The V-Pick Insanity Guitar Pick!!!

[V-Picks]

First of all, this is not just a sales post. It is one, of course, but there is more to this post than that.

I have been playing for the last two days with a V-Pick that I made a couple of weeks ago. It has been sitting here on my desk but I have not really paid much attention to it. Until yesterday. It is the Insanity. 9.75mm thick. That is almost 1/2"!!! It is just nuts! I made this one a bit different than I usually do. It has much pointier corners than the usual Insanity. They are usually made with corners like the Big Fattie but I decided to put Psycho corners on this one. I was asked to do it by a customer and I decided to make one for me.

Anyway, I picked it up yesterday and cannot put it down! It is incredibly fast, first of all. It sounds like you are hitting the strings as hard as you can, but I'm not doing so. I am actually playing a lot lighter than normal. Believe it or not, it is a very articulate pick. Very exact. It also makes an incredible rythym pick. Who would have guessed.

But the reason I cannot put it down is because I can see my playing technique progressing the past two days. No joke! Not a sales pitch! I have been playing much more relaxed, even more so than with my favorite V-Pick Large Rounded. My right hand feels like it can do anything. Actually, for some reason, this pick has put my right hand in sync more with my left hand. Not as much of a timing problem as I usually have. That is what I see mostly. I also like the slap effect it puts on the strings. This is probably what has made my hand so relaxed. Just the fact that I don't have to hit as hard to get that spank sound that I learned to love while playing my share of country in the 90's.

I am going to try this out when I play tomorrow with the band. I THINK it will be a good live pick but I am not sure. It may just turn out to be a practice pick, intended to make my playing better. I will soon find out. And if that is the case, I will just keep it here and use it for any and all of my practicing. I have heard of picks like this before but have never tried a practice pick.

I think this pick could be a good work-out tool. Much like putting weights on your ankles when running. I honestly do see myself doing things I could not do before. I am going to play this thing for a couple of weeks and see. It was a bugger getting used to. It took me about 10 minutes or so. But once I got the idea and feel of the pick, I was going for it.

I will let you know what I think about it live tomorrow. I am sure the guys will laugh at me for using it but what the heck.

Vinni

[jda]

:worthless

[V-Picks]

Yeah, you're right! Here's some pick porn for ya.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c357/VinniSmith/vpickinsanitynextto4-1.jpg

[james russell]

Yikes!!

[reentune]

I'm always ready to try your picks, Vinni.
The more varied ones, the better.
Every time I play a new V-Pick version I'm blown away, while at the same time I like all the other ones even more too.
Weird, huh?

[james russell]

Okay Vinni, How much, and how soon are they available.

Nevermind, I found them on your site.

James

[jazzandmetal?]

I have one, and it is indeed insane!

[muddy]

my god, it looks like a padded bicycle seat!


ml

[jda]

Holy Toledo. Are these available?

[V-Picks]

my god, it looks like a padded bicycle seat!


ml

:rotflmao

[cvansickle]

Looks like something I sat on after I had a certain surgery!

That's a darn big pick, ain't it? And I thought the Diamond was a thickster.

[Shredcow]

But the reason I cannot put it down is because I can see my playing technique progressing the past two days. No joke! Not a sales pitch! I have been playing much more relaxed, even more so than with my favorite V-Pick Large Rounded. My right hand feels like it can do anything. Actually, for some reason, this pick has put my right hand in sync more with my left hand. Not as much of a timing problem as I usually have. That is what I see mostly. I also like the slap effect it puts on the strings. This is probably what has made my hand so relaxed. Just the fact that I don't have to hit as hard to get that spank sound that I learned to love while playing my share of country in the 90's.

I agree with this. I have several psychos and my picking technique has definitely improved.

[V-Picks]

I used my Insanity on Sunday. The action was just too fast for me. I wanted to play everything fast!!! Way ahead of the beat. So I grabbed my Large Rounded and finished the day with that.

So, for me, the Insanity is a GREAT practice pick that did improve my playing with all the practicing I did with it. However, I prefer the Large Rounded for gigging. I am one that adheres to the saying "Just because you can play fast, it does not mean you should do so all the time".

I found that I really stretched out and played things more expressively at the gig. I found playing was much more effortlessly. I do believe it was from practicing with that Insanity.

Vinni

[Litsa]

Vinni,

I hope I am not hijacking your thread, but what about the Biggie Fattie....Ya think a petitte girl like me would benefit from it...I jump from the DIAMOND and then to my Large Rounded.....I dig the diamond a lot but I think the Biggie Fattie would be better because I like bigger picks...

Any thoughts??? No matter what I decieded I know I'll dig whatever I order from you....I LOVE em ALL!!!

[V-Picks]

Vinni,

I hope I am not hijacking your thread, but what about the Biggie Fattie....Ya think a petitte girl like me would benefit from it...I jump from the DIAMOND and then to my Large Rounded.....I dig the diamond a lot but I think the Biggie Fattie would be better because I like bigger picks...

Any thoughts??? No matter what I decieded I know I'll dig whatever I order from you....I LOVE em ALL!!!

Either the Big Fattie or the Psycho. The only difference is the psycho has pointed corners.

My answer is yes. I think the Big Fattie makes a great practice pick as well as a fantastic gigging pick. Not as extreme, of course as the Instanity. :D I do think, however, it would open up anyones playing to a different dimension, IF they would give it a go for just a bit.

Did you see Marc Cooper talk about the Big Fattie on the video shot of us at NAMM? It is on the front page of our website.

Vinni

[Litsa]

Oooh, I'll check out Marc's Video on your website... I'l more than likely the plug and will order a Big Fattie and also try a Psycho pick....

Thanks again Vinni!

[dorfmeister]

Recently received an Insanity with Psycho corners. The corners are not a whole lot sharper than on the big fatties and my colossal but it does have a bit of a different feel than those.

I like it.

I am not sure if it will replace the big fattie as my favorite v-pick but it is making me wonder if I should try a psycho.

[BluesForDan]

Yeah, you're right! Here's some pick porn for ya.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c357/VinniSmith/vpickinsanitynextto4-1.jpg

that thing on the right, isn't that one of the lenses from my glasses? :confused:

[V-Picks]

Looks like a coke bottle bottom to me....

[Litsa]

Well, I am going to order today...I LOVE THEM THICK PICKS and as much as I want to order both Pshcyo and Big Fattie....I'll go witht he BIG FATTIE!!!!

I can always order the phscyo latter on!!!!! Okay, on lunch time.....I'll do the order....

Thanks Vinni!!!

[dorfmeister]

I've got to say that I really like the Insanity with Psycho corners. I was a little disappointed t first because I thought the corners would be more extreme but I am thinking right now that I like this at least as much as the big fattie and a lot more than my without the psycho corners.

I am seriosly thinking of getting one of the stock psychos.


Well, I am going to order today...I LOVE THEM THICK PICKS and as much as I want to order both Pshcyo and Big Fattie....I'll go witht he BIG FATTIE!!!!

I can always order the phscyo latter on!!!!! Okay, on lunch time.....I'll do the order....

Thanks Vinni!!!

[Litsa]

Ugh, ya know I like corners too!!! I am really considering ordering a phscyo instead only because I do PINCH Harmonics and stuff....UGH, why is it so tough.....

Yeah, I am thinking with the Big fattie NO CORNORS would slip off the strings a little faster and for JAZZ and the fat tone that would be the BOMB of a pick....

But I think the Physco would be excellent for doing pinch harmonic and believe or ANY one of Vinni's V-pick corners or round slip of the strings nicely...

I think it's just a matter of what tone you're shooting for...

[dorfmeister]

Ugh, ya know I like corners too!!! I am really considering ordering a phscyo instead only because I do PINCH Harmonics and stuff....UGH, why is it so tough.....

Yeah, I am thinking with the Big fattie NO CORNORS would slip off the strings a little faster and for JAZZ and the fat tone that would be the BOMB of a pick....

But I think the Physco would be excellent for doing pinch harmonic and believe or ANY one of Vinni's V-pick corners or round slip of the strings nicely...

I think it's just a matter of what tone you're shooting for...

I think to a great extent that is true though I find myself putting "feel" as my primary criteria with the v-picks.

[Litsa]

Well, I order the phsyco and I am pretty stoked that this pick will be just as great, but ya know I eventually going to order the Big Fattie!

Ah, Vinni, you're the BOMB!!!! I love those V-picks!!!

[dorfmeister]

Well, I order the phsyco and I am pretty stoked that this pick will be just as great, but ya know I eventually going to order the Big Fattie!

Ah, Vinni, you're the BOMB!!!! I love those V-picks!!!

Big Fatties are great.

I have four of them - two with plain grip and two with super grip and there is a difference between the two different types of big fatties even.

I am thinking that the super grip and the regular fattie might be made from slightly different plastics, though I am not sure of that.

[Litsa]

I am happy I order the phsyco pick! I Play mostly rock and blues and right now my GO to V-picks are the Freakishly large and the NEW Diamond pick.

I also own all the Medium and Large rounded and pointed V-picks and love them all...

So funny because when I first order these picks I was strickly playing with the small pointy ones...I could ONLY play with small picks...

That is until I tried the V-picks.....I NEVER thought I would dig the Freakishly large and also the DIAMOND which is killer...Thick picks are what I like...

[crosse79]

Whoa - it looks like a pick holder! :)

[V-Picks]

I am happy I order the phsyco pick! I Play mostly rock and blues and right now my GO to V-picks are the Freakishly large and the NEW Diamond pick.

I also own all the Medium and Large rounded and pointed V-picks and love them all...

So funny because when I first order these picks I was strickly playing with the small pointy ones...I could ONLY play with small picks...

That is until I tried the V-picks.....I NEVER thought I would dig the Freakishly large and also the DIAMOND which is killer...Thick picks are what I like...

Litsa,

How is that new Psycho?

[Litsa]

Litsa, How is that new Psycho?

Hey Vinni,

I am just chilling right now (that is after Looooong weekend of playing with my new Psycho pick) and I thought I need to write up a review on this pick.

Here is my reivew: OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG, TONE, TONE, TONE, AND SPEED, SPEED, SPEED!!!!! I LOVE THIS PICK and CAN'T put it down!

I received the Psycho pick a couple of days ago and to be honest I was a little hesitant at first thinking how is a skinny 103 pound girl going to handle this pick...

Well, after playing with this pick for THREE whole days, I can easily say that it is my number 1 V-pick!!!!

It might help for some to know that my background is BLUES and Rock and I found this pick is sooooooooooo versatile.

Tonight I was jamming some Jimi Hendrix and MAN, this picks makes my distortion so creamy sounding, warm, and the notes SING!!!!!!! Also, I did some pinch harmonics and WOW, my pinch harmonics have a SCREAMING and SINGING tone!!!!!! I was blown away that I could do pinch harmonics with this pick so easily.

I also mellowed it out and played some SRV, Lenny and the tone is BIG, and WARM and catching those chord tones notes (hendrix style) is so easy!! The thickness of this pick just makes it slips off those strings so nicely.

The wierd thing is I've always prided myself on being different in cool way. I think we all try to find originality and with this Psycho pick I think I just might have found it...

Oh, and as cool as this pick is I am always open to trying (possibly adding) the Big Fattie to my collection!!!!

Like I said I can't belive I am digging this kind of pick....P.S. I forgot to mention how COMFORTABLE this pick is and it sticks to my fingers nicely it almost feels like part of my fingers.....

Thanks Again and hear is to all my fellow V-pick players :BEER

Oh, but most import THANK YOU VINNI FOR MAKING THESE AWESOME PICKS and for encouraging me to try this AWESOME Psycho pick!

[V-Picks]

Hey Vinni,

I am just chilling right now (that is after Looooong weekend of playing with my new Psycho pick) and I thought I need to write up a review on this pick.

Here is my reivew: OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG, TONE, TONE, TONE, AND SPEED, SPEED, SPEED!!!!! I LOVE THIS PICK and CAN'T put it down!

I received the Psycho pick a couple of days ago and to be honest I was a little hesitant at first thinking how is a skinny 103 pound girl going to handle this pick...

Well, after playing with this pick for THREE whole days, I can easily say that it is my number 1 V-pick!!!!

It might help for some to know that my background is BLUES and Rock and I found this pick is sooooooooooo versatile.

Tonight I was jamming some Jimi Hendrix and MAN, this picks makes my distortion so creamy sounding, warm, and the notes SING!!!!!!! Also, I did some pinch harmonics and WOW, my pinch harmonics have a SCREAMING and SINGING tone!!!!!! I was blown away that I could do pinch harmonics with this pick so easily.

I also mellowed it out and played some SRV, Lenny and the tone is BIG, and WARM and catching those chord tones notes (hendrix style) is so easy!! The thickness of this pick just makes it slips off those strings so nicely.

The wierd thing is I've always prided myself on being different in cool way. I think we all try to find originality and with this Psycho pick I think I just might have found it...

Oh, and as cool as this pick is I am always open to trying (possibly adding) the Big Fattie to my collection!!!!

Like I said I can't belive I am digging this kind of pick....P.S. I forgot to mention how COMFORTABLE this pick is and it sticks to my fingers nicely it almost feels like part of my fingers.....

Thanks Again and hear is to all my fellow V-pick players :BEER

Oh, but most import THANK YOU VINNI FOR MAKING THESE AWESOME PICKS and for encouraging me to try this AWESOME Psycho pick!

Wow! What can I say after a post like this? Thank you so much!

I hope you don't mind, I quoted you once again on our website.......

Sounds like you play all the cool tunes there girl! I'd like to hear you play sometime.

Vinni

[dorfmeister]

I've decided that my Insanity with Psycho corners is my new favorite v-pick winning out over the colossal and the Big Fattie.

The psycho corners are great.

[jazzandmetal?]

I've decided that my Insanity with Psycho corners is my new favorite v-pick winning out over the colossal and the Big Fattie.

The psycho corners are great.

You are my hero. That thing is super hard for me to play with.

[dorfmeister]

You are my hero. That thing is super hard for me to play with.

My colossal was hard to play with but I think the psycho corners on the insanity made all the difference.

Did you get your pick with the psycho corners?

[jazzandmetal?]

My colossal was hard to play with but I think the psycho corners on the insanity made all the difference.

Did you get your pick with the psycho corners?

It is "in between" the psycho and rounded I believe.

[V-Picks]

I'll tell you what! If you practice for 1 week with these puppies, you will play like a bugger the next weekend! I do this occassionally, and one time I actually used the Insanity to perform with. I zoomed ahead of the band! It was just to easy to play, I guess. I had to put it away and grab my Large Rounded again! No joke.

I think everyone should own 1 V-Pick Insanity. Consider it a practice pick. A learning, excercise tool. Just practice away with that dude. Like I said before, it is like running with weights on your ankles. Then when you take them off, ZOOM.

Also, since I got the new laser machine, the premium picks have been turning out even better than before. I don't have to trace around a pick and then cut it out with a dremel saw. They are much more consistant. Each one still is just a bit different from the other because of the hand crafting, but they are so much more alike nowadays. I am very happy about that.

Vinni

[Litsa]

Ya know Vinni,

I need to place an order real soon....I'll pm you because I've thought of some sick way I want my V-picks to be made.

For instance now that you've got that killer laser machine....I want to have a psycho pick and big fatti thickness to be that of a diamond pick....

I think you can do that with the new laser right? Also, I need to buy one of those killer T-'s as well....

Happy about the new laser and still loving all my V-picks!

[V-Picks]

Ya know Vinni,

I need to place an order real soon....I'll pm you because I've thought of some sick way I want my V-picks to be made.

For instance now that you've got that killer laser machine....I want to have a psycho pick and big fatti thickness to be that of a diamond pick....

I think you can do that with the new laser right? Also, I need to buy one of those killer T-'s as well....

Happy about the new laser and still loving all my V-picks!

Let me get this strait. Basically a Diamond twice as thick as normal right?

You are a sick girl!

Yesterday I made some Colossals and Insanitys with logos. The first ever! They are so thick it takes the laser 3 passes to cut them. Fun Stuff.

Today I am going to be working on Les Paul Pickguards. We are going to engrave the artist's autograph on a clear pickguard. Regular Les Paul pick guards are so ugly and they usually hide a lot of the beautiful wood underneath. This should make the whole situation better. So, you Les Paul owners, HEADS UP. Cool product coming your way.

[cvansickle]

Today I am going to be working on Les Paul Pickguards. We are going to engrave the artist's autograph on a clear pickguard. Regular Les Paul pick guards are so ugly and they usually hide a lot of the beautiful wood underneath. This should make the whole situation better. So, you Les Paul owners, HEADS UP. Cool product coming your way.

Cool idea!

I guess I better check my sofa cushions again...

[dorfmeister]

I've got at least one of each of your premium picks except for the Psycho Shredder. Any possibility of doing a custom Psycho Shredder with the thickness of an Insanity? My favorite pick at the moment is your Insanity w/ Psycho corners.

[Litsa]

I have lots of favorites, but what I was thinking as a custom for me is a pschyo and big fatti a 3.55 mm thickness rather then a 5.66mm!

That would be cool to experiment....

[V-Picks]

I've got at least one of each of your premium picks except for the Psycho Shredder. Any possibility of doing a custom Psycho Shredder with the thickness of an Insanity? My favorite pick at the moment is your Insanity w/ Psycho corners.

Yes, I can do that. It would take me a day or two so I can set up the program to cut it though.

Vinni

[V-Picks]

OK, I have been practicing more with this Insanity. Here is how it works, I think........

There is no way to play this thing with your fingers too close together, of course, because it is 1/2" thick. If you do a little excercise, it will demonstrate what I am about to say. Put your thumb and index finger together and see exactly how it feels and pay attention to the muscles in your hand. Now, relax your finger and thumb to where they are about 1/2" apart. Now pay attention, once again to the muscles in your hand. Especially the ones between those to fingers. Much more relaxed. Now my point. When you are playing with the Insanity, unless you are holding on to it with a death grip, you have a much more relaxed hand than you would with a thin, normal pick. This is why I am able to play much more fluid and smooth, because my hand is relaxed.

One more thing this pick teaches me to do is not put as much pick into the string. Just a small about is needed. With the insanity, because of the thickness overall, the bevel has to be very abrupt and steep. This means you cannot use too much pick or else you will have a trainwreck with the strings, expecially already ringing out strings. So, I find myself, automatically playing with just the very tip of the corner.

These are just two things I noticed yesterday and today. I am going to keep praciticing with this thing into next week and try to notice more learing points and strategies.

Vinni

[BountyHuntr]

I just got mine and had 5 mins to play during lunch. Suprisingly it did not feel awkward.. different yes, but not awkward. Within just a minute or 2 it actually felt fairly comfortable. I can see all sorts of advantages to this monster.

Vinni... you out did yourself this time me brodda! :dude

[acwild]

Today I am going to be working on Les Paul Pickguards. We are going to engrave the artist's autograph on a clear pickguard. Regular Les Paul pick guards are so ugly and they usually hide a lot of the beautiful wood underneath. This should make the whole situation better. So, you Les Paul owners, HEADS UP. Cool product coming your way.

Just when I think that I've bought everything that I could from you... I can't wait to get one of these.:dude

[V-Picks]

I just got mine and had 5 mins to play during lunch. Suprisingly it did not feel awkward.. different yes, but not awkward. Within just a minute or 2 it actually felt fairly comfortable. I can see all sorts of advantages to this monster.

Vinni... you out did yourself this time me brodda! :dude

I'm tellin ya, these things are great practice tools.:AOK

[V-Picks]

We have been selling quite a few of these lately.

I was hoping to hear some feedback from some of the owners.

Vinni

[V-Picks]

Diamonds are a Kahuna's best friend!