Brass & Copper Picks! - Iron Age Guitar Accessories

Today on The Pick I'm checking out a couple of metal picks from Iron Age guitar accessories - one brass and one copper. These picks have a regular shape to them with a slightly widened top, and feature engravings which look like they could have been found on a dusty Roman road in the early AD's. Unfortunately these engravings have been coloured in with what looks like sharpie pens in a very rough fashion which slightly spoils the look for me.

The tone of both of the metal picks is unique but definitely usable. The brass pick is tonally very bright, but this can be tamed by changing your picking dynamics. Playing softer reveals a very sweet tone, retaining the clarity of the brightness but very well balanced.

The copper pick is audibly warmer than the brass but still has the same top end sheen. Again I much preferred the tone of the pick when playing delicately, something which took some conscious effort as the weight of these metal picks definitely seems to encourage heavier playing which can soon become scratchy.

As well as featuring engraving to aid with the grip of the plectrum, both picks are slightly concave, leaving a rounded dip for your thumb to rest. It also states on the Iron Age website that the copper pick has a natural benefit in it's oxidation, which increases it's grip. Oxidation is a process which effects metals which react to contact with oxygen, most notably iron which rusts, so there could be some discolouration of the pick with time. It seems Iron Age are stating this "natural benefit" to cover their tracks, but I quite like the discolouration on mine!

Iron Age also suggest on their website that these picks work well for bass guitar or mandolin. I found that on bass guitar both picks added a lot of top end to the sound, which in some cases is desirable, and also increased the overall volume of the bass. I wasn't so keen using these picks for mandolin, as I found that they were too scratchy - I much prefer softer picks for mandolin as it can become too harsh and brittle sounding.

Overall I have really enjoyed trying out these metal picks. Whilst they aren't the sort of plectrum to would reach for as I walk out the door to go and play a gig, they could come in useful in the studio where a variety of textures and tones are required. It is worth pointing out that some guitarists favour metal picks, such as Brian May who famously uses a sixpence.

Remember to follow The Pick on social media and subscribe to get notified when new posts are made - all the links are in the sidebar.

Also check out the other Iron Age pick reviews here:

Exotic Wood Picks

Coconut Shell & Macassar Ebony Spearheads

Carbon Fibre?!

Stone Picks!