New Gladiator Ultem Guitar Picks

We're introducing an entirely new guitar pick collection this year (July 2022).
Similar to the Legio Ferrata collection of picks, these are also performance-oriented picks although with several distinct differences.

While the LF Pick collection is still on our high-end & hold the highest degree of durability & speed,
The Gladiator picks are more accessible in terms of pricing & can stand their ground against heavy use, especially when compared to Acrylic & Faux Ivory models.

>Click/Tap Here To View The Pick Collection<

The Pick Material

These Gladiator picks will be crafted using Polyetherimide (PEI), or "Ultem" as it's more commonly known as. This is a high-strength & rigid material that looks & feels similar to acrylic but is much tougher & resistant to abrasion. It's a material used in many fields such as engineering & in medical gear when quality materials are depended to get the job done.

This isn't the first time we use this material but these these picks have been in the works, to the backburner, & back for what seems like years!

We're finally proud to have them available to you as a pick option for those who are more practical-minded, who want to see & feel the performance, but also value a guitar pick that's crafted specially for them & helps to connect them better to their music.

For a reference of durability throughout our pick range, we would say that on the softer (but in many cases, more visually attractive) end, we have resin guitar picks & wooden picks.
Next up are the acrylic picks such as the "Crystal" Spearheads, to the more luxurious Imperial Collection & Ragnarok Collection.
Right above these are the faux ivory picks which are dense & made to mimic real bone.
Next up will be this Gladiator collection which is actually quite a bit more durable.
Finally we have our Legio Ferrata collection & Megalith/Goliath Ultra picks, which in some cases, a single pick can last for months on end!

Gladiator Pick Characteristics

Durability

We talked about this a bit already. These picks are made from a durable engineering-grade plastic that's tough & abrasion resistant. This will make these picks an excellent choice for those who play with a heavy hand or are into the heavy chugs that extend beyond Friday night at the local watering hole.

Grip

This is arguably one of the most important aspects of a guitar pick & we've paid extra attention to it for sure. These picks will have a coarse texture on the faces similar to the ivory Parthenon picks. On top of that, each pick is designed with 2 grip holes to help prevent the pick from shifting & turning on you mid-song. Finally, there's the debossed "Sword & Laurel" logo to further aid in tactile grip.

When you pair these aspects with the 3mm thickness, you also get a comfortable grasp on a pick that's not too thin & flimsy, nor too thick & cumbersome. It's a perfect balance between comfort, grip, & practicality!

Tapered Profiles

For the most part this pick collection will have sharp tapered profiles at the playing tips. Coupled with the zero-flex material, the result is a precise & articulate picking performance.

You get the benefit & comfort of holding a thicker 3mm pick,
while also getting the feel of playing with a pick that's only 1.5mm 

Aesthetics

Aside from the functional aspects of the pick, lets talk about the looks.
The gladiator picks all feature sides & bevels that are polished to a high gloss which create a pleasing contrast & sharp definition against the textured faces.

Also while it's harder to notice on the black Ultem versions of these picks, they are translucent & have a certain pop to them when backlit.

The logos are also deeply engraved in a 3d manner which you can see through the side of the polished edges. Not only that but the logos are filled with our signature aqua-blue UV resin that charges & glows under UV light.
It's something subtle but it give it an added level of depth & complexity to our relatively simple design.

Last but not least is the original designs!
We sought out to create something different that stood out from the crowd in 2015 & that's something we strive for to this day. An entire theme to champion as our own.
A few years later handcrafted guitar picks started to take off and we saw many new players enter the field.
Some came in with similar motifs to "Iron Age", others sought to copy the materials we used, or mimic certain design characteristics.
It's all part of what comes with being a leader & if you value originality & setting the trend, these picks might be for you!

Pick Models Available

There will be 6 new guitar pick models to choose from & released in pair for a total of 3 pick releases over the summer of 2022.
Much like the all of the other pick collections we have, these will also be a permanent addition to the lineup.

We plan on releasing some limited edition guitar picks in black Ultem versions initially.
After this however, we will continually stock up on the light amber versions.
These are a collection of picks that will always be back in stock eventually.

Guitar Pick Models

• Gladius - A sharp Jazz3 style pick
• Retiarius (Fuscina) - A Jazz-sized tri-pick with sharp playing points
• Provocator - A Standard sized pick with rounded playing point similar to a "351"
• Secutor - An extra wide & standard sized pick with a sharp point
• Sica II - A bi-pick with rounded & extra sharp points
• Flamma - An extra large pick with a sharp point

Release Dates

We will be releasing these picks in pairs starting with the first two (Gladius & Retiarius) on July 1st.

We've got many other items on schedule including time sensitive releases like signature picks among other items, so the 2nd & 3rd batch of gladiator picks could take up to August to finally release.

Our Aim is to have the Provocators & Secutor picks ready before the end of July & then the Final 2 models ready in the first week or two of August.
Then, finally switch over to the light colored amber versions shortly after.

Limited Editions

 As mentioned earlier in this article, the first releases of these picks will be a black Ultem material.

This is the same material used in the Sammy Duet v2 picks & also used to make the Doom Slayer picks. We would have liked to keep using it but unfortunately we haven't been able to find a replacement supplier for it.

So the black Ultem gladiators will only be available once for all models.
We have two 6x6" material plates remaining & those will be used to make more of the most popular models. After this, we'll switch over to the light amber Ultem picks.

Thanks for reading & looking into our latest pick collection.
If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to leave a comment below!

-The Iron Age Team

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