Customer Reviews

Alaska Pik Finger Guitar Pick Large

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a great invention! I smashed my thumbnail between a heavy door and the jam. The nail turned black. I had to cut it as low as possible and wait for a new nail to grow back. I play classical music and Flamenco. The thumb is very necessary.

I had to customize the Alaska pik by filing the top and carving an arch on the bottom. I now can play as well as with my natural thumbnail.I am very pleased with this product.

Alaska Piks are just excellent and are a lot different than other finger picks: the fleshy end of your fingers are exposed and are used to pluck the string, just as when you play with your fingers, without finger picks. The string is not plucked by the pick until you are ready to let go, just as when you pluck the string with your own fingernail when you are not using fingerpicks, just as you let go of the string.

This gives you very good control of the dynamics when picking: how long to hold the string, how far to bend it or how hard to pluck it. When you use old-fashioned curved fingerpicks that cover the whole end of your finger, the string "slides" against the curved part of the pick, and you have no "feel" for the string, and no control over how it is struck.

The picture on Amazon does not show it correctly. For one thing, there should be another pick on the index finger, and probably some kind of thumb pick. (I don't like or use the Alaska Pik thumb pick, but an ordinary thumb pick; to each his own.) But more importantly, the Amazon pick does not show that the players fingernail -- you at least need a little bit of fingernail to use these -- has to stick through the first slot and over the bottom part of the Pik. That is the front edge of the first section of the Pik strikes the strings, and the back edge of that web of the Pik goes under your nail. Now it works like an extension of your fingernail, except that it does not keep breaking on you!

Another misleading part of the Amazon photo is: the Pik does not appear to be trimmed. You need to trim these babies; otherwise they are too long to control well. I cut them and file them with fingernail clippers, so that they are just a tiny bit longer than my natural nails. Then, they are almost as nimble as naked fingers. While you are trimming them, if you find any spots where the edges dig into your finger or cuticle, just cut and file for comfort.

The Alaska Pik has a brass "spring" or backbone molded inside, so, you can tighten or loosen the fit around your finger by rolling the cylindrical shape a little tighter, or stretching it out a little more, and it has "memory" and will adjust the fit for the correct tightness around your finger.

You can drag the BACK of your nails down the strings "backhanded" with an Alaska Pik, too; try THAT with a regular fingerpick.

These nest inside each other (I use two for first two fingers) with the curved part of my thumbpick inside of them, to travel well, for example in your pocket. For a long time, the trimming was a bit different for my first and second finger, and I found it helpful to put one little Sharpie pen dot on the index finger Pik, and two dots on the second Pik, so I could tell them apart. I put the dots on the side of the Piks facing my face; easy to find, and they don't wear off. For some reason in the last couple years, the trim seems about the same, and I don't care which one goes on which finger, and I've given up marking them. But you might like that.

These Piks last a long time, but will break eventually, so have a few spares. It's good to buy more, so as to spread the $hipping charge$ out, anyway.

The Alaska Pik site has a guide for the correct size to order. Make sure you have the right size for your fingers before you invest in a lot of them. There are some stores where you can try them on, but the cheapest places to buy Piks are on-line. Remember to adjust the fit around your finger.

After you have them all fit and filed, -- they take a bit of getting used to. I don't ever want to go back to regular picks. Ellis Ralph

These are the best guitar finger picks I've ever owned. I've used flat picks of all shapes and sizes, and metal finger picks. These durable plastic picks sound the smoothest and very nearly similar to your own fingernails. Not hard on the fingers, and easy to take on and off. Although some basic fingernail growth is suggested to help keep them seated properly, there's no reason that it is required. I've played for hours using these, and with little, if any, noticeable discomfort. Keep up the good work.

These picks rely on having a healthy finger nail. Wearing one made my split nail worse. No good for flamenco strumming as catch the strings on the down stroke. If you damage your nails badly try Fred Kelly freedom picks.

I saw Sandra Bae performed with these at the Healdsburg Guitar Festival and had great effect, so I thought I'd give it a try. They do need some getting used to, but once there they improve your picking tone and prevent your nails from wearing.

My nails stopped growing for reasons unknown, jeopardizing over forty-five years of acquired quitar-playing skill. AlaskaPiks remedied that situation. See my youtube video "But One Shadow". Best, Tony Baker, Singer/Songwriter

I have all sizes of Alaskas now--none stay on my fingers. (I've picked for 42+ years, tried all the picks, polishes, hardeners, etc.--still looking.) Many other reviewers appear to love these things, so perhaps these are just what you're looking for--mine are in a drawer. Peace.

This is an interesting pick, and there is a certain adjusting needed to make it work correctly. Finger size is important so it will feel comfortable, yet do the job.

I love these picks. They are the only finger picks I have ever liked. I don't use them all the time, but it sure is nice to have them when needed.

The seller is very nice and honest too.