The Hornet 1.5mm and the 3mm picks from Honey Picks!
A Sweet Spot in the Boutique Guitar Pick World (with a Touch of Personal History)
Back in 2021, my ears perked up, captivated by the promise of Honey Picks, a North Carolina-based artisan crafting boutique, handmade guitar picks. Now, I'm no stranger to the realm of high-end plectrums. From the legendary Patrick Hufschmid to the revered Red Bear and the tenacious Hawk Picks, I've strummed with my fair share of premium plastic (and beyond!). The elusive Blue Chip remains on my wish list – perhaps someday!
But during that particular period, Honey Picks truly captured my attention. Why? A confluence of factors. Firstly, I was genuinely impressed by the sheer range of products Rick, the proprietor, offers. Secondly, and perhaps more significantly, the man behind the magic, Rick himself, is a genuinely good dude. Beyond that, he's shown fantastic support for my guitar content journey on social media, frequently reposting my Instagram videos and sending welcome traffic my way.
So, full disclosure, dear readers: there's a definite, and proudly admitted, bias in this review. I genuinely like and support what Rick is doing. However, there's one major caveat, a bittersweet note in this otherwise harmonious experience. My absolute favorite triangle guitar pick in the entire world – a pick I'd argue borders on perfection – is sadly no longer in production at Honey Picks! That being said, Rick, my friend, if you happen to be reading this, consider this a public plea: bring it back, and I'll happily buy a few dozen right off the bat!
As my acoustic guitar explorations continue, I've been on the hunt for picks that truly unlock the instrument's full potential. I've been enjoying the familiar comfort and balanced tone of the Dunlop Flow .73mm and my own Signature InTuneGp triangle picks. Yet, the eternal question lingers: What else is out there? What could potentially elevate my acoustic tone even further?
Switching gears to the electric realm, my pick preferences have evolved like a winding fretboard over the years. I spent a good chunk of time as a staunch 1.5mm advocate, then gravitated to the versatile .88mm. For the past few years, the .96mm felt like the sweet spot. More recently, I've found myself bouncing between .73mm, .96mm, and even 1mm, depending on the musical landscape I'm navigating. Blues and jazz sessions often see me reaching for the slightly thicker 1mm or the reliable .88mm.
But the acoustic guitar presents a different set of demands. For my acoustic adventures, I'm seeking a plectrum that not only accentuates individual notes with clarity and warmth but also facilitates a seamless transition from pure pick playing to hybrid picking techniques. Ultimately, I'm chasing that ever-elusive "flesh of finger" tone when using a pick against my phosphor bronze strings. While I'm not expecting a complete sonic doppelganger, I'm aiming for a tonal kinship, a subtle shift rather than a drastic departure. This quest has naturally led me to experiment with thicker picks than my usual electric fare.
Enter the Hornet 1.5mm and the 3mm picks from Honey Picks!
Rick offers his creations in a dizzying array of shapes and sizes, a true testament to his commitment to customization. The Hornet shape itself is a familiar friend, drawing inspiration from the iconic Dunlop Jazz III. The "small" Hornet is a dead ringer for the venerable Jazz III in terms of dimensions, while the "medium" Hornet mirrors the size of the popular Dunlop Flow line.
So, why these specific shapes and thicknesses for this exploration? Well, for starters, I already possess a few small-sized Hornet picks crafted from different materials, providing a perfect platform for direct comparison. Secondly, the medium Hornet's familiar proportions to the Dunlop Flow .73mm offer a comfortable point of reference.
Now, let's talk about these acrylic plectrums. Rick is certainly not the first to explore the sonic possibilities of this material – a quick nod to pioneers like Gravity Picks and V-Picks immediately comes to mind. (Am I showing my age with those references?).
To cut to the chase in this already lengthy exploration, these Honey Picks sound fantastic! I can absolutely see why acrylic has become a go-to material for acoustic guitarists. The response is incredibly direct and articulate, faithfully conveying the nuances of your attack and the intensity with which you strike the strings. The inherent nature of the material allows the pick to glide off the strings with a smooth, almost frictionless quality. That being said, and this could very well be a personal quirk, I found myself needing a rather firm grip on the thicker 3mm Hornet to feel completely in control.
One of the standout aspects of ordering from Honey Picks is the sheer level of customization available. Yes, you're investing in the $6-$8 per pick range, but that investment unlocks a world of choices: various thicknesses, shapes, and materials, even different grip options to tailor the pick to your playing style perfectly. So, your mileage may vary! While the small 3mm Hornet's sound captivated me during this review period, a little voice in my head couldn't help but wonder if reversing the order – a medium-sized 3mm Hornet and a small 1.5mm Hornet – might have been an even sweeter spot.
In today's guitar landscape, the boutique pick market mirrors the exciting (and sometimes overwhelming) world of pickups and strings. The options seem limitless, each promising a unique sonic flavor. But let's not forget the fundamental truth: the guitar pick is arguably the very first gain stage in your signal chain, the initial "boost" to your sound. And here's another unsung hero aspect of the humble plectrum: simply by changing its shape, size, and material, you can quickly and affordably unlock a whole spectrum of subtle yet significant variations in your tonal palette!
Since I initially penned this review in mid-March, a humid summer has descended upon central Pennsylvania, and my preferences have continued to evolve. I've almost fully transitioned to using the 1.5mm medium-sized Hornet, made from acrylic, and have been experimenting with various grip options. The quest for tonal perfection continues, and I'm eagerly anticipating a new plectrum from Rick any day now, crafted from their secret material, known only as "Beekeepers Stash."