Your tone starts right here.
"Touring my father's music in Zappa Plays Zappa is an incredible challenge. The music requires a deft touch and total commitment to excellence. Some of the parts I've learned to play are intensely difficult. I found something recently that really makes a difference in my ability to execute those hard parts more accurately and with better tone. It's my new secret weapon! An extra heavy hand made pick from Red Bear Trading Company. I could feel the difference in playability and hear the difference in tone instantly. In my tests, I noticed that picks with more mass imparted more bass and generally created a smoother tone. It sounds crazy but it's true. Try it for yourself."
Dweezil Zappa - Award winning musician, inventor and composer
"There are so many products on the market these days that claim to do this or that, and it's not often that one lives up to its press. Red Bear Trading Company has done just that, and maybe more. These picks are as good as it gets. They make my tone richer by bringing out more of the beautiful top resonances that other materials mute, and on top of that they play well. I mean REALLY well. I'm playing faster and cleaner than ever because of that magical something that happens when these picks slide off a string. It isn't often that a pick inspires you to play, but that's just what these do for me."
Stephen "Mojo" Mougin - Guitarist for Sam Bush, and his own band, The Stephen Mougin Band"
If you are into the online community, have a look at the site that Dan Miller from Flatpicking Guitar Magazine has started. Click the link below to enter this flatpicker's webspace. There is a Red Bear User's group you can join to get the latest from the shop. Enjoy!
We have our newest addition to our lineup - the "No. 9". This pick was inspired by players who wanted a slightly different shape than the "Lil' Jazzer". Available in all our gauges and grip/bevel options. Shown is one in Extra Heavy with our "Speed Bevel".
We offer grips and left-handed "Speed Bevels" on our picks at no extra charge! We also do custom engraving. Contact us for more information on this service.
We now place the grip holes in the center of the picks.
In the images below you can see "The Classic". This pick was designed after numerous requests for a more traditionally shaped teardrop pick. It's shown below next to a Style "B" pick. "The Classic" is a little bit longer than and narrower across the shoulders than the "B".
The picture of the picks without engraving that you see below is intended to show the shapes and sizes in relation to one another. We reserve the right to change our logo and/or engraving at will, without notice. Click the picture for more information.
Our Speed Bevel is designed to simulate a wear pattern that many players experience on their favorite picks. Since the New Tortis material isn't going to wear naturally, it has to be given this bevel by hand. In many cases, once a pick acquires this wear pattern two things happen. First, the player gains a little speed because the wear pattern fits the up and down strokes of the player's style. Secondly, in many cases, the pick then breaks or wears through and has to be replaced or re-shaped with steel wool or sandpaper, thus losing real-estate (becoming smaller). Our picks, when given the treatment, will give you faster picking speeds without wearing through. The best of both worlds!
