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The Acoustik Attak Concept
When it comes to a guitarist, their instrument setup, amps, peddles, string gauges and even the guitar itself all evoke a personal preference; still, nobody thinks about guitar picks as an individual item.
You may think that a pick is just a pick…
Well, I am here to tell you that a pick to a guitarist is as personal as a watch is to a businessman or a purse is to a women’s outfit.
Just when you think everything has been done before, you are introduced to innovations and designs that push the concept of a flat guitar pick further.
The concept of not using a conventional flat pick is not new, being that a guitar is so touch-sensitive that anything you use to pick a string changes the sound dramatically and can be personalized.
Using Coins As Plectrums
For instance, Billy Gibbons uses a quarter or a peso as a guitar pick adding to his distinctive sound.
Brian May uses a Sixpence as a guitar pick as he explains…
May ordered sixpence-sized “coins” minted for sale to concertgoers. for his world tour in 1993 and other tours in 2008 and 2014.- image courtesy of canadiancoinnews.com
“I wanted more and more hardness in the pick, and the more rigid it is, the more you feel what’s happening at the string in your fingers. “
“I can even feel the serrations.”
“I hold it loosely so that it can flex and so you get all the flexibility, but it gives you variation as well.”
“I love that ability … it’s a kind of consonant sound, you know?”
“So in the end, I picked up a coin, and it was just perfect; that’s all I needed.”
This became so part of his sound the artist even minted sixpence coins for fans from 1993 to 2014.
And some players like Jeff Beck do not use picks at all.
Enter The Acoustik Attak Piks
Acoustik Attak has introduced new picks with raised structures on the Tip that can provide multiple strikes on a string, potentially providing a more considerable sonic variation.
This new design features different raised edges on the tips or the entire pick itself and comes in 6 variations.
As of 2022, they have added designs to their lineup; more on this later.
All 6 pick designs can be purchased as a batch called The ARSENAL for $10.99 US.
The desired result of this innovative approach is when striking the string; you get a series of different sound dynamics.
The owners of this new company realized that the standard flat picks, no matter how heavy, medium or light, were all still flat.
Why Are These Different?
Created by Mark Labbe, a bassist from Connecticut who works as the Chief Product and Technology Officer for the company, Michael DePietro is a guitarist from New York who is Chairman & CEO.
These musicians found that the traditional flat picks were still lagging in approach, so after extensive research, they decided to create a new brand of guitar and bass picks to give rise to this new company.
By combining Engineering and Creativity, the Duo created the first prototype in 2019, using a 3D Printer, looking to see if the vision they had for this concept of guitar and bass picks would work… and it did.
From these prototypes, the complexity of the designs also evolved.
Unlike standard flat guitar picks, Acoustik Attak Piks feature patented sets of ridges, bumps, diamonds and other designs on both sides of the tip or striking zones.
The new designs enable multiple strikes from one string strum, regardless of string gauges.
The multiple strikes or striking of a string numerous times per pass resulted in enhanced harmonics/sonic waves and tones never before heard of previously.
Working in collaboration with the new company owners, the Grammy Award Producer /Sound Engineer Jason Mariani of Carbonit Sounds Studios explains…
“Attak Piks actually brighten the sound of a guitar or bass without having to go through an equalizer.”
“It’s such a cool and straightforward design that it’s surprising no one thought of it before.”
The new pick designs have teardrop shapes, with some sporting the company’s raised logo in the moulding allowing for branding and extra grip, as opposed to a regular glossy flat pick that can slip out of your grasp if playing and sweating.
These picks enhance frequencies between 1-5 K (mid-range) and add attack and percussiveness to the sound.
This small attention to detail all adds to the end-user experience.
2020 & Beyond
This new company will not be stopping here. The Research and Development team will continue introducing more innovations to the market and expanding their arsenal into the future.
Let’s look at the existing lineup.
Attak & Ambush
The first of the guitar pick line introduced by the company’s Duo was the Attak and Ambush designs in July of 2020
The Attak
Features 3 rows of pyramid-shaped ridges on its Tip and both sides. (See below image)
The Attak Design w/3 rows of pyramid-shaped ridges on its Tip.
If you want a brighter, fuller sound for rhythm playing, the impact of each strum will enhance the mid and high mid frequencies, almost like 12-string harmonics on your 6-string acoustic guitar.
The Attak has small diamond structures set into 3 rows. These shapes can strike the strings more independently depending on your angle, resulting in a full sound.
“It provides clarity and less string noise, especially within mids and high mids, ideal for lead guitarists.”
Acoustik Attak
The Ambush
Features five staircase ridges on its Tip, both sides. (See below Image)
The Ambush Design features 5 staircase ridges on its Tip, both sides
The Ambush has similar-sized ramped structures as the Attak, providing the same benefits, but is set into a V shape. The shapes here are slightly more aggressive and create a slightly sharper sound.
The Ambush will give you more impact, enhancing harmonics resulting in a heavier or fuller sound.
The company claims that it can…
“Enhance upper-midrange harmonics, distortion, percussive effects and thickened upper-midrange frequencies, especially for rhythm guitarists or bassists.”
Acoustik Attak
Specs For The Attak & Ambush
- Weight – 25g
- Material- Nylon
- Pick Color – Red
- Pick Size – 2.3 mm Tip Structure | 1.3mm Grip | 0.6 mm Base| 25mm Width and 36mm Length
Material- Nylon - Available in batch quantities of 6, 12, & 24
Video On The Attak & Ambush Pick Designs
The Blade
The Blade and Blade II models continue to follow the original designs of the Attak and Ambush but with different patterns on the tips.
The Blade has horizontal full width ramped ridges on the Tip (both sides) and more flex with the closest feel to a standard pick while still adding volume and multi-strike design. (See Image below)
Image of the Blade w/horizontal ramped ridges the full width of the Tip
Blade’s tip ridges produce a compressed sound on individual notes, enhancing the mid-range of frequencies.
This design also compresses sound (when picking) and provides more clarity when using different effects.
The Semi-Flex, along with the broader top, allows for better Strumming and picking techniques, and the company claims that it…
“Mitigates some of the muddiness of excess string resonance in the lower frequency ranges.”
Acoustik Attak
Specs For The Blade
- Weight- 25g
- Material- Nylon
- Pick Color- Yellow
- Pick Size – 0.6mm base | 1.8mm Tip structure | 1.3 mm Grip | 26mm width | 35mm Length
- The Blade 6 pack is 10.99
Blade II
Like the Blade, The Blade II top design is still good for strumming, but being less flexible will give you more definition and control/faster attack, resulting in more clarity and precision. (See Below Image)
The Blade, 2 model w/horizontal, ramped ridges the full width of the Tip has less flex as Blade 1 and extra finger gripping areas.
With less flex, you can play harder, brighten up lows and mids, and have more raised areas for pick grip.
Specs For The Blade II
- Weight- 25g
- Material– Nylon
- Pick Color– Orange
- Pick Size – 0.8mm Base| 2.0mm Tip Structure | 1.3 mm Grip | 26mm Width | 35mm Length
- Blade and Blade 2 are available in quantities of 6, 12, & 24.
- The Blade II 6 pack is 10.99
The Surge
The Surge design is slightly different, with multiple rows of raised finite cones across the pick.
This result gives you an excellent grip and tones that growl great for music styles that need that extra edge or is heavy. (See the below Image)
The Surge has w/multiple rows of raised finite cones.
This design allows for a better attack of each note and produces an upper frequency giving you more clarity, and with the shape, the design is also suitable for strumming.
Surge Pik Specs
- Weight– 25g
- Material- Nylon
- Pick Color– Green
- Pick Size – 1.5 mm base | 2mm tip structure | 2mm Grip | 26mm Width | 32mm Length
- The Surge 6 pack is 10.99
The Stealth, FNG & XL
The Stealth designs are equipped with an effective ergonomic thumb area for maximum finger grip giving you more comfort and control when picking, especially at high speeds, cleaning up your frequency lows or mids, and giving you more dynamic control.
This Ergonomic pick design is also suitable for strumming.
The mathematically-engineered Stealth Trio design, simply as the name suggests, glides across strings with consistent control based on its curved -bevel Tip. (See Below Image)
The Stealth’s w/curved-bevel tip and concave center area w/ 12 node matrix surface thumb inset.
New for 2022
FNG
The Stealth FNG comes new for 2022 and is the same pick but in the colour white. (See image)
New for 2022 The Stealth FNG, same pick, just different colour-image courtesy of attakpik.com
XL
The new XL is a smaller version of the original Stealth but with the same design and materials.
This Stealth design is a touch smaller for more leverage-Image, courtesy of attakpik.com.
The Stealth/FNG and XL are the only picks in the company’s arsenal that are made from a Nylon/Carbon Fibre Mix for extra playability.
Specs For The Stealth/FNG/XL
- Weight- 25g
- Material–Nylon/Carbon Fiber Mix- For Durability
- Pick Color– Black/White
- Pick Sizes – 2mm Thickness| Curved Bevel tip | Recessed Grip | Width 23mm/XL 26mm |Length 29mm/XL 32mm
- The Surge, Blade II and Stealth are available in batch quantities of 3, 6, 9, & 12.
- The Stealth & XL 6 pack is 10.99, the Stealth FNG 10 pack is 17.99
Stealth 2.0 RGD & Radium
Releasing the NEW STEALTH 2.0 RGD & XL looks the same as the original Stealths with the same Specs but with a longer tip life and more rigidity, using their own Proprietary Strengthening Properties.
- Specs same as the Stealths (Above)
- 5-pack selling for 9.99
The Radium
Another version of the popular Stealth is the Radium, which is the same as the new Stealth 2.0 RGD and the XL 2.0 RGD except for…
The Stealth RGD GITD Edition Radium Glows In The Dark -Image courtesy of attakpik.com
- 5-pack selling for 9.99
The Juggernaut
This new Juggernaut pik from Acoustik Attak has a similar thumb inset concave center with a 12-node matrix surface as the Stealth but a 1 mm Step Down Design on the Tip. (See image)
The Juggernaut has a concave center area w/ 12 node matrix surface thumb inset. w/Step-down designed tip – Image courtesy of attakpik.com
The Juggernaut is designed to give you warmer purer tones when used gently and an added bite when going harder. Like the Stealth, it comes with an ergonomic concave grip for control and comfort when playing, but it will sit a bit bigger in between your fingers and is a little thicker.
Specs For The Juggernaut
- Material– Nylon
- Pick Color– Purple
- Pick Size – 3mm Thickness| Step Design Tip | Recessed Grip | 28mm Width |35mm Length
- The Juggernaut 6-pack is 10.99
The Viper
With the Triangle shape and 3-tip structure, you have lots of picks to hold on to and can use any of the 3 sides for playing, providing a brighter tone but with a smaller pick solid feel.
A triangle 3-tip structure for clarity and precision- Image courtesy of attakpik.com
Specs For The Viper
- Material– Nylon
- Pick Color–Azure Blue
- Pick Size – 1.4 mm Thickness| 32mm Width |35mm Length |25g Weight
- The Juggernaut 5 pack is 9.99
New For 2023
The Blade X
A new Hybrid pick made from the Stealth XL and Original Blade design, this new pick comes with the grip and ergonomics of the Stealth but with the revised version of the original Blade tip.
The original Blade above the ridges is a more flimsy material; with the new design, increased thickness and rigidity, you will get more of the Stealth sound and play.
(See Image)
Image of the original Blade w/horizontal ramped ridges on the full width of the Tip. Image courtesy of attakpik.
With the revised tip, the ridges will give you a sonic effect similar to the original Blade design, but if you do not wish to have the strings make contact with the ridges, the new flat tip gives you the feel of a flat pick.
(See Image)
New Blade with a reinforced concave center area w/ 12 node matrix surface thumb inset and revised tip Image courtesy of attakpik.
Specs For The Blade X
- Material– Nylon
- Pick Color-Yellow
- Pick Size – 3mm Thickness| 28mm Width |36mm Length |1.5g Weight
- The Blade X 5 pack is 9.99
Wear Tear & Strings
Outside of loss, the Nylon/Carbon Fiber Mix materials make for a sturdy tool, so even as the pick starts to wear, it is not expected to lose the effectiveness of sound or play.
Also, no excess pulling or drag on the strings that could lead to overstring breakage.
More New Designs For 2023
The Company is not slowing down with the injection of ideas and concepts; they have also gone forward with Custom Printed Picks on the White Stealth and GITD Radium to make them even more attractive.
And if you do not want to Custom Print your own picks, they have limited edition ‘Art Pick” designs on the same White Stealth and Radium templates.
Video On The Stealth Compared To The Jazz III
Final Thoughts
My favourite picks are the Stealth XL, Surge and Blade II, for these 3 have an individual tone that can be identified immediately against the flat pick sound.
I have been a “Teardrop“ player for over 4 decades and love the closeness, control and dynamics you get from this 1.0mm style of pick (middle pick in image) and have tried a lot of different plectrums from 1-cent to 25-cent pieces.
Image of the Dunlop Max -Grip Carbon Fiber Jazz III, The Dunlop “Teardrop” Tortex and the Stealth by Attakpik
The Jazz III (The first pick in the above image) gives you that grip area similar to the Surge and can give you some great tonal sounds that are great for gripping and accentuating notes just by turning the pick around in your fingers., but unlike the Dunlop Teardrop, the Jazz III cannot be used for everything.
My Dream Pik Combo
The closest pick to the Teardrop I use is the Stealth XL, and it works well, but I would like to see a union of both the Stealth XL and Surge in a small Teardrop shape.
The Surge Texture on a Teardrop Stealth pick would get that dynamic effect when you want it and still have the blazing speed ability and freedom when you do not.
The Blade II is also a nice working pick for dynamic solo playing, but, again, a bit too big.
Also, going forward, I will get a custom GITD Radium pick done with our Gstring logo.
Should You Add This To Your Arsenal?
I like that there is innovation in this area of the instruments toolbox, and anything that can get some new growth in the sonic landscape is great.
Price-wise the attakpiks are doable, with packs starting at $9.99, and I look forward to seeing some of the new concepts as they roll out more.
My initial reaction was to at least try them.
Also, based on your playing and right hand, these designs could take some getting used to and slow you’re playing down, especially for lead playing; some of these picks cannot work for techniques you are using a flat pick for.
The multiple-strike design picks are very effective and comfortable regarding strumming.
But for sure, each of these designs gives you a more varied sound than a flat pick. And how you can hear this for yourself is by using a standard flat pick alongside one of these new pick designs; it is pretty apparent.
But for some guitarists, the personal feel of a pick and the strings is greater than the extra cool sounds you are getting from a new plectrum.
So the more variations they can provide, the more musicians will jump on board.
I have faith this company will continue to listen to their audience, continue with the R&D, and create a product that will capture a good portion of this market.
Did You Like This Article
Check out my Guitar Shop Post on the Scalloped Guitar Fretboard.
Also…
Leave your comments in the section below if you would like me to discuss topics in Guitar Shop or review a favourite Axe.
As always, stay the course and keep playing.
Feature image courtesy of guitargirlmag.com
Feature images of Smaller Attak pik courtesy of attakpik.com
Acoustik Attak Guitar Picks
$10.99
Pros
- Sonic Variance
- Good Ergonomics
- Different Designs
- Good Pricing
Cons
- Some Designs Need To Be Smaller
- Cross Over Designs Needed
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