Ah, the golden sun is warming the Connecticut Empire and I’m using AC., but Fender’s .96mm Gold Celluloid Pick doesn’t care, even if it’s more golden than that orb in the sky!
Well, hmm… When I decided to review this pick I forgot to check the branding. Now I realize I’ve given Fender a couple of reviews now, but what the hey…
…It’s a Standard after all, and it is due time to review a basic mainstream pick for comparison.
Now I think the gold color isn’t available right now, as you can see in the images, it’s a pretty and wavy golden pick (well, “golden” not GOLD, hah).
After delving into some pretty unique picks with shape designs that are intended to help new players AND players with disabling hands/fingers, I knew it was high time to take a fresh look at a Standard Plectrum and see where it lies now after a few years trying things out and growing as a player.
But here’s the thing, I put a rubber grip on it when I first got it and I thought, hey, great, 2 reviews in one, right? That grip is looked at on this page of our site here.
Here is Fender’s page for this pick in other colors, you might need to check eBay or something for this exact model.
While I prefer cork grips, they get nasty over time, and the rubber grip, while not a nice do-nut shape, works well enough.
As for the tone, it’s right in the middle of everything, which is why it is loved by so many. It’s not a speed picker’s tool, no, Fender’s .96 Gold Celluloid Pick is too rounded for speed picking except for you real pros out there.
I now understand better how experience makes a player more comfortable and capable with standard picks. Now, I have less trouble than ever holding on to a pick, but still, with hard fast strumming, I still can’t hold on well, that is my confession, Father, for I have sinned, well sorta, I don’t practice enough still and I’m getting older fast!
I like that it stands out in good light if dropped except on some wood floors. It has a predictable and dependable tone and wears better than some others. But that is just the thing, it’s very, well, middling. It’s average, like American Chocolate Candy, ask anyone in Europe and they’ll tell you our chocolate is gross (it’s true, it was to do with our milk processing).
Yeah, this pick looks like candy, but it’s not candy for your ears, but I will say this: On a hollow body guitar it offers a decent tone.
Now this rubber gadget thingy: It works, but is also middling, how fitting is that? Cork is better and there are new grips I want to cover that are even better, I want to update that page I referred to above.
Part of the middling factor is the standard old-fashioned #351 shape. We are in the 20’s now, even in the 20’s a hundred years ago things were modernizing quickly. Yes, you want Fender’s .96 Gold Celluloid, everyone should have some, but I have to say, don’t stop! Don’t stop there, try some of the picks reviewed on this site, try inventions and innovations, experience, venter forth Luke Skywalker!
How can I add to this? I can’t, really, you already know this pick, or its cousins of Celluloid, it was one of the first picks you tried, AMIRITE?
So let’s get on with it, the Specs Maestro, please!
| Material | Attack Tone | Decay Tone |
| Pretty patterened Celluloid | Strong yet soft | Warm |
| Durability/ Wear | Comments/ Dimensions | Shape |
| Centerline Wear | 72.5H Durometer Hardness | THE Standard #351 Shape |
| Grip and Feel | Flexibility | Likely Use |
Not great but with rubber grip it’s not bad | Moderate flex | Old Standards Jazz |
| Thickness | Width and Height | Resonance |
.96mm | 29.52×29.75mm | muted, especially with Rubber Grip |
| Tip Style | Bevel? | Approx. Cost |
Blunt rounded | Rounded | $8 for 12 |
- Holds/Grips ****
- Plays (action) ***
- Sounds/Tones ***
- Looks/Appearance ****
- Collect-ability *****
- Difficulty ***
- Durability ***
- Cost ****
- Availability **
- Like-ability ***
- Over-All Rating 68%
- Novices: Use with grip of your choice
- Performers: Popular with many but middling results
- Intermediates: An important pick in your arsenal
Ok, there’s another quick review in the can, but what is this? Extra, Extra, Read All About It! There’s a hint as to what’s coming next, something I think is unique and special. We will have to see if you like it, stay tuned!