Customer Reviews

Jellifish Chorus Guitar Pick (Standard)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

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.

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?

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.

I was shocked at the different sounds this thing makes. After just a few minutes the chorus sound was totall amazing, like a nice fluid bright 12 string, totally a cool toy for $10

For the cost, this is one of the most expensive picks around. Of course, it is dynamic, but it falls short of the its acclaimed ability to reproduce 12-string and chorus effects. The sounds you can get from this thing are pleasing and otherworldly. However, I can't justify paying more than four dollars for it, especially since mine broke after a couple weeks of use.

Its a fun thing to play around with, but buy one at a store, don't pay the full price and THEN shipping. I really don't think the Jellyfish is worth $15.

The only song I know with a 12-string electric in it is Rush's Xanadu, so I let 'er rip. Sounded good. I had alot of fun playing around with it. However, after an hour or so of goofing around I noticed two things that really ticked me off. Firstly, the outer tines had already broken. The tines look like a wound steel guitar string, but the core is very brittle. They didn't completely fall off, they just hung there like limp whatevers. Secondly, the plastic p'up cover and pick guard looked like they had been scrubbed with a wire brush. I can easily fix those, but I wonder what such an abrasive pick will do to the strings if I play it alot. It looks like you can only strum on the down stroke. Videos of the jellyfish website confirm this. The problem is you're going against the grain on the upstroke and it catches on the strings. How much fun is it to only play down strokes? It's kind of hard grasp, too. It needs a thumb dimple.

I'm going to make one using more flexible wound guitar stings to see if its any better.

If you've got $10 to blow, go ahead and get one.

The jellifish breaks easily even if you are careful and read the instructions. It is so delicate it is rendered nearly unusable and is therefore impractical.
Its metal tines could also easily scratch the finish on your expensive guitar whether your finish is wood or metal. It is an interesting idea but it really should be made with stiff plastic tines, or if metal the tines should be made with tougher material that won't break, but how could they sell more then?

Wish I had read the reviews here before dropping the 10 bucks. Feels like playing with a hacksaw blade. Esteban should be selling this thing on infomercials. Cheesh.

You know how when a regular pick hits your strings, you can hear the sound of it hitting the string, then after it releases and the string reverberates you hear a note? Well imagine hearing 15 picks hit the string before the string produces music. And the 15 picks are made of coiled wire.

I can't imagine a worse sound or feeling.

I purchased this pick with an e-bow because I was wanting to conjure some new sounds from my guitar. I wasn't expecting it to be amazing or anything, but at least usable.

The jellyfish is basically composed of 15 or 20 wound guitar strings (around the gauge of the average D string) which are cut at an angle. It sounds like it might be cool to work with, but don't be misled. When they cut the strings it left a melted metal barb almost that you are supposed to strum with which gets stuck on the strings and I'm sure will scratch your guitar's finish if you aren't accurate. All in all its very uncomfortable to play with and probably reduces the life of your strings considerably. Additionally, the sounds you can get (they include a pamphlet with some techniques) aren't impressive in the least.

Now, if they were to take this same idea and instead use nylon strings I would be interested in giving it another try. Until then, this has been wasted money for me as this product is complete trash.