A Plectrum to beat all Plectra!
July 16, 2022
Well, here we are after another break of a few days. My health is gradually improving but I may end up getting surgery in the coming weeks or months.
In the meantime, I’ll keep up as I can.
In this review, I want to talk about one of the best all-around picks that my long hard search has led me to.
I’m surprised, no less, by just what this pick is. For 2 years I lost interest in a very standard pick type: The Celluloid Pick. For one, I had failed to appreciate just how seminal and critical to music this material has been, and, more importantly, still is.
Most of us start out with cheap picks from the store, some of them being celluloid picks. We’re all familiar with the heavy Celluloid. I’ve tried many of them, and also Mediums and Lights, I’ve tried a hundred of them. But that doesn’t mean that I’ve tried everything. Fact is, I’ve been in for a big surprise…
The D’andrea Medium-Heavy Celluloid Pick
I found out about this pick while searching videos and web articles. At first I couldn’t seem to find a way to order them. But then I found a batch on eBay. I like these so much, next month I will order another batch.
Discovering this guitar tool has been, for me, not unlike starting to discover the various musical modes, it’s like a door has opened for me. But it took a lot of searching. I worry this item might cease to exist when what should really happen is that many many more and different versions should be made!
A medium-heavy pick is not super common, there are some out there, many are not celluloid though. We are talking about a pick that is around .80 mm, or a little more or less. That tiny amount of difference from Medium or Heavy gives you something that still flexes a touch, but is firm and can yield a better tone.
And feel is another benefit of this gauge pick. You can manage strumming as well as quick leads, double-stops, melodies, all manner of movements work well with it.
This is truly a classic pick, a really important one. D’andrea was at the beginning of pick-making and even Fender uses some of their picks to re-brand from what I’m told.
I do so love this pick, much to my surprise actually. I had almost given up on finding a celluloid Plec that I really liked. I’ll say this: I’m sure glad I persisted and kept my mind open, despite some assumptions, like many guitarists tend to do.
It just goes to show you, don’t make your mind up until you are familiar with something. The only way you might find out if you will also love this pick is to get some. Ask your music dealer to carry them. And search for other brands that are medium-heavy. For me, it’s sort of the Goldilocks zone for much of what I do.
The pick is a standard 351 shape, labeled with the D’andrea label and MH on it. MH for Medium-Heavy is the obvious meaning of the label.
You will find that the tone is not at all different than a heavy Celluloid, it’s full and thick sounding, but there is that slight touch of brightness and clicky-click that is nice at times.
As you strum, it does flex, just enough, not much, so the pick stays in your fingers. And you can jump right into melodies as your hybrid playing calls for.
Speaking of hybrid, I think this would be a great pick for a hybrid picker/pluck-er.
The plectrum is a dark brown with just a touch of the clear yellow waves in it of a dense Celluloid Pick imitating a Tortoiseshell.
I wouldn’t be surprised if many 60’s rockers did actually use a pick like this, I don’t know what George Harrison used, but I’ll bet if I asked him in Heaven what he thinks of this pick, he’d likely think it’s good for his sound. But then again, is betting allowed in Guitar Heaven?
This is one of a few Holy Grail-type picks. You will have to try it, that’s all I can really say.
I use it with moistened fingers and it stays put using my new way of holding picks as described on my intro/home page.
Now I’m not saying that this pick obviates the reason to own other picks!
No, nope, not at all, you may still want some heavy, super heavy, some light, or some non-351 shapes, you will want to complement this pick with others, but this is a good pick for intermediate players. While beginners might start off with light and medium celluloid and nylons, as they grow, this pick will be a natural progression for them. And for pros, this might be one of their main go-to picks.
I would go so far as to plead with other makers to start producing this gauge pick in Celluloid and similar materials such as Casein. This might also be wonderful in a Realeaux Shape.
I could go on and on about how much I enjoy this pick, but really I just have to say, if you are a real player, give this one a try and let me know what you think.
The Specs:
| Material | Attack Tone | Decay Tone |
| Standard Celluloid, the original | Thick yet warmly bright | Just a touch of click with resonance |
| Durability/Wear | Comments/Dimensions | Shape |
Good wear, but will pare down with playing | THE standard 351 pick 76.5 H Hardness | Original 351 TradeMark |
| Grip and Feel | Flexibility | Likely Use |
| With the right hold, a moderately good grip/ great feel | Just the right flex for a near-heavy pick | Strumming, even on acoustic, electric picking, hybrid picking, all of it |
| Thickness | Width and Height | Resonance |
| .81mm | Shoulder 26.3mm, 30.8 back to tip | Rich almost like a thick Celluloid |
| Tip Style | Bevel? | Approx. Cost |
| Standard rounded with moderate point | N/A, too thin for one | A batch might cost you 15 bucks US |
Coming next? This is a difficult choice to make as I’ve built a fairly large collection, and I’ve still only started. I have perhaps 200 different picks to talk about but Next I might go into something described as being “ceramic”.
Now it’s time to get back to studying and practicing and taking photos for some future submissions. And, about my photos, I don’t have pro gear, I hope you find the images tolerable and helpful.
Stay tuned, I’ve got a great deal to talk about and even more to show and share with you. Rock On!
Read about Celluloid Picks Here. Go back to the Home page here. Visit our Welcome Page here.
Now I ask YOU, do you prefer Celluloid plectrums? Why? What will you do when they disappear, as some expect to happen?
