Brad Paisley

Stefan · March 29th, 2008, 01:23 PM

I was a bit surprised to read about Brad Paisley´s choice of guitarpick in the Guitar Player magazine some months ago. He uses Ernie Ball mediums. I was convinced he used Heavy (like the rest of us

).

Since I switched to heavy picks, many years ago, I think that both tone and playability is better. Don´t get me wrong here, please! I am not saying that my tone is better than Brad´s. It´s not even close!! This is a very subjective topic of course but, I thought most country pickers used at least 1.0 m.m picks.

Big John · March 29th, 2008, 01:46 PM

Guess it's a personal choice, i'm with you on the stiff ones though, i like the Ernie Ball 'H' but when i lived in Norway i remember everyone using these things ..............

I could never get on with them, they made great sense though, the long end for strumming and then somehow by squeezing it you could get it stiff enough for solo-ing.
Never worked for me , i just felt like a very bad magician .......

Stefan · March 29th, 2008, 02:04 PM

That brings back some memories! I used the white ones when I first started playing at the age of 12. Now they feel like a piece of paper to me!

Big John · March 29th, 2008, 02:06 PM

Ha ha ha ! i still have some red ones and i do use them from time to time with the Martin, they really make a zzzzzzzzing thats for sure !

It was Ralph Nilson who showed me the trick to make them go stiff and i am sitting here in front of the monitor and still cannot master it !

Fæn !!

NewOldStock · March 29th, 2008, 02:19 PM

Quote:

It was Ralph Nilson who showed me the trick to make them go stiff and i am sitting here in front of the monitor and still cannot master it !

You tried Viagra?

Big John · March 29th, 2008, 02:36 PM

Wah, wah, wah, waaaaaaah, *Pfffissplash cymbal*

A floppy pick is no laughing matter !

Stefan · March 29th, 2008, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewOldStock

You tried Viagra?

Like playing pool with a rope...? Then you need Viagra!

bowman · March 29th, 2008, 02:54 PM

I've always used mediums for playing any electric guitar. I don't know why - it has nothing to do with the tone I get, I just prefer how they feel on the strings. I like Dunlops and Fenders.

eryque · March 29th, 2008, 03:12 PM

I think that heavier picks give you more pop in your attack, which is exactly why I never liked them. Dunlop mediums for me.

McFly · March 29th, 2008, 03:36 PM

I've definately trended from thin to thick over 16 years of playing. In the beginning it was those white nylon super thin things. The last 5-6 years have been Dunlop tortex only. Started with the orange ones, and now I only use the blue 1mm's.

I've got one of Brad's picks from a show. First thing I did was go home and try to play with it, but it wasn't happening for me. Too thin.

NortyFiner · March 29th, 2008, 04:09 PM

I first learned to play guitar from my ex-brother in law. He was a shredder (by his own admission) and played with picks so thin you could almost see through them. I never could understand how he did it, so I used mediums, and still do for guitars. For bass, I mostly use my fingers. When I have to pick bass, I prefer heavies or REALLY heavies, or just a coin from my pocket...

TDPRI · March 29th, 2008, 04:32 PM

I'm a medium man myself. When I use "Heavy's" I drop more picks.

twangcaster1 · May 23rd, 2008, 07:05 PM

I use fender mediums when I'm chicken pickin' on a tele, fender mediums or dunlop "H" when I'm pickin' out blues licks on a strat, and thick little tear drop shaped ones for jazzy stuff.

lunchbox · May 23rd, 2008, 07:09 PM

1.0 mm lil purple tortex jazz pick's for me and my fingers alot also.

slackerprince · May 23rd, 2008, 07:53 PM

I switched to Dunlop Jazz picks, with absolutely NO flex, and they are fast as lightning for soloing.
Check them out.

S.

RodeoTex · May 23rd, 2008, 08:13 PM

I bought a couple gross of Gibson Mediums (black) back in the '80s. My favorites.

I noticed someone in the Classifieds of GP mag advertising for those exact picks but I ain't sharing.

ce24 · May 23rd, 2008, 08:22 PM

mediums here and I file little grooves onto one side and use that side for some solos it really adds bite...

Cheers
ce24

freddie · May 24th, 2008, 04:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stefan

I was a bit surprised to read about Brad Paisley´s choice of guitarpick in the Guitar Player magazine some months ago. He uses Ernie Ball mediums. I was convinced he used Heavy (like the rest of us

).

Since I switched to heavy picks, many years ago, I think that both tone and playability is better. Don´t get me wrong here, please! I am not saying that my tone is better than Brad´s. It´s not even close!! This is a very subjective topic of course but, I thought most country pickers used at least 1.0 m.m picks.

Hi All,

Let me tell you brothers those are SWEET sounding/playing picks. I like the medium (darkish Blue) and the light (baby blue) alot, they are good for both elec and acoustic, they make fretting much easier. I think they are a nylon type. I thought I try them and see if I can get a nice tone out of a softer pick as I'm not nuts about Dunlop light guage, my old standby is .73 nylon (gray). Another pick I've grown to like is Herco 50 o 75.

I'm not crazy about Ernie Ball strings, but love their picks,

freddie

Fret Melter · May 24th, 2008, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slackerprince

I switched to Dunlop Jazz picks, with absolutely NO flex, and they are fast as lightning for soloing.
Check them out.

S.

Hells yes. Dunlop Black Jazz 3's for me as well!! Deffintition, accuracy and control. My faves! I use them for my Tele and my 7 String!

Wardpike · May 24th, 2008, 01:15 PM

I just love good old Fender 347s. I like mediums, but with my heavy attack, I burn through them about 3 songs each. So I get a week out of a heavy.

emailhot · May 24th, 2008, 02:04 PM

I use the Jim Dunlop nylon .94mm. I like them because they have a good grip on them and I don't drop as many. I had bought some of the fender heavy picks that look like MOP, but I just don't like them. Too smooth. over the last 2 yrs i've gone from the Tortex .5mm's to the ones I use now. my buddy told me to give the thicker ones a try so I did, and I liked them.

Norrin Radd · May 24th, 2008, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fret Melter

Hells yes. Dunlop Black Jazz 3's for me as well!! Deffintition, accuracy and control. My faves! I use them for my Tele and my 7 String!

Yep - I likes them too. Have you tried the Ultex ones? I like them even better now - using them exclusively. Worth a try.

tiktok · May 24th, 2008, 08:44 PM

I started off with the standard Fender medium, then went up to black Dunlop Jazz III's, then the red ones, then a variety of things as I started playing a lot of acoustic. Now I've ended up with Dunlop Nylon 1mm on the electric and acoustic, Herco thumbpicks and the thinnest Wegen picks for my baritone.

A while back, they started offered Jazz III's in a slightly larger size, which I really liked for single lines but didn't like them for rhythm, hence the Dunlops.

SixStringSlinger · May 24th, 2008, 10:17 PM

I started on Fender mediums. Not quite sure why I went for Fenders to begin with, but I did and they worked. I figured, there's 3 sizes, guess I'll go with the one in the middle. Later on I read something about players preferring heavy picks because they don't flex as much when they hit the string. Made sense to me, I bought a pack of heavies, liked 'em, and haven't looked back.

mojocasterman · May 24th, 2008, 10:44 PM

I tried picks. I really did. But in the end, I couldn't use them, so I had to go back to using fingers only.

jimmtimm · May 25th, 2008, 12:17 AM

Smallest Fender heavy's for me.

March 29th, 2008, 01:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
Stefan Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Sweden Age: 29 Posts: 1,826 37 Photos	Brad Paisley I was a bit surprised to read about Brad Paisley´s choice of guitarpick in the Guitar Player magazine some months ago. He uses Ernie Ball mediums. I was convinced he used Heavy (like the rest of us ). Since I switched to heavy picks, many years ago, I think that both tone and playability is better. Don´t get me wrong here, please! I am *not* saying that my tone is better than Brad´s. It´s not even close!! This is a very subjective topic of course but, I thought most country pickers used at least 1.0 m.m picks. __________________ 1981 Capri Orange Fender Telecaster 1976 Fender Stratocaster 2007 Martin Backpacker 2005 Martin HD-28 Last edited by Stefan; March 29th, 2008 at 02:00 PM.

March 29th, 2008, 01:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
Big John Friend of Leo's Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Suffolk UK Posts: 4,869 36 Photos	Guess it's a personal choice, i'm with you on the stiff ones though, i like the Ernie Ball 'H' but when i lived in Norway i remember everyone using these things .............. I could never get on with them, they made great sense though, the long end for strumming and then somehow by squeezing it you could get it stiff enough for solo-ing. Never worked for me , i just felt like a very bad magician ....... __________________ If you are going to be a bear, be a grizzly !!

March 29th, 2008, 02:04 PM	#3 (permalink)
Stefan Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Sweden Age: 29 Posts: 1,826 37 Photos	That brings back some memories! I used the white ones when I first started playing at the age of 12. Now they feel like a piece of paper to me! __________________ 1981 Capri Orange Fender Telecaster 1976 Fender Stratocaster 2007 Martin Backpacker 2005 Martin HD-28

March 29th, 2008, 02:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
Big John Friend of Leo's Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Suffolk UK Posts: 4,869 36 Photos	Ha ha ha ! i still have some red ones and i do use them from time to time with the Martin, they really make a zzzzzzzzing thats for sure ! It was Ralph Nilson who showed me the trick to make them go stiff and i am sitting here in front of the monitor and still cannot master it ! Fæn !! __________________ If you are going to be a bear, be a grizzly !!

March 29th, 2008, 02:36 PM	#6 (permalink)
Big John Friend of Leo's Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Suffolk UK Posts: 4,869 36 Photos	Wah, wah, wah, waaaaaaah, Pfffissplash cymbal A floppy pick is no laughing matter ! __________________ If you are going to be a bear, be a grizzly !!

March 29th, 2008, 02:54 PM	#8 (permalink)
bowman Tele-Meister Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Westborough, MA Age: 56 Posts: 424	I've always used mediums for playing any electric guitar. I don't know why - it has nothing to do with the tone I get, I just prefer how they feel on the strings. I like Dunlops and Fenders.

March 29th, 2008, 03:12 PM	#9 (permalink)
eryque Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: albany, ny [not chicago] Posts: 7,241 44 Photos	I think that heavier picks give you more pop in your attack, which is exactly why I never liked them. Dunlop mediums for me. __________________ my blog: eryque.blogspot.com Updated 9.17.08! Subscribe_____________________

March 29th, 2008, 03:36 PM	#10 (permalink)
McFly Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: New York Age: 33 Posts: 170	I've definately trended from thin to thick over 16 years of playing. In the beginning it was those white nylon super thin things. The last 5-6 years have been Dunlop tortex only. Started with the orange ones, and now I only use the blue 1mm's. I've got one of Brad's picks from a show. First thing I did was go home and try to play with it, but it wasn't happening for me. Too thin. __________________ "Ahh...this is a blues riff in B, watch me for the changes, and try and keep up."

March 29th, 2008, 04:09 PM	#11 (permalink)
NortyFiner Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Portsmouth VA USA Age: 39 Posts: 145	I first learned to play guitar from my ex-brother in law. He was a shredder (by his own admission) and played with picks so thin you could almost see through them. I never could understand how he did it, so I used mediums, and still do for guitars. For bass, I mostly use my fingers. When I have to pick bass, I prefer heavies or REALLY heavies, or just a coin from my pocket... __________________ Your Friendly Neighborhood Bass Hack Fender/Squier addict since 1989! "The bass makes no music...you do." - Vic Wooten.

March 29th, 2008, 04:32 PM	#12 (permalink)
TDPRI Administrator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: TDPRILAND Posts: 5,725 36 Photos	I'm a medium man myself. When I use "Heavy's" I drop more picks.

May 23rd, 2008, 07:05 PM	#13 (permalink)
twangcaster1 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Utah Posts: 1,532 6 Photos	Depends on what I'm doin'. I use fender mediums when I'm chicken pickin' on a tele, fender mediums or dunlop "H" when I'm pickin' out blues licks on a strat, and thick little tear drop shaped ones for jazzy stuff. __________________ SLC Twangsmith

May 23rd, 2008, 07:09 PM	#14 (permalink)
lunchbox Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Venice, Fl Age: 39 Posts: 586	1.0 mm lil purple tortex jazz pick's for me and my fingers alot also. __________________ TWANGALICIOUS!!!!

May 23rd, 2008, 07:53 PM	#15 (permalink)
slackerprince TDPRI Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Tampa, Fl. Age: 46 Posts: 14	I switched to Dunlop Jazz picks, with absolutely NO flex, and they are fast as lightning for soloing. Check them out. S.

May 23rd, 2008, 08:13 PM	#16 (permalink)
RodeoTex Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,453	I bought a couple gross of Gibson Mediums (black) back in the '80s. My favorites. I noticed someone in the Classifieds of GP mag advertising for those exact picks but I ain't sharing. __________________ Turn it on, turn it up, turn me loose.

May 23rd, 2008, 08:22 PM	#17 (permalink)
ce24 Tele-Holic Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Idaho Age: 58 Posts: 513	mediums here and I file little grooves onto one side and use that side for some solos it really adds bite... Cheers ce24 __________________ www.motagator.net/slackwater "you can be happy or you can be miserable..the amount of work is the same"

May 24th, 2008, 01:15 PM	#20 (permalink)
Wardpike Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: St. John's, Newfoundland Age: 43 Posts: 743	I just love good old Fender 347s. I like mediums, but with my heavy attack, I burn through them about 3 songs each. So I get a week out of a heavy.

May 24th, 2008, 02:04 PM	#21 (permalink)
emailhot Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Leduc, Alberta, Canada Age: 36 Posts: 212 3 Photos	I use the Jim Dunlop nylon .94mm. I like them because they have a good grip on them and I don't drop as many. I had bought some of the fender heavy picks that look like MOP, but I just don't like them. Too smooth. over the last 2 yrs i've gone from the Tortex .5mm's to the ones I use now. my buddy told me to give the thicker ones a try so I did, and I liked them. __________________ Ed Mailhot Modded Squier Vintage Mod now w/4-way and gfs pickups Aria Ad-28c W/b-band nady wireless Vox DA-15 &Crate Palomino V3212

May 24th, 2008, 08:44 PM	#23 (permalink)
tiktok Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 4,188	I started off with the standard Fender medium, then went up to black Dunlop Jazz III's, then the red ones, then a variety of things as I started playing a lot of acoustic. Now I've ended up with Dunlop Nylon 1mm on the electric and acoustic, Herco thumbpicks and the thinnest Wegen picks for my baritone. A while back, they started offered Jazz III's in a slightly larger size, which I really liked for single lines but didn't like them for rhythm, hence the Dunlops. __________________ http://www.myspace.com/travishartnett http://www.myspace.com/sugarcanemutiny Pearce Amps Info Page

May 24th, 2008, 10:17 PM	#24 (permalink)
SixStringSlinger Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2006 Location: Miami, FL Age: 21 Posts: 1,279	I started on Fender mediums. Not quite sure why I went for Fenders to begin with, but I did and they worked. I figured, there's 3 sizes, guess I'll go with the one in the middle. Later on I read something about players preferring heavy picks because they don't flex as much when they hit the string. Made sense to me, I bought a pack of heavies, liked 'em, and haven't looked back. __________________ "Is a hippopotamus a hippopotamus, or just a really cool opotamus?" -Mitch Hedberg

May 24th, 2008, 10:44 PM	#25 (permalink)
mojocasterman Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 4,315	I tried picks. I really did. But in the end, I couldn't use them, so I had to go back to using fingers only. __________________ Trussart SteelPhonic & Deluxe Steelcaster - McNaught SC Jr - Tom Anderson Cobra w/ 3 P90s - Crook Custom Tele w/ Lollar & TV Jones & T w/ McVay bender - Grosh baritone - SRV Strat - Ovation Elite T - Dr. Z. Carmen Ghia & Mini Z - Fender Tweed Blues Junior.

May 25th, 2008, 12:17 AM	#26 (permalink)
jimmtimm TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Provo, Utah Age: 30 Posts: 56	Smallest Fender heavy's for me. __________________ "Anything, everything is possible." Thomas Edison 1908