Tusq Guitar Pick Demo

Check out the Graphtech Guitar Labs Tusq A3 .88 pick and hear it compared to a Dunlop Tortex .88 in a guitar pick shootout.

Signal chain: Taylor GA3 guitar - Neumann KM184 condenser microphone - Universal Audio 4710 Preamp - Apogee Ensemble Converter.

[midi]

Very good demo. I like the way you follow one pick with the other quickly for an easy comparison. The TUSQ pick is less muddy, more articulate as you say. If you take 3 TUSQ picks; bright (white), warm (tan), and deep (gray); and drop them on a surface like a glass coffee table (in the proper order), you can play "Three Blind Mice". I like how you can choose the thickness and tone separately.

[Colonist]

It brings out the thiner stings. Deff buying these.

[jackquentin]

"I haven't figured out how to incorporate that to my guitar playing yet"

Underrated joke

[Claimjumper]

The Tusq was definitely brighter sounding than the Tortex. I can't tell if it's the material or the fact that it's stiffer for a given thickness.

[BlondSonic]

I love playing with the Tortex, but man..., the tusq won by far. Brighter and cleaner sound.

[jwhelan]

I use the tusq warm 68 and love them except slippyness. If they could have a grippy side...

[MrLongboarder]

Scuff up the Tusq pick with some 120 grit sand paper to help with the grip.

[demotester]

I use the Tusq ones since 1/2 year and love them deeply, but the tip angle are not ideal for me. I use angles of Clayton or Raven picks and file these Tusq pick tips. Also, tip form has a big impact on harmonics / overtones.

[mattr]

The Tusq sounds brighter. Nice review. Have you ever checked out gravity picks? It would be a cool comparison considering they're more pricey than most picks.

[jimthebutcher]

If any of you have ever used a tortoise shell pick you know that as close as these get they sadly just are not quite the same. Lost my last tortoise shell pick 25 years ago. I just about cried.
They were tortoise shell, not sea turtles as far as my memory goes. But as you see I used to use these and that was many moons ago maybe my mind is slipping

[miamistomp]

I think u did a very good demo .
I like the tusq picks -they seem to have a very clean sound that works well with my mahogany Martin
You might also try the dunlop ultex they feel good and are a bit stiffer than tortex material

[おいしいパスター]

Wow the Tusq has or produces warmer but tighter lowend and well ballanced highend than the Tortex.
I was surprised actually.
But not ganna have that much use for me since I play the electric. The gas is strong here non the less.. lol

[GraphTechGuitarLabs]

Hi Sean,

What did you use to record the sound in this video?

[emmakeyser]

Murdered or killed. word meanings. murder is killing with malice. who kills a turtle with malice of forethought? LOL
Liked the tusq picks. Just got back into acoustic music after many years of electric. starting over. great vid. thanks

[theldun]

totally off topic but has anyone ever told you that you look a bit like Geoff Stults ?

[caseyw]

U still playin the Tusq picks these days?

[rand]

There's definitely a brighter sound with the Tusq picks

[captainkangaroo]

Picks, picks, picks. It's a lifelong conversation. Personally I think the old, now illegal, tortoise or turtle shell pick is way over rated. They have an undeserved lore about them. Just to let you know they weren't made illegal in 1947 but rather the 1973 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species outlawed them starting in 1974. Picks are such a personal choice. My favorite flat picks are the Blue Chips but at $50+ each unless someone else is buying it for me I'll pass. Generally I'll just buy a bag of the 3 point Fender picks medium or heavy depending on what I'm playing. If I lose a few it's not a tragedy. For thumb picks I like either the John Pearse or the Fred Kelly slick pick, again depending on what I'm playing. Sorry for such a long reply to an old post. I do really enjoy your channel. I think you should have a long discussion with Kindred and Andrea as to which picks they prefer.

[Dobrovinskiy]

The key it is a damping quality of the material.

[DChunk]

I can't murder see turtles??? I thought this was america