What guitar picks does everyone use?
- Thread starter GearBoxTy
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Many years back, I used to make picks out of 1/8" plexiglass in a different shapes. Then Dunlop came out with the Tortex & Jazz III's, and I liked them well enough. If you're old enough to remember only Fenders & Hercos and the anonymous pick jar, you're old. Nowadays there's so many nice ones, though I still reshape them and often put handles on them with Milliput casting epoxy. Jazz III XL's and the fatter Ultex ones are favorite starting points. For absolute best tone, when it really matters, it's hard to beat celluloid and D'Andrea still makes their 1.5mm "Plec" if you look hard. They need to be re-pointed though, it's a flabby shape as-is.
Torment Leaves Scars
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I just discovered these sort of felt-topped picks, but I'm not sure what they're made from. They seem to work pretty good.
Other than these felt-topped picks, I use those purple Dunlop 1.5mm and 2.0mm picks.
Other than these felt-topped picks, I use those purple Dunlop 1.5mm and 2.0mm picks.
After trying a bunch of different ones, I settled on the Dunlop Tortex Jazz picks (Green .88mm)
http://www.jimdunlop.com/product/tortex-jazz
But, then I tried the Dunlop Jazz III in black and I love them!!!
http://www.jimdunlop.com/product/jazz-i-ii--iii
I love that everyone is posting on this thread! Keep it up!
http://www.jimdunlop.com/product/tortex-jazz
But, then I tried the Dunlop Jazz III in black and I love them!!!
http://www.jimdunlop.com/product/jazz-i-ii--iii
I love that everyone is posting on this thread! Keep it up!
I like standard shape picks that don't bend, thick or medium thick. I could never play properly using those those floppy thin ones. However I haven't bought picks in years because what I've been doing lately is tracing the shape onto my expired credit cards and gift cards and making my own recycled picks. Then I just rub the edge on some sandpaper to round it off. For me it's the perfect thickness.
On a related note, I was watching Rig Rundown on YouTube last week with the guitar tech for Walter Becker/Steely Dan and at the end he shows a pick that looks about 1/8" and he says that's one of the thin ones. I've never seen picks like that before - they're from V-Picks in Nashville. You can see them at about the 16:20 mark in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRG3VhUMhIg
On a related note, I was watching Rig Rundown on YouTube last week with the guitar tech for Walter Becker/Steely Dan and at the end he shows a pick that looks about 1/8" and he says that's one of the thin ones. I've never seen picks like that before - they're from V-Picks in Nashville. You can see them at about the 16:20 mark in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRG3VhUMhIg
I use a rounded .96mm pick formerly made by Dunlop, who actually sharpened and beveled this pick around the edges. It's large and triangular but the 'rounded' triangular shape. Dunlop hasn't made them for a few years now. I've been searching endlessly for someone else that does. They were, for me personally, the most perfect pick ever made of all the picks I've used so far.
I have two left, and they're wearing out. Here's one of them, you can kind of still see the sharpened beveled edges, which are pretty worn down.
I have two left, and they're wearing out. Here's one of them, you can kind of still see the sharpened beveled edges, which are pretty worn down.
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JonatanOTG
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:kewlpics:
Oh, sorry. I meant 'kewl picks'! :icon_thumright:
I've spent waaay too many hours on finding the right pick. If I just would have played the thing instead I would have been a better guitarist for sure! But nevermind, here's which ones I've been using (like, been really into) so far:
[list type=decimal]
[*]Whatever pick available, before I knew anything about guitars really...
[*]Dunlup Tortex, Yellow or Blue Ones for no special reason...
[*]Ibanez Paul Gilbert signature, liked them but all of mine (yes, both of them!) worn out pretty fast...
[*]Dunlop Jazz III, I was totally blown away!
[*]Dunlop Jazz III max grip
[*]Dunlop Jazz III XL, I read Guthrie Govan been using them so well...
[*]Dunlop Jazz III Ultex, they felt a bit steadier then the regular Jazz III ones and didn't worn out as fast, great!
[*]Dunlop Jazz III Ultex 2.0, these are my main picks know, thicker and steadier and lasts longer, love 'em! :toothy12:
[/list]
It would be nice to realize that all I need is my own fingertips though, but I'm just not really there yet! :icon_thumright:
Oh, sorry. I meant 'kewl picks'! :icon_thumright:
I've spent waaay too many hours on finding the right pick. If I just would have played the thing instead I would have been a better guitarist for sure! But nevermind, here's which ones I've been using (like, been really into) so far:
[list type=decimal]
[*]Whatever pick available, before I knew anything about guitars really...
[*]Dunlup Tortex, Yellow or Blue Ones for no special reason...
[*]Ibanez Paul Gilbert signature, liked them but all of mine (yes, both of them!) worn out pretty fast...
[*]Dunlop Jazz III, I was totally blown away!
[*]Dunlop Jazz III max grip
[*]Dunlop Jazz III XL, I read Guthrie Govan been using them so well...
[*]Dunlop Jazz III Ultex, they felt a bit steadier then the regular Jazz III ones and didn't worn out as fast, great!
[*]Dunlop Jazz III Ultex 2.0, these are my main picks know, thicker and steadier and lasts longer, love 'em! :toothy12:
[/list]
It would be nice to realize that all I need is my own fingertips though, but I'm just not really there yet! :icon_thumright:
mrpinter
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I've found a new pick. I have been using the Classic picks from Gravity, and was happy with them. But in a similar thread to this one on The Gear Page, someone mentioned some picks that Mesa Engineering (the amplifier company) sells on their website. I ordered some, and they're great. Very similar to the Gravity and some of the V-Picks products, and for me they work just as well if not better. They're quiet when picking the string, and have a kind of natural "stickiness" so they don't twist around in my grip. They make four thicknesses: Light, Med Light, Medium and Extra Heavy. The Medium ones work best for me. They don't specify the actual gauges in millimeters, but the Mediums feel about like the Gravity .75mm ones.
The best thing: they're thirty cents each. A drawback is that you have a shipping charge of $6.95, IIRC. No problem for me, I just will order a bunch at a time. If you're interested, go to the Mesa Boogie site, and click on "store" and then "Collectibles". I hope they keep them around, I find them to be great picks, and at an unbeatable price. If I had to I'd pay four or five dollars apiece for them.
The best thing: they're thirty cents each. A drawback is that you have a shipping charge of $6.95, IIRC. No problem for me, I just will order a bunch at a time. If you're interested, go to the Mesa Boogie site, and click on "store" and then "Collectibles". I hope they keep them around, I find them to be great picks, and at an unbeatable price. If I had to I'd pay four or five dollars apiece for them.
Sb39, I'm pretty sure that Dunlop still makes the picks you like, they just hid them with their latest site re-design. If you go through it and look under "specialty" picks then "jazz" picks you get to this:
http://www.jimdunlop.com/product/JD-Jazztones
I used to use these for certain things, mainly reshaped them for bass. I play with thumbpick & fingers so much lately, I haven't bought picks in a long, long time. Identifying the number you want will help in locating them. Mesa-Boogie identifies their own picks as being "Gel" picks, which is an industry bug-word for polycarbonate. Before everyone goes hogwild draining their bank account for the secret magic Mesa-Boogie picks, do a little searching for polycarbonate and/or gel picks.
When I was researching plastics several years back I learned a good deal more than I needed to, as those things will do. Dunlop and Clayton are the manufacturers in the U.S., just about anything else you'll find is an imprint from them. There are just a few types of plastic that work well for picks. Polycarbonate and ultem are the newer ones, delrin and nylon are older, celluloid older still. I believe that the "Jazztone" picks above are a hardened form of rubber. Dunlop Jazz III red are nylon, the black ones are nylon hardened with powdered silica, AKA glass or sand. I believe that the famous Tortex is delrin hardened with silica also. Anything Planet Waves sells is made for them by Dunlop, as are the stocks of blanks the speciality imprint companies use. And Red Bear and Wegens and Blue Chip are selling picks to the same people who wouldn't dream of making their own pick out of plexiglass, and the same people who will spend $50 a month buying bottles of water. For some reason, they're the only ones who can hear their pick sounding better...
http://www.jimdunlop.com/product/JD-Jazztones
I used to use these for certain things, mainly reshaped them for bass. I play with thumbpick & fingers so much lately, I haven't bought picks in a long, long time. Identifying the number you want will help in locating them. Mesa-Boogie identifies their own picks as being "Gel" picks, which is an industry bug-word for polycarbonate. Before everyone goes hogwild draining their bank account for the secret magic Mesa-Boogie picks, do a little searching for polycarbonate and/or gel picks.
When I was researching plastics several years back I learned a good deal more than I needed to, as those things will do. Dunlop and Clayton are the manufacturers in the U.S., just about anything else you'll find is an imprint from them. There are just a few types of plastic that work well for picks. Polycarbonate and ultem are the newer ones, delrin and nylon are older, celluloid older still. I believe that the "Jazztone" picks above are a hardened form of rubber. Dunlop Jazz III red are nylon, the black ones are nylon hardened with powdered silica, AKA glass or sand. I believe that the famous Tortex is delrin hardened with silica also. Anything Planet Waves sells is made for them by Dunlop, as are the stocks of blanks the speciality imprint companies use. And Red Bear and Wegens and Blue Chip are selling picks to the same people who wouldn't dream of making their own pick out of plexiglass, and the same people who will spend $50 a month buying bottles of water. For some reason, they're the only ones who can hear their pick sounding better...
StubHead...I actually sent a question to Dunlop, but I haven't gotten a reply yet.
If you look at the Johnny Cash pick set, the big one, that one actually looks very close to my pick. The problem is I'd have to buy a set of multisizes and pay a premium to find out.
The good thing is I'm actually very good at keeping track of specific picks I like and not losing them.
If you look at the Johnny Cash pick set, the big one, that one actually looks very close to my pick. The problem is I'd have to buy a set of multisizes and pay a premium to find out.
The good thing is I'm actually very good at keeping track of specific picks I like and not losing them.
mrpinter
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Stubhead: you seem to be correct about the source of Mesa Boogie's picks. The Dunlop polycarbonate "gel" picks are the same colors for the same thicknesses, and are priced about the same from the usual retail sources. I'm going to order some just to make sure, but I strongly suspect you are right. I've been finding out about picks the hard way - by trying everything out - and I appreciate your sharing of info from your research.
LushTone
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I've tried everything at various music stores and Dunlop always had the best to me. Currently, the new Tortex with the Jazz III shape is my favorite (.60). Dunlop Ultex Sharps are great too. They have pretty much the same shape, but the material is harder, making them more aggressive.
Early on I was always trying out different picks... started with the ubiquitous Fender Medium... tried Thin and Heavy as well... tried Dunlop Tortex, metal picks(great for pick slides, bad when sweaty), 2mm Gator Grips, and even the gimmick Stylus pick, remember that? Eventually I tried Dunlop Tortex Triangles and that was it. I've been using .88mm Tortex triangles for probably the last 15 years at least. Of course, my weakness for personalization means they have to be customized for the current band I'm in. My first custom order came straight from Dunlop, but now I use InTuneGP.
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