My two favorite picks

[mrpinter]

for reasons way too numerous to list here. I'll just say that both of these - although they are very different animals - play ultra smoothly and glide off the strings seductively. Both have great tone (the Gravity pick is brighter, which I prefer); and both are nice and quiet as far as pick noise ("click" or "chirp") goes; but believe it or not (considering the Blue Chip costs 3x as much), the Stealth is the quieter of the two! Here they are:

 

[Tonar8352]

I switched from Red Bear to Blue Chip about six months ago and they really live up to the hype. I loved the Red Bear's until they start getting the surface cracking from sweat and started feeling weird. They retained the tone just not the feel of a brand new one where as the Blue Chips surface stays the same after months, it has great tone and  I also found  it improved speed.

Get your wallet out; but money well spent in my opinion.

 

[LushTone]

I've tried just about every pick on the wall at my guitar shop and these Pickboy picks are my favorite. I like the tone and feel. Thin enough to flex, but durable. The material (cellulose), doesn't fray like tortex, and I would say gets better as you play (for a time). The dots on these help grip and flex, while the tip is firm. The ones without holes are good too. They are slightly shorter and pointier than a dunlop, which I prefer..

 

[mrpinter]

LushTone: I'm familiar with that pick. I used pretty much that exact model on a couple of my electrics for probably close to ten years. It's a very usable pick. I much prefer the Gravity Stealth now, however.

 

[Fat Pete]

This thread makes feel like a Star Trek robot about to have a cognitive dissonance-induced meltdown. How much?! For a pick??!!

If I accidentally tossed one of those into the crowd (like I ever play in front of anything you could call a 'crowd'), the band would be stopped, the house lights (like I ever play anywhere that has 'house lights') would be switched on and the bloodhounds (like... never mind) sent in until it was found.

Maybe I need to take up something else. Like crochet, or croquet... or billiards.

(Wanders off, muttering.)

 

[Cagey]

I rarely lose picks, but even if I were rich I can't see me spending $35 on one. I'm sure they're wonderful picks, but $35? Really? Or, is that for a gross of them?

 

[mrpinter]

Haha Pete. Funny post. Yeah, handmade picks aren't a good choice for players who just lose them a lot. I've disciplined myself to keep mine wedged into the strings of my guitars (or in my pocket if I'm around people who would walk off with it). I was at a show recently at the Toubadour in Hollywood where the lead player/singer went off stage at the end of the set and came back with a sizable box of picks and proceeded to throw them by handfuls into the crowd. Just silly. Those things bear no resemblance to what we're discussing.

Cagey: $35 is a LOT for me to spend on a pick too. I finally just had to buy one out of curiosity, after hearing so much discussion (arguments) over them. Are they worth $35? Not when I like my $10 Gravity pick better. I know, that's still a lot for a pick. But for about the price of a hamburger combo meal I have better tone and playing feel for a long time, because these things just don't wear out very quickly.

 

[Cagey]

Would you say it makes pinch harmonics easier, more difficult, or has no effect?

 

[mrpinter]

I just did a comparison - pinch harmonics with my Gravity Stealth and with a generic "Fender 351 heavy style" pick that Warmoth bundles with their shipments. It's close, but I think the Gravity, at least for me, makes this a little easier to do. Maybe just because it feels more comfortable in my fingers.

 

[Strat Avenger]

Nothing beats the Dunlop Gator-Grip picks, and they are only about 25 cents each.

 

[NLD09]

And here I thought I was exotic for liking Max Grip Jazz iii's...

 

[swarfrat]

String life is measured in songs, not weeks, but I love the way  a quarter's heft solidifies the feel of driving rhythm parts. Also, once the strings start to die, they still sound crisp as the quarter wrings the remaining life out of the strings in a much shorter time.

 

[Nightclub Dwight]

String life is measured in songs, not weeks, but I love the way  a quarter's heft solidifies the feel of driving rhythm parts. Also, once the strings start to die, they still sound crisp as the quarter wrings the remaining life out of the strings in a much shorter time.

That's not chump change!

 

[swarfrat]

Basically I don't do it unless I'm recording something or the strings are already on their last legs. But it sounds and feels so good. its actually a lot less sibilant than the thin metal picks sold as guitar picks that still destroy your strings.

 

[Tonar8352]

I use to buy a gross of Pick Boy Jazz Picks until they stopped making the ones I liked. The reason I bought 144 picks at a time was because by the end of the night the tip of the pick began to loose its shape and round off.

After they stopped making the ones I liked I had to go on a  search to find a pick that I felt matched or beat the tone that I enjoyed with the Pick Boys. This is not a fun task when you really love the feel and tone of your current pick of choice but it moved me to try something new. After several unhappy attempts I landed on the Red Bear and was elated with the tone and ware of them. I would lose one before it would ware out, but I did not like the crazing they get. After I used the same Red Bear (not same type but the same pick) for two years I ran into the Blue Chip and I thought I'd give it a shot. In my opinion its worth every penny of the $35.00 I spent on it!!!! I am still using the first one I bought and it continues to hold its shape,  I liked it so much I had my wife get me three more for my birthday and I don't anticipate needing more picks for years to come, I mean a lot of years.

Moral of the story: If you like the pick you're using, stick with it. If you're looking to make a change take a chance on the expensive stuff and see if you like it. And if you decide you like it make sure you are careful not to loose it.

Give this a view, he does a great job explaining the differences. Also note that he uses a really thick 100 Blue Chip which is why it is $75.00. I use a different size and thickness ( Jazz 50) which is $35.00.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9y2X6XfdK_Q

 

[bbl4ck]

I am going to give one of those Blue Chip picks a try.  A few months ago, I finally gave in and bought a couple of the Red Bear picks and really feel in love with them.
Unfortunately, I lost both of them on my road trip earlier this summer.  I have grown quite frustrated trying to replace them because the folks at Red Bear have a really odd system of ordering.
They only take orders for picks when they don't have any orders.  Then they open the floodgate for a few days and take a bunch of orders.  Then they close the door and will not take any additional
orders until the previous orders have been filled.  It took me over a month of waiting to place an order for the first two.  Now I have been trying to replace them since July 10th and have been able to place an order.
At least the folks at Blue Chip have readily available product to sell.
:rock-on:
P.S.  I used Pickboy 100's for several years before trying the Red Bear.

 

[mrpinter]

You guys make me feel better about my pick buying habits. When you think about it, $10 or $35 - or even $75 - doesn't seem so exorbitant for something that really does improve tone and playing, and will last for years if you aren't one prone to losing things. I don't know what it is about strings and picks, but just post something positive about a premium brand of either, and prepare to get flamed by other players for whom this brings out the "bad parent". Never could understand all the negativity... post about an expensive guitar or amp and every one will just say "cool". Go figure.

 

[swarfrat]

Nah. We bash Gibson regularly for being priced way out of line with what they offer.

 

[mrpinter]

Nah. We bash Gibson regularly for being priced way out of line with what they offer.

Aaarrrgghh! I must have forgotten momentarily that I am on the Warmoth site  :doh:

 

[mayfly]

still my favorite pick: