Everything you might want to to know,
and probably a bunch you don’t need to know.
How to pick a pick
Shape
Pretty straightforward here, folks, browse the shape catalog, and pick a shape! Feel free to print one out and compare it to other picks you play. The Delta shapes are fully customizable and come in 3 sizes with any tip combination.
A general rule of thumb is that a sharper tip will give you more clarity and a stronger attack vs. a rounder tip will have a thicker, mellow tone.
I personally use SP1, AC1, and PPR.R. depending on what type of tunes I’m playing and which guitar I'm playing. I use all tips of those shapes - the round sides when I’m playing rhythm or mellow flat picking, and the pointed sides when I’m wanting more clarity and volume, because I’m able to dig in a bit more. The choice is yours my friend.
If there's a shape you want that is not featured in my catalog, please reach out and let’s work something out! I love new shapes and ideas!
Thickness
I can make picks in any thickness from 1.2mm - 2.3mm. There’s no wrong answer here it really depends on the type of tone you’re aiming for. 1.7mm and up will give you deep, warm, thick tones, (like a fall forest) while still cutting through when you need to. A thickness around 1.2 - 1.3 will give a more airy lightness to them while still having warmth (like a spring meadow). If you’re a more delicate player, this is maybe where you’d want to be. I like a 1.3 - 1.4 on my old Gibson LG1, I find it suits the instrument’s vibe and volume capacity when I’m playing alone. In general I think a 1.5+/- with a bevel is a good all around thickness for most playing situations whether it be alone or with others.
I will not go thinner than 1.2mm and really believe 1.3mm is the thinest this material should go because of the fragility of the casein. I can, however, go thicker than 2.3mm if you want, and if so please reach out via the contact form at the website footer and we’ll figure something out. I’ve made up to 4mm but anything above 2 ish is too thick for my personal preference.
Bevels
Bevels are a totally unique to each player, they’re kind of like breaking in a pair of jeans. When naturally occurring, they are as individual as a fingerprint, and become so based on how one holds a pick and attacks the strings - essentially grinding away at the material at a specific angle.
This said, beveled tips tend to glide off the strings with a little less resistance, and you will give you a clearer cleaner tone.
I’d recommend beveling anything thicker 1.5mm the thicker the pick the larger the bevel.
I’m of the opinion that a pick, from any maker, sounds best when the player has played it enough to have left their own personal bevel on it, whether it was a pre beveled pick or not. But that’s cork sniffer stuff. Just use instruments and tools that make you want to play more.
What to Expect
Feel
Expect a nice natural, almost tacky, grip from this material - It really stays in your hand. You’ll notice it will even pick up fingerprints oddly. This is a property of Casein, due to it pulling moisture from your skin. Because of this property, These are by far my preferred pick to hold as they truly stay put, with out feeling sticky or having a funky molded shape - Hard to explain…
Tone
I’m not going to say that these sound better than any other pick because its all preference and desired outcome. I will say, however, that they sound different than any other pick I’ve played. Tonally, Sweethearts are warm and deep, and they do cut through I’d say. Depending on the thickness and bevel, they can provide a more powerful, beefy tone, or, on the thinner side, they can have a nice airy tone which I find suitable for smaller guitars and more delicate individual playing.
Surface Checking
I polish these picks to a gloss because they just look so damn good that way, but you’ll notice the more you play it, the more matte the surface will become. Additionally, the surface of these picks can start to "check" or become scaly, similarly to the finish of some vintage instruments. This is a moisture thing, if your fingers tend to perspirate. Part of casein’s natural charm I’d say, and provides a subtle surface texture which helps with grip. If you’re not into it, I’d say maybe Sweethearts aren’t for you :(
surface checking after 4 months of sole use
3 Ways to Ruin Your Picks
NO FLEXING
DON’T TRY TO BEND OR FLEX THESE PICKS! IT’LL SURELY SNAP THEM IN HALF IF YOU DO. THIS MATERIAL IS ODDLY BRITTLE DESPITE ITS WARM TONE.
NO JUICING
JUICE = WATER = BAD. THE CASEIN SUCKS IT UP WHICH CHANGES THE SURFACE TEXTURE, AND WARPS THE PICK.
NO DICE
KEEPING THESE GUYS IN A POCKET CAN LEAD TO TWO THINGS:
1) CRACKING - IF IT SHARES A POCKET WITH DICE, COINS, KEYS, CIGS, OR EVEN ANOTHER PICK. BEST TO KEEP IT WITH YOUR INSTRUMENT.
2) THE LAUNDRY CYCLE - AND THIS WE’VE DISCUSSED IN THE “NO JUICING” SECTION
Upkeep
Re-shaping
If you notice your points wearing down over time, you can subtly smooth them out with the finest grit nail file or sand paper with grit above 800. Once you’ve got a nice tip, give em rub on a piece of cardboard… like a shipping box. polishes them right out.
Conditioning
If so inclined, you can condition your pick with a drop of oil. Just place one single drop (no more!) of oil on your finger tip, grab your pick and rub it around between your fingers. this should act as a mellow water repellant. Any mild natural oils you'd use on your fretboard, like lemon oil or mineral oil will do. Don’t over do this.
Fun Facts
Casein
Casein is the protein found in milk, so essentially these picks are dried cheese curds - milk stones or tit rocks, or what ever you want to call them. They don’t smell, thankfully. I've never eaten one, (but dogs have), so I don’t know what they taste like, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Because they come from milk, they are biodegradable and compostable. Most of the dyes I use come from organic materials. The plastic ziplock I package them with is also biodegradable, and I ship in compostable mailers.