He mentioned he could to “thicker” picks ( up to 4.6mm ). And since then I’ve been working directly with him to get a pick that would give me more of an “apples to apples” comparison with my favorite style of V-Pick ( which was the V-Pick un-buffed Dimension ) !
It took three ( 3 ) iterations to get my new pick exactly right and I can now say a couple of thing definitively !
First, Dave Skowron at Red Bear simply will not rest until he’s exhausted EVERY possibility to make a customer happy !
And second, the Red Bear pick that I have now is without a doubt the single best guitar pick ( for my playing style ) that I’ve ever had the pleasure to use !
I’d been using V-Picks for a little more than two ( 2 ) years …. I’ve tried well over half of the different picks that Vinni Smith has in his line …, and if you are aware of V-Picks, you know just how many different models he offers …! In fact, Vinni made the Shredder picks for me at my special request !
So that said …, through trial and error I’ve found exactly what “feels” best between my fingers …, something right around 4.0mm with a very sharp point. Originally it was the Shredder and later it was the un-buffed Dimension ….
Now, the first pick Dave made for me was based on his Classic II model. He made it approximately 4.0mm thick, and he countersunk the grip holes ( a very cool option ) and he left it un-polished …. Because of the extra thickness he didn’t do a specific speed bevel per se’, but he did shape the sides of the pick. He likened it to shaping it like a knife blade, just nowhere near as sharp …!
Here’s what I wrote in my prior review about the Red Bear’s grip ….
I can happily report NOTHING HAS CHANGED HERE ! This pick still grips extremely well, with no tendency to slip out of my fingers, even when my palms and fingers get really sweaty !
Now, everything about that first pick was “almost” perfect. And the “almost” was that the point of the pick wasn’t quite as sharp as the V-Pick Dimension. Therefore, it was a little warmer sounding and not quite as precise with the attack on the strings. So I contacted Dave to make a 2nd generation ….
And …, as I told him after I received the 2nd one …. I ordered an Oops ! And it was totally not his fault ! But I thought I’d get the next larger size ( The Classic, instead of the Classic II ), because I thought it might make it easier for him to grind it to a sharper point. And I forgot to remind him that I wanted it at approx. 4.0mm ….
So, when it arrived I knew pretty much immediately what I’d done wrong ….
The pick was beautiful though …. 4.6mm thick, polished to a high gloss, countersunk grip holes all logo-ed up …. It did have a sharper point, but the extra thickness felt just a little too big in my fingers and it still wasn’t quite sharp enough …. So the tone and attack still weren’t there yet !
But it was still a beautiful pick ! In fact, it’s the first “gloss tortoise” that I have. I’ve got a couple of the Black Onyx picks that are high gloss ( and they are goregous ) , but this was the first gloss tortoise and I have to say it’s stunning ….
O.K., the third time is the charm ? Right ? So I went back to the Classic II size and practically begged for an even sharper point ( almost as sharp as the crafty ), at approximately 4.0mm in thickness, countersunk grip holes. Oh, and just as sharp a point as you can make ( wait, I said that already ) …!
Dave contacted me one last time to ask if I needed the Red Bear Logos, etc; on it. I told him it wasn’t necessary and at his discretion he could leave it off …. He said if he did, he’d recommend polishing the pick rather than leaving it un-buffed. O.K. Who am I to argue …?
It showed up late last week and I suppose I could be happier …, but I don’t know how !!!!! This pick is JUST THAT GOOD !
The size, the thickness, the grip holes and especially the point are as perfect as I could have asked for !
Now about the apples to apples comparison to my previous favorite, the V-Pick un-buffed Dimension ?
The tone and responsiveness of the picks are identical …. I simply can’t tell any difference in tone when I’m playing. The V-Pick gives a great sound when playing on the neck pickup with high-gain. I call it the Paul Gilbert attack. I don’t shred like Gilbert, but that sound ( or attack ) is a must. The Red Bear has it in spades too !
I can vary the tone from warmer to sharper with just my picking attack. And by changing where I pick on the string, closer to the bridge or closer to the neck I can get almost a “cocked” wah tone. The pick gives me a control I’ve never had before ! I’m only a fast picker in short bursts, but the pick makes it easier for me to play those bursts !
Here’s the bottom line as to why I worked so hard with Dave to get me a pick that compared to the V-Pick ….
1 to 1 the V-Picks are quite a bit cheaper. About 60% less on the individual pick basis. But, here’s the thing …. The V-Picks wear down and I don’t think the Red Bear will …. Or, at least nowhere near as much. Dave thinks over time the pick will “play-in” as he called it. And that should be just fine.
But with as much as I play, I can easliy use-up an un-buffed Dimension in about 30 days ( or so ), that’s about 60 to 75 hours of playing time before the tip will ultimately wear down to the point that it’s no longer sharp enough to give me the attack I want. And of course the tone changes slightly during this process as well ! The other Red Bear picks that I have been using on and off for a few months have yet to show ANY wear what-so-ever at all ….
We’ll see where we are in 90 days ( or so ). But if the Red Bear wears ( or doesn’t wear ) as I suspect it won’t, then I’ll come out better in the long run …. Buy one Red Bear vrs. 3 or 4 ( or how many more ) V-Picks ? I don’t know for sure yet, but that’s my plan and I’m definitely sticking to it ….
That said, I’ve already ordered an identical one ( not buffed ) just to have a backup and an alternate !
If you’re not totally happy with what you’re picking with and you want something that’s personalized to your particular picking style. Don’t hesitate to contact Dave Skowron @ Red Bear Trading Co., Dweezil Zappa did, Richie Blackmore did, so I did too ….
Just look at the personal attention I received, and I’m nobody !
Thanks for reading ….
Dave Skowron @ Red Bear read my review and all things considered, he was extremely gracious !
He mentioned he could to “thicker” picks ( up to 4.6mm ). And since then I’ve been working directly with him to get a pick that would give me more of an “apples to apples” comparison with my favorite style of V-Pick ( which was the V-Pick un-buffed Dimension ) !
It took three ( 3 ) iterations to get my new pick exactly right and I can now say a couple of thing definitively !
First, Dave Skowron at Red Bear simply will not rest until he’s exhausted EVERY possibility to make a customer happy !
And second, the Red Bear pick that I have now is without a doubt the single best guitar pick ( for my playing style ) that I’ve ever had the pleasure to use !
I’d been using V-Picks for a little more than two ( 2 ) years …. I’ve tried well over half of the different picks that Vinni Smith has in his line …, and if you are aware of V-Picks, you know just how many different models he offers …! In fact, Vinni made the Shredder picks for me at my special request !
So that said …, through trial and error I’ve found exactly what “feels” best between my fingers …, something right around 4.0mm with a very sharp point. Originally it was the Shredder and later it was the un-buffed Dimension ….
Now, the first pick Dave made for me was based on his Classic II model. He made it approximately 4.0mm thick, and he countersunk the grip holes ( a very cool option ) and he left it un-polished …. Because of the extra thickness he didn’t do a specific speed bevel per se’, but he did shape the sides of the pick. He likened it to shaping it like a knife blade, just nowhere near as sharp …!
Here’s what I wrote in my prior review about the Red Bear’s grip ….
I can happily report NOTHING HAS CHANGED HERE ! This pick still grips extremely well, with no tendency to slip out of my fingers, even when my palms and fingers get really sweaty !
Now, everything about that first pick was “almost” perfect. And the “almost” was that the point of the pick wasn’t quite as sharp as the V-Pick Dimension. Therefore, it was a little warmer sounding and not quite as precise with the attack on the strings. So I contacted Dave to make a 2nd generation ….
And …, as I told him after I received the 2nd one …. I ordered an Oops ! And it was totally not his fault ! But I thought I’d get the next larger size ( The Classic, instead of the Classic II ), because I thought it might make it easier for him to grind it to a sharper point. And I forgot to remind him that I wanted it at approx. 4.0mm ….
So, when it arrived I knew pretty much immediately what I’d done wrong ….
The pick was beautiful though …. 4.6mm thick, polished to a high gloss, countersunk grip holes all logo-ed up …. It did have a sharper point, but the extra thickness felt just a little too big in my fingers and it still wasn’t quite sharp enough …. So the tone and attack still weren’t there yet !
But it was still a beautiful pick ! In fact, it’s the first “gloss tortoise” that I have. I’ve got a couple of the Black Onyx picks that are high gloss ( and they are goregous ) , but this was the first gloss tortoise and I have to say it’s stunning ….
O.K., the third time is the charm ? Right ? So I went back to the Classic II size and practically begged for an even sharper point ( almost as sharp as the crafty ), at approximately 4.0mm in thickness, countersunk grip holes. Oh, and just as sharp a point as you can make ( wait, I said that already ) …!
Dave contacted me one last time to ask if I needed the Red Bear Logos, etc; on it. I told him it wasn’t necessary and at his discretion he could leave it off …. He said if he did, he’d recommend polishing the pick rather than leaving it un-buffed. O.K. Who am I to argue …?
It showed up late last week and I suppose I could be happier …, but I don’t know how !!!!! This pick is JUST THAT GOOD !
The size, the thickness, the grip holes and especially the point are as perfect as I could have asked for !
Now about the apples to apples comparison to my previous favorite, the V-Pick un-buffed Dimension ?
The tone and responsiveness of the picks are identical …. I simply can’t tell any difference in tone when I’m playing. The V-Pick gives a great sound when playing on the neck pickup with high-gain. I call it the Paul Gilbert attack. I don’t shred like Gilbert, but that sound ( or attack ) is a must. The Red Bear has it in spades too !
I can vary the tone from warmer to sharper with just my picking attack. And by changing where I pick on the string, closer to the bridge or closer to the neck I can get almost a “cocked” wah tone. The pick gives me a control I’ve never had before ! I’m only a fast picker in short bursts, but the pick makes it easier for me to play those bursts !
Here’s the bottom line as to why I worked so hard with Dave to get me a pick that compared to the V-Pick ….
1 to 1 the V-Picks are quite a bit cheaper. About 60% less on the individual pick basis. But, here’s the thing …. The V-Picks wear down and I don’t think the Red Bear will …. Or, at least nowhere near as much. Dave thinks over time the pick will “play-in” as he called it. And that should be just fine.
But with as much as I play, I can easliy use-up an un-buffed Dimension in about 30 days ( or so ), that’s about 60 to 75 hours of playing time before the tip will ultimately wear down to the point that it’s no longer sharp enough to give me the attack I want. And of course the tone changes slightly during this process as well ! The other Red Bear picks that I have been using on and off for a few months have yet to show ANY wear what-so-ever at all ….
We’ll see where we are in 90 days ( or so ). But if the Red Bear wears ( or doesn’t wear ) as I suspect it won’t, then I’ll come out better in the long run …. Buy one Red Bear vrs. 3 or 4 ( or how many more ) V-Picks ? I don’t know for sure yet, but that’s my plan and I’m definitely sticking to it ….
That said, I’ve already ordered an identical one ( not buffed ) just to have a backup and an alternate !
If you’re not totally happy with what you’re picking with and you want something that’s personalized to your particular picking style. Don’t hesitate to contact Dave Skowron @ Red Bear Trading Co., Dweezil Zappa did, Richie Blackmore did, so I did too ….
Just look at the personal attention I received, and I’m nobody !
Thanks for reading ….
