Jazz Guitar Pick

[destinytot]

I recently switched from Pro-Plecs to the red Dava picks

Dava Guitar Picks - Jazz Grips

Hi! Are they roughly 351 size? (The site says 'smaller' - but I'm not sure what they're being compared to.) Their point and grip look promising. Thanks!

[medblues]

Hi! Are they roughly 351 size? (The site says 'smaller' - but I'm not sure what they're being compared to.) Their point and grip look promising. Thanks!

There are two sizes of the reds

[Roscoe T. Claude]

I play jazz, rock, metal and blues all with the same type of pick:
I use either a Dunlop Max Grip 1.5 or a Big Stubby 3.0
I like these picks and they work for me, but my ideal, I guess
you could say my perfect pick would be a Max Grip 3.0
On some occasions for accented rhythms I would like
A Max Grip 1.0 to get a little "slap" action going but
I've been unable to find a Max Grip 3.0
I'm sure I can find the equivalent somewhere---

[mr. beaumont]

I'm fascinated with anyone who can use a Stubby. I think they are the most god-awful picks on the planet. Ice-pick bright, scratchy, loud, horrible.

[christianm77]

I use a big stubby 3.0 nylon from time to time. I don't like the plastic ones as they tend to get notched if you pick heavily and then become useless. That said I used to use then for electric playing for about 10 years...

[mr. beaumont]

I use a big stubby 3.0 nylon from time to time. I don't like the plastic ones as they tend to get notched if you pick heavily and then become useless. That said I used to use then for electric playing for about 10 years...

Ah, I didn't know they made nylon ones...

The plastic ones are the ones I hate. Every time I've come across one, there's like burrs, or dents on the side, like ones that were there from the get-go, not from heavy playing...some of them stuck out like the little ends on a plastic model kit piece. Just awful.

I'm so glad I read somewhere that Jonathan Kriesberg uses Pro-Plecs and the 8 year old kid in me said "I wanna use the same picks as JK!" because they're perfect....for me, that is.

[christianm77]

Ah, I didn't know they made nylon ones...

The plastic ones are the ones I hate. Every time I've come across one, there's like burrs, or dents on the side, like ones that were there from the get-go, not from heavy playing...some of them stuck out like the little ends on a plastic model kit piece. Just awful.

I'm so glad I read somewhere that Jonathan Kriesberg uses Pro-Plecs and the 8 year old kid in me said "I wanna use the same picks as JK!" because they're perfect....for me, that is.

Yeah, I think they are bad if you use the edge of your pick in particular. Since I started using more of a pick angle, it seems less important that the pick be thick.

[guitarbard]

EDIT Those Dunlop Jazz I's are dear to me.(I must be blind,,looked yesterday,,and it's a Jazz I that has the rounded tip,,apologies,,duh) The nylon construction has them gliding off the strings nicely, and I just love the rounded tip. I have 7 Red Bears, and only one has a more rounded tip. Wish they all did. I only have one of these Jazz I's and it hails from the 80's. Need to get some more. 1.18 mm thick. Gotta say though, sometimes the .88mm green tortex shaped the same is just what the doctor ordered. Sometimes I have a really light grip, and the lighter pick translates that nicely.

Oh back in the 70's I had 3 real turtle shell picks(it's the hawk billed sea turtle,,,no tortoises are ever harmed), and they were the best picks I ever had. Rounded triangles, much like the Dunlop Tortex ones. They don't last that long cuz they wear, if thin,,and while I don't know the gauge, these were light.

[Roscoe T. Claude]

christianm77 and mr. beaumont: You gentlemen certainly know what you like and I imagine you've been playing longer than I have but here's my two cents---I like the dunlop 1.5 max grip because I keep a decent hold on it most of the time, though I do prefer picks much thicker. The big stubby's don't disappoint but I think nylon is a good idea. I've never not liked 2 or 3.0 as they get the job done. I don't know how fascinating I am but I love The White Stripes and Soilent Green for instance and I'm not discounting any talented bands I just like when musicians go all out. I'm creating my own genre of music called the Psycho-punk-swing-billy-blues...I'll need thick picks and I want to keep the chords simple and create melodies underneath using chord extensions and improvise with "original" scales. You know how you can alter a minor pent. with a flat five, major third, major or minor 6th, major 2nd, I love the concept because I can sound bluesy and fresh for as long as I play. I've got a question for the two of you: for me to master the Psycho-punk-swing-billy-blues I need to know my fret board and intervals up one side and down the other: instant recognition of notes and intervals. Do you think the Guitar Grimoire book of Intervallic studies would help, or another book? I usually do better with books than videos. So that's my question: what is an organized, systematic way of learning notes and intervals---?


PS If I'm not sounding like a jazz guitarist let me know...this is the second time I've picked up the guitar and while I surely have some years under my belt I'm new to jazz and I want it to be more than something i play on the side. Advice would be appreciated--Jon

[Stevebol]

Dunlop Tortex. .73mm.

[immareasonableman]

Dunlop Tortex Jazz III XL. 1.35mm

Tortex so that it's grippy.

Jazz III so that I get that nice sharp end for fast lines.

XL so that it isn't so small.

1.35mm because that's the black color, and I like black. Also, it's just the right stiffness for those fast lines.

[kenbennett]

I have it down to 3 picks, all the same regular shape, Dunlop, different thicknesses.

1. For fat tone, jazz or whatever, or to simulate nylon string tone on a steel string acoustic, 2.0mm (for many years the only pick I used).

2. For brighter lead playing, blues, rock, or whatever, or just for versatility, 1.14mm (I started using these when I couldn't find the 2mm in stores, and it has become the most seen pick laying around my house and between my thumb and index finger at gigs).

3. For light strumming on acoustic (when recording only, if light strumming is called for), .73mm

[mambosun]

For a smooth tone with minimum audible click, I strongly recommend Dugain Acetate and Delrin

[Roscoe T. Claude]

Thanks for the recs mambosun--I will remember Mr. Dunlop Jazztone weighs 208 beside Mr. Roscoe Razztone weighs 215: these numbers will stick with me because they are weights of a friend of mine (208) and myself (215). Now that I'ce
written them down I should remember them even if they change: simple mnemonic technique,but I probably need to add another fact to get a stronger connection--I will try and find the picks on Amazon but I just about have to use Elixir coated strings to avoid getting real rusty real quick--do the Elixir's give off any kind of jazzy tone or are there coated strings that sound jazzy? I know it's not for everybody but I like a bluesy tone too so if anybody has any answers I'd be much obliged--and mambosun thank you for the list: I currently use Big Stubby 3.0 but I'm not entirel satisfied with them so I might like the Jazztone's: I appreciate the help.

[MarkRhodes]

Just got some Carol Kaye picks yesterday and like them. Here's a picture that includes a Carol Kaye pick, a George Benson pick, and a D'Andrea Medium (-quite like a Fender Medium). The Carol Kaye pick is teardrop shaped but longer than most tear drop shaped picks. The tip is closer to the Benson pick than the D'Andrea. The Carol Kaye pick comes in only one size and that size (thickness) is not indicated to the pick, though I've seen it estimated at 1.25 and that seems right to me. Carol used these picks to play bass---they don't flex like the Benson pick does. (It may not be clear from the pick because of a bright light shining on gold lettering, but Carol's picks have "Carol Kaye" embossed on them.)

[mambosun]

I've been using Big Stubby for years (for rock, pop blues in my band, not for jazz) because they're cheap and easy to find in any shop and websites, but I admit they sound clicky and flat. I've too been using Jazztone 207 and 208 with my jazzbox because like the stubby they're easy to find & cheap but unlikely the big stubby, the Jazztone really sound good.

But now for Jazz I'd stick to the Dugain (Acetate & Delrin) because they're so smooth and I prefer plectrum which are thick, stiff and ergonimic (sculpted).

For rock/pop & Blues, in order to get rid of the stubby, I'm stil exploring different options such as Pickboy bone or Essetipick Delrin; strangely enough this Delrin sounds rather bright and clicky, opposite to the Dugain, but for rock it's OK.

One question about Dugain made from stone, such as the Dugain Jaspe: how do they sound? are they OK for a smooth jazz tone?

[Roscoe T. Claude]

Mark, I don't know what this signifies but I can't pick, at least not very well, with anything thinner than a 1.5. I have some Dunlop Max-Grip that are 1.5's and as general rule I like them as good as any other pick. The 3.0 Big Stubby is fine for plowing through chord progressions and scale runs but for lighter brighter quicker i prefer the Max-Grip pick. I think I would be most pleased if I could find, say, a 2.0 Grip pick...any such thing? They're not on Amazon unless I overlooked them...any ideas? [The Most Interesting Man In The World: Roscoe T. Claude- "I don't always play fast, but when I do I prefer Dunlop Max-Grips."]

[JSanta]

Mark, I don't know what this signifies but I can't pick, at least not very well, with anything thinner than a 1.5. I have some Dunlop Max-Grip that are 1.5's and as general rule I like them as good as any other pick. The 3.0 Big Stubby is fine for plowing through chord progressions and scale runs but for lighter brighter quicker i prefer the Max-Grip pick. I think I would be most pleased if I could find, say, a 2.0 Grip pick...any such thing? They're not on Amazon unless I overlooked them...any ideas? [The Most Interesting Man In The World: Roscoe T. Claude- "I don't always play fast, but when I do I prefer Dunlop Max-Grips."]

You can always take a bit of sandpaper and scuff up where you grip the plectrum if you have some that you like minus the "grippy-ness"

[ronjazz]

Yes, i like those DAVA picks, especially for the nylon-string Godin when i need to bop out with a pick. Otherwise, on steel strings, I like the Fred Kelly Jazz babies, Delrin, nice grip, great sound.

[wagz]

Currently, I use Ultex Jazz III because I like the size and the attack that I get with that material. I'm trying to use only one pick size for the electric and acoustic stuff I'm learning. This was the most comfortable for me.

[wimd]

I like to use a Big Stubby 2.0 mm with a (self) rounded top. (Jazz, Gibson ES165) Otherwise I use my fingernale which is my favorite pick.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Tortex or Ultex .88s for electric, Ultex .73s or Dunlop nylon .88s for acoustic.

[Cnote]

Warmoth .73

[Boston Joe]

I like the blue or purple Tortex. Standard shape and size.

[christianm77]

ATM I'll grab anything as long as it's a trad shape and between 1.5mm and 3.0mm.

Sometimes I find that I'm digging a pick made out of material for one room and another for another.