Guitar picks--what kind do you use?

[markerhodes]

I use Dunlop Jazz IIIs, though I'm open to something better. (I hope there's something better--these tend to move around too much while I'm playing.)

Just read about something called an UltraPick on a site of Steve Crowell's material. Anyone here played with one? (I don't think they're available in stores.)

[derek]

I use two different picks. First is this one, by Cool Picks.

COOL PICKS "JURATEX" JAZZ PICK - Elderly Instruments

And the Jazz Grip by Dava.

DAVA PICK ONLINE

I will use the Dunlp Jazz III in a pinch, but it is not my fav.

[mangotango]

Ultex Jazz III's:

Dunlop - ULTEX® JAZZ 3 GUITAR PICK

Size and convenience of a Jazz III, sound and feel from the Ultex plec. Just right.

[fep]

I've been using a Dunlop 208 or Dunlop Big Stubby 3.0 mm

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

+1 on the thickest big stubby -- for single notes anyway. I use a Fender Heavy or just "the stubbies god gimme" for comping.

[emmadet]

I'm using heavy peavey teardrops. They're slightly larger than the gibson ones. Actually they're perfect for me, but they don't make them anymore! I'm down to my last 30 or so, and when they're worn out, I've got a problem. I tried fenders, no good. Dunlops, no. Damn. Anyone got a bunch of peavey teardrops lying around?

[billkath]

I use Herdim tri-picks

[jazzbow]

Big stubby in 3mm and 2mm, and gypsy wegen.
Wegen's Guitar Picks
Wegen picks are a nice material and can be used to level wonky chairs and tables! Ha ha.Nice shaping to them which I copy onto me stubbies (ooer).
I also check out charity shops/thrift stores for those cheesy ornaments made from horn. I use the wegen as a template and cut the shapes from near flat pieces, in particular there are ship style ornaments where the sails are pretty flat. 240 & 400 grit sandpaper to smooth the edges and tone heaven...
Does anyone else make their own picks???

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

I know real tortoise shell is the holy grail of pick materials, but practically illegal now. Old tortoise shell hair brushes are carved into picks, but they're expensive.

[jazzbow]

how about this?

I use the same as Derek, the 'Cool' ones. I have tried just about every pick known to man and those are the first ones that actually eliminate most of the pick attack. They have a very soft sound, which I like. Pricey, but worth it.

[bkdavidson]

I'm a big fan of the Dunlop Jazztone 204. Tiny, thick, and a rounded tip. For acoustic strumming I use the regular old orange Dunlops. Can't remember the gauge, but they're really thin and work great for that purpose.

[C.A.JO.]

For jazz: Dunlop stubby's. Either 2 or 3 mm. Doesn't really matter. They give a smoother tone.

Everything else: Dunlop Jazz III's (the purple ones).

[jazzrat]

Used to use Jazz III's and Dunlop 205's.
These days is D'Andrea Vintage Pro Plec 1.5mm.
Very round warm tone and smooth release.

[derek]

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles

+1 on the thickest big stubby -- for single notes anyway. I use a Fender Heavy or just "the stubbies god gimme" for comping.

I sometimes use the little jazz stubby. Not too bad. The big stubby is too much pick for me. That yellow triangle pick posted below is just crazy.

I hear great things about V Picks, but haven't been brave enough to drop the coin on one yet.

[jseaberry]

It depends on the guitar and what sound I want. For jazz, usually Wegen jazz picks or fingers or pick/fingers. For more "fusiony" or blues sounds, Dunlop Jazz III usually.

[Tom Karol]

I've used red Jazz III's for a while (205's and Stubbies before that). I recently tried the new 'max grip' version, but went back to the originals. The max grip version doesn't move around enough - the surface is too grippy! I love the shape, so I'll try the new Ultex Jazz III's at some point.

[Dystonian_Mode]

I now use Planet Wave .85 guage pickss. Because of focal dystonia in my right hand, the only way I can grip a pick without it slipping from my fingers is by using two fingers - index and middle - to hold the pick. The rest of my picking style is something you might see Harry Houdini try and pull off, but it working so far.

[BillyC]

Ah "the" question.

Dunlop Delrin 500 standard 1.5mm. The 351 shape was one of the first designs and continues to be the most widely used shape of guitar picks to this day for a reason. But the type of pick everyone uses still doesn't deserve this much attention.

I go between Ultex JIII's, 208's, and Fender Mediums. I'm interested in checking out Moshay style picks and those Red bear's with the holes for grip.

[msr13]

Wegen Gypsy Jazz. Love this thing.

[zappafan99]

The guitarist from King's X used a pick that stopped being produced. He bought the mold and made his own picks at home. You have to love a guitarist.

[wizard3739]

I'm still searching for a replacement for the heavy, small teardrop picks. I tried all of the Dunlops and more recently the V-picks. I have ordered some Dava rubber grips, some wegen jazz picks, and the "cool ones" juratex jazz picks. The V-picks and the Dunlop small stubbys were pretty good for lead but not too good for my comping style. Most of the picks have too much pick noise for my taste and I truly wish I could go back to fingerstyle but my nails reflect my aging body and usually crack and split too much for practical use. I have high hopes for Derek's suggestion for the Juratex cool ones. I am waiting anxiously for their arrival.

wiz

Originally Posted by wizard3739

I'm still searching for a replacement for the heavy, small teardrop picks. I tried all of the Dunlops and more recently the V-picks. I have ordered some Dava rubber grips, some wegen jazz picks, and the "cool ones" juratex jazz picks. The V-picks and the Dunlop small stubbys were pretty good for lead but not too good for my comping style. Most of the picks have too much pick noise for my taste and I truly wish I could go back to fingerstyle but my nails reflect my aging body and usually crack and split too much for practical use. I have high hopes for Derek's suggestion for the Juratex cool ones. I am waiting anxiously for their arrival.

wiz

Have you tried Surfpicks? The wood is supposed to be less 'pick'-sounding than most plastic.

Chris

[BillyC]

The pick has much less to do with your playing than you actually think. Just go with any 351 shape, they're popular for a good reason.

[wizard3739]

I received my first pick samples today with the following results:


1. Dava Sharp point picks: nice tone but too big for my small fingers.

2. Pickboy Rainbow jazz picks: better size & pretty good tone. Holes make the grip work pretty good.

3. Cool Jazz 1.2 mm picks: good tone, and great grip. I need more time with these.


I'm going to try a few more types:
Dava jazz gripper (smaller than the ones above)
Red Bear jazz pick (look interesting)
D'andrea small, heavy teardrop. (best price in a size I like)
Wegen 1.2 mm BigCity jazz pick (these are new and look interesting)

wiz

[Phantegrodak]

By far my favorite picks have been some unknown guage picks labeled "Unfiltered". I obtained them some time last year from a friend in my guitar class. He had taken about ten of them from his workplace by my request just before it went under. We can place our blame directly on the Gummints budget cuts for this one.
One day I'll take a micrometer to the picks and find out their size. And all will be well.

[wizard3739]

After trying several of the picks mentioned in my previous post, I have ended up with a preference for the Pickboy Rainbow jazz pick (1.2 size) although I also liked the Cool jazz pick (1.2 thickness). Both picks seemed to give me a good sound for both single line and comping.

wiz

[Rosalind]

I used 0.46mm plastic Guitar picks which was colorful. I just find another store on ebay, there have lots of guitar picks i like.
PICK PUNCH Make Guitar Picks from all kinds of materia - eBay (item 260463057096 end time Jun-10-10 10:06:10 PDT)
I will buy it from here

[cutnstuf]

An old folded up matchbook cover....naw actually just plain oldDunlop .71's