Bevel Bedeviled

[Special K]

Hi all,

Can you please clear up my bevel bewilderment?

Do you prefer your guitar picks with or without bevels and why?

Thanks,
Kevin

[cliff_the_stiff]

Prefer with the bevel.
I like thicker picks, the “speed bevel” improves (softens) the sound of the string strike- The string tone is better and I can flat pick faster and it sounds better when using bevelled picks.
It’s the only type of pick I will use.

[LFL Steve]

I slightly prefer the sound of picks without bevels, and I like thick heavy picks. But my new favorite pick -- favorite because it is made of a stiff material and because it has a raised molded texture that helps me grip it -- has beveled edges. So far I'd say it's worth the tradeoff overall, but if the only question is beveled not, I'd pick not.

[jaymarsch]

I prefer no bevel, especially on my casein picks. That way, the pick develops its own bevel based in my particular playing style. Vespel doesn’t wear much but rounded is just fine. I like the edge polished but not beveled.
Best,
Jayne

[musicman1951]

I prefer beveled, much faster/cleaner for me.

[sinistral]

Originally Posted by cliff_the_stiff

Prefer with the bevel.
I like thicker picks, the “speed bevel” improves (softens) the sound of the string strike- The string tone is better and I can flat pick faster and it sounds better when using bevelled picks.
It’s the only type of pick I will use.

I’m in the same camp. My favorite picks range in thickness from 1.4mm to 1.8mm, and I find that a speed bevel reduces “pick click” and, by simulating pick wear, glides off the strings more smoothly. With ultra-hard materials like vespel (Blue Chip, Charmed Life, etc.), the picks won’t wear on their own, so it’s either have the pick maker do it, or do it yourself (with a fine file, etc.). Given pick makers’ tooling, I find it’s much simpler to just order the picks with a bevel.

Charmed Life sells blemished picks at a discount, but with all the talk about factory-reliced or distressed guitars, perhaps Scott should sell pre-beveled, blemished picks at an upcharge. Make them look like they’ve been in someone’s wallet for a year.

[Special K]

Hi all,

I've seen comments about folks who prefer picks with or without bevels here and there in pick threads. But I haven't seen just one thread devoted to that topic. So that's why I posted this thread.

Thank you everyone for sharing your insights. They are very helpful.

Kevin

[Bridgepin]

I prefer a bevel on my picks, but I do that myself and polish out the bevel.

Silly Mustache has made a great video on how to do this....Thanks for the video Silly