Thoughts on pick thickness - Page 2

HagTributeBand · April 8th, 2008, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cygnus

I tend to go for the Dunlop Stubbies - they are the pick I feel most comfortable and make a big difference.

I have a whole mess of those stubbies from when I worked at Dunlop. They were way too thick for me. If you want them drop me a mailing address.

octatonic · April 8th, 2008, 11:28 AM

I've used these for the last 15 years:

Couldn't imagine using anything else.

Telenator · April 8th, 2008, 11:30 AM

"Tone is in the pick"

LOL! Yeah, heavy picks sound brighter and thin picks don't.

Me? I use Fender Delrin Mediums. The matte finish offers a nice grip when things heat up, the delrin is naturally slick and slides off the strings nicely, and the firmness covers both rhythm and lead admirably.

TelecasterBlooz · April 8th, 2008, 05:16 PM

I use Dunlop tortex .73 mm's (the yellow ones) My picking style encompasses alot of edge of the pic harmonics, and I tend to use a "sawing thru the string" attack when I turn up the heat and speed up. I found that these plectrums were the best compromise for my style of play....YMMV

Ethical · April 8th, 2008, 05:25 PM

I use mainly use 3mm "Big Stubbies" because I like the rigidity of the Stubby and I find the 3mm easier to hold than the 2mm or 1mm.

The other pick I use when I want to get really dirty is the Dunlop Gator as I find it really easy to grind and pop harmonics with these.

YMMV

Ted

ganttmann · April 8th, 2008, 07:10 PM

Danny and Roy might have both changed preferences in their later years but I'm pretty sure that they both used Fender heavy "jazz" picks - the little teardrop shaped ones. What Fender used to call "heavy" is now pretty thin by today's standards. I've been using Wegen Stupidly Expensives lately - mostly the 2.5mm gypsy jazz pick and occasionally the 1.4mm "Bluegrass" picks. I find the fat gypsy jazz picks easier to go fast with but the thinner bluegrass picks sound better, especially for Tele twang.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dhrcaster

Dunlop "stubby"...

I think Roy Buchannon used them. And Danny Gatton too! Seems like I remember Danny Gatton saying that was one of the things he got from Roy. Er, could be wrong on that...

eddie knuckles · April 8th, 2008, 07:18 PM

I like the thick Dunlops (light purple) best. I got a camel bone pick at a bluegrass festival up here a guy makes. They are tone crazy. Very Bright. I use it for certain types of leads, but not all the time.

The dunlops have a film on them that helps my shvetty hands keep a firm grip for any subtle to hurricane situation that may arise.

imwjl · April 8th, 2008, 07:35 PM

I like the small thick red Jazz III for my Tele. The logic is.... They can be mellow and better match finger tips for hybrid picking and with there's no shortage of spark with the bridge pickup so they can also be part of bright tone.

PJ · April 8th, 2008, 11:17 PM

I like those Delrin .6mm (ish) thickness. What a great invention.

Westerly Sunn · April 9th, 2008, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillyC

Use what works for you...I use very thin delrin picks because I got used to the ones I cut out of clorox bottles.

I useta' cut 'em outta plastic milk jugs when I found my self wantin'...

Basically I hated those... But it was a novel sound!

eddiewagner · April 9th, 2008, 02:25 AM

i changed to huge, triangular 1,21 mm "catfish" tortoise-lookalike picks. i bought a whole bunch.

Virgman · April 9th, 2008, 07:25 AM

I like Big Stubbies.

They are easy to grab.

OldMan · April 9th, 2008, 08:30 AM

For me, it depends on the guitar and the strings that are on it. On my Strat and and my Tele, I use DR .011's and I find the best pick for me on them is the 1mm Dunlop nylon filed to a very sharp point. On my ES5 with .011 flatwounds I use a thin gel pick. On my ES135 with the same .011 flatwounds I use a pointed Dunlop Jazz III black stiffie; and so on. I play with a pretty light touch so I have no problem with the thickness of the pick affecting my speed.

kp8 · April 9th, 2008, 08:47 AM

i use fender extra heavy 451 or 551 (odd shapes kind of hard to get), or the teardrop ones ... I also really like the dunlop stubbies.

I have a dozen or so real tort shell picks too... NOS. I was going to try to sell them but don't really want to end up in jail. ;)

tboy · April 9th, 2008, 11:01 AM

Just can't feel comfy with anything but a medium (Fender) with a needle sharp tip. Thins are way too sloppy for speed. I can understand heavies being even better, but not for me.

kludge · April 9th, 2008, 11:26 AM

Picks are cheap. Try and see what works! And give them REAL tries... don't just strum for a few minutes and decide. A new pick takes some real effort to learn.

I actually use several different picks for different purposes. A bandmate's wife knitted me a little bag to keep them all in! In that bag today, you'll find:

- Fender medium teardrops in "clown vomit" color (confetti), for acoustic strumming
- Fender heavy teardrops in "leprechaun vomit" color (green pearl), for acoustic/electric hybrid picking
- Dunlop Jazz III in black, for speed and articulation
- Dunlop 205, for mandolin
- John Pearse copy of a National thumbpick, for thumbpicking and steel guitar

Since the OP mentioned speed and accuracy, I'd STRONGLY recommend giving the Dunlop Jazz III a try. They're widely available and cheap, and a favorite of countless speed-demon players. I'm a recent convert, and they're the first "speed" pick that's ever really worked for me. Everything else small and pointy was too thick and clumsy.

pseudocat · April 9th, 2008, 12:17 PM

Ultex 1.14's for me. Since I discovered Ultex, nothing else will do for me, and I've tried dozens and dozens of picks.

I hope they never stop making them...

ucnick · April 9th, 2008, 02:24 PM

FWIW I use VERY stupidly expensive Red Bear "New Tortis" Type B 1.0mm picks exclusively (they cost as much as the stupidly expensive Wegens cited above!), they work very well for me, much better than anything else I've tried (and I've tried a lot in 38 years!), and they last a long time. I find I need a stiff pick to pick cleanly and articulate clearly, the thinner ones don't work very well for me. I have also taken more and more to hybrid picking over the past few years, so my fingers are also becoming more involved. Only trouble with the New Tortis picks (besides the cost) is that my cousin likes to annoy me by breaking them... so I stay away from my cousin...

TheWasp · April 9th, 2008, 02:32 PM

Another vote for 3mm Big Stubbies....

stxrus · April 9th, 2008, 02:43 PM

since my last post on this subject back in october i got turned on to a larger v-pick called the screamer. about the size of a quarter with very sharp corners. just like with the originals i thought i could never play this pick.

well all i can say is, "hello, my name is steve and i am addicted to the screamer."

a bit brighter than the smalls i was using. much easier to hold. easier to move from chording/strumming to single note picking.

definately a vast improvement in pick technology

steve

marc sosnoff · April 9th, 2008, 02:58 PM

yea v-picks rule i have tried several models my fav is the medium rounded corners feels so natural i also have the pyscho model its big really big
but the tone and speed is great easy to hold but i still am hung up on the rounded mediums

stxrus · April 9th, 2008, 03:33 PM

try a screamer. only 1 size but does rule. if you don't like it i'll take it off your hands

steve

Vunz · April 9th, 2008, 04:18 PM

I use TDPRI picks...

Dont know any other ones........

Vincent

jazztele · April 9th, 2008, 05:52 PM

dunlop jazztones. i use both of the smaller models, the pointy one and the blunt edged one...the blunt edger, while not as accurate, sounds the most like a thumb on string (a la wes) of any pick i've used.

but when i jam with my bud's country band, it's a fender medium fer me.

kalipigeon · April 10th, 2008, 02:38 PM

For those of you guys who like the old Fender celluloid picks that are so hard to find now (the old tortoise shell ones before the california clear series took off), you should check out your local Wal-Mart. The "First Act" brand guitar picks are cheap and made of celluloid. The closest pick I've found to the old Fender picks I learned how to play on, and I use them pretty much exclusively now.

Dan German · April 10th, 2008, 07:11 PM

For me, orange Tortex (.60 mm??) for rhythm, 1.0 mm Stubby for lead, 3.0 mm Stubby for mandolin. I will however buy any weird pick that catches my eye. I have worn out picks, and I have lost picks, but I have never thrown or given one away. So all the ones I don't use end up in a box. I even have a wooden pick that I whittled while sitting by the side of the road in Wyoming trying to hitch a ride in 1980. Actually

April 8th, 2008, 11:28 AM	#42 (permalink)
octatonic Tele-Afflicted Join Date: May 2007 Location: An Australian in London. Posts: 1,572	I've used these for the last 15 years: Couldn't imagine using anything else. __________________ "A jazz musician is a juggler who uses harmonies instead of oranges." Benny Green

April 8th, 2008, 11:30 AM	#43 (permalink)
Telenator Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Connecticut Posts: 4,476	"Tone is in the pick" LOL! Yeah, heavy picks sound brighter and thin picks don't. Me? I use Fender Delrin Mediums. The matte finish offers a nice grip when things heat up, the delrin is naturally slick and slides off the strings nicely, and the firmness covers both rhythm and lead admirably. __________________ Dogs have the right idea!

April 8th, 2008, 05:16 PM	#44 (permalink)
TelecasterBlooz Tele-Holic Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: New Lisbon, WI Age: 49 Posts: 653	I use Dunlop tortex .73 mm's (the yellow ones) My picking style encompasses alot of edge of the pic harmonics, and I tend to use a "sawing thru the string" attack when I turn up the heat and speed up. I found that these plectrums were the best compromise for my style of play....YMMV __________________ Leo Fender got it right the first time...(Telecaster)

April 8th, 2008, 05:25 PM	#45 (permalink)
Ethical Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Norfolk, UK Age: 52 Posts: 316 1 Photos	I use mainly use 3mm "Big Stubbies" because I like the rigidity of the Stubby and I find the 3mm easier to hold than the 2mm or 1mm. The other pick I use when I want to get really dirty is the Dunlop Gator as I find it really easy to grind and pop harmonics with these. YMMV Ted __________________ If it wasn't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all

April 8th, 2008, 07:18 PM	#47 (permalink)
eddie knuckles TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: central mass Posts: 58	I like the thick Dunlops (light purple) best. I got a camel bone pick at a bluegrass festival up here a guy makes. They are tone crazy. Very Bright. I use it for certain types of leads, but not all the time. The dunlops have a film on them that helps my shvetty hands keep a firm grip for any subtle to hurricane situation that may arise. __________________ The eyes of a Sultan, with a radio shack budget....

April 8th, 2008, 07:35 PM	#48 (permalink)
imwjl Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 1,162	I like the small thick red Jazz III for my Tele. The logic is.... They can be mellow and better match finger tips for hybrid picking and with there's no shortage of spark with the bridge pickup so they can also be part of bright tone.

April 8th, 2008, 11:17 PM	#49 (permalink)
PJ Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,914 4 Photos	I like those Delrin .6mm (ish) thickness. What a great invention. __________________ PJ "I don't know if it's art, but I like it."

April 9th, 2008, 02:25 AM	#51 (permalink)
eddiewagner Friend of Leo's Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: ROCK!linghausen/germany Age: 49 Posts: 3,774 27 Photos	i changed to huge, triangular 1,21 mm "catfish" tortoise-lookalike picks. i bought a whole bunch. __________________ My Drum/Guitar-Duo: www.myspace.com/captaintwangandhisrhythmcat

April 9th, 2008, 07:25 AM	#52 (permalink)
Virgman TDPRI Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Joisey Posts: 28	I like Big Stubbies. They are easy to grab.

April 9th, 2008, 08:30 AM	#53 (permalink)
OldMan Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Kentucky Age: 61 Posts: 176	For me, it depends on the guitar and the strings that are on it. On my Strat and and my Tele, I use DR .011's and I find the best pick for me on them is the 1mm Dunlop nylon filed to a very sharp point. On my ES5 with .011 flatwounds I use a thin gel pick. On my ES135 with the same .011 flatwounds I use a pointed Dunlop Jazz III black stiffie; and so on. I play with a pretty light touch so I have no problem with the thickness of the pick affecting my speed. __________________ ALCOHOL... the cause of and solution to all of life's problems - Homer J. Simpson

April 9th, 2008, 08:47 AM	#54 (permalink)
kp8 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 2,743	i use fender extra heavy 451 or 551 (odd shapes kind of hard to get), or the teardrop ones ... I also really like the dunlop stubbies. I have a dozen or so real tort shell picks too... NOS. I was going to try to sell them but don't really want to end up in jail. ;)

April 9th, 2008, 11:01 AM	#55 (permalink)
tboy Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Chicago Area Posts: 582 7 Photos	Just can't feel comfy with anything but a medium (Fender) with a needle sharp tip. Thins are way too sloppy for speed. I can understand heavies being even better, but not for me.

April 9th, 2008, 11:26 AM	#56 (permalink)
kludge Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Minneapolis Age: 43 Posts: 1,015	Picks are cheap. Try and see what works! And give them REAL tries... don't just strum for a few minutes and decide. A new pick takes some real effort to learn. I actually use several different picks for different purposes. A bandmate's wife knitted me a little bag to keep them all in! In that bag today, you'll find: - Fender medium teardrops in "clown vomit" color (confetti), for acoustic strumming - Fender heavy teardrops in "leprechaun vomit" color (green pearl), for acoustic/electric hybrid picking - Dunlop Jazz III in black, for speed and articulation - Dunlop 205, for mandolin - John Pearse copy of a National thumbpick, for thumbpicking and steel guitar Since the OP mentioned speed and accuracy, I'd STRONGLY recommend giving the Dunlop Jazz III a try. They're widely available and cheap, and a favorite of countless speed-demon players. I'm a recent convert, and they're the first "speed" pick that's ever really worked for me. Everything else small and pointy was too thick and clumsy. __________________ Oz: Well, other bands know more than three chords. Your professional bands can play up to six, sometimes seven completely different chords. Devon: That's just, like, fruity jazz bands. -from Buffy the Vampire Slayer

April 9th, 2008, 12:17 PM	#57 (permalink)
pseudocat Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Out there Age: 46 Posts: 225	Ultex 1.14's for me. Since I discovered Ultex, nothing else will do for me, and I've tried dozens and dozens of picks. I hope they never stop making them...

April 9th, 2008, 02:24 PM	#58 (permalink)
ucnick TDPRI Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Union City CA Posts: 27	FWIW I use VERY stupidly expensive Red Bear "New Tortis" Type B 1.0mm picks exclusively (they cost as much as the stupidly expensive Wegens cited above!), they work very well for me, much better than anything else I've tried (and I've tried a lot in 38 years!), and they last a long time. I find I need a stiff pick to pick cleanly and articulate clearly, the thinner ones don't work very well for me. I have also taken more and more to hybrid picking over the past few years, so my fingers are also becoming more involved. Only trouble with the New Tortis picks (besides the cost) is that my cousin likes to annoy me by breaking them... so I stay away from my cousin... __________________ Illegitimi Non Carborundum!!!

April 9th, 2008, 02:32 PM	#59 (permalink)
TheWasp Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Alloa,Scotland Posts: 251	Another vote for 3mm Big Stubbies.... __________________ Listen:- It's a Sonic Sensation...

April 9th, 2008, 02:43 PM	#60 (permalink)
stxrus Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2007 Location: St. Croix, USVI Age: 56 Posts: 625	since my last post on this subject back in october i got turned on to a larger v-pick called the screamer. about the size of a quarter with very sharp corners. just like with the originals i thought i could never play this pick. well all i can say is, "hello, my name is steve and i am addicted to the screamer." a bit brighter than the smalls i was using. much easier to hold. easier to move from chording/strumming to single note picking. definately a vast improvement in pick technology steve

April 9th, 2008, 02:58 PM	#61 (permalink)
marc sosnoff Tele-Holic Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: new jersey Age: 55 Posts: 531 10 Photos	yea v-picks rule i have tried several models my fav is the medium rounded corners feels so natural i also have the pyscho model its big really big but the tone and speed is great easy to hold but i still am hung up on the rounded mediums

April 9th, 2008, 03:33 PM	#62 (permalink)
stxrus Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2007 Location: St. Croix, USVI Age: 56 Posts: 625	try a screamer. only 1 size but does rule. if you don't like it i'll take it off your hands steve

April 9th, 2008, 04:18 PM	#63 (permalink)
Vunz Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Netherlands Posts: 256 17 Photos	well me I use TDPRI picks... Dont know any other ones........ Vincent __________________ - Mostly harmless -

April 9th, 2008, 05:52 PM	#64 (permalink)
jazztele Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: chicago Age: 29 Posts: 1,878	dunlop jazztones. i use both of the smaller models, the pointy one and the blunt edged one...the blunt edger, while not as accurate, sounds the most like a thumb on string (a la wes) of any pick i've used. but when i jam with my bud's country band, it's a fender medium fer me. __________________ “For the guitar is the most unpredictable and least reliable musical instrument in existence...and also the sweetest, the warmest, the most delicate, whose melancholic voice awakes in our soul exquisite reveries.” Andres Segovia

April 10th, 2008, 02:38 PM	#65 (permalink)
kalipigeon TDPRI Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Little Rock, AR Age: 26 Posts: 40	For those of you guys who like the old Fender celluloid picks that are so hard to find now (the old tortoise shell ones before the california clear series took off), you should check out your local Wal-Mart. The "First Act" brand guitar picks are cheap and made of celluloid. The closest pick I've found to the old Fender picks I learned how to play on, and I use them pretty much exclusively now. __________________ What if fat-bottomed girls really do make the rockin' world go 'round?