From the embers, the stuff rings are made of, and the stuff stockings are made of. The Pickboy Carbon Nylon .60 Pick, a wife’s dream, or a poor idea for a pick? Chose your picks and wife(s) wisely (yeah, I know, they choose us, we don’t choose them guys!)
>>>Edits at end of the review, please note!
Today’s review is both one of good impression and disappointment.
The Pickboy Carbon Nylon .60 Pick is named the “Edge”; I’m reviewing the model made with carbon and nylon at .50mm. It is represented on the site to be 0.60mm, however. You are already wondering, why would I object to a very innovative pick, one that plays pretty well and feels good if you like Jazz III picks, this one being just a touch larger.
The answer, on my guitars, I get a static crackle whenever the grounded strings or bridges or pickups are touched by the pick. In the studio, this could be a huge problem. Live, people wouldn’t know better I suppose. It is because of the carbon material, not the guitar’s wiring, it happens on several of my guitars. It’s just a slight tick or a grinder tone.
The Pickboy Carbon Nylon .60 Pick feels good as thin hard picks go, it stays put as well as any stiff pick of small size, being that it has a highly textured embossing on it on both sides. It’s also a unique size and a moderately different shape, as you will see in the photos.
A company in Japan makes/markets the Pickboy brand, Osiamo Music Gear. Our dear friends on the grand islands of Japan are great craftsmen and innovators. Their skill and devotion to detail are widely hailed. The craftsmanship of this pick is excellent*, but that darned ticking sound? They also have the same shape in a PEI/Ultem selection. You might want to opt for that if shape is the key for you:
Here is the maker.
It’s shorter than a 351 pick, and closer to a 451 pick, but shaped differently, with an almost sharp tip and quite rigid give.
There is a perceptible flex except with a firmer hand. I would actually say that the flex on this pick is pretty much *ideal*, there is just enough of it to make a difference. But the memory of the material is fast to the flex, meaning you should be able to shred some with these. You can even strum with it, though it’s not suited, in my opinion, for a flat top or nylon stringed guitar. It might tear up the finish of the wood.
*It is 25.11mm wide and 27.01mm long, end to tip.
The tip thickness on mine is not .60mm, but .44mm, the grip end is ~.90mm though. And in between the grip and the tip, it’s closer to .50mm. Yes, Japanese crafting, but not according to spec. But that’s a good thing because the flex is just right for me. So while the pick is mislabeled, it’s a happy accident because I like it just as it is. Except for the crackle, uh.
The Durometer measures Shore D of 45, which is very soft on the outside. This is wild, because it’s an almost firm pick, regardless.
| Material | Attack Tone | Decay Tone |
| Carbon and Nylon | Surprisingly thick | Mid hump |
| Durability/Wear | Comments/Dimensions | Shape |
| Will wear better than Celluloid worse than Acrylic | Shore D hardness of 45, pin goes almost all the way through | Short/Wide Between Jazz III and #451 but larger |
| Grip and Feel | Flexibility | Likely Use |
| Thin feel Good grip | A touch of flex when playing With great memory can be easily flexed with hand | Jazz, Speed and Math Rock, Shredding you name it |
| Thickness | Width and Height | Resonance |
| .050mm middle, tip .045mm | Woody, plasticity | Woody, plasticy |
| Tip Style | Bevel? | Approx. Cost |
| Short but sharp | N/A | $9 for 10 PCs. Plus shipping from Japan |
The feel of the Pickboy Carbon Nylon .60 Pick is not quite like anything else.
As I search the landscape of picks that I’ve tried, non of the others are quite like this. In one instance, you might think, gee, almost a metallic feel but then you’d snap back at yourself and yell: “Not so fast kiddo, this is NYYYYLONNN” It’s just, erm, different, and for some ladies and gents, it’s different in a good way, but I’d pass this one over unless you are looking for something different and a little unfamiliar, and possibly magical.
This pick reminds me of a lot of my past lovers, it’s pretty cool, but I’m not going to marry it, I’m good with my current choice, leave this for the rich executive with the blond fetish…
But I jest. This ain’t blond, and it ain’t no love, it’s just a, well, ahem, a damned pick and how much can you make out of a simple old pick, I ask you, seriously? Like, dude, a website about stupid guitar picks? What are you drinking? And now you are talking about a hard carbon pick with soft nylon, what is going on with you buddy?
Hah hah hah, I have to laugh at myself for my site here, but I hope, seriously, that I help others with this site and entertain. And, by the way, no, I don’t go for blonds, I never understood the fascination with them, sorry ladies! But blondes are ok, I suppose, they are people too, and if they play guitar, oh yeah, yessir!
OK, so here’s my personal take on it:
If I had a large boom for my mic on stage and I kept, say 4 or 5 different picks, this one might very well go on there for a song or two. But it wouldn’t do for an entire set and the clicking is just annoying. A good noise filter might fix that, I guess. I guess, but who knows?
For me, this darned diamond-hearted plucking tool is both wow and eah, neah.
I apologize, I know you come here for a definitive story to help you. I will try:
It’s stiff but does flex when you try to bend it. It has a pleasant mid-humped tone. When you drop it on a table, it has a wooden/plastic snap as it drops. It’s small but not a Jazz III or 451, maybe a touch larger in width, but short yet pointy, which is very different. Did I mention the Pickboy Carbon Nylon .60 Pick sounds pretty good? Except for them, ahem, scratchy clicky sounds?
One thing to note, this is nothing like a carbon fiber pick, not nearly as sharp or brutal, but the carbon does harden it somewhat. Nevertheless, like a carbon fiber pick, it clicks and crackles electrically on your strings, caveat emptor.
I would say, if you are a novice, skip this one, if you are a pro who hunts tone and is still searching for the “right feel”, this might be just for you!
>>>Some follow-up notes: I tried this pick on a friend’s guitar on their amp in a house circuit with good ground. I know that the ground where I play my guitars is iffy, but I’m a renter and can’t do anything about it. Well, do note that if you have decent ground, the scratchy-clicky noise with be minimal or nonexistent.<<<<
Now, as to unique picks, the next one will be just as unique, so when I get “a-round-tuit” you will see me come full circle. OK, you already guessed, didn’t you?
Ok, so, now, how about you guys? Do you ever buy acoustic or electric guitar picks from Japan? What Japanese or other nation’s picks do you like or hate?