It’s not often that an entrepreneur chooses a bluegrass event to launch their product. This past September, Daniel Flanigan did just that. Attendees at the annual International Bluegrass Music Association convention in Chattanooga, Tennessee, got some of the first looks at Token Flatpicks. I finally got my hands on one a few weeks ago. It’s as stout as 10 rows of onions.
Flanigan has worked in a wide range of roles throughout his career. He was formerly an electrical contractor with experience in the solar energy industry. His career also led him to work with aspects of material science, marketing, financial analysis, and intellectual property, just to name a few roles. As a founder of five start-up companies, a love for bluegrass, and a renewed interest in playing guitar, led him to his latest venture.
Token currently offers flatpicks made from three highly engineered plastics. First, the amber and black amber material is a US-made virgin Polyetherimide resin, better known as PEI. It is designed to provide a warm tone similar to traditional boutique picks. The second, a tan color made from Polyetheretherketone, better known as PEEK, is designed to provide a slick gliding feel across strings while being extremely resistant to wear. The third, a green material, is created using a unique compression-molding process and Polyamide-imide, better known as Torlon, that produces a quite stiff, high-volume flatpick.
Token uses a “letter, number, dash, number” naming system for their plectrums. The first letter indicates the shape, the first number refers to the material, and the final number refers to how many thousands of an inch the plectrum is in thickness. The dash means nothing. For musicians more familiar with mm instead of thousands, the sizes are as follows: the 35 is .89mm, the 40 is 1.02mm, the 45 is 1.14mm, the 50 is 1.27mm, the 55 is 1.40mm, and the 60 is 1.52mm.
Unlike their contemporaries in the boutique pick market, Token has also figured out a way to mechanically bevel their flatpicks instead of doing it by hand. This promises to provide unparalleled consistency from pick to pick, ensuring that if you order two of the same model they will be 100% identical.
For several years I’ve ordered plastic Delrin picks 72 at a time. It doesn’t take long before I’ve worn down the edges horribly. A regular plastic plectrum doesn’t stand a chance, so I rotate them out often. After reading descriptions on the Token website, I quickly chose the B3-60, a small green triangle flatpick, 1.52 mm thick, and made of Torlon. It’s described as having “exceptional durability, surprising volume, velvet guide, and Goldilocks tone.” I found all of these descriptors to be true. I’ve used the pick exclusively for several weeks now and have enjoyed it quite a lot. The bevels don’t seem to have worn any, and the volume and tone it produces is exceptional.
I included a video comparison of several different flatpicks in this post. The answers as to which pick I’m using in the clips will be at the end of this review.
Priced at $35.00 or less, I highly suggest trying a Token the next time you are in need of a good, reliable pick. For more information on Token Flatpicks, please visit their web site.
- Clip 1: Dunlop Delrin Purple 2.0
- Clip 2: Fender Equivalent (Heavy)
- Clip 3: Token B3-60
- Clip 4: Blue Chip TD 60
