So the days are getting sunnier and warmer gradually, and the sunrise-colored Everly Orange Star Pick is shining right beside my sunny window brightly.
It’s sold as a .60mm plectrum of plastic. They also offer a Star Pick version made from Celluloid. The plastic they say that they use is Delrin. We also know that as Acetal and you can read about Acetal and other materials in the materials section of this website.
https://www.cleartonestrings.com/products/starpicks
Yes indeed, it IS .60mm (so often picks don’t exactly measure as advertised) and it has some flex.
As far as that flexibility, what each of us needs or want is an individual choice. Except when just doing hard strumming, I prefer a little less flex than this offers. The Edge Pick I reviewed here has the amount of flex that I personally prefer.
I find when playing my Gretsch it is just a touch floppy for doing single lines or arpeggios.
And then, what about the Everly Orange Star Pick with strumming then?
It does what it does well, but not as well as some others. For strumming, full chords, and alternate movement it flops a touch too much but is acceptable/good. Some may want something smaller or stiffer or more precise, but if you are singing the blues on your doorstep with a flattop, this will do very nicely.
| Material | Attack Tone | Decay Tone |
Acetal/Delrin | Brightish | Clear and Pronounced |
| Durability/Wear | Comments/Dimensions | Shape |
Wear is Standard for Acetal | Durometer Hardness of 65H | Slightly large #351 Style |
| Grip and Feel | Flexibility | Likely Use |
| Innovative Grip Cut-Out | Quite Flexible | Flat tops Punk chording |
| Thickness | Width and Height | Resonance |
.60mm | 26.4 x 30.9mm | Very Slight When Dropped On Table |
| Tip Style | Bevel? | Approx. Cost |
| Rounded and more Blunt than Std. 351 | N/A | US$ 5.99 For 12 |
“But what about the ‘Star’?”
Yes, these picks all possess an innovative many-pointed star cut out right where the thumb and finger grasp. And yes, it does help prevent having the pick fly out of one’s hand with harder actions. However, the cutout is essentially a circle and the Everly orange star pick may still, depending upon you, the player, rotate inward. In other words, you might still see the tip start pointing away from the strings and toward your palm.
Every pick-holding idea has benefits and trade-offs. This Everly Orange Star Pick is elegantly simple but reasonably effective. It works well enough as a pick, the material works well enough, it holds pretty well, and sounds medium bright with a touch of a click.
Dropped on my desk, the sounds are almost soft. One thinks of a feather falling if it were made of a solid, non-fluffy “hair/nail” composition.
One moment ago I compared this to the Pickboy Edge, which I prefer because I can play with greater precision. That isn’t to say that this isn’t a good choice for novices or even experienced players. There are several other gauges, six in all, with one lighter in red up to an almost heavy 1.14mm model.
Yup, the Star Picks are all pretty light, both weight-wise and action-wise.
A while ago I also compared the dimensions of the other pick and here are the shoulder and back-to-tip measurements: 26.40mm x 30.90mm, a large 351-styled profile. This will also help with grip; however, some will find it a touch cumbersome.
I will add this to my comments: It sounds pretty good on my Center blocked Semi Hollow Guitar.
It’s a great pick for resonant instruments. You folks players will have fun, it makes me recall the phrase on a famous guitar that ‘This Machine Kills Fascists”, Arlo might have used a pick like this as it would be suited to his playing. If you don’t know who Guthrie was, get some culture brother/sister, and listen to his songs. That is your school assignment for the week.
What about availability and popularity?
This pick can be found all over the interwebs and stores. It isn’t AS common as a thin Celluloid, but it is pretty darned easily gotten. Will it wear? No more than any standard plastic pick, Delrin is fairly durable but I guess it could sheer off or wear down if you were an acrobatic punk rocker.
The stuff of Golden Chalices with Monster Mojo?
Yes, for some. For others, it won’t be their main pick but almost anyone might find it pretty decent. Yeah, Goldilocks and Holy Grails, it’s in there for many of you!