Has anyone used the LPT.com FPS-8 yet?

[ridinplugspinnaz]

So after doing a ton of research (maybe too much..) on LP101 and seeing some of the rave reviews from experienced members, I decided that I want to give the jackknife set from Southern Specialties a try. Don't worry, this isn't my first set or anything, I have an HPC set for "real" picking, but it would be great to have a small pocket set that isn't too much worse than regular picks, and according to the posts here, this jackknife gets closer than any of the others to staying put and retaining feedback.

Anyway, I know that as far as jackknives go, the FPS line seems to be hands down the best one, but all the reviews I've seen on LP101 are for the FPS-7, and based on the dates of those reviews, it looks like the FPS-8 that they sell now is pretty new, and probably just came out. So I was wondering, has anyone had some hands-on time with the new model yet? Maybe even someone that has also used the FPS-7 or the FPS-7P? I'm wondering if there are any significant changes between the models before I actually put down any cash. I'd really hate to find out that for whatever reason, the -8 is somehow inferior to the -7 after buying it. Any comparisons that can be made between the plastic and the aluminum models would also be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[dmux]

looks like they added an extra pick and another tension wrench, yea its must have just came out

[Legacy712]

I have never tried either of these, so I can't really say one way or the other. I've always considered them somewhat of a novelty, but it might be fun to have one. After all, neither of them are very expensive. However, if I was making a choice between the two (and I just might buy one), I would consider:

Both have the Bull Nose and Feather Lite turning tools.

FPS-7P has 7 picks, FPS-8 has 8.

FPS-7P has a pocket clip, FPS-8 does not.

FPS-7P handle is Glass Filled ABS Composite, while the FPS-8 is Aluminum.

FPS-7P costs $20, FPS-8 costs $39, almost twice as much.

I would guess the FPS-7P is lighter than the FPS-8, since it's composite and has one less pick, which could be a plus. (They say it's "extremely light and extremely durable.") Too much weight can interfere with picking. I would think the composite handle would be quite durable, unless you stomped on it a lot or hit it hard with a hammer.

I don't care about a pocket clip. In fact, I'd prefer it did -not- have one, since I wouldn't use it anyway, and it just makes it thicker. I wish it was removable.

So, as long as you take reasonable care of it, you'd pay twice as much for one extra pick. It's quite possible that you don't like their pick lineup anyway, so you may substitute one or more of them with other ones, which you can purchase for $2 apiece. Do you feel you need 8 picks versus 7 of your favorites? Would you use all 8? How many do you typically use now?

However, Southern Specialties claims the FPS-8 is "the finest folding pick set on the market, period!" Of course they do, and they may be right.

I just wish I knew the weights of each of these picksets. The shipping charges are the same for both sets, so that's no help. I would probably go with the lighter of the two. Not knowing which is lighter, I would probably buy the FPS-7P. But that's just me.

[ridinplugspinnaz]

Thanks for the input so far, guys. One other thing I noticed in reading some of the hands-on reviews of the tools was that at least one member was talking about how the -7P's picks had a tendency to begin to dig into the ABS after some period of use. I dunno if that is really the case, I think he was just postulating that it might be an issue... but I have no idea how long it would take to induce that condition.

The other confusing thing is that there are a couple youtube videos out there of people with the 7P, and one of them clearly has the euro wave jiggler pick installed. What's not clear is if the user added that aftermarket, or if the newer 7Ps just come with it now, so as to match the features of the FPS-8. If history is any indication, this wouldn't be the first time that the LPT website pictures were not in parity with the features of the currently-shipping product, so I'm only more confused by the youtube vids out there...

Anyway, if anyone has recently bought an FPS-8 or an FPS-7P from Southern Specialties, please tell me about it, and whether or not it differs from the pictures on the website currently. If I end up being the first LP101 member on here to get the FPS-8, I'll definitely post a full review for you guys

[MBI]

One other thing I noticed in reading some of the hands-on reviews of the tools was that at least one member was talking about how the -7P's picks had a tendency to begin to dig into the ABS after some period of use.

The other confusing thing is that there are a couple youtube videos out there of people with the 7P, and one of them clearly has the euro wave jiggler pick installed. What's not clear is if the user added that aftermarket, or if the newer 7Ps just come with it now, so as to match the features of the FPS-8. If history is any indication, this wouldn't be the first time that the LPT website pictures were not in parity with the features of the currently-shipping product, so I'm only more confused by the youtube vids out there...

Anyway, if anyone has recently bought an FPS-8 or an FPS-7P from Southern Specialties, please tell me about it, and whether or not it differs from the pictures on the website currently. If I end up being the first LP101 member on here to get the FPS-8, I'll definitely post a full review for you guys

I just did a restocking order from Southern Specialties less than a month ago, the week before Defcon. The FPS-8 wasn't on the website then. He told me he had a few new products coming out and I asked him if there was anything new I could buy that wasn't on the website yet but he told me none of it was ready yet. I guess he got them ready pretty quick after I spoke to him.

In that last order I did get a few of the FPS-7 and FPS-7P sets. The picks were exactly the ones specified on the website at the time. Neither model had the Euro wave jiggler pick.

Looking at the difference between the FPS-7 and the FPS-8, if it were me I'd go for the newer one. I suppose the extra pick might be nice, but mainly I think the extra tension wrench would be a lot handier than a pocket clip.

[ridinplugspinnaz]

One other thing I noticed in reading some of the hands-on reviews of the tools was that at least one member was talking about how the -7P's picks had a tendency to begin to dig into the ABS after some period of use.

The other confusing thing is that there are a couple youtube videos out there of people with the 7P, and one of them clearly has the euro wave jiggler pick installed. What's not clear is if the user added that aftermarket, or if the newer 7Ps just come with it now, so as to match the features of the FPS-8. If history is any indication, this wouldn't be the first time that the LPT website pictures were not in parity with the features of the currently-shipping product, so I'm only more confused by the youtube vids out there...

Anyway, if anyone has recently bought an FPS-8 or an FPS-7P from Southern Specialties, please tell me about it, and whether or not it differs from the pictures on the website currently. If I end up being the first LP101 member on here to get the FPS-8, I'll definitely post a full review for you guys

I just did a restocking order from Southern Specialties less than a month ago, the week before Defcon. The FPS-8 wasn't on the website then. He told me he had a few new products coming out and I asked him if there was anything new I could buy that wasn't on the website yet but he told me none of it was ready yet. I guess he got them ready pretty quick after I spoke to him.

In that last order I did get a few of the FPS-7 and FPS-7P sets. The picks were exactly the ones specified on the website at the time. Neither model had the Euro wave jiggler pick.

Looking at the difference between the FPS-7 and the FPS-8, if it were me I'd go for the newer one. I suppose the extra pick might be nice, but mainly I think the extra tension wrench would be a lot handier than a pocket clip.

Thanks for all the advice. I ended up going with the FPS-8, and so far I've been very pleasantly surprised by this thing. I'm gonna write up a more in-depth review a bit later, but I will say that the size and versatility of this thing is just great. I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't experienced it myself, but there are instances in which the feedback from this jackknife actually rivals (if not bests) the picks from my HPC Novice set!

Anyway, review forthcoming, but color me very impressed. Thanks again for the helpful advice.