Rudi

There are 8 bevels (2 for each edge). There's more radial blending where they intersect. When the geometry is right, its buffed to a fine satin finish. Just enough so that when it draws over the string there is a hint of white noise. A polished finish usually produces 'chirps'.

Yes but dont forget you still have to make them. That asquare one took nearly 3 hours

Its an experimental pick. The perspex sheet I got is 300 x 300mm so enough for 30+ more picks. buying small quantities is hard. It wasnt too expensive. About £12 or so? Its supposed to be 5mm thick but I measured it as 4.77 with a micrometer. I prefer thick picks for sound and handling these days. Some of my favourite picks are perspex. V-Picks and also Gravity are perspex & fairly expensive to buy. I will probably revert to making tri-point picks in a week or 2.

I posted this on the Gibson Forum also and took more picks in response to a request. They are here.

Great news.

I finished making this pick today. Its made out of one of my preferred pick materials, perspex. As I usually use tri-shapes, I thought I'd try a quad-shape. The meet angle of most tri-shapes is close to 90 degrees anyway. The main difference (apart from an extra contact point) is straight line profiles rather than curves. It makes a difference in use, though not a major one. Resized to 80% (was 1200 x 1600) - Click image to enlarge Resized to 60% (was 1600 x 1200) - Click image to enlarge Some of you know that I have spent a small fortune on picks over the last few years (could have paid for another guitar). One of the main things I've learned is that it takes a long time to evaluate a pick properly. I can tell if a guitar is any use within 30 seconds. A pick takes about 20 hours. So I'll be using this exclusively for at least a week.

That is very nice. People love attention. Kids cant hide it.

As for Jesus. When I was a Christian I never thought of Jesus as god. Presumably all those ugly people were deliberately made that way if you attribute such things to a deity. I suppose there has to be ugly people to give your good looks validity. Looks are always comparitive.

Confidence is fine. Arrogance is an important step beyond confidence. Its what my mother used to describe as 'being full of your own self importance'. Self confidence provides you with an optimistic outlook within your peer group and society in general. Arrogance assumes superiority. You can find ways to justify it, but others probably will never truly view you as superior to them. Self confidence asserts your entitlement to your opinion. Arrogance assumes that everyone is entitled to your opinion.

Yes I think I concur with all of that

'My Name is Buddy' Ry Cooder album. Its folksie, political and blunt, except of course for when its not. Buddy is a working class ginger tomcat in a depression setting. His dearest pal is a mouse 'Lefty'. The cat & mouse thing seems a way of addressing a class & race devide. Its on louder than usual due to air conditioner white noise. Its hot today. Too hot to work or spend too long outside.

You cant back down now man. We expect a molar solo!

The reverb part Do you need cavities to obtain that reverb Tom? If so, how do you have both cavities and fills?

It would make quite an impact if you could play a fill. Thats my impression anyway.

My ex & her husband are into vinyl. I still have hundreds of vinyl albums at my old house. They have not been played in many a year though. CDs are giving way to digital downloads, just as vinyl is becoming attractive to some people again. Not me though. Other than nostalgia, vinyl is of little interest to me.

I took early retirement by means of voluntary redundancy today. The consultation was last Thursday and my employment ended today. Said my goodbyes to some great workmates and took all my 'stuff' home. It looks weird. All this stuff that doesn't belong in the house is here. Not just tools & books, but works mug, cutlery and tea caddy etc. I've worked with some of these fellows for more than 30 years. Its pretty emotional, and leaving is a bittersweet experience. I will meet up with most of them in a weeks time anyway for a dinner. Another retiree, from a month ago, will be there too. I don't ever expect to set my alarm for 6.am again. Nor work 12 hours in a day. There is plenty to do at home. All the stuff I tried to do but never finished. In fine weather I will be out trying to sort out the garden. When its inclement, I'll be inside decorating. When I dont want to work, I'll indulge in my music. Outside I'll continue (with more regularity) both my karate & dance classes. That will get me out 4 times a week. I hope to meet up with family & friends more regularly as well. I have engaged an independent financial adviser to look into my pension options. I met with a couple of them, but this one was recommended to me and he's been helpful already. So many conflicting feelings right now. Happy, sad, excited, tired...

That seems like a good routine Mike. I absolutely identify with the quiet home 'performance' thing. One of the street singers, it may have been Rev. Gary Davis, said that busking was where you really learned your music. Obviously he meant communicating to the public. I doubt whether I will really busk myself, but I have seriously considered it. The Variax is a great choice too, along with its acoustic voices it must be the most versatile guitar ever.

It is principally the music. It was many years before I even bothered about listening to lyrics. Once I did, I wrote lyrics 1st, whereas before it was always music 1st. The music is always more important to me though. So method varies a lot. Lyrics in songs I like would have to include a lot of stuff by Elvis Costello & also Randy Newman.

Not lately. I have never gone out of my way to listen to Radiohead though a couple of songs do appeal. Nor have I seen much of Glastonbury on TV

about 50% of what I do

John, I will attempt to use some tags.

I it mostly comes down to stubbornness

Well I hope we've provided you with some motivation to stick it out now! Seriously, that sounds like a scary experience, but you have been thoroughly checked out now, and of course improvement is certainly possible, albeit slow. So chime in with a progress report when you can (Tom's depending on it).

Ray, Mikes reply was pretty much what I was after. He could have written a technical summary that would have told me nothing more. At 63 years of age, it delights me that someone senior to me is around!

that's an impressive piece of kit.