Picks- old favorite or do you like variety?

WEDGE

Zombie five, DFZ
Joined
Apr 26, 2012
Messages
4,792
Location
Too close to the casinos in CT.........
I have tried various brands and thicknesses but always come back to Dunlop 1.0MM nylon, the black ones. It might be superstitious but I feel better playing with one. I keep one in my pocket at all times, even when heading out to work, I check for it like I do my wallet and watch like it is part of my everyday kit.

I do though for acoustic use the grey one, think it is .77 or so. I find the heavy picks too much for acoustic, which is odd maybe because the strings are bigger?

what do you all use and do you experiment?
 
I used red Dunlop Jazz IIIs for quite a while, then I switched to the Ultex Jazz III. I find they have a clearer tone and the last much longer, but they are a bit more expensive. The tone stays consistent as they wear though, so I use them live exclusively.

At home I use the Dunlop Tortex Pitch Black 1.0mm as they're cheap, so I don't mind too much if I lose them, and they give a slightly warmer sound than the Ultex. They wear out quicker though and don't maintain tone as the edge wears.
 
I use .94 mm dunlop picks for quite a time now and I keep three picks in my back pocket all the time :)

They are a little too soft for heavy one note picking, but they are perfect for full chords acoustic style playing, which I do a lot. Getting used to one pick thickness works fine for me...
 
If I've got pants on, there's at least 2 Jazz III's of varied materials in them. When I play acoustic in pubs, I'll put those oversize Jazz III's and the translucent Dava control picks in the mic stand grip. I still like the Dava from time to time, especially to get realllly percussive sounds.

When I play steel, it's always a blue Herco thumb pick, and some special metal finger picks.
 
Back when I was playing the longest (16 to 18 years old) I always liked the Fender mediums the best.
Since I got back into playing again this past May, I bought some Fenders again, but I like the Dunlop green Tortex (.88 mm) ones even better.
 
I love these....

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I think I saw those in a guitar magazine.
Only problem with that for me is I like to switch between using the sharp end of the pick, and rounded sides sometimes.
 
Fender Mediums for decades...

But I do like the sound of a V-Pick with my telecasters...


Jamie
 
Anyone use stone, wood, metal, or any other alternative pick material? I have tried a metal thumbpick and the tone was harsh but I wonder if different metals and finishes would have a mellower yet still immediate toneality?
 
I have been liking those purple tortex picks with the star cut out from Everly, but they make my fingertips look funny after playing with them for awhile.
 
Dunlop Big Stubby 1.0m - the red ones. And for you guys that will say I picked red because of my penchant for red guitars... I started on the purple ones and migrated to the 1.0m reds. The purple ones were a bit too heavy/thick.
 
I have been liking those purple tortex picks with the star cut out from Everly, but they make my fingertips look funny after playing with them for awhile.

I use the PRS Delrin .73 (yellow) picks. I take a few of them and tape them together and drill a large hole through the center. It makes them easier to hold that way.
 
Seems like we have a huge variety on here.......I propose a pick swap!

Would work like this.....post an address where someone can send you 4-5 picks of whatever size, shape, or color for you to try. Someone posts their address, and so on and so on. Everyone has a pile of picks whether they are your faves or spares so this would be cheap and only cost us each ;like 40 cents for a stamp. I am in and here is my address for mailing.....

Paul Golden
28 Knollwood Drive
Hebron, CT 06248.

Whose in? I will send picks to the first one to reply and that person sends to the next to post, et cetera....
 
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I use the PRS Delrin .73 (yellow) picks. I take a few of them and tape them together and drill a large hole through the center. It makes them easier to hold that way.

Thats an interesting way of getting what you want from a pick Shawn. I myself use the Dunlop Max Grip 1.5 mm
 
I use "Monster guitar picks" made by Hot Picks USA...Its in the style and feel of a jazz pick that fits comfy in your hand.....
 
I used celluloid Fender style picks for many, many years, but only recently switched to Jazz IIIs and bought them in several materials. I like the tone I get with them, and the small size and point seem to make for speedier picking.

I was actually surprised at the subtle differences in tone with the materials.

I kinda wish there was a PRS Jazz III! ;)
 
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