Attak Pik: Why Do I Love Them? – Full Review (Updated 2022)

The Attak Pik range is made by Acoustik Attak, a USA-based company that specializes in guitar innovation. To be honest, I’ve never heard about Attak Pik until I saw one of their ads on Instagram, and I’m so glad I saw it. The tip of every pick is textured in a way that the attack (or the pluck, for that matter) is shaped by the texture on the tip of the pick more than anything else. Their site says that every pick in the Attak Pik line is made out of nylon. But don’t expect it to sound like any other nylon pick you have ever tried. They were also featured on my coolest guitar picks list.

A few days after I ordered the Attak, Ambush, and Blade, they announced the Blade II model. So I ordered it too, hoping they’ll get here around the same time. By the time they all arrived, they announced 2 more designs: Stealth and Surge. A few months later they released two more models: Stealth XL and Juggernaut. A total of 8 models.

What Are Attak Pik Made Of?

All of the picks in the Attak Pik line are made out of Nylon, which is not the most durable material for picks. That being said, I think it is the best choice for them as it offers the perfect flexibility for what they are made to do. Not to forget that Nylon is usually cheaper to process, making them very cost-effective.

The site state that they are very durable, which I highly doubted at first. Even just strumming chords with a thin nylon pick would have some sort of wear after a few hours. Let alone with this type of texture on the tip. To my surprise, I haven’t seen any sign of early wear or anything, other than the initial “break-in” they have after a few minutes of playing. I’m deeply impressed. I expect them to last a really long time, as I have really abused them over the last couple of weeks. Just for the sake of comparison, I’d probably go through 2-3 Jazz IIIs by now.

Update: It’s been about 10 months since I got Attak, Ambush, Blade, and Blade II, and about 9 months since I got Surge and Stealth, and I still use the first pick of each model. None of them are showing

What’s In The Attak Pik Lineup?

Even though they are all made of the same material, with roughly the same shape, every one of these picks is different. Nonetheless, they can be divided into four groups: Attak and Ambush, Blade and Blade II, Stealth and Stealth XL, and Surge and Juggernaut.

Attak

The Attak’s most notable quality is its percussive effect on the attack. It isn’t punchy nor it is round, but more of 3-4 punchy attacks in rapid succession. Very similar to a very fast delay applied only at the beginning of each note, but without the phasing issues, you may face while trying to go for a similar effect with a pedal. It has a very notable mid presence that can really help with getting that “going forward” feel.

Ambush

Attak Pik’s Ambush is very similar to the Attak, but has a punchier attack and a lot more presence in the high-mids and high frequencies. The first strike is a lot louder than the following ones, making the effect less aggressive, but more present. I feel like it’s a bit faster too.

Blade

I think that this is the most useful pick out of the four (Update: this part was written before I tried the Stealth and Surge.). The only one I’ll feel comfortable strumming, playing lead, and playing the bass with. It’s got a short burst of brightness with every pluck that I just love because it isn’t overpowering. And the closer to the tip you hold it, the more control you have over that burst.

Blade II

Very similar to the Blade in character, but more focused on the mids than on the high-mids and high frequencies. I feel like it has more high presence than the Blade on the lower strings (or bass strings for that matter). It creates a great balance between all of the strings. Providing extra mids to the higher strings and a high shelf-like attack to the lower ones.

Stealth

Looks boring at first glance, but don’t let the texture-less appearance fool you. This pick has tons of character. The sharp tip makes the attack very clear, but the angle makes it fast too. In fact, it’s the fastest pick they make. And if you hold it backward, going through the strings feels like slicing a banana with a lightsaber.

Stealth XL

I found myself loving it a lot more than I expected. Stealth XL looks like a larger version of Stealth, but it’s a lot more than just that. Being so much larger (feels bigger than a standard 351 pick), it behaves differently than its smaller version. This and other unique features make it a pick in its own right, rather than just a bigger version of another pick. It’s a lot warmer and fuller than Stealth while keeping the attack clear. It is, too, usable on both sides, and I found its wider side a lot more convenient than Stealth’s.

Surge

When I saw it for the first time, I asked myself if the design was inspired by chickenpox. It probably wasn’t but I didn’t expect to like it too much. And boy was I wrong. The little dots add a lot of high frequencies, and the fact that it’s so thick (compared to the first four picks they released), makes it very clear that it (and Stealth) was designed for an electric guitar rather than for an acoustic. Another thing is that you can control the level of its effect by angling it differently. The last thing is that like the Stealth, holding this pick backward also introduces some interesting effects and enhanced speed.

Juggernaut

Juggernaut is a curveball among Attak Pik’s conventional designs, but not crazy enough to be grouped together with Attak and Ambush. A perfect match for Surge. Its rounder tip rounded the attack and forces the pick to “caress” the string before it’s plucking it, making a short and subtle “noise burst” that enforces the attack. Juggernaut is also fighting the strings a bit. This made it my go-to practice pick.

How do they sound?

Every pick in Attak Pik’s lineup is adding a different type of effect to the guitar’s tone. Some add punch and some modify the attack in different ways. One thing they all have in common is that they are not like any other pick you have now.

The fact that these picks are so unique makes them a lot harder to understand before you buy them. So the guys at Attak Pik recorded and uploaded sound demos to a page full of samples. They are currently showcasing every pick they have on a clean electric, an acoustic, and a bass. Could be useful to hear them on higher gain settings too (even though it isn’t what they are designed for). You can check it out here.

Attak and Ambush

The Ambush is a toned-down (but punchier) version of the Attak, and they are both adding a super unique percussive texture to your strumming. I get the feeling that they were designed for an acoustic, but they work very well on a clean electric too. I didn’t really like how any of them behaved in heavier settings. But I can’t hold it against them, just as I wouldn’t hold the way a wah pedal sounds with a classical nylon guitar against the pedal maker. It wasn’t supposed to work.

Blade and Blade II

Blade and Blade II resemble each other, although they have some subtle differences that make them very distinguished from one another. The Blade II is a lot stiffer than the original Blade, making it a superior choice for lead. On the other hand, The original Blade is a lot more versatile and will suit both strumming chords and playing high gain riffs and solos. As a matter of fact, the Blade duo are adding a lot of brightness to the attack, without compromising its sharpness. It makes them a great choice for a curveball bass pick that will cut through a mix a lot easier.

Stealth & Stealth XL

Stealth is light on the lows and mids, with a comfortable presence in the highs and high mids. Great for sweeping and playing fast riffs. Being made out of Nylon, you might expect it to sound like a Jazz III, but you’ll be mistaken. The Stealth is both Sharper and molded in a different technique than the Jazz III. These facts, in my opinion, make it superior.

Stealth XL looks like the extreme version of stealth, but in fact, it’s the toned-down version of it. It’s warmer and a tad rounder. It’s like it’s the overdrive to Stealth’s distortion.

Surge

These little dots are not slowing the pick down, but still, add sharp high-frequency bursts with every pluck. If you’ll tone them down using a filter, you get super interesting results. When adding some extra drive after the filter, It becomes super aggressive, like playing a 6 string tractor. And who wouldn’t want to at least try that?

Juggernaut

Its smeared attack contrasts the very clear noise burst created by the shape of the pick. This makes it an ideal pick doe heavy distorted chugs, as well as for songs that require both strumming and playing lead. I think this pick is not too exceptional at everything, but it can do almost everything at a very good level while adding its own twist to any part it plays.

How do they feel?

It took me a lot of time to get used to them. They are (Attak, Ambush, Blade, and Blade II) a lot bigger than I expected when I ordered them. The markings on the tip make them fight the strings on every stroke. More than any other pick I’ve ever tried. Especially the Attak and the Ambush. At least until they broke in properly. Even after I got used to them and they got used to being played, it wasn’t smooth sailing.

The Stealth is the easiest one to get used to, even though I’d love a thicker version of it. The Surge, on the other hand, is a great introductory pick to the rest of AttakPik’s line, as it is just on the border between a normal pick and a heavily textured one.

Attak Pik’s Pricing

Like in most cases, at Attak Pik too, the more picks you buy – the less you’ll pay per pick. They start from $5.99 for a pack of 3 and go up to $74.99 for a pack of 60. If you are still not sure about them, the safest route is to get “The Arsenal”. This is a pack containing one of each pick (6 picks total) for $10.99. This is, by far, the most cost-effective tone experiment you’ll ever do. And I can’t recommend them enough.

Where to buy them from

I usually try to encourage people to buy boutique picks directly from the maker. I can’t really call these boutique picks, but luckily, this time I don’t have to. All of the picks made by Attak Pik are available on their website and there only.

They have all sorts of different packs containing single or multiple models. But if this is the first time you try them, get the Arsenal. Having the option to play with so many different sounds is great. And to get 8 different picks that really sound so different from each other for just $14 is a deal you should really take with both hands.

Acoustik Attak is spreading good karma around

A lot of pick makers do this, I don’t really know why it’s so widespread among them – but I love it. For every purchase from Attak Pik, they donate $1 to SweetRelief, which supports musicians affected by COVID-19.

Finishing thoughts

I love them, but I’d never gig with the Attak or the Ambush unless the texture they’re adding is crucial to one of the songs. I can definitely see myself using any of the Blades on bass or as a lead. Blade II is one of my favorite bass picks ever since I tried it. I think they are phenomenal tools to have in the studio, as each of them is useful in its own way. Surge is both interesting and consistent, so after a few hours of practicing you can definitely gig with it, knowing it’ll do exactly what you expect it to. Stealth is a whole other thing. For me, it’s an enhanced version of the basic pick design we have all used for decades. Juggernaut is great, and I can’t think of anything I’d change about it. It’s just great for what it is. Stealth XL is slowly but surely becoming my favorite pick, being as comfortable as Stealth, but almost as warm as a wooden pick.

In terms of value for money, it’s very rare to find such a unique, yet a useful set of tools that cost as little as these do. I’d still think it’s a great deal if they would cost twice as much as they do.

Disclaimer

This is NOT a paid review. It was written based on my own experience playing the picks I purchased and based on that only.

Attak Pik - Full Review

8.7 Highly Recommended

They sound unique, but recognizable enough so it's still a familiar pleasant sound. The Attak and Ambush felt a bit awkward at the beginning, but I got used to them, and my playing started to flow a bit more. Both Blades are somewhere in the middle; They weren't too weird to begin with, but to me, they shine mostly on bass and are less unique on the guitar. Stealth, Stealth, and Juggernaut are a different story altogether. They felt natural to me from the get-go, and are among my go-to picks. All of these picks are surprisingly durable (more than you think), grippy, and a lot cheaper than they should be..

• Sound 8
• Feel 8.5
• Durability 8
• Grip 9
• Price 10