“Extra! EXTRA!, Read All About it: Twig Case Company makes a paper pick called ‘The Leaf’”
“here, son, right over here, what’s that you say, our paper is a pick? How can that be?
Yes indeed, a pick can be made out of paper, compressed and hardened paper. It is actually a building material, see here.
But WHY??? Why Does Twig Case Company make The Leaf Paper Pick? What is the point of it all? Why even review it? Inquiring minds wanna know. (OK, so maybe some don’t, but you have to admit, the Leaf Pick is a very curious and sort of neat idea.)
I’m including a video here for you to see how the material for the Twig Case Company Leaf Paper Pick is made.
As you have seen, special paper (from recycling) is made, prepped, filled with resin, and compressed under many tons of pressure. This yields a wood-like board called Richlite. The Twig Case Company Leaf Paper Pick is an actual Richlite Pick.
Additionally, some major instrument makers use Richlite also, Martin and Gibson are known to use it, and I believe my Hagstrom is made with it.
In guitars, its primary use is for the fretboard.
Imagine, I’ve been playing the Twig Case Company Leaf Paper Pick on a paper-topped guitar, Richlite on Richlite. It feels cool.
Yeah, that’s a question, how does the Twig Case Company Leaf Paper Pick feel?
Well, as seen in the photos here, it has a modified shape that takes from the traditional 351 pick and Adds a bulbous right shoulder to give the Leaf Pick an offset look. This helps with holding and controlling it, and it really works.
It works well enough that some other pick makers are also adopting the shape.
Yes, this is a flat pick and thick yet not too thick @ 1.47mm and it feels pretty good.
Now when it comes to wear, mine is showing the string nickel coating having transferred onto it.
With about 20 hours of playing on 2 different guitars There is the slightest wear on the down-stroke bevel of the Twig Case Company Leaf Paper Pick.
Nevertheless, the material is pretty durable and while not super cheap, it is an affordable product that you can depend upon for some pro use.
But a pro will ask, dude, ok, but how’s the freaking tone?
The Twig Case Company Leaf Paper Pick offers a mellow tone, but will still work for metal, it offers a thick-sounding attack and a warm release, and along with 60’s style all nickel strings, you will be transported to a time like being in Abbey Road with John, Paul, George, and Ringo.
I can’t do the tone justice with any weak attempt at describing it, but it’s woody and yet, not woody, there is an element of acrylic to the tone, and it has a scratch sound to it, it’s not a glasslike tone.
The things I love about this pick and where I want to try other models of it are the great tone for Jazz, and it being woodlike without some of the things I don’t like about my wood picks. It holds well and controls well.
But the Twig Case Company Leaf Paper Pick of Richlite is not a shredder’s pick. It’s good for songs that go from chord to melody and back again. Chording works on the thing!
When I drop it on my wooden table, I get a nice warm yet bright clack sound almost like a subdued dropped dime coin (a USA 10 cents piece).
At first, I didn’t understand the pick nor did I like it, but it has grown on me because of the sound it makes.
If these could be made more cheaply, I could imagine them superseding some other types of plectra.
If you have an instrument that is too bright for you, try this pick. Now, If you want a thump attack and warm release, use this pick. Do you shred, stick to a fine-tipped Acrylic or metal coin pick?
The Leaf has a dark brown milk chocolate color that, when you know Richlite, you see it right away, a shoe polish brown color. I think you’d almost want to eat it, and yes, it’s non-toxic, but I wouldn’t eat it if I were you, stick to your Mars Bars.
As far as this and all the other picks we discuss on this site, YMMV (your mileage may vary). I think I’ve given you a general idea of whether this is a buy or a no for you.
Ok now, what review would be worth something without specs?
Let’s see then. Here are the specs of the Twig Case Company Leaf Paper Pick of Richlite:
| Material | Attack Tone | Decay Tone |
Richlite, a Paper and Resin Product | Thick Thump | Warm and Harmonic |
| Durability/ Wear | Comments/ Dimensions | Shape |
fair | Shore D Duro- meter 86H | Offset 351 |
| Grip and Feel | Flexibility | Likely Use |
| In a word Good, very Good | Very lilttle | Range from Metal to Classical to 60’s rock |
| Thickness | Width and Height | Resonance |
1.47mm | 27.28×28.40mm | like a dime But wooden |
| Tip Style | Bevel? | Approx. Cost |
Braod semi fine tip | Rounded | $13.00 U.S. |
- Holds/Grips ****
- Plays (action) ****
- Sounds/Tones ****
- Looks/Appearance ***
- Collect-ability *****
- Difficulty ****
- Durability ***
- Cost **
- Availability **
- Like-ability ****
- Overall rating 70% (I’d even give it better than that, but those the the numbers…)
- Novices: Decent secondary starter
- Performers: Necessary for many, an essential
- Intermediates: Fun but limited scope
