Pick Dust

[bloodstyle]

yeah well i was playin on my guitar... then i noticed that the pick was actually makin dust on pi pups and in the middle of my guitar... so i was annoyed by it and cleaned it... but again it still making dust and it's really disturbing... does anyone have a tips so that the pick doesnt make dust?

[Dark Alone]

Finger pick.

[bloodstyle]

XD right. but it does not give the same tone :P

[KH Guitar Freak]

It happens I guess, but if you clean your guitar after playing, there should be any dust...

Not to mention you need to wear your pick quite a bit to make pick dusts very noticeable IMHO...

[Bridge The Void]

What picks do you use? Chalk ones?

If you don't keep your guitars in cases when they're not being played, it might just be normal dust. On the pickups and under the strings tends to gather the most, since its a hard to reach area to clean when strings are on. This is always an annoyance to me...my black guitars get very dusty very quickly and my on white guitar dirt shows up really easily...

[ESPVIPERCAMO]

fender picks

[halo71]

Not to mention you need to wear your pick quite a bit to make pick dusts very noticeable IMHO...


I agree! Never heard of this being an issue. I am 36, been playing since 14.

[JonCurcio]

I get plenty of pick dust as well. It's really not a big deal. I just keep a paint brush handy (soft type, for acryclics and oils and such) and brush off the dust.

[Dark Alone]

I don't have a problem with pick dust. Just clean your guitars. The way I play, with lots of speed picking and galloping, I scrape the fuck out of my picks. Just gotta keep your gear maintained.

[Azrael416]

Just clean your guitar after you play and oil up the fret board once a month.

[bloodstyle]

well i think the tips is just... cleaning :P. my guitar is black so it's easy to see the dust.. and that happen only when i play hard riff with smooth pick (which give me a faster attack) but... what about that oil? is it very important and what it does?

[Azrael416]

I use this
http://www.mitros-music.com/images/products/3125.jpg

and This
http://www.guitarslinger.co.uk/images/dunlop65L.jpg
Fretboard 65 Ultimate Lemon Oil Introducing Fretboard 65 Ultimate Lemon Oil—the latest addition to Dunlop’s world-famous line of guitar care products and the logical evolution of the 01 Fingerboard Cleaner and 02 Fingerboard Deep Conditioner. Fretboard 65 is specially formulated to clean away grime and return your guitar’s fretboard to its original luster, quickly and easily. Apply a thin coating using Dunlop’s Dab-O-Matic applicator top, work the gunk free, and wipe clean. It’s that simple. And once the dirt is gone, Fretboard 65 will help keep it away by providing an invisible sealant against stains and moisture. Player tested, tech approved—Fretboard 65 Ultimate Lemon Oil will clean up the mess that the music business leaves behind.

[JonCurcio]

It's fine to oil a few times a year (every month sounds excessive), just don't overdo it. For pick dust there isn't a need to use any substance on the guitar -- just brush it off.

[bloodstyle]

ok well. thanks guys ^^

[Azrael416]

It's fine to oil a few times a year (every month sounds excessive), just don't overdo it. For pick dust there isn't a need to use any substance on the guitar -- just brush it off.

Your right, I have the desire to do it every month but I do it every other month with a string change.

Ah Fuck it, I'll just come clean. I do it every three months or so cause I'm a lazy bastard

[Bridge The Void]

Oiling the fretboard too much can leave a filmy residue on the fretboard which makes it look a bit duller...

I only oil the board on a new purchase or if I think the board is looking a bit dry or light in colour. I think over the past couple of years, I've only oiled the fretboard once or twice on all my guitars.

[Choppychunks]

That is why Kirk wears tape on his hand. He actually has the tape turned sticky-side out to catch the pick dust before it hits the pick-ups. This has been his secret for years and is really quite innovative....:hat

[idpmofo]

That is why Kirk wears tape on his hand. He actually has the tape turned sticky-side out to catch the pick dust before it hits the pick-ups. This has been his secret for years and is really quite innovative....:hat

:lol:lol

[JoeBender]

That is why Kirk wears tape on his hand. He actually has the tape turned sticky-side out to catch the pick dust before it hits the pick-ups. This has been his secret for years and is really quite innovative....:hat

LOL, that's awesome.

But yeah, maybe just get some new picks? I use green Dunlop tortexes and I've never had a problem with those flaking off... really doesn't sound like a big deal though, I would just wipe it off when changing strings.

To the guy who suggested using a brush... just curious, do you actually keep a cleaning brush on hand when you play guitar so that it won't get dusty? :|

[JonCurcio]

.

To the guy who suggested using a brush... just curious, do you actually keep a cleaning brush on hand when you play guitar so that it won't get dusty? :|

I don't "keep it on hand" as in always having one nearby. I don't think pick dust is an emergency that requires that sort of thing. I do have some brushes around (used to paint in art school) that I'll grab and use to brush off dust if I notice quite a bit. This may happen every month or so, but not every time I play.

[TaoZen]

Part of what you may think of as pick dust is likely skin cells...

[Miguel]

Try dunlop ultex picks. They are great and I'm sure they will eliminate ur problem.

[Stephy]

Part of what you may think of as pick dust is likely skin cells...

dude! thats would be an assload of skin cells. You can't see epithelial cell when they slough off. I mean... you can see dead skin, but not the cells.
Unless they are a very large group of them... hmm... I dunno. Sounds strange.

I do not have this dust problem you speak of.

[Sidivan]

Pick dust happens.

In about my 3rd year in playing my buddy comes to me and says, "I finally figured it out. The dust on my pickups is pick dust. It shreds off from these Fender California Clears when I play metal."

Switch to Dunlop Tortex.

[JonCurcio]

It isn't skin cells. I use red Dunlop gels and the dust is pink. I look at the picks and they're chewed up.

[Mr Pigwalk]

Here's 5 years worth of pick dust and dead skin for ya.

Switch to Dunlop Tortex.

And that's what I use :)

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s320/pigwalk/11%2014%2007%20rehearsal/PB140162.jpg

[ScaryGuy]

wow...