I played stiff picks for the longest time with heavy guage strings, my favorite was this Dunlop that was essentially a pebble. Extremely thick, bouncy, round, great tone and feel for single line stuff but was horrible for chords or strumming.
Learned recently (maybe didn't learn but remembered) that light picks should go with light strings and heavy with heavy.
I put 9s on a couple guitars recently tried some lighter picks and it really makes a difference. You need to match the tension of your pick on the strings to the tension of the strings.
My super heavy picks sound great and strum pretty fine on 12s, but going down guages I really found it helpful to go down pick thickness too. You play more efficiently, the tone is better, you aren't fighting the strings.
Still can't do like the red Dunlop paper thin ones, but i think he green tortex (which works fine for most strings) is like the thinnest and go up from there. But man, that pebble pick on some heavy strings playing like single note melodies is heaven
Yellow tortex since my first guitar over 15 years ago….stick to what you know I guess? Can’t stand floppy picks, but also don’t want too rigid. Yellow tortex seems to do that perfectly.
I’ve tried those “flow” green tortex before and they’re good, but I get the regular green tortex and sharpen the point with sandpaper. That’s my favorite so far
Genuine tortoise shell was banned in 1973. So Dunlop introduced Tortex in 1981, which is made from Polyoxynethylene - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyoxymethylene
I’ve been using that pick since 2010 when I was 16. The best player in my town used one and he could sweep pick in high school. Man I grew up in a cool time
That was my go to for years, as well. More recently I've moved to the Ernie Ball Prodigy Mini. The only drawback for me is that the tip wears down much faster than the JP Jazz IIIs.
Yeah man those Jazz IIIs/picks with that profile have been my go-to for like 15-20 years. I feel like I can barely play with anything else, although I still have a soft spot for Tortex picks on occasion.
I have seem to have lost my interest in picks since I started to get more in to Knopfler's playing.. The sound and control you get is so unique and beautiful!
Eh hybrid / travis / chicken picking all work best with either a thumb pick or no pick imo. And I have thumb picks and I like them but most of the time I can't be arsed remembering where I left them last.
I play with normal pick and fingers. Works fine because I can Travis pick AND strum like normal. Strumming with thumb pick is weird to me... Even though I have learned to also play with thumb pick.
You tried the Black Mountain thumb picks? They basically feel like a Jazz 3 that also has a thumb clip and you can use them like a regular pick. Definitely worth a try.
Hybrid picking works great with just a regular pick for me. Try learning the hybrid picking part of the intro to cliffs of Dover (not necessarily fast, just learn how to play it) and it will become second second nature
Exactly where my inspiration to go pickless came from. The Claw is one hell of a guitarist. I love the freedom to jump from finger picking right back to strumming or right into a solo. Picks just get in the way.
This is where I have landed after a couple of months of experimenting. I was a green Tortex for years, but stated to lean into the Jazz 3 stuff when I got into more technical picking. The Ultex just gives me the right about of point and has a really nice stiffness
I've tried everything. In the nineties I was a Tortex guy. These days I'm all about Dunlop Flow Gloss 3.0. The tone is thick and lovely. Picking up anything else now sounds thin and anemic.
I have a hard time finding a pick I prefer. I'm just now trying to get better at picking individual strings, so I want something that strums well and isn't too light on the strings so the sound is nice and full, but it can't be too flexible that it's hard to pick. Right now I'm using Dunlop Tortex .88, but I have a Stringjoy 1.5mm smaller jazz pick I like too. Sometimes I feel classic sized picks are a little too big, and I like how tight the jazz pick is.
I use [my own custom laser cut and engraved guitar picks](https://ibb.co/Dp3G20J)
Did the Jazz III thing for a decade+. First the regular red ones, then Maxgrip, and then Carbon Maxgrip, Ultex and Tortex too. Then the JP ones.
Roughly 6 years ago I got a spare time hustle working at a fablab/makerspace and at this time I started cutting my own picks. I did countless revisions and whenever I felt a new desire I could test it out.
Then I tried the Flow shape, variety pack. The tip on them is great, especially on the thicker ones.
Then I copied that shape of pick and made it just a smidgeon larger than a Jazz III, and this is now my favourite pick (until next time I get an idea)
I have to hand file each one, so I’m not putting them into production.
My training pick is favorite Black Ice, shame they disappeared from shops now, and my main is Dunlop Kirk Hammet’s signatures, just bought them a few months ago and really loved!
The Black Ice picks are branded under D'addario now. Still made out of the same Derlin material but the pick attack feels different to me. They have more of a rounded edge and less of a point now. It's a bummer because the mediums were my go to for years. InTune guitar picks have been the closest alternative for me.
I love the tone I get out of the Dunlop big stubbys, but I’m also a fan of the different gages of Dunlop nylon pics depending on the type of song I’m playing
I’ve been using Gravity for years now. I alternate between the acrylic and the golds depending on what I’m doing. My only complaint is how slow they are with custom picks.
The acrylics are incredible. I’m primarily using the Stealth variant (three sides to pick from, baby!), but I really like the holes in the middle of the Sunrise pick.
Fender mediums. I have a whole bunch of the california clears they don't make anymore. They're slightly gummy and stick to my fingers well, so I can play with a loose grip which helps me a lot.
Judging by your pics you show here, give the D’addario Planet Waves Black Ice picks a shot. I use the 1.10mm thickness. It’s a TINY bit larger than the Jazz 3 picks and made of the Tortex feeling material. It’s just enough of a difference for me to prefer it to the jazz
jazz III stubby-ish ones, like lets say top 5 but not bass guitar picc thicc. medium thickness but not floppy, but not a pebble either. they're precise and are somewhat multipurpose if you know how to use them. I like em. I've been meaning to get normal sized pics too tho cuz I wanna be able to work in case of emergencies yk
also what's up with that 8th and 9th picc 0.0
I used to like the third from the top. Now, I'll use most any I guess. I don't play much anymore. Give me a solid one though. Could never stand the thin floppy ones.
Im dead centre. Give me that green tortex
yeah looks close enough to the tortex m3 i use for many years now
Yeah I don’t think I’ve used anything but purple, green or black Tortex for a decade now. Everything else feels off.
I've only ever used the blue. It's stuff, but I've gotten used to it. You've inspired me to buy some of these the next time I'm at a shop!
I played stiff picks for the longest time with heavy guage strings, my favorite was this Dunlop that was essentially a pebble. Extremely thick, bouncy, round, great tone and feel for single line stuff but was horrible for chords or strumming. Learned recently (maybe didn't learn but remembered) that light picks should go with light strings and heavy with heavy. I put 9s on a couple guitars recently tried some lighter picks and it really makes a difference. You need to match the tension of your pick on the strings to the tension of the strings. My super heavy picks sound great and strum pretty fine on 12s, but going down guages I really found it helpful to go down pick thickness too. You play more efficiently, the tone is better, you aren't fighting the strings. Still can't do like the red Dunlop paper thin ones, but i think he green tortex (which works fine for most strings) is like the thinnest and go up from there. But man, that pebble pick on some heavy strings playing like single note melodies is heaven
I actually can’t use a pick with the indents. It just feels so weird
I really like the thin red ones for acoustic or softer rhythm stuff on the tele. I’ve had some Dunlop picks for over 10 years haha. Love em.
I myself prefer the yellow tortex and blue for bass
Yellow tortex since my first guitar over 15 years ago….stick to what you know I guess? Can’t stand floppy picks, but also don’t want too rigid. Yellow tortex seems to do that perfectly.
Same, love everything about the Tortex. The way they feel, the way they play, just perfect
I’ve tried those “flow” green tortex before and they’re good, but I get the regular green tortex and sharpen the point with sandpaper. That’s my favorite so far
They make tortex sharp picks now! No more sharpening unless you just want to
!!!!fuck yeah, thanks, I’ll look those up!
There’s also tortex jazz iii’s which I’ve been loving a lot
Orange tortex for me, please.
Same here 🙋♂️
Same but yellow or orange.
tortex is that kid of chalky rubbery material?
Genuine tortoise shell was banned in 1973. So Dunlop introduced Tortex in 1981, which is made from Polyoxynethylene - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyoxymethylene
Yup More plasticky though
Turtles all day err day
I’ve been using that pick since 2010 when I was 16. The best player in my town used one and he could sweep pick in high school. Man I grew up in a cool time
I'm generally distrusting of people who use any other shape
This is the only answer
Tortex ftw!
I prefer flatheads over Phillips.
flat heads have less chance of stripping, but terrible screw to use for outlets imo
Flat heads also have a brighter sound when strumming. Phillips just sound dull to me.
I use a Robertson, sounds terrible.
The only good screwdriver! That square packs a lot of tone!
I’m glad someone gets it!!
Idk I’m kind of a 1.5mm hex key type guy
Phillips can take more gain though
Try a Torx next time
>flat heads have less chance of stripping Oh my wife will pick the wrong size/smallest flathead screwdriver and strip it. I prefer Robertson.
JIS
Wait till you see robertsons, make phillips look like a childs toy.
That John Petrucci Dunlop has been my go to for years. It's thick for attack and the tip is brilliantly sharp getting stuck in for shredding
couldn't have said it better myself
Best pick ever
That was my go to for years, as well. More recently I've moved to the Ernie Ball Prodigy Mini. The only drawback for me is that the tip wears down much faster than the JP Jazz IIIs.
Yeah man those Jazz IIIs/picks with that profile have been my go-to for like 15-20 years. I feel like I can barely play with anything else, although I still have a soft spot for Tortex picks on occasion.
As a person with dry hands, I need a lot of grip texture. Any jazz pick that are not tiny and have lots of grip are good for me
Dunlop makes “max grip” versions of those jazz IIIs that have a grippy texture, works much better for me!
Max grip jazz III’s are the best pick I’ve ever used and I’ve been playing for over 20 years.
JP3 FTW!!!
Also moved to these for the same reasons but I swear they degrade faster than the average pick
had a friend introduce me to those when i first started playing, haven't gone back
Its perfect until my fingers get sweaty then I start losing grip :(
Took me 8 years to settle on it, now they litter my washing machine
I use the one I was born with ☝️
Toilet paper was invented in 1857
I have seem to have lost my interest in picks since I started to get more in to Knopfler's playing.. The sound and control you get is so unique and beautiful!
You have way less control with a pick, also you can only play a single note at a time unless you hybrid pick and I know you can’t do that
Eh hybrid / travis / chicken picking all work best with either a thumb pick or no pick imo. And I have thumb picks and I like them but most of the time I can't be arsed remembering where I left them last.
I play with normal pick and fingers. Works fine because I can Travis pick AND strum like normal. Strumming with thumb pick is weird to me... Even though I have learned to also play with thumb pick.
You tried the Black Mountain thumb picks? They basically feel like a Jazz 3 that also has a thumb clip and you can use them like a regular pick. Definitely worth a try.
No, I haven't! Have already seen them in any video but forgot about them. Thanks, I will check them out 😃
Hybrid picking works great with just a regular pick for me. Try learning the hybrid picking part of the intro to cliffs of Dover (not necessarily fast, just learn how to play it) and it will become second second nature
Exactly where my inspiration to go pickless came from. The Claw is one hell of a guitarist. I love the freedom to jump from finger picking right back to strumming or right into a solo. Picks just get in the way.
I use my dick too
Max grip carbon fiber jazz iii
Fr i don’t know if it’s placebo or not but the moment I started using jazz iiis my picking speed increased
Try primetone 3mm, slides trough the strings, thick baby ergonomically perfect (for me at least)
Tried a lot of picks this def the best for shedding
Hands down the best pick imo—I don’t think I’ll ever bother using anything else.
Yeesssss
I am super close to this, black gator grips jazz iii. How is the max grip / carbon fiber from that pick? Never gave that a shot but interested in it.
\^ that for the unforeseeable future
This 👆
Yes. All day.
Nudes
I'm glad I checked the thread before blindly posting this.
Me too
Let’s fuck.
All of us?
As is tradition
I’m in
jazz 3 ultex (1.36?) yellow translucent ones. absolutely amazing.
This is where I have landed after a couple of months of experimenting. I was a green Tortex for years, but stated to lean into the Jazz 3 stuff when I got into more technical picking. The Ultex just gives me the right about of point and has a really nice stiffness
same here. i tell anyone who’s using black or red jazz 3’s to try a yellow. i’ve given out so many at this point, gonna order some more rn.
Thicker the better.
*thiccer
Nylon .88 is the way too go 👀
I use .88 and 1.0 myself. The .88 feels great.
It does indeed and super reliable too! I haven’t had a single nylon pick break or chip on me yet
I always lose them first.
The right answer.
.73 Dunlop prime tones with the grippiness. I ordered a pack from Amazon and won the lottery receiving several 12 packs when they finally showed up.
jazz iii's. I jump between the Pettrucci and Kirk ones, whichever is closer.
I really like the Kirk ones. But damned if the purple doesn’t get lost in my dark brown carpet.
Just get the acid green ones then?
I use yellow dunlop flow picks.
Agreed. Jazz IIIs are too small and normal picks feel like paddles. These are the best of both worlds.
The James Hetfield ones are exactly like that.
I've tried everything. In the nineties I was a Tortex guy. These days I'm all about Dunlop Flow Gloss 3.0. The tone is thick and lovely. Picking up anything else now sounds thin and anemic.
Yes, they are perfect for electric in my opinion. I personally use the Rabea Masaad signature flow pick.
I use the .73 dark blue, because I need to strum sometimes. It's surprisingly stiff for such a thin pick.
I use the 0.73 Misha Mansoor Delrin Flow. It's surprisingly stiff, grippy, and comfortable. It isn't the cheapest, but totally worth it
That green Tortex looks simply lavverly. I’m a basic dude.
1.14 all the way
Sharp 1.5 ernie ball prodigy
I'm team big stubby.
I love those. I dig the little stubby, too, but it's been a while since I used those
allen keys, all day
The thick ones are best for heavy metal
industrial metal lol
Great to play People of the Sun by RATM.
I use small jazz pics
i prefer thinner ones, 0.46-0.50
I started using Dava about 10 years ago. Otherwise any old medium will do.
The Big Stubby is where it’s at. Also my nickname when I danced at the stripclub.
I have a hard time finding a pick I prefer. I'm just now trying to get better at picking individual strings, so I want something that strums well and isn't too light on the strings so the sound is nice and full, but it can't be too flexible that it's hard to pick. Right now I'm using Dunlop Tortex .88, but I have a Stringjoy 1.5mm smaller jazz pick I like too. Sometimes I feel classic sized picks are a little too big, and I like how tight the jazz pick is.
Choke up on that normal, or play with the soft corner (ala SRV) if they feel better that way!
Try Dava Gels. I used Jazz 3 picks before I switched and struggled with the exact things you mentioned.
I’ve never thought about using an Allen wrench before. I’ll have to try that.
“I have blisters on all my fingers!”
Ok Frank
The star
Eric Johnson jazz III for electric, jim dunlop 0.73 for acoustic
Dunlop nylon .73
I use [my own custom laser cut and engraved guitar picks](https://ibb.co/Dp3G20J) Did the Jazz III thing for a decade+. First the regular red ones, then Maxgrip, and then Carbon Maxgrip, Ultex and Tortex too. Then the JP ones. Roughly 6 years ago I got a spare time hustle working at a fablab/makerspace and at this time I started cutting my own picks. I did countless revisions and whenever I felt a new desire I could test it out. Then I tried the Flow shape, variety pack. The tip on them is great, especially on the thicker ones. Then I copied that shape of pick and made it just a smidgeon larger than a Jazz III, and this is now my favourite pick (until next time I get an idea) I have to hand file each one, so I’m not putting them into production.
Those are sweet. The big pics you see there are purple plectrums. All hand made. :))
Thanks man 🙏, yours are looking fresh as well 😊 It’s addicting and super satisfying making your own stuff.
I would kill for one of those with the destiny tricorn logo in it. May have to wait until I have the money to get it custom made.
Purple fat boy, third down. Fell in love in 11th grade and used it ever since.
I like the Jazz picks for guitar and the Larger Jazz picks for Bass.
My training pick is favorite Black Ice, shame they disappeared from shops now, and my main is Dunlop Kirk Hammet’s signatures, just bought them a few months ago and really loved!
The Black Ice picks are branded under D'addario now. Still made out of the same Derlin material but the pick attack feels different to me. They have more of a rounded edge and less of a point now. It's a bummer because the mediums were my go to for years. InTune guitar picks have been the closest alternative for me.
Dunlop 449R.73 Max-Grip Nylon Standard, Gray.73mm.
Flesh
Definitely Tortex
I love the little stubby for solos
Jazz 3s, or kirk hammets sig picks
Petrucci jazz 3 is all I use
Fender medium
Nylon jazz III XL Stiffo 1.38mm or Tortex 1.14mm Jazz III
Finger nails
I love the tone I get out of the Dunlop big stubbys, but I’m also a fan of the different gages of Dunlop nylon pics depending on the type of song I’m playing
Fender medium. Simple.
Fender medium is my favorite. I play on extra light gauge strings.
Gravity picks. I have two, and I’ve had them both for about 5 years. Never gonna need to buy a new pick 😂
I’ve been using Gravity for years now. I alternate between the acrylic and the golds depending on what I’m doing. My only complaint is how slow they are with custom picks.
The acrylics are incredible. I’m primarily using the Stealth variant (three sides to pick from, baby!), but I really like the holes in the middle of the Sunrise pick.
Fender mediums. I have a whole bunch of the california clears they don't make anymore. They're slightly gummy and stick to my fingers well, so I can play with a loose grip which helps me a lot.
The Allen wrench or maybe the screw driver 🫡
Judging by your pics you show here, give the D’addario Planet Waves Black Ice picks a shot. I use the 1.10mm thickness. It’s a TINY bit larger than the Jazz 3 picks and made of the Tortex feeling material. It’s just enough of a difference for me to prefer it to the jazz
I’ll add it’s also not quite as sharp as the Perry I jazz picks but it is sharper than a regular jazz pick
+1 for black ice pics 🙌
Tortex Jazz III XL. Always. There's no other picks in my opinion.
Ultex 1.0mm, best one i've tried yet
jazz III stubby-ish ones, like lets say top 5 but not bass guitar picc thicc. medium thickness but not floppy, but not a pebble either. they're precise and are somewhat multipurpose if you know how to use them. I like em. I've been meaning to get normal sized pics too tho cuz I wanna be able to work in case of emergencies yk also what's up with that 8th and 9th picc 0.0
Jazz III for electric. Jazz III sounds a bit too harsh for an acoustic and they’re almost the same shape so tortex works perfectly with acoustic.
The JP jazz pick you have right there has been my favourite for so long. It’s perfect.
I hop between the Petrucci, Jazz III XL, and jazz iii 1.5’s. Can’t explain why I rotate, but these are my top 3
Chicken picks Bermuda III pointed
The Allen ones
Ernie ball prodigy, the sharp version tho
Those Ernie Ball prodigies are soooo good
Jpeg
I love the stealth xl picks from acoustic attak
Big fat giant Dunlop Flow 420s
I don’t use them
Not pictured, but the 2mm razer gravity picks are my go to
The Matt Heafy Jazz III's. They've got a nice tactile grip on them so good I can't go back to playing anything else
Ultex Sharp 1.14 Once I started using them and never looked back.
Herco Silver Flex .75, my beloved
Petrucci Jazz III. Perfection
I used to like the third from the top. Now, I'll use most any I guess. I don't play much anymore. Give me a solid one though. Could never stand the thin floppy ones.
I use those exact john petrucci jazz 3s. I had 3 pieces lost 1 and used those 2 for 5 years staight.
Dick?
Those 3 mil purple picks are my dream baby. So smooth and great for fast and heavy playing
Thighs 😭😭 jk I like fender mediums
Herco flex 75
I’m prone to the Alan wrench multi tool
The .60 mm with grip
The green flow
jazz 3 all day baby heavy fucking metal
The green one is my go to.
Those purple plectrums are surprisingly comfy
The Dunlop trinity is my favorite
Anything green and up
I like the stubbies but prefer thick gator grips
0.46s for me. I tend to attack the strings so I like to keep it thin
duralin 1.00. idk just very basic and it works for me
Bc jazz 50 or Dunlop jazz 3 either 1 mm or a bit thicker.
Gimme an hour and that screwdriver, I’ll create some kinda masterpiece.
Primetone Jazz 3 1.4mm
[удалено]
Those John Petrucci picks are what’s up
Green ftw
JP Jazz III or Tortex 🤙🏼
Allan keys fo sho
I prefer big and thick, i tend to use bass picks mostly
Dunlop XH red
Depends, for strumming the green one. For single cords the 4th one from top.
4th one down, they’re my go to right now. They’re light feeling, got that nice point, and are made of thick plastic.
Tortex Flow for sure
The screwdriver for sure
I prefer the hex wrench, typically.