5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not Quite Christ in Pick Form, March 5, 2008
This review is from: Jellifish Chorus Guitar Pick (Standard)
The three instructional/promotional videos on the Jellifish website all conclude with the specious prediction that the Jellifish "may just make guitar picks obsolete."
To anyone with a pulse, this should sound like hyperbole, and with good reason: it is. I can only hope that was the original intent of the statement.
For the uninitiated who happened to stumble upon this page, the Jellifish is a guitar pick that eschews the traditional flat, pointed edge of the traditional plectrum in favor of 18 "tines" of varying length. The idea is that these 18 tines strike each string individually, creating a "chorus" effect akin to a 12-string guitar. As an owner of both a 12-string guitar and a Jellifish pick, I can say that the contrast between the two sounds is stark, the latter being considerably less choruslike. Jellifish promotional material also alleges that the pick can simulate the sound of a bowed instrument and a hammered string, but each of these sounds is roughly as convincing as its 12-string imitation.
What the Jellifish CAN do is provide a warmer, more passive sound. The tines on the Jellifish are thin and delicate (so delicate that the packaging on the back cautions that "[a] feather-like touch is recommended when using the Jellifish"), and produce a mildly different, less abrasive sound than a normal pick -- however, the difference is subtle, to be sure. The other thing that the Jellifish offers is a sweeping sound that provides a nice additional percussive effect to the strumming and plucking of strings, but could also be seen as pretty irritating.
Overall, the marketing of the Jellifish grossly exaggerates the potential of the poor thing. I paid $10 for it in the hopes that it would sound significantly different from any other pick I'd ever used. Anyone who pays that price for a Jellifish, with the same hopes that I had, will probably be decidedly underwhelmed. Regardless, it DOES have some actual token uses. However, it seems fair to say that the Jellifish is not going to be supplanting the regular old pick anytime soon.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
My Favorite Xmas Present, January 2, 2006
This review is from: Jellifish Chorus Guitar Pick (Standard)
Hello! I just got this new device for Christmas. I had never seen one before, but I guess they've been around for a while. Well, let me just say that this is the best gift I got this year even though it only came in my stocking. I have had more fun with the Jellifish than with anything else I got this year -- I'm just fascinated that this little guy can change your tone so big! Anywho, I would say that it's definitely not for beginners. You need to be a real player to understand how to use it. Why didn't somebody come out with something like this a long time ago is what I'm wondering! Is there a user group for sharing tips and licks?
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
nothing to write home about !, January 22, 2007
This review is from: Jellifish Chorus Guitar Pick (Standard)
The Jellifish is no replacement for a twelve string guitar. You can not play it fast, it is fragile, and the tone is scratchy. That being said it can be used to make some interesting sounds for color in rhythm and slow lead playing. It is not something I would use often. My 1.00 mm Clayton feels and sounds great after after a few minutes of playing the Jellifish. After one hour of use the Jellifish is starting to show signs of wear and tear. So don't say you weren't warned.
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