What are you picking with?

Makes a bigger difference in tone than any mod this side of new pickups, and costs almost nothing. I pick with one of these...

http://static.musiciansfriend.com/derivates/18/001/188/151/DV016_Jpg_Large_110421_c_all.jpg

...heavy guage, and a little nail and a little flesh of the middle finger? The Claytons are peakin' when they've been rattling around in your pocket full of change for a year or two and have no ink left on them.

How you getting your tone?

P

Just switched fron Dunlop Ultex Sharps 2.0 to Golden Gate mandolin picks...shaped like the original David Grisman Dawg picks. Triangle with very rounded points, 1.5mm thickness. A bit dark sounding, just the way I like 'em.

Just switched fron Dunlop Ultex Sharps 2.0 to Golden Gate mandolin picks...shaped like the original David Grisman Dawg picks. Triangle with very rounded points, 1.5mm thickness. A bit dark sounding, just the way I like 'em.

Sounds like an interesting pick. How big is that triangle?

P

Dunlop 351 shape Gator Grip 2.0 mm black. Kinda fuzzy surface when new, but that goes away when you carry them in your pocket. They never wear down, big fat tone.

I bounce between Dunlop Ultex picks (from .6, .73 (round and sharp), .9 sharp, 1.0 round and 1.14 round) and an assortment of V-Picks. It just depends on what I am playing or trying to accomplish.

I love picks and would have more variety if I could justify buying them.

For lead, Dunlop .88s turned upside down so the grip dimples scrape the strings. Sounds angry.

For rhythm, Dunlop .60s.

For acoustic, either fingers, or Twin Picks.

Sounds like an interesting pick. How big is that triangle?

P

About the same size as a Fender 346, but with more rounded points.
Funny, but I started using the Ultex Sharps based on several good writeups, but I couldn't bond with the sharp point. I started using the rounded shoulder instead, but wanted a more substantial grip area...the Golden Gates do the job for me. I've considered the same shaped Red Bear, but these are about $1.50 compared to $20!

A shovel...

Dunlop Ultex and Clayton Acetal 1mm, standard shape or rounded triangle.

Bare fingers. But if I need to go very fast, I use these;

Whatever I lay my fingers on first. Usually between .60 and .80.

Fender or Peavey med,351's.
I'm completely lost with any other.
Also.018 finger pick on middle finger
55 years of one thing makes a difference,,,,,,,,,,,

I go back and forth between a few. Dunlop Tortex Sharps in .60 and .73, Ultex Sharps in .73, and Dunlop Tortex III's in .63 and .73. I'm really liking the III's in .63, seems to have just enough stiffness for me, with a little give. Probably going to order up a half gross of them tomorrow, love the Jazz III tip on them'

I'm probably the only one who uses the Snarling Dogs 2.0, textured grip like a Tele vol nob, They come in a metal tin. Guys give em back when we're passing guitars around at the music store ! I used to use the Gator Grip and would score them with the back tip of my knife for extra grip. In a pinch what ever is the heaviest I've got....

I used dunlop tortex in the past and moved to Vpicks(screamer);the difference in tone is amazing-more volume,detail-it feels like changing pickups!

I use a Dunlop medium nylon (although most any brand will do) and a Dunlop .020 banjo pick on my middle finger. I leave my ring finger bare. A technique use by...you guessed it...James Burton. :wink:

Fender Mediums - Celluloid or my fingers.

Dunlop big stubby 2.0 mm. I used to play bass a lot...

I'm stuck on Tortex .88s for the time being. That will change, it always does.

This week I've been using bits of my wife's old credit card. Usually I like Tortex greens and yellows, or heavy Herco thumbpicks.

Any use of Mrs Flaneur's credit card which doesn't cost money is an improvement....:lol:

Usually Fender heavy confetti or Gibson heavy.......or fingers of course. :smile:

Generally I use either a 3.0mm ruby "freakihly large rounded" V-Pick or their B# model - a 4.10mm rounded triangle as well.

I also always have a 2.5mm Papa's Pick (a Casein-based synthetic tortoise) that is amazing for flatpicking and mandolin and a 2mm rounded triangle acrylic I made 25 years ago that is the EXACT shape of the V-picks (maybe they stole my concept? I used to give them away at bluegrass festivals. It's basically my backup, all-purpose pick).

I usually keep the following with me as well (I carry all my picks in a black velvet bag; since some are rather expensive I don't like to leave them just laying around):

2mm "Surfpick". It's a large pointed-oval made of Lignum Vitae wood. Very fat tone, little string click - great blues pick.

2mm Wheatware picks. These are cheap, biodegrageable (seriously - made of wheat!) and also are "low noise". These and the Surfpicks I coat the "grip" end with sprayed-on ruber tool grip, which is great stuff. Don't need it on the V-picks, acrylics or casein-types, which stick better the more you perspire.

Dugain picks - I have 3. These are unique Gypsy Jazz picks (I play a Selmer D-hole clone) and work spcifically well for that style of playing (where your right hand *never* touches the top, ever). Traditional "Fender-type" shape but 4mm thick and assymetrically countoured to fit your fingers/thumb in the correct playing position. I have Delrin, stone and horn versions. The stone one also works great for rock playing, with a unique "bite".

I have about 30 other types I use periodically for specific sounds/styles, but four get regular use: 1) various "Wedgie" rubber picks for nighttime practice; 2) a Dava Control stainless-steel pick. Seems out-of-character for me but when I REALLY want some bite it does the job; 3) a handful of home-made casein picks in various "clownbarf" colors (If I wasn't so lazy I'd make dozens in various sizes and eliminate half my others!), a 4) an 1808 large cent. I actually use it on gigs just for the hell of it - it's a challenge that I discovered in the late-70's when I lost a bet and played 4 sets of bluegrass with a Quarter - this old coin is so worn it has no collector value - but it DOES make a great pick.

OK, why the hell do I use so many - and how on earth can I play with such thick ones? First, different picks work for different styles and instruments (and strings) It took years of testing to narrow it down to the half-dozen I use the most, but among those not all work on every instrument. Second, using thick, beefy picks is the best thing you can do to learn precise right-hand dynamics; You HAVE to start out picking lightly and learning control; but if you have even mediocre chops you'll learn pretty quickly that you can control everything from tone to overdrive with your right hand - big pick, cranked amp, light picking (until you want to REALLY get some attack).

IMO if players who use thins or mediums started using 2mm or thicker picks and used nothing else for one month (along with turning their amp up far higher than they usually do) their technique and control would improve exponentially!

For electric, the regular blue Tortex picks, whatever gauge that is. Kinda heavy.

I'm much fussier on acoustic, and use Wegen bluegrass picks there.

Oh, and my fingers.

Like Silverface, I collect nice picks. I keep one always tucked in behind the strings of each of my guitars hanging up, and rotate them frequently from my reserve bank. Usually I'll stay with the same pick in each guitar for two or three weeks before I change to the next one. I enjoy the unique sound and feel of each pick in each guitar (amps respond differently to each one, too.)

Right now the active lineup is: teardrop 1.5 mm D'Andrea Pro Plec (I just bought it) in my tele; Blue Chip TD-40 in my dread; GraphTech Tusq A-3 in my school and camp acoustic; and a Red Bear Classic L in my 12-string dread. There's another Red Bear in my Takamine electric, a medium teardrop that I can't identify any more, because its label is all worn off. That was my first "boutique" pick purchase, and the Tak was my first electric guitar.

I go through phases where I really become attached to one pick/guitar combination or another, but if I had to choose my one overall favorite pick, I'd have a tough time with the choice of thickness (could I have two or three?), but I think I'd land on the Blue Chip TD-80. It's stout, very controllable, and very nearly noiseless crossing the strings. I like its point shape best, and none of my Blue Chips show any signs of wear yet.

Was it Billy Gibbons who said "quarters, when I can get 'em?"

Makes a bigger difference in tone than any mod this side of new pickups, and costs almost nothing. I pick with one of these...

http://static.musiciansfriend.com/derivates/18/001/188/151/DV016_Jpg_Large_110421_c_all.jpg

I use Clayton's also, in a couple of different thicknesses. About a year and a half ago I tried out a bunch of different picks, and the Clayton's ended up being my favourites. Nice tone, a very slightly matte finish that keeps them from slipping out of my fingers, and just incredibly durable. I've never managed to wear one out - I usually end up losing them before I ever get to the point of having to replace them from wear.

I really liked the feel of the fingertip indentation in the Dunlop Big Stubby picks, and the way the shaped and polished tip glides across the strings. But unfortunately the dratted things are just too darn small for my big fingertips. :mad:

-Gnobuddy

Clayton 1.52 mm Acetal picks (the older ones with the black logo) and Jim Dunlop picks that I believe were called "Jellies" (discontinued, apparently) in the heavy and extra heavy gauges.

Ultex - various shapes and thicknesses. I love the Tortex, but I tear them up. I love the old Fender Mediums even more, but I tear them up too. The Ultex's last longer than I can keep up with them.

Hands down favorite are these D'Andrea Pro Plec Standard 351's ... about 6.99 a dozen.

http://static.music123.com/derivates/6/001/188/413/DV019_Jpg_Regular_110880.415.311_shell_1.5mm_front .jpg

Bluechip picks!

Bluechip picks!

I have guitars that are cheaper than bluechips :p

I don't think either of these have been mentioned but I use I mostly use the Dunlop Jazz Pick XL or the Dunlop Gators 2.00 mm

"Brain" reds. They're 0.73. Used to be Herco golds forever, but I've been on these Brains for a while now.

I started playing a lot of fingerstyle a couple years ago when i got a nice Larivee parlor guitar, and I was using Jim Dunlop ivories. After a while I decided to use a thumbpick when playing electrics, because a flatpick was starting to feel weird, but the Dunlop was to heavy to play with any dynamics. After a long search (most brands of thumb picks are sized for kids these days) I found these Planet Waves picks. Still not as pliable as I'd like for electric, but the best overall pick I've found so far.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Ww-PJD8JL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

V-picks Small Pointed 2.75mm on the Tele,
Wegen GJ for Gypsy Jazz
Wegen Bluegrass for the Larrivee
Vpick Tremolo for Mandolin

"Was it Billy Gibbons who said "quarters, when I can get 'em?" "

I believe it was Leon, I prefer pesos though, especially the 20 and 50 cent centavo, they're not fully round and have little corners that really dig in!

Lately, I've been digging these -- the greens and purples:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/clayton-s-stone-sharp-guitar-picks--6-pack

I've been using Dunlop Gator Grip .98mm picks for a while now and I really like them.
My hands sweat a lot when I play and these picks keep their grip.

Going to have to go pick shopping now though after seeing this thread.... geez this forum costs me a lot of money! lol

What ever is nearby. Mediums are good,but what ever I pick up first usually

Dunlop Max-Grip 1.14

Well.... I've tried, -and own- a whole buncha picks.
I'm not one to claim one is the "answer" and ignore a "new' or different style.
But, by and large, I gotta say --> there's something tactile and special about a big, thick, triangle.
Gotta once again respect and agree with Silveface.
But of course- that's me. And I'm not all that. I know some masters of the Telecaster who favor little "jazz" size picks- and not even real thick ones. Go figger.
The pick, like the guitar, seems to be an instrument that responds to the technique of the player!
(Somebody already said that sort of thing I think...........)

I got curious about the Bluechip so I ordered one. I really don't like it for the Tele. Just doesn't feel right. I like the Ultex 1.0 or 1.14 better. However, with the Martin, the Bluechip is the pick! It's noticeably brighter and feels right.

Usually Dava Control picks but sometimes Pro Plec 1.5 mm. Both very good picks.

Adamas 2.0mm graphite

I use whatever comes down the pike.

I've never counted them, but I probably keep a couple hundred of them stashed all over my house.

Like the feel of Jim Dunlop .88's for Blues.

But I switch them up for different styles of playing.
I usually go to a gig with a half-dozen to choose from.
Makes me feel like a big-time Rock-Star.

I'm stuck on Tortex .88s

Likewise. I haven't changed pick for 15 years.