358 pick but extra heavy?

[Bill C]

Hi all - I always use Fender 358 heavy mini teardrop picks with my jazzbox/archtop guitars. I think the 358’s are about 1mm thick. I’m looking for a pick with - ideally - identical dimensions, that is a little heavier, for use with my gypsy jazz guitar. The 358 is about 25mm tall - I tried some 30mm tall picks today that I had lying around but they feel way too big for me. Any recommendations much appreciated.


Many thanks - Bill

[nyc chaz]

Clayton makes teardrop picks heavier than 1mm although i am not sure of the exact dimensions.You could go the more expensive route and contact Blue Chip picks and they will cut one to the exact size and shape you want,it's expensive but they never wear out.

[Aiq]

I love these, 25mm, 1.5 thick. You have to buy 50 plus tariff.

[nyc chaz]

User's of Pro Plec indicate that the newer picks tend to warp after some use and are not as good as the older versions..Just throwing it out there.

[Herbie]

One vote for (classic) Pro Plecs from me. About a decade ago I bought so many of the that I have not needed new ones since then.

I read here that they warp, but was it a while ago? Could they have changed the material since then?

[Bill C]

Thanks guys for your suggestions, will check them out.

[Aiq]

The unobtainium celluloid is out there but it is getting snapped up quickly.

[Onlyserious]

Like Bill C, I'm appreciative of the suggestions for the alternative to my beloved 358 Extra Heavy has dwindled, sending me into a panic. As I've tried the closest Blue Chip alternative (a Christmas present--I couldn't make myself spend $45 on a guitar pick), none of the alternatives have done it for me. My contribution to the rings of Saturn are guitar picks along with missing socks. (When Bruce Foreman and his wife Pinto Pammy came through Tulsa on a CowBop tour, my wife got to chat it up with her...guitar picks in the dryer and scattered around the house was a topic that came up. Nice to know I'm world class when it comes to losing picks.

I have Pro Plecs on order...will report back.

[FourOnSix]

Just what the doctor ordered.

https://www.benedettoguitars.com/product/standard-picks-10-pack

[Aiq]

OK, I gave in on the Benedetto’s.

Picks and strings, the easiest, cheapest mod.

[nyc chaz]

Just what the doctor ordered.

https://www.benedettoguitars.com/product/standard-picks-10-pack

I tried to order those 2 years ago along with a set of strings and the shipping was $20 for the 2 items which made it a hard no for me.

[nyc chaz]

It's the older ones that warped hence the newer matte design.

S

There were just guys the other week on the Gear Page complaining of warping of new picks.I don't use them,so i can't say but it seems i remember guys on this forum complaining about the new Pro Plecs.Anyone who uses them care to chime in?

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

It's the older ones that warped hence the newer matte design.

That’s not my experience. They were fine for years. The matte appeared just before or during Covid, and that’s when the warping started.

Here’s Jack Zucker’s thread (started on Sept 8, 2020) in which he posts a response from D’Andrea to his inquiry about the warping.

[Aiq]

I’m no expert but the talk I heard - Jimmy Bruno among others - is the celluloid is being phased out. The Westville still uses it and I have seen and bought a few “vintage” D’Andrea picks made from the celluloid.

The rep is the celluloid is stiff while still being thinish. Snake oil? Subjective.

All I know is I greatly prefer a celluloid 1.5 over the 2 or 3mm acrylics I have been using for years.

[nyc chaz]

I’m no expert but the talk I heard - Jimmy Bruno among others - is the celluloid is being phased out. The Westville still uses it and I have seen and bought a few “vintage” D’Andrea picks made from the celluloid.

The rep is the celluloid is stiff while still being thinish. Snake oil? Subjective.

All I know is I greatly prefer a celluloid 1.5 over the 2 or 3mm acrylics I have been using for years.

Most U.S. manufacturers have moved away from celluloid even though their decriptions try to suggest that it is.Like you said,Westville still uses celluloid and i'll add Pickboy does too.

[FourOnSix]

I tried to order those 2 years ago along with a set of strings and the shipping was $20 for the 2 items which made it a hard no for me.

Buy a lifetime supply and the $20 is negligible. The cost of one lunch out (in the Bay Area anyway).

[nyc chaz]

Buy a lifetime supply and the $20 is negligible. The cost of one lunch out (in the Bay Area anyway).

Sorry but the cost of shipping they charge is absurd and i vote with my wallet and they won't be getting my money.I'm not going to enable their ripoff.If more people did this things would be cheaper.I own literally hundreds of picks so i don't need their picks,i was looking to get the picks for a friend of mine as a surprise but even when he went to buy them eventually for himself he said no way when he saw the shipping charges.I'm a New Yorker and used to paying a bit more but please don't try to charge me a fool's price.

[FourOnSix]

Sorry but the cost of shipping they charge is absurd and i vote with my wallet and they won't be getting my money.I'm not going to enable their ripoff.If more people did this things would be cheaper.I own literally hundreds of picks so i don't need their picks,i was looking to get the picks for a friend of mine as a surprise but even when he went to buy them eventually for himself he said no way when he saw the shipping charges.I'm a New Yorker and used to paying a bit more but please don't try to charge me a fool's price.

Understood. Suit yourself. They're my favorite picks, so I don't mind the hit.

[nyc chaz]

Understood. Suit yourself. They're my favorite picks, so I don't mind the hit.

Pickboy makes the same pick if those are the ones you like.Buy 2 packs or more gets you free shipping.Pick Boy Medium Crown Cellulose Jazz Guitar Picks 1.00 mm 10 Pack | Guitar Center

[FourOnSix]

Pickboy makes the same pick if those are the ones you like.Buy 2 packs or more gets you free shipping.Pick Boy Medium Crown Cellulose Jazz Guitar Picks 1.00 mm 10 Pack | Guitar Center

I think I've tried those and found them smaller than 358s.

[nyc chaz]

Old as in 2018-2022.
From Strings by mail:
"D'Andrea Pro Plec Guitar Picks

D’Andrea USA’s Pro Plecs are manufactured in the USA utilizing industrial strength thermoplastic. These picks will perfectly glide off your strings and bring out total clarity of your instrument. The edges are precisely cut to allow articulate picking and effortless strumming. Proudly Made in USA!

As of 2022, Pro Plec picks are being created with a matte finish to prevent warping during production."

Although it's been noted in these pages that the issue was known as much a 8 yrs before that. They may or may not still warp. Jonathan Kreisberg has reintroduced a limited production of the shiny non warping version. I've not tried those.

FWIW My issue with the matte finish is they slide too much in my dry finger grip.

S

Here's the Gear Page thread from last month,a couple of guys claim the picks came in the bag warped D'andrea Ultra Plec picks! | The Gear Page

[Cunamara]

Hi all - I always use Fender 358 heavy mini teardrop picks with my jazzbox/archtop guitars. I think the 358’s are about 1mm thick. I’m looking for a pick with - ideally - identical dimensions, that is a little heavier, for use with my gypsy jazz guitar. The 358 is about 25mm tall - I tried some 30mm tall picks today that I had lying around but they feel way too big for me. Any recommendations much appreciated.

Hense offers a Jazz III sized casein pick that I really like, which is 1.5mm.

Hense Happy Turtle Picks, Small Jazz, 1.5mm

There is another teardrop shape that I've not tried and I'm not entirely sure how big it is. I always wish these photographs had something to scale to compare it with. It's 2mm:

Hense Happy Turtle Picks - Jazz Teardrop, 2mm

Casein plectra from all vendors are all expensive; as I understand it, there is only one manufacturer of the material which is in Germany and they might actually make all the pics on spec for different brands. D'Addario's version is around $30, John Pearse on the other hand is probably the least expensive at around $10. It is a much larger pick than the Jazz III size, in one dimension even a bit more than the 351, but I have two of those and find them surprisingly not unwieldy even though I prefer really small pics.

John Pearse Guitar Picks | Guitar Picks | Strings By Mail

My go-to pick for the last 15 years has been the D'Andrea Pro Plec 358 which is 1.5mm thick. I have had none of those warp; I have had their Jazz III size warp slightly but not enough to be problematic. All of my Pro Plec 351 are decades old from before the warping problems set in, so those are fine. Jonathan Kreisberg has commissioned a new run of the older style 351 from D'Andrea.

Although I have transitioned almost completely to fingerstyle playing in the last few years and only use a pick for certain songs and sound quality.

[frabarmus]

I use 358s and have many brands of them, the thickest I have (2mm) is Ernie Ball Prodigy.

[MiniMerckx.22]

The PP 358 seems to be short/small enough that they do not share the problem with warping that has plagued all other pro plecs for many years.

User's of Pro Plec indicate that the newer picks tend to warp after some use and are not as good as the older versions..Just throwing it out there.

[Bill C]

I love these, 25mm, 1.5 thick. You have to buy 50 plus tariff.

thanks for this - what’s the width on these, and are they celluloid or a softer sounding material?