l2t - Posted - 08/13/2024:  06:16:26

I noticed the National metal finger picks come in stainless, nickel, and brass. Can anyone comment on whether the material makes a difference in feel or sound and if so, how they differ?

docslyd - Posted - 08/13/2024:  07:21:44

Yup and yup. Find a set that you like for comfort, security and tone. You’ll have to try them yourself.

JC Dobro - Posted - 08/13/2024:  07:59:34

Many here will swear they cannot tell a difference in tone.

I swear I CAN tell a difference, especially between stainless steel and brass.

In summary…

Brass - warmer/mellow, pliable, softest (less durable)

Stainless steel - bright/sharp, durable, slick (if polished)

Nickel - slightly less bright than stainless. Pliable (but not as soft as brass).

National makes very affordable fingerpicks. IMO your best option is to try all 3 to see which sounds best on your axe and to your ears.

resotom - Posted - 08/13/2024:  09:16:59

I use all three depending on which reso I am using at the time...

docslyd - Posted - 08/13/2024:  11:15:23

I believe that those who swear they cannot tell a difference, are correct in that, they cannot tell a difference. I have found that, what Jamie says is pretty close to what I hear with one exception. I have found the ACRI brass picks to be very durable and long-lasting, much more than brass picks I have previously used.

JC Dobro - Posted - 08/13/2024:  14:48:56

If I were the OP and only ordering one set for starters, I’d go for the nickel - that seems to be a good middle ground (moderately bright tone, still pliable…).

One other thing I notice about my brass vs. nickel picks (ProPiks), is the pick noise against the strings.

For me, the nickel “clicks” slightly more, while the brass imparts an ever-so-slight, barely audible squeak/chirp. I need to really listen closely to hear this…but it’s there.

YMMV.

WGale - Posted - 08/14/2024:  15:57:23

Some people say it makes no difference. I like the mellower tone of the Acri brass.

tomkatb - Posted - 08/14/2024:  17:40:06

In the Acri picks I used the brass for years. Bought a set of stainless.

For me it is a big difference. Never put the stainless ones on a second time.

I think folks are like me and tried a bunch.

miktavus - Posted - 08/15/2024:  01:12:25

I use a brass Propik on my index finger and a nickel silver on my middle finger, so I know they will always fit, and I can't discern any difference in tone. Both are softer alloys than steel, and perhaps broadly the same hardness ,so perhaps that may explain it. Surely a more pertinent question would be do they sound different from the thumb pick, which is invariably some type of plastic? Just throwing that in :-)

Mike

JC Dobro - Posted - 08/15/2024:  18:39:26

Fair point on the plastic thumb picks.

Here’s how I think about this.

If I use a metal thumb pick and 2 stainless steel fingerpicks, my overall attack is brighter.

If I use a blue chip (thermo-plastic?) thumbpick and 2 brass fingerpicks (which is what I do…), my overall sound is a bit warmer.

If I mix and match (say, blue chip for thumb, one nickel fingerpick and one brass fingerpick), I can’t tell the difference when playing 3-finger rolls at 120 bpm…lol.

Incidentally, in my experience, string type and picking position make a bigger contribution to “warmness vs brightness” - but that wasn’t the question posed in the original post.

YMMV.