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My main picks for several years have been Dunlop Flow 420s, and I really like them, but I find I wear through them too quickly. I've been looking for something similar that has a longer life. I've recently tried Gravity picks for the first time, in particular the 4 mm pointed classic shape, and again really liked it, but the point wore even faster than the flows. I just got the same shape in 6mm to see if it fairs any better.
Those who use thick picks, what do you use? What I'm looking for is:
-standard size
-beveled edges
-point similar to the flow/gravity picks
-durability
I don't really lose picks so I'm willing to spend a stupid amount of it means it won't wear out lol
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08-21-2023 07:10 PM
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I use gravity picks. 3mm mostly. Acrylic for those not familiar with them. Never noticed wear. Thinking you must have one heck of an attack.
For durability probably the best out there is Blue Chip. The plastic they use, in addition to having a nice even tone, is used in industrial applications like bearings. Think they only go up to 2.5mm and not even that in all models.
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Wegen picks might fit your criteria and might interest you; I really like them.
Also worth a try are the Dunlop Jazztone 205 and 305, and their larger brothers the 208 and 308.
Blue Chips might fit the bill, but it can get expensive working out your favourite size and shape!
All of the above are super durable.
Happy hunting!
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My default is now the Dunlop Big Stubby 3mm. I still have several 207 Jazztones, but I like the smaller size of the Stubby - so I'm going to pick up a pack of the 205s to try. I never liked a sharp pick, but the Stubbies have a well defined point and I do like both their sound and feel. I also have several ProPlec 351s (my former default) that I use from time to time because they sound a bit warmer than the Stubbies. The Jazztones sound as warm as the ProPlecs.
Back when I first got a decent electric (in high school), I used Gibson Les Paul picks. They were a black relatively soft plastic about the size of a 351 but rounded on top. They had a point when new, but they wore so fast that they rounded off very quickly. When they disappeared, I started searching for a replacement, and it took me about 50 years to find it. I still like the smaller size, but once I discovered the joys of a thicker pick I never looked back.
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If you need 4mm or more thickness,then try Wegen.These picks are tougher than most.If less than 4mm than Blue Chip,i have one that is almost 10 years old and is barely showing any wear.
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I've been using the 5mm and 3.5mm Wegens for ages now. I was playing mostly acoustic instruments when I started using them - initially the 5mm version. These days I'm mostly playing electric guitars and now use the 3.5mm version - the 5mm creates a bit of pick noise when using the bridge pickup.
They do wear but it takes long time. My current pick is about 5 years old.
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I've never gone thicker than the 2.0 black gator grip, which seemed to last quite awhile.
I use Jazz III XL (black) picks now and have yet to wear out a tip. I've had the same 16 or so for about 4 years and couldn't tell a difference between the newest and the oldest
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I have been alternating between the Dunlop Big Stubby and Dunlop Primetone 3mm. Largely preferring the latter though still on the fence so to say. Both last a lifetime of course while having slightly different tone. The primetone is to my ear slightly softer and rounder in tone if that makes sence.
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i used to use big stubby 3 mm
Originally Posted by nevershouldhavesoldit;[URL="tel:1282280"
for years till i found
the same pick in nylon
BIG STUBBY(R) NYLON PICK 3.0MM - Dunlop
perfect for me
same pick but doesn’t clack as
much because of the very slightly
softer material
love em
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Thanks for all the recommendations. For reference, this is what I did to a gravity pick in the span of a week. Maybe doesn't look like too much but it feels like a totally different pick.
I'm interested in the primetone 308. I've tried the 508 and didn't like it because the bevel is a lot flatter than the flow and it feels clunkier. Maybe the 3mm would feel better. The wegens also look interesting.
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Thanks! I didn’t know about these and just ordered a bag. Originally Posted by pingu
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I used, each for a certain time, a Wegen 2.5 mm and a Gravity, I think 3 mm, and a Big Stubby 2 mm.
At least I stayed with the Big Stubby now for years. Nice tone.
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I have tried a lot of picks over the years, and when I settled on my current Django style a few years ago, I went off the deep end again. Tommy Davy over at Django Guitars makes (IMO) the absolute best picks I have ever used. ACCESSORIES - Picks - Page 1 - Django Guitars USA
It's not listed on the site, but I use his Gismo Graf signature pick, and after two years of play on the same pick, it's still in almost perfect shape. I can't recommend him enough.
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How do you order these picks? I only see an option to add to wishlist. The bebop one looks like it could fit the bill for me. Originally Posted by JSanta
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So glad to have helped .... Originally Posted by nevershouldhavesoldit
because you have helped me a lot on here with
great infomation
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Tommy has been working on the site and full functionality will be up soon. In the meantime, you can use the contact information on the webpage and they'll get your order in ASAP. Originally Posted by BreckerFan
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Is there a difference in sound between the new nylon and the common type? Originally Posted by pingu
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Yes the grey Nylon ones are slightly less bright and they don’t ‘clack’ as much …. Originally Posted by bluenote61
and they are just as punchy
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I take out a thick(er) pick only in those situations where I'll only play single lines because for comping I could never get used to the very different feel in my hand. My standard pick of choice is and has been for the past 30+ years a black Dunlop Jazz III -or a II that I've filed down a bit for a rounder tip. Works best for me with all of my guitars, thick or thin strings, single notes or comping/strumming. My second choice is a custom made celluloid pick fashioned after the dis-continued KASHO picks , in an enlarged teardrop shape. This one sounds best on my steelstring and nylonstring acoustic guitars.
The one common factor is the stiffness - a thin pick works fine for certain strumming sounds like your typical west-coast folk-rock or singer-songwriter stuff, the Metheny-esque sounds like on his "New Chatauqua" etc. It brings out more overtones, less fundamentals and doesn't catch on the strings as easily as a stiff pick when tight strumming is called for. It's a very special sound and a stiff pick doesn't work as good here - for tight funk-comping I still prefer the stiff JAZZ II/III models.
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The grey nylon Big Stubbies have arrived. I just compared them directly to the purple Lexan Stubbies I've been using.....there's good news and bad. The good news is that the nylons are indeed a bit fuller and softer in tone, without the slight "plink" in the attack no matter how hard I pick or the angle. The bad news is that I didn't know that there are 2 sizes of Lexan Stubby but only one size of nylon Stubby in 3mm. The nylon is a few mm taller and wider than the Lexan I've been using.
I never checked the Dunlop site before ordering them from Amazon. The Dunlop site only shows the 445-300 3mm nylon version, which turns out to be the same size as the 475-300 Lexan Big Stubby. I'm using the 474-300 Lexan version, and there's apparently no nylon version that's exactly the same size.
I do like the tone of the nylon a lot. I'll use them on my gigs this week and see if I can get over the slightly odd feeling of the bigger size.
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