D'Addario National Celluloid Thumb Picks Medium Tortoiseshell, 4-Pack

Exactly what I needed

Another example of a company taking something that really works and screwing it up. I've been trying to replace several National, size "small" thumbpicks, to no avail. (Photo of the original included.) Evidently, D'addario has purchased the name and is now making the pick. So, They stopped making the small altogether. The next available size is "medium", but it's not just a size larger. The original National brand small was actually a nice, streamlined pick, not quite delicate, but more refined. The actual pick aspect was thinner and more subtle, while the thickness was closer to 73mm. Though a size small, it fit my medium size thumb better, more securely. A pleasure to play with. The new "improved" D'addario "National" is clunky, with a noticeably heavier thickness...at least a 1mm. The protruding part of the pick is shaped differently, wider and more pointy, and protrudes even more at a different angle. The wrap-around part is much larger and wraps almost to touching the pick which for me increases the chance of catching it on a string while playing. It just doesn't fit well. As any guitar player understands, even a small thing like a pick can dramatically influence one's playing style. The original National S (for small) was perfect for mine. The new one, not so much.

A guitar pick is a personal choice - especially a thumb pick. These fit OK but the edge of the thumb pokes out and catches strings. Not good.

For years I have always ordered Medium size thumb picks from the same company. But this time they were unavailable so i selected this brand. I was surprised that the thumb wrap was too long (first photo) and extended almost to the edge of my thumb. The pick kept pulling the strings as I played and it was extremely annoying. I had to trim to wrap to the edge of my thumb nail in order to keep the pick from pulling a string.

Bought these because I was looking for a shorter blade thumb pick. Bought M because my Dunlop are M. These are between the L and XL Dunlop thumb picks, so I'm going to be returning them. The quality is also mediocre in general.

My favourite thumb picks. I am glad to have a multipack. They don’t last forever, but they are high quality, and will sound great.

Fits well and sounds brighter than modern plastic. Not flexible, more like a Fender “heavy”.

Good picks

These picks feel really comfortable but don't fit my thumb as tight as I'd like. In addition to this, the end of the pick that wraps over the thumb sticks out, getting in the way of strings. The sound that these picks produce sounds muted to me, which some people might describe as being warm. I'd recommend getting hold of Dunlop Ultex instead, as they don't have any of these problems, or any that I've noticed after months of use.

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