Emory Lester
"With these picks that I've received, I've come to learn - first hand - that there is no other pick that comes as close to actual shell as these Red Bear picks that Dave Skowron has created. I have refused to use anything but shell for the last 25 years, and have often refused to even try anything else, because it has been my experience, as well as being widely known, that nothing can come close to shell for tone, playability, etc. So, to get me to try this, and now use these for recording and performing, is a feat, and is totally my gain. I believe that Dave has finally solved the "as good as shell" mystery, and has created something that will make a vast improvement in anyone's sound, and will greatly improve one's ability to play. Obviously, the inclusion of the bevel in these picks is a stroke of genius - making this pick immediately useable, with minimal to no alterations needed in my case. I have truly benefitted from Dave's work, and I am very grateful for these incredible picks."
Emory Lester - Mandolin, Guitar

Stephen Mougin "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"
Stephen's Website

Brad Davis:

"I love the tone of real tortoise shell picks but I have not used them for about ten years because they always wore out so fast and the edges got chewed up and rough. When I use the double-down-up technique it grinds those tortoise shell picks down real fast. When I was given a Red Bear pick I was skeptical. I told them that I'd have to use it for at least a month before I'd know if it was going to work for me. I loved the tone I was getting with the Red Bear right away, but I had to see if they would hold up. After about five weeks of using the pick I was completely sold. They don't wear like tortoise, yet they have that tortoise tone and feel. It is now my pick of choice."
Brad Davis performed onstage with country star Marty Stuart for ten years (1992-2002), performed and recorded with the Sam Bush Band (2002-2004), toured with John Jorgenson's Gypsy Jazz Quintet (2005), and has been a member of Earl Scruggs' Family and Friends band since 2001. He also records and tours with movie actor Billy Bob Thornton's rock & roll band and has embarked on a successful solo career (www.braddavisontour.com).

Bob Minner
"The Red Bear tortis picks are the greatest advance in guitar flat picks since the discovery of the use of original tortoise shell for plectrums. They have the feel and texture of real tortoise shell, but actually add a bit more presence and attack to a note than tortoise shell. Coupled with the optional speed bevel, this makes for a more fuller tone and more accurate contact with the string, not to mention the increase in speed.

I have always hated searching out real tortoise shell, and when found they were usually so pricey that it was almost insane to invest in a few, in fear of trying to replace them. However, Red Bear picks have solved that delimma. I promise, you will be amazed at these picks.

My vintage guitars (1947 Martin D-18, 1942 Gibson J-45 bannerhead, 1954 Gibson LG-1) appreciate the picks also.:-) The Red Bear picks bring out all of the great tone those wonderful vintage guitars are capable of - something other pick materials could not accomplish.

As a professional musician, I have always searched for the ultimate guitar pick. I have found that pick in the Red Bear Tortoise flatpicks. Buy a bunch and enjoy!
Bob Minner - (acoustic guitarist for Tim McGraw and mandolinist for Faith Hill)

John Layton
" I love my New Tortis picks !!! You were not kidding about the control and tonal improvement that these picks afford a player...I've tried all three picks with all of my guitars (elecrtic and acoustic) and they all come alive when using the New Tortis picks ! I will be using them for all my recording sessions and as many live shows as possible."
John Layton - Nashville session guitarist, touring with such acts as Gary Allan, Mark Chesnutt and Colin Raye.

Doug LeBow
Red Bear's "New Tortis" picks are simply superb! I have both medium and light gauge "Classics", and I am completely sold on their feel and tone. I guess I had gotten used to the "whappy" sound of the picks I'd been using for years, because I just can not believe how much more expressive my OM-42 acoustic sounds when using my Red Bear! I'll never go back to my old picks again.
Doug LeBow - LeBow Music & Multimedia, Inc. Santa Clarita, CA
LeBow Music

Two-time Grammy Winner Marcy Marxer says:
"Dave has done a great service to acoustic musicians and turtles alike. These picks are great. They make my Martin sing with a warm deep low end and a sparkle on top. Tortis picks must have megapixels! They bring out all the colors of the sonic spectrum! Thanks Dave and all at Red Bear Trading!"
Marcy Marxer - Grammy Winner 2004 and 2005, Kaufy Award Recipient 2005. Performs and has recorded with Cathy Fink, Tom Paxton, Pete Seeger, Eva Cassidy, Mary Chapin Carpenter and many more.

From Jim Nunally:
I received my Tortis picks in the mail one day before I left for a 12 day tour. I asked for the speed bevel on a 1.65mm style C pick. I had to do a little grooming of the pick to get the edge to feel like the tortoise shell picks I am use to. I've been using shell picks for about 20+ years and hadn't found a decent replacement, that is until I contacted Red Bear Trading about the Tortis picks. These Tortis picks appear to be as good as tortoise if not better. They feel like shell picks, sound like shell, they wear like shell, and they are legal. Being legal is what places them above shell. I say buy em'.
Jim Nunally performs with John Reischman and the Jaybirds, the David Grisman Bluegrass Experience, Due West, and in a duo with Dix Bruce. And now uses Tortis picks.

Scott Coney
"I just received my New Tortis picks from Red Bear Trading Company. Wow!!!!!! I have used real tortoise picks since I began playing guitar twenty five years ago. I was very skeptic about a pick that was claiming to be "man-made" tortoiseshell, but these picks are so close to the real thing, that I have a hard time telling which is which! I ordered my picks with the speed bevel on them. It felt like the picks had already been "played in". The New Tortis picks are finally the picks I've been looking for. I will be using the New Tortis picks exclusively from now on. They're that good!

We will be playing at Carnegie Hall in New York City on November 14 and the CMA awards on November 15, 2005. There is no doubt that I'll be using a New Tortis pick from Red Bear Trading Company for both performances. Thanks for such a great and innovative product. I'll be a "New Tortis" player from here on in!"
Scott Coney, guitarist for Alan Jackson

Lynn Dudenbostel:
"Picks really make a big difference in the tonal color of your instrument. I've had a favorite pick for about 4 years now, but since getting the New Tortis pick, it's the only one I use. It's amazing how much better it makes me sound!"

A few months later, Dude writes . . .

"I thought Dave hit a home run with the Tortis picks a few months ago, but his new speed bevel is even better. It really gives a great sound across the board, but particularly on the mid and low end of my mandolin. Now, I'll tell you, it's a good thing I make my living building instruments and not by playing them (my family might starve if I tried the latter), but even I can tell an improvement in my right hand technique with the speed bevel! Keep up the good work Dave, I'm a convert to Tortis!"
Lynn Dudenbostel, Master Luthier - Maryville, TN

Chris Newman
For many years I never gave my choice of pick a second thought, and used pretty much anything that was available. Some years ago I was given a Clayton Gold, and I was amazed at the different sound that came out of the guitar. Since then I've been very aware of the importance of the type of pick used, and coming across Dave's Tortis picks has been another huge revelation. The feel of the pick is excellent, especially with the little holes drilled near the top, and the range of tones available is terrific. Most guitarists (self included) spend huge amounts of time, effort and money trying to find the perfect instrument, most suitable strings and so on, but the easiest (and probably cheapest) significant upgrade is the choice of pick. New Tortis picks are absolutely at the top of my list. "
Chris Newman, Yorkshire, England

Note: Chris' custom made New Tortis Pick is shown. It is a "B" Medium Speed Bevel which incorporates the grip holes we fondly refer to as "The Newman Grip". This or a similar grip is available on all our picks. Ask your dealer or contact us for more information.

Butch Baldassari, Nashville, TN
"I've been using Tortoise Shell picks off and on since the early 80's in search of the ultimate acoustic tone...Every now and then I would give some other pick materials a try, usually to NO AVAIL. The New Tortis pick is THE ONLY material that I have ever encountered that can give real tortoise shell a run for its money...In a blindfold test you'd be hard-pressed to pick one over the other...I'm a believer!!!"
Butch Baldassari, Professional Mandolinist, Nashville, TN

Steve Kilby
"For the past thirty years I've searched for a pick which would give me the sound of the original tortoise shell picks without paying the big bucks and then losing the pick, been there and done that. The New Tortis has come the closest to fulfilling my bluegrass flatpicking sound I had years ago when I used "real" torotise shell. Try one and let your audience tell the difference.
Steve Kilby - 1979 North Carolina State Guitar Champion, 7 time Fiddlers Grove Guitar Champion, Two time Galax Guitar Champion. Galax Best All Around Performer 1980

Tony McManus
"Dave Skowron has done a great service to pickers everywhere. To find a pick that improves your tone and control and just makes you want to PLAY MORE . . . it's a beautiful thing! A lot of thought and care has gone into the design of these picks- I'd recommend them to players anywhere."
Tony McManus - Celtic Guitar Maestro

Mike Compton
"I'll have to say that when I first heard of the Tortis picks and their reputation for being "just like real tortoise shell" I was not the least interested. I have spent most of my professional performing years using plastic picks of different sorts that would do an adequate job because tortoise shell was just too expensive to use, although I liked the way they sound on the strings. Besides that, I have a tendency to drop a pick through the cracks in the floor boards now and then, and watching upwards of $50 disappear before my eyes just wasn't something I could deal with on a regular basis.

I was fortunate enough to be given a nice tortoise pick recently and started using it with great satisfaction, but soon found it to be wearing rapidly. I figured I'd go back to the plastic. One afternoon I got an email from Lynn Dudenbostel concerning some mandolin matters and in the course of our exchange he mentioned the Tortis picks he sends out with all his mandolins. I'd never even heard of them, but Lynn raved about how well they work. I figured a guy that can build mandolins like he can must know something. So I emailed Dave Skowron at Red Bear Trading Company and asked for a sample of his picks. They arrived within a few days and I went to work with them right away. I received a few different thicknesses and it didn't take long for me to find one that worked well. I have not stopped using it since. That has been some weeks [years] now and I see no wear whatsoever. They really snap the tone out of these taterbugs and best of all, they feel and sound nearly identical to the tortoise I began using again. I have ordered a dozen more. I am sold on the Tortis material and can't wait to try out the rest when they arrive. Thanks Dave, for a top notch product."
Mike Compton - Mandolin Master, Nashville, TN

Jack Lawrence
"Just got back from B.B. King's and the Newport Folk Festival and found some of Dave's picks in the mail. I'm very impressed. The tortis and clown barf sound and feel great. I got the "speed bevel" models. I did "blunt" the points on them but the bevel is almost exactly like the way I wear picks naturally. I didn't find them to be any more thin and raspy sounding than a brand new TS pick.. I always have to blunt and bevel TS to achieve the tone I want. While it may take a while to modify a TS pick I was able to reshape and polish Dave's picks in a matter of minutes because the bevel was so close to begin with. After A-B-ing Dave's with some of my favorite TS picks I came to the conclusion that they sound just as good. Of course, ymmv but I'm very satisfied. My wife, Katie, thinks the "Clown Barf" picks are really cute. The quality of material and workmanship is top notch."
Jack Lawrence - Journeyman Guitarist and touring partner to Doc Watson

"I love your picks"
Tommy Emmanuel - Guitar Virtuoso

Through the years I have owned dozens of tortoise picks and hundreds of plastic ones. From ceramic to bullhorn, brass to wood, I have tried just about everything. I keep a good variety of picks and enjoy the differences in each. About a month ago I began using a 1.26mm Tortis C model with speed bevel. The tone and playability is great on mandolin as well as guitar. Rich and meaty, yet brilliant with exceptional note separation. This is a wonderful product and has earned its place as one of my favorite picks.
Mike Whitehead, 1994 National Flatpicking Champion, Walnut Valley Festival at Winfield Kansas

"I'd be hard-pressed to tell the difference between the sound and feel of my Tortis pick and real tortoise shell. It has the same warmth and clarity of tone and I would urge any die-hard tortoise fan to give these a try. I've tried almost every pick on the market and this one's my favorite. Thanks Dave."
Jeff Troxel - 2003 National Flatpicking Champion, Walnut Valley Festival at Winfield Kansas, 2001 Wyoming State Flatpicking Champion, 2003 Utah State Flatpicking Champion.

I'm delighted with my New Tortis pick! Dave has solved an age old problem by designing a product that gives me the tone and feel that I've always liked without any of the problems and expense of real shell. The integrity of this material is a very close replica and the clown barf coloring appeals to my fashion sense! A great idea and a great company to deal with. Thank you Dave Skowron!
Mark Cosgrove - 1995 National Flatpicking Champ, Walnut Valley Festival at Winfield Kansas

"I'm picky about my flatpicks. I like a certain tone and a certain feel and most recently, after a few years of Clayton Golds and Wegens, I returned to some old TS I had been saving. I was again hooked on that warm, full sound only real TS has. However, always curious, I tried a Coral Tortis tricornered (Style "C") with the speed bevel and found THAT SAME SOUND. I reshaped it a bit (as I do every pick) and cannot tell it from real TS. That is, except for the cool swirly coral color. Great product...and finally, a pick that actually IS like real TS. "
Roy Curry - 1980, 1991 National Flatpicking Champ, Walnut Valley Festival at Winfield Kansas

"I used to hold tortoise shell picks off the counter a few inches and drop them, and then do the same with any number of different kinds of picks. The TS picks have a distinctive sound when they bounce and nothing has the same sound. I tried that with the Tortis and I couldn't tell the difference between them and the TS. Then the real test came when I used them at the gig. The guys in the band thought I had gotten some of the best looking TS they had ever seen until I told them it wasn't TS! The Tortis picks have held up well and when you're in a more intimate setting than playing in the band you can really hear the subtle tones of this pick, in the same way as the real TS. It has a warmth like TS. That's what I like about it the most, the warmth in the tone. I think this Tortis pick is the answer to TS everyone's been searching for."
Allen Shadd - 1997 National Flatpicking Champion, Walnut Valley Festival at Winfield Kansas

"The Tortis pick sounds more like real tortoise shell than any other pick I've ever tried. If that's the sound you're after, the Tortis is the one."
Rolly Brown - 1980 National Fingerstyle Champ, Walnut Valley Festival at Winfield Kansas

"I got the picks in the mail today. I'm blown away. They are more that I could've expected. They've instantly replaced my old tortoise shell as my most prized pick. I would've never known the difference if someone had told me these were real tortoise shell. Except these are even better. The Medium and Heavy are my favorites. I've been picking bluegrass all afternoon. Very inspiring. You made my day. Anyhow, you can probably see that I'm very impressed. I'm doing a session in the morning. I'll be bragging on them. . ."
Mike Waldron - Guitar player for Lee Ann Womack and Nashville session player

"After 30 years of trying almost every guitar pick that came along, I finally found the pick that does everything I need. The Tortis Pick, manufactured by Red Bear Trading Company, produces a full, clear sound without any clicks or taps, glides smoothly across the strings, stays put in the hand, and wears like steel. Unless you lose it, the Tortis pick will provide a very long period of excellent performance."
Doc Shuey - The Shuey Brothers Bluegrass Band

"Dave, without a doubt your Tortis pick does everything better. I can't believe the tone and clarity I get from such a heavy pick. This material and its beveled edges is just plain fast. The pick is unbelieveable, and it makes me and my instruments sound better."
Rick Lampkins - The Lampkins Family Band
Champions of the 2003 National Bluegrass Playoffs at the 27th annual Huck Finn Jubilee

I received my pick the other day and love it. The larger "C" shape stays put in my long "monkey like" hands and my Bourgeois never sounded so good. I now have a pile of plastic picks rendered useless... thanks.
Kerry Kling
North Branford, CT

"The sound and feel are right on the money; if this isn't some kind of shell or horn, I don't know what it is. And that's a good thing! The edge was okay as it was, and I haven't had to do anything to it except run it on my buffer to make sure it was smooth. I have about 3-4 hours' playing time on it, and the edge is still polished; very, very good! As it is, if you want to see what the fuss is about concerning shell picks, but you don't want to find and old TS box, or buy one in a back alley at a festival, give Dave a ring; these things are the real deal, as far as feel and tone go . . .it looks, feels and even has that characteristic smell when burnt of real TS."
Mario Proulx - Master Luthier, Ontario, CN

"For years I used tortoise shell picks because they do produce the best tone. As prices went up, and availability was sometimes a challenge, I was forced sometime in the '90s to shift over to heavy conventional picks. I got used to them, I suppose, until a friend, Dan Tankersley, introduced me to the New Tortis picks. First the old "drop" test...sounded like a tortoise when it hit the table. After playing my mandolins and guitars with it, I noticed that great tone that I had missed for years in this new pick. I cannot honestly tell the difference between the New Tortis and an old TS that I've held onto, except that I can easily obtain more of the New Tortis. One thing that I'm jazzed about also is that I like to try different guages, from about 1.1mm all the way up to about 1.6mm for different tones. The cool thing about these is that I get to specify the guage, as opposed to whatever the mysterious "TS man" may have at the time. All in all, the New Tortis has become an inseparable part of me and my music, and after meeting Dave, I can see where the integrity of the pick comes from!"
Roscoe Morgan, Songwriter, Instructor, Performer on Mandolin and Guitar - Maryville, TN

"Dave - Hey man just letting you know the picks you sent are awesome! To be honest I was skeptical if a pick would really make much difference in tone, but comparing it directly to my Dunlop picks that I normally play the difference was shocking. The tone from the tortis pick was fuller, louder, and more musical. Thanks for taking the tone of my guitars up another level.
John Mayes - Master Luthier, Norman, OK

Buddy Woodward: When I was a young picker and still learning about strings & accessories, a mentor of mine cautioned, "don't mess with tortoise shell, once you do you'll never go back to plastic!" He was so right, and before long I was hooked on the tone and the smooth way shell glides over the strings, but due to scarcity and exorbitant prices I was afraid to take them out of the house or studio. Having tried everything else under the sun, such as Delrin (too rubbery), desert turtle (too fibrous), bull horn (too dull), brass (too stupid) I thought I was S.O.L., until I came across Tortis picks. Count me as a true believer: now the real shell picks stay in their box on the shelf...I'm too lazy to get 'em down, and Tortis is so close to the real thing I can't hardly tell the difference, and with the "Speed Bevel" its like they're already broken in. Amazing! Its warm, it's clear, it's organic, and best of all it's LEGAL. Don't mess with anything else!

Brandi Hart: A few years ago, Buddy gave me a real tortoise shell pick and threatened to kill me if I lost it. Now that we've found Tortis, I don't have to live in fear of my life...thanks, Dave!"
Buddy Woodward and Brandi Hart of the critically acclaimed "Dixie Beeliners"

"One of my best students turned me on to Tortis picks. For years I had noticed a vogue amongst mandolin pickers for thicker and rounder picks and the sometimes fatter tone and increased volume that comes with them.Try as I might, though, I couldn't find the pick that would yield a bigger sound but still allow me to do my thing, in other words pick the way I like to, especially when playing jazz. Then my student asked "Have you tried these?"...

Fast forward to the present and I'm carrying a few Tortis Style B Mediums to every gig. I can still pick with the point and I don't need to modify my technique, and the tone is right for any style. Particularly in the bluegrass setting I feel the Tortis helps the mandolin hold it's own against the other instruments in terms of projection.I've used them on jazz rhythm guitar gigs as well--same results.

Do they sound, look or feel like "real" tortoise shell? I've never cared about those sorts of comparisons, I just know they yield a sound I was looking for that works for me. I'm very grateful to Dave for putting them together. Sure the initials "DS" and the holes for grip are cool, but it's the sound that matters most and I can get what I'm after with these picks. "
Don Stiernberg - Mandolin and Guitar Instructor and Performer, Skokie Ill.

" I choose my equipment based on reliability, usability and tone and these are the only picks that I've found adequate and versatile enough to perform both with big bands and small group swing (from acoustic archtop to gypsy jazz style guitars) ensembles that provide consistent tone and feel, two things that are so important for a guitarist. The heavy style D with Speed Bevel is strong enough to withstand aggressive playing, and never loses that sound or grip. Red Bear's Tortis are the only picks that I'll ever need."
Ted Gottsegen - Gypsy Jazz Guitarist

"I received the pick earlier this week. Now that I have spent a few hours playing with it I thought you might like some feedback.

When I first received it I was really impressed by the looks and the quality of the craftsmanship: the three different edges are precisely cut (love the speed bevel!) and, even though my pick is not as polished as your usual picks, being made of the raw, thicker material, it looks and feels really good nonetheless.
Note: Patrick wanted his pick as thick as I could make it, so we opted for no surface sanding at all. My material is a little rough on the surfaces before I sand it to thickness.

The sound I get on my Gypsy Jazz guitar is amazing: crisper with less overtones than the plastic alternatives to turtle shell being offered by other makers. The round tip is perfect for 'la pompe' rhythm playing and the beveled tip is really fast producing a very crisp, not too bright tone. The volume and projection were better than with any other pick/material combination I have tried (and I have tried quite a few).

I find the pick very easy to hold also: it seems the new tortis material 'sticks' to my fingers when they are sweating.

In short, I am very satisfied with this purchase: the craftsmanship is outstanding, the communications with you were friendly and helpful and the pick was worth every penny I paid for it.

Thank you and keep up the great work."
Patrick D. - Lasalle, Canada

Dave,
I got that Gypsy Jazzer in the mail today and it really has THE SOUND! You do have a real winner with this pick as well. This Tortis Gypsy Jazzer makes my (other) Gypsy Jazz picks sound and feel like toys by comparison. All of your Tortis picks feel much nicer to play, and sound much better also.
All the best,
Kip M.
Bardstown, KY

Hello Dave,
I received my replacement Tortis pick yesterday. Wow! Right out of the package and on to the strings of my D-18GE this new pick is the best sounding pick I've ever played and what's even more amazing to me is that it doesn't feel new, it has a wonderful broken-in feel to it. I'm playing out this afternoon with some friends and this new Tortis is the pick I'm taking with me.
Jim L.
Akron, Ohio

Mr. Dave,
I just wanted to write and tell you how much I like your E-style speed-beveled picks you made me (approx.1.75 and 2.0mm). They work very well for me. Thanks for getting them out to me so quickly! I am really enjoying them. They are beautiful,functional art.
Also, I appreciate the notes on how to take care of these picks (they won't be going thru the washing machine or be carried in my pocket..)
I LOVE the speed bevels; I play mandolin and guitar.
Heartfelt thanks!
Mike Cameron
Eatonton,Georgia

Dear Red Bear,
I just want to take the time to write you about this amazing pick you are making. I got to use one for the first time last gig and went out and bought my own two days later. As a mater a fact I bought 3. I like it better than real turtle shell. I am a flatpicker and need speed a lot of times, but I don't want to sacrifice tone and your picks are the ticket.
Catch you later, keep up the good work.
Jerry D. Shadrick
JDS-GUITARS & REPAIR

"Dave, Got my pick 2 days ago.. it's a gem. Once the word is out, everybody will want one. I don't know which is doing the job for me.. the material (which has just the right 'alive' firmness) or your XB edge technology (which really focuses the pick). You've done a great job. Love the old world coral celluloid look too. Now I'm wondering what the Django pick is like.. never satisfied are we."
Regards,
Peter Rich, Australia

"Hi Dave, They are wonderful! The tri-corner brought my D-18 to life... it has never sounded so good. My SCGC D/PW benefited as well, though not quite as dramatically. My wife noticed the difference immediately, she thought I was trying new strings. My Larivee OM and L both sounded better too, but I use them primarilly for fingerstyle, so when are you going to make a thumbpick??? The mando pick made probably the biggest difference on my Mid-Mo mando. It isn't a particularly great instrument, I've acknowledged this, but I needed something decent to learn on, and now it sounds better. Too cool. The real surprise was the small (style A) pick on my electrics. With the exception of my Tele all of my electrics sounded better. I've tried probably every under-a-dollar pick out there, and I have my favorites, but they've all been pushed down a notch now. Wow! And in addition to sounding cool, they play better too. I find I can use a lot less energy, and both right hand speed and accuracy seem to improve. Who'd have thunkit that a pick could make such a difference? "
Bill Thompson

"Dave, Just got your pick yesterday. I am sure you are seeing a lot of thank-you emails with fancy descriptive terms of the sound of your picks. I don't really know what to say. This pick is amazing. First off, the clarity I get from my guitar is outstanding and has made playing rhythm so much crisper sounding. Secondly, this thing is improving my note accuracy. I am no longer tripping over fast passages that I have worked on for months. Thanks for this gift; it will be a well-cherished part of my playing for a long time to come".
Glenn Patterson - 2004 Dreadnoughts Unlimited Scholarship Recipient to Steve Kaufman's Flatpickin' Camp

"The Flatpick is critical in more ways than normally imagined: playability, tonal range, volume, dynamics, picking accuracy, speed, fullness of back-up, comping/chopping chords, instrument resonance, clarity, timbre, transient noise (the noise made by a pick that lays outside of tone emitted by the string), lows, highs, depth, richness, and many more subtleties that escape description. Considering the many balanced, and critical, elements that a flatpick upholds on both guitar and mandolin, why are most of us settling for a mass-produced commercial piece of flat plastic? Yes, I also have settled for the standard plastic flatpick for the last 25+ years...until I received my very first Tortis. It was a true awakening of both my ears and my mandolin. I now covet my Style C Thin (1mm)! It inspires me to play. I find myself gravitated to practicing more often. The Tortis brings out a fullness in all of my mandolins that I didn't know existed! My Breedlove Alpine, Rigel CT-110, Weber Big Sky Mandola & Octave and Gibson F-5L all seem to have an entirely new voice...one that rings with clarity and fullness...

Playability: I find that I have far more control...it's amazing how a pick can contribute to better control and accuracy. Tonal Range: There's more definition and the lows to highs seem to have a brilliance and clarity unattainable with plastic. Back-Up: Chords are full sounding without any transient noise such as clicking sounds. Speed: The Tortis is so comfortable, and because of the better control, I find that speed is easier to attain. Bluegrass Chop: On my mandolins, this pick brings out the most percussive chop I've heard to date. Inspiration: You'll find it with the Tortis!"
Mickey Cochran - Ruidoso, NM



"Dear Dave,
Having been fortunate to recently acquire the Dubenbostel #12 mandolin, I tried every pick I could get my hands on, including my old tortoise shell picks. I was amazed at how the Tortis pick brings out the wonderful harmonic overtones of this phenomenal instrument! My playing is instantly much cleaner, too. Please send me a dozen."
Paul Indman - Los Gatos, CA

"Dave, just wanted to let you know my tortis pick is all I could have hoped for . . . its what I've been looking for. I guess I'll make jewelry out of my ivory picks."
Frank E. - Moore, OK

"Right out of the box it's great. The shape's right and the tone is just what I've been looking for. After trying about 50 combinations of brands, thicknesses, and materials, I think I finally found "my" pick! Thanks!"
Dave C. - Las Vegas, NV

"Got the picks today and gave them a good workout at a jam tonight. They are great! Not sure if I could tell them from tortoise shell in a blind test - I have never felt that way about any other pick (and I think I have tried most if not all of them)."

Two months later Phil writes. . .

"I think at this point I like your picks better than tortoise shell. No chipping, little or no edge wear. They shape easily with a nail file and hold their edge. The sound is as good as any piece of TS I have used and totally consistent from pick to pick"
Phil C. - Palo Alto, CA

"These are definitely ready for prime time!"
Jerry D. - Andover, MA

"...they really make a difference with crispness and volume."
JD - Florence, Oregon

"I've been using the pick almost exclusively since mid-April and it is one fine pick."
John - Vernon, PA

"Got my Tortis pick yesterday in the mail! Thanks so very much. I really like the looks and feel of it, and the nice tone it brings out in my rosewood Martin...loud, bold, and a kind of "vintage" sound to it."
Jeff M. - Orlando, FL

"These new tor-tis picks are fabulous!!! I had borrowed one from Dan W. and have been using it with great results. Sounds better than my TS picks! The thicker new one you just sent is even better. ..Man, this makes my new H&D TDM sound like a cannon...!!! Who needs TS???"
Terry B. - Atlanta, GA

"I handed one of them to a friend here in Seattle that is a good jazz player, he could not tell the difference in his favorite turtle shell pick and the one I got from you."
Gary M. - Seattle, WA

"The Tortis does sound like the real thing . It has the highs without being clicky and it also brings out a very powerful bass tone. I am very happy with the pick and will order additional picks in the future. The pick is as advertised and worth the cost."
Bob S. - Montgomery, PA.

"Just wanted to thank you once again, the picks are wonderful, both very comfortable to play, and sound fantastic! I love the tone of them."
Mike F. - Edison, NJ

"I just switched over to your Tortis picks after trying everything (I mean EVERYTHING ;) ) on the market. Great tone, great feel, just like the real thing! Makes my Martin sing! Thanks so much for making an available product with all the benefits of real tortoiseshell."
Bill L. - Cincinnati OH

"I got one of your B shaped tortis picks several months ago and have used nothing else since. This week I had the opportunity to try out a real tortoise pick for the first time. I was amazed to find that I could tell no difference between the tone and feel of your pick and the real thing. I don't know how you do it."
Sam B. - Avon Lake, OH

"I have to say I was a bit skeptical at first, but those New Tortis Picks are really something else. I've been playing for over 20 years and I never expected a pick could result in such a major improvement in tone. I purchased a Tri-Tip which is super versatile and has a fantastic feel. I just ordered a few more. It's the only pick I use now on both electric and acoustic. I'm a convert!"

Mike M. - Auburn, NH