Attack Pik from Attak Picks
This review is on the Attack Pik from Attack Piks of Acoustic Attak. Help, we’re under ATTACK!
We’ve had a low snow winter with mild temperatures here in Connecticut for the last several weeks, but snow is forecast today. What a good time to come out with a fire-breathing shark-toothed red guitar pick! We are under attack, or rather, nope, hardly any snow, meh.
The Attack pik from Attak picks is a crimson pick of a teardrop shape. It is a large teardrop easily gripped, but not dripping (as in teardrops, silly me):
The surface of the pick is textured and has the Acoustic Attak logo in relief on it on both sides. Gripping it is easy and it won’t rotate in your hands because not only is it textured, and tear-dropped (which helps holding it), but it has a medium flex.
They have selected nylon for their material, and since it is still stiff, I’m guessing the formulation might include something mixed in or a particular add-in. I don’t know, obviously, but it feels stiffer than nylon alone and many pick makers use composite materials these days.
I find it a decent strummer, but what the heck is it? Why those “teeth”?
Strumming on the Attack Pik guitar pick is pretty good, but the 7 and ½ “shark teeth” make it drag against the strings and resist gliding. This means that you will have to strum more firmly as the “teeth” fight you, causing “pre-plucks” for lack of a better term.
| Material | Attack Tone | Decay Tone |
| some type of nylon | Repeated “plucks” Grindy | ch-ch-gzhu |
| Durability/Wear | Comments/Dimensions | Shape |
| Not extremely durable, but it will last you enough | Durometer Hardness of 64.5 62 deg angle teardrop | Large teardrop with side- teeth |
| Grip and Feel | Flexibility | Likely Use |
Very sure grip | Medium-firm flex | Recommended for flat top guitars and special occasions |
| Thickness | Width and Height | Resonance |
| .64 up to 2.34 mm w/teeth | 25 x 34.75mm | thin poker chip sound |
| Tip Style | Bevel? | Approx. Cost |
| round tip almost blunt | Not applicable | $9.99/5pcs US Dollar |
I don’t find the Attak Pik from Attak Picks as good a picker so much as a strummer pick:
The teeth on the Attack Pik from Attak Picks resist you as you drag against the string, with the string releasing briefly from each rise and fall. This imparts a gritty sound, almost as if you were using a crosscut saw to play your instrument. If you are trying speed picking on this, it makes for a huge challenge.
What do I think of the Attack Pik from Attak Picks?
Personally, I find this an acquired taste that I hold akin to eating scallops, I don’t really like it. It’s an odd feeling and the tone might be great if you are someone like Jonny Greenwood of Radio Head creating an effect. For day-to-day, this is not useful. The Attack Pik is a novelty. But some of the best music made is novel, at least I feel that way. This makes me feel love and hate for the pick.
Now I admit that what it does -it does well- and it is sufficiently designed for it, having just the right flex and grip, shape, and dimensions. And I want to try it on a flat top soon. They even say it is intended for acoustics.
There is a shimmer to it. Yes IS recommended for use on a flat top according to the maker, it would be even more interesting on a 12-string, which it imitates in a roundabout manner.
This is not their only pick, they have a good variety and each is unique:
I plan on reviewing more of these Attak Piks Brand Picks in the future, some of them I like more than this. For design, this gets an “A”, for usefulness, a “C”. It is an experimenter’s instrument.
My one real complaint is that it resists strumming because of the teeth, so it is more “work” than play. I can see using it though, like I said, it is a novelty and will certainly do; it is designed to do what it does very well.
The Attack Pik is for serious musicians doing recordings for effect, it’s not a learner’s pick. However:
Learners should include novelty in their repertoire. After all, why do we play, if not for fun? Nonetheless, this isn’t for learning. Just like one guitar is not going to be enough guitars for any of us, plain picks are not enough. This might not be for practicing, but if you record it, it sounds very interesting. This pick is a must for collectors and innovators.
Well, that is all I have to say for now, but for our next pick, something creamy yellow and very practical. Something many of you use I imagine.
Have you tried this pick yet, and what do YOU think about it, can you name a song it is played on? Can you think of a song it would be suited for? I could see it in metal, hard country strumming on an acoustic, and on a bass in deep toned lines…
