D'Andrea Ultra-Plec alternatives?

**Snap** · 05-23-2013, 04:47 AM

The D'Andrea Ultra-plecs are now (saddly) discontinued. A real shame...

Years ago I got a nice load of 2 mm Ultras. I love this pic for both acoustic and electric playing. Besides on my acoustics I normally use 3 mm XL Primetones, these are truly all-round picks. It's my main choice for electrics, but I've run them away. Only one remaining and I'm keeping it like a treasure (and test reference). So what to do now?

Never tried the Pro-Plecs (D'Andreas are not very common in European stores). Anyone knows how the Pros compare with the Ultras? Do they play close besides being thinner? What about the tone?

I've been looking for alternatives and surprisingly the Dunlop Delrin 500 sounds and plays acceptably close. But the Ultras sound clearer and better defined, with some more cleaner mid range and a tad less thump. Ultras sound... how to say this... woodier?

So, what you Ultra-Plec lovers are using now as replacements for those unique now gone picks?

**Please, don't start one more of those threads about everyone's favorite pics. Please, focus on the topic; What specific picks play and sound like -or close enough to- the Ultras.

**RyanM** · 05-23-2013, 10:36 AM

Try the Dunlop Jazztones.

**disco~juice** · 05-23-2013, 10:38 AM

Try Dunlop Gator Grip 2mm

**3625** · 05-23-2013, 11:17 AM

I've never played Ultras - are they celluoid? If so they might have a more smooth rounded tone than the gator grips.

D'Andrea also make 'ice pix stix' which are celluoid, but the heaviest is 1.5mm - they're a good quality pick.

For 2.00mm these are supposed to be a high quality celluoid, that would probably be very similar to the Ultras:

https://jbguitarpicks.com/#/shop/set/1/36

these are sort of the 'low end' of the expensive boutique pick spectrum...

**J. Murrieta** · 05-23-2013, 06:23 PM

i'm a big fan of the wegen picks. and they're made in europe too which sounds like a bonus for you:

Wegen's Guitar Picks

**FrankyNoTone** · 05-23-2013, 07:38 PM

I like the Ultra-Plec's and the 1.5mm gauge is the same as the Pro-Plec's, which only come that gauge. They are made from "V-Resin" which is a cellulose compound and not the same as celluloid in both feel and tone. The 2.0mm Ultra's are a unique and now lost gem since no other pick I know of had that soft, sticky feel and the slightly darker than Pro-Plec tone.

The Delrin 500's are more mid-rangey and slicker off the strings. Give the 2.0mm Gator Grips a try as the bevel is quite different and may be closer. Or you may end up liking the slightly brighter (1.5mm) Pro-Plec's.

**3625** · 05-23-2013, 08:28 PM

Franky, so the 1.5mm ultra is the same as the pro-plec? what about the tips on both? I notice the pro-plec 351 has a slightly rounder tip than other 351's which contributes to their unique warm tone.

Perhaps the 'ice pix stix' is v-resin as well - seemed very similar to the pro-plec except the tips are a little bit pointier.

Bit of a downer they're discontinued, sounds like something I'd be interested in

**FrankyNoTone** · 05-23-2013, 09:00 PM

Yup, if you hold the 1.5mm Ultra and Pro together they have the identical shape, point, etc. As an aside, some manufacturers make the point sharper as the pick gets thicker in gauge.

Here's a pic of the picks

(the Ultra's came in green, brown and clear). These are unplayed so they have the original points. I sharpen/bevel the points before I use picks.

D'Andrea Ultra-Plec alternatives?-8798148019_9355a5f941_o-jpg

D'Andrea Ultra-Plec alternatives?-8798148019_9355a5f941_o-jpg

**Snap** · 05-24-2013, 02:29 AM

Thanks, so much for the replies.

I have a ton of 2.0 mm Gators too. I like them for acoustics but not for electrics. Too dark IMO. Don't like the Jazztones.

Perhaps the 'ice pix stix' is v-resin as well

AFAIK the only D'Andrea thermoplastic pic left are the Pro-Plecs. V-resin with some nylon added if I remember correctly, so slightly different than the Ultras but based in the same polymer.

I like the Ultra-Plec's and the 1.5mm gauge is the same as the Pro-Plec's, which only come that gauge. They are made from "V-Resin" which is a cellulose compound and not the same as celluloid in both feel and tone. The 2.0mm Ultra's are a unique and now lost gem since no other pick I know of had that soft, sticky feel and the slightly darker than Pro-Plec tone.

Slightly brighter? That won't hurt. I expect them to sound rather close, but from the pics I've seen the Pro-plecs seem to have different edges than the Ultras. Maybe it's only a visual effect but this is important for me. Tone is not the only reason why I love the Ultras, I play better and more precisely with them than with most picks around. It's all in the tip shape and the edges. They are meant for accuracy, at least for me. I get almost the same with Delrin 500, but the Ultras are even easier.

Will give the Pros a try. They look like a nice alternative to try. After surfing the wen a lot I finally found a German site which has 351s. Don't know why the few stores selling the Pros in Europe only have three of the six shapes and the 351 is not included.

I sharpen/bevel the points before I use picks.

I do the opposite with the Ultex sharp 2.0 I round and bevel the tips. Sharp tips are not for me. The ultex tone tone is ok with a rounder tip, but they don't "get off" the stings quite easily. The Ultras shine on this department.

Thanks a bunch, Franky.

**3625** · 05-24-2013, 04:03 AM

yeah, the ultex 2.0's are very pointy, by memory the pick gets a bit thinner near the tip - I personally don't like that, I get the vibe thats more for metal players who use saturated distortion.

I've experimented with bevels on the 351 pro-plec - really changes how they play and sound. As they are new, they can be a bit too slippery if you use flatwounds, but with rounds they really mellow the sound out - Jonathan Kreisberg mainly uses pro-plecs with 12 rounds'.

Later in the year I might get a 351 Blue Chip and see how that goes...

**Snap** · 05-24-2013, 04:24 AM

Yes, the Ultex gets thinner towards the tip. I don't like that either. Played backwards with one of the upper rounder tips it plays better, but sounds quite muddy. Too rounded tips.

Yep, Pyramid pure nickel roundwounds. Always. For any electric.

**mangotango** · 05-24-2013, 05:39 AM

Never managed to try the Ultras, so I can't make a direct comparison, but I tried the Dunlop Delrin 500's, quite liked them; then I tried the Pro Plec, and straightaway gave away the Dunlops to someone i knew who likes them.

I play the Pro-Plec's with the quartet I'm in, where I need a clear, positive tone to carve out my own place in the band's sonic spectrum.

With the duo's in which I play, where I have room to define my own tone and don't have such a need to cut through, I prefer a softer sound and use Golden Gate picks.

**Larry M** · 05-24-2013, 07:37 PM

Hey, Snap.

I am no pick expert. Ordered some D'Andrea Classic picks a few years ago and never really bonded with them (although pulling a few out now, they seem nice).

Anyway...I have the .96mm and the 1.21mm. Not sure if they would be what you are looking for, but happy to send a few to you to try if you are interested. I don't see them on the D'Andrea site, so they may have been discontinued too.

Let me know.

Thanks.

Larry

**Snap** · 05-25-2013, 03:11 AM

Thanks so much for your offering, Larry. Never tried the Classics myself. But I'm fully biased towards thick picks. One of my doubts about the Pro-Plecs is they are 1.5 mm only. A bit in the thin side for me! I'll order a few to give them a try anyway.

Never managed to try the Ultras, so I can't make a direct comparison, but I tried the Dunlop Delrin 500's, quite liked them; then I tried the Pro Plec, and straightaway gave away the Dunlops to someone i knew who likes them.

I play the Pro-Plec's with the quartet I'm in, where I need a clear, positive tone to carve out my own place in the band's sonic spectrum.

Nice to know. Thanks Mangotango. I really need to cut through too. That's why I'm lately using the Ultex besides they sound dirtier and I play noticeably worse and less accurate. They cut though better than the Gators or Delrin 500. The Ultra-Plec is the best one of the bunch I have around now. It sounds clearer. Not brighter, just clearer, and my playing is better too. Let's see what the Pro-plecs can do. They actually look promising.

**Jazz_175** · 05-25-2013, 08:50 AM

I use D'Andrea Pro Plec 1.5 mm. It seems to me they deliver a soft, dark tone, and also they have a reduced noise when hitting the strings as compared to the Dunlop with Crocodile (which I also use sometimes).

I also had the impression that the D'Andrea Pro Plec change the tone they deliver after extensive use in a way that the sound becomes harsher, contrary to the Dunlop 2.00 mm that becomes darker after extensive use.

**FrankyNoTone** · 05-26-2013, 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by Jazz_175

...I also had the impression that the D'Andrea Pro Plec change the tone they deliver after extensive use in a way that the sound becomes harsher, contrary to the Dunlop 2.00 mm that becomes darker after extensive use.

Yep, the Pro-Plecs can get rough at the edges so the occasional brush with some fine sandpaper will clean that up. Considering how important the edge is for playability and tone, its worth the extra little bit of effort in keeping them in top shape. Its not worth the effort for the thinner 25 cent picks but I expect to keep my 40 cent 1.6mm nylon Brain pick for years and the Pro-Plecs are 80 cents each so they are definitely worth it.

Just an aside, my obsession with picks may seem strange and compared to the rest of my gear it is insignificant in cost. For example I didn't spend a lot of time in thinking about getting a new $650 Yamaha PA... that was just look on the web for some reviews and then fork over the credit card at the local store to get it. But you should see me ponder over the 50 cent pick bins. To me, its not cost nor size that is important, but rather the role picks fill in my playing and tone

**3625** · 05-26-2013, 09:09 PM

Originally Posted by FrankyNoTone

Just an aside, my obsession with picks may seem strange and compared to the rest of my gear it is insignificant in cost. For example I didn't spend a lot of time in thinking about getting a new $650 Yamaha PA... that was just look on the web for some reviews and then fork over the credit card at the local store to get it. But you should see me ponder over the 50 cent pick bins. To me, its not cost nor size that is important, but rather the role picks fill in my playing and tone

lol Franky - about 10mths ago I bought a cheap Yam PA over the net just like that - reverb was spectacularly bad! more like a delay... - did the job for gigs well enough, and it was portable. When I go into my local guitar shop I head straight to the picks and ponder over them like an obese person looking at treats in a patisserie (no offense intented - just conveying the vibe). I don't think it's an exaggeration to say the pick has more impact on your tone than whatever amplification you've got if you're using a clean tone.

**BigToe** · 07-19-2013, 03:36 PM

Aw man, this saddens me. I have one Ultra Plec left and just went on line to see if I could order more. What a shame they are discontinued. I just picked up an Eastman archtop and the Ultra Plec is perfect on the round wound strings, giving me a nice warm sound with an otherwise bright type of string. I often use the Dunlop 208 but the Ultra Plec has less drag on the string while delivering a nice warm attack. If I find a replacement I will share.

**Jabberwocky** · 07-27-2018, 08:00 PM

Just wish to resurrect this old thread: D'Andrea Ultraplecs are avaialble again in 1.5mm and 2.0mm gauges. ULTRA PLECS – 351 SHAPE – ABALONE – D'Andrea USA

Musician's Friend has them for sale for $7.99 for 6 in a pack.

**whiskey02** · 07-28-2018, 06:55 AM

Are they warped and twisted like the Doritos shaped pro plecs I gave up on? Very disappointed with D'Andrea that they would sell picks that they know are so flawed.

**jazzimprov** · 07-28-2018, 09:09 AM

gravity picks

**Longways to Go** · 07-28-2018, 11:05 AM

I love the pro plecs -- even though the batch I have are a bit warpy. They give me the sound I'm looking for. I really like the smoothness of the edge.

Didn't know about the ultras until this thread.

**DRS** · 07-28-2018, 11:47 AM

Originally Posted by J. Murrieta

i'm a big fan of the wegen picks. and they're made in europe too which sounds like a bonus for you:

Wegen's Guitar Picks

Another vote for Wegan
I've tried them all, D'Andreas, Fast Turtles, Papas, V Picks. All really good picks but I like the Wegans best. The 3.5mm Gypsy Jazz is what I use for both electric and acoustic.