Plectrums for acoustic jazz

[garybaldy]

I find with picks it's important to dissociate the feel with the sound. So record yourself playing with other picks and you may be surprised even if you feel the pick isn't giving as much control as you like, you may find that sonically everything is clean.

Exactly what I find with the Clayton Acetals. Not easy to control but give a great sound.
The Delrin 500s are easier to use as they slip against the strings but they add a slight chirp. Chirp is ok for GJ stuff though but then I use a Wegen.

[Thallishman]

If you consider input from the gypsy jazz community, thick and beveled would be the starting point.

I use different picks for electric archtops (L5, ES175) and acoustic archtops (Chinese Benedetto pattern). For acoustic I like casein. I favor the boutique brands (e.g. Honeypicks) to get the X-large triangle 3mm thick models I like.

Thing is, you need a container with different pick materials, shapes, and sizes to work with over time. It makes a lot of difference to your tone and playing and takes time to sort out.

How' your experience with casein (galalith) picks? Which brand model have you tried?
I'm curious about the material, al so worried it may break.(Or warp).

I would like to get my hand on one, on recordings they sound high mid sparkly with subtle highend roll of. Quite direct attack. I feel the turtleshell marketing is misleading, however pleasing they are.

[Spook410]

How' your experience with casein (galalith) picks? Which brand model have you tried?
I'm curious about the material, al so worried it may break.(Or warp).

I would like to get my hand on one, on recordings they sound high mid sparkly with subtle highend roll of. Quite direct attack. I feel the turtleshell marketing is misleading, however pleasing they are.

I suppose they have some things in common with actual tortise shell picks. Not why I use them though. The material just seems a good compromise to get some clarity without going as far as say ultem or acrylic on the bright scale.

As for available models.. depends on the size/configuration you like. John Pearse fast turtle picks sound good but wish the big center carve out wasn't there. The D'Addario standard and Chris Thile modes sound good and are well made. However, for $20 a pick I order from Honey Picks (Honey Picks ) to get the configuration I like along with cool colors. Only downside is their material seems a bit brighter than Pearse/D'Addario. In addition, you might also like their kirinite picks. They look kind of amazing. A bit brighter than the casein but sometimes that's what you want. Or not. Haven't figured out why things can change day to day.

All that being said.. still use the inexpensive Dunlop Americana 3mm large triangle quite a bit. Good price. Not as pretty. Comparable tone.

[Christian Miller]

Exactly what I find with the Clayton Acetals. Not easy to control but give a great sound.
The Delrin 500s are easier to use as they slip against the strings but they add a slight chirp. Chirp is ok for GJ stuff though but then I use a Wegen.

One thing I learned from singing is that the subjective illusion of control is often counterproductive. I should try to remember that more often!

With guitar technique, I often find that I try to over-control which creates tension.

[garybaldy]

One thing I learned from singing is that the subjective illusion of control is often counterproductive. I should try to remember that more often!

With guitar technique, I often find that I try to over-control which creates tension.

A loose grip is key but without dropping the pick!