Jazz pick suggestions?

[RunGuy17]

Hello,

I'm in the mood to get some new picks. I've been using Dunlop Tortex Yellows (0.73mm) forever, but am in the mood for something different. I'm in the market for a jazz pick, but I have had no experience with them. Can you guys recommend something to me? I've been eyeing the Dunlop Stubby Jazz or the Dunlop Big Stubby (what are your guys' preference between those and why?). Also, is there any love for the Dunlop Jazz III nylon picks? What kinds of sounds do these picks give, what are the advantages, and what model and size do you guys suggest?

Thanks!

[elmatt]

The thicker more rounded picks tend to give you a warmer sound - typical for jazz. I have tried a lot of different picks and like the variety of sounds I can get from using various picks; however I am also very finicky about feel and had trouble adjusting my technique every time I changed picks, especially if the two were very different. I have finally decided to settle on the green Dunlap picks (the one with the turtle on them) and just adjust my tone knob to create a warmer or brighter sound. Aside from the sound the advantages and disadvantages are very subjective - depends what feels right for you.

[maestrovert]

Heavy Fender 358s work best for me...

[brokenjoe]

I like the heavy nylon Dunlop blue ones. They're standard sized, and I feel the most comfortable with them.

However, I also like the Dunlop III jazz picks for certain things. I can make my tele squeal easier with them, and I like the tone for certain things because so little of the pick protrudes beyond my fingertips. But, I seem to have a harder time playing fast trills with them -especially ones with two strings at a time.

[strat a various]

Jazz shaped Tortex purple.

[jefrs]

Thick. Django used a button.

If your pick is too long and pointy you can re-shape like a fingernail on some emery.

Some jazz picks like the tiny D'Andrea Plec are too small for me but I do like the little triangular Dunlop Jazz I or Tortex H3 purple ones. There is an 'oval' Gibson pick I like too, a bit smaller and more rounded than the regular kite shape, I cut the larger D'Andrea Spectra-Sharp 1.0/1.5mm ones back to this size. I've also got a Dunlop Big regular-kite of 3mm, it's like a sucked cough drop.

[jazztele]

dunlop jazztone 204's and 205's do the trick for me. they're the smallest of the jazztone line, one has a pint and the other is blunt edged, however, i can't tell you which one's which because all the ones in my house right now have the number worn off from play!

i've tried a lot of picks, and to my ears, these have the least "click" when hitting the strings.

[tele salivas]

I use a peavey plastic at 1.00mm turned so one of the back rounded edges becomes the point..it's a prism looking thing, but it really works well for the jazz stuff

[dconeill]

Originally Posted by RunGuy17

Hello,

I'm in the mood to get some new picks. I've been using Dunlop Tortex Yellows (0.73mm) forever, but am in the mood for something different. I'm in the market for a jazz pick, but I have had no experience with them. Can you guys recommend something to me? I've been eyeing the Dunlop Stubby Jazz or the Dunlop Big Stubby (what are your guys' preference between those and why?). Also, is there any love for the Dunlop Jazz III nylon picks? What kinds of sounds do these picks give, what are the advantages, and what model and size do you guys suggest?

Thanks!

I used to use Gibson Stars, and they were my favorite, but they're not available anymore. They were shaped like Dunlop Tortex Teardrops, but made out of some moderately soft black material.

These days I use mostly Jim Dunlop Jazztone 207s, No. 477 n the Dunlop catalog. If I want something more percussive with a more abrupt string release, I like the Jim Dunlop Tortex Teardrops, No. 413, usually Blue or Purple (heaviest) or occasionally Green - lighter ones seem to be more percussive than heavier ones. The Tortexes sound a lot like tortoise shell picks.

I don't really like most other picks.

[RunGuy17]

I'm going for less of a "clicky" sound that I get with the Tortex's, so would the Jazztones be better (especially for strumming)? So no one likes the Jazz or Big Stubbies?

Thanks!

[Joe-Bob]

I use purple Dunlop Gatorgrips (.96mm) for jazz comping.


I did a test where I got a bunch of different picks; different materials and thicknesses, and played the same stuff over and over just changing picks. The differences in tone were amazing, and don't necessarily follow what you would think.

[bingy]

Dunlop Jazz III. For jazzier playing. (half comp half solo)

But I have been finding that for Folk Country and Americana strumma strumma on the resonator it is a lot easier to use a more flexible pick.

Or...another strumma strumma trick I picked up from Freddie King is matal picks on thumb and index...this leaves you with no holding of pick and is a lot less crampy if you are just strumming.

[RunGuy17]

Thanks for the suggestions, guys! I was just wondering what kind of Jazz III's you guys got (Ultex, Nylon, XL, el Stiffo). There are so many to choose from!

[Axis29]

Dunlop makes Jazz III's in tortex....

I tried 'em for a little while, but I had a hard time getting used to the smaller picks...

[jefrs]

I've listed my picks above. I mainly fingerpick and I find the small jazz picks allow me to free my second finger for picking instead of holding a larger pick. But if the pick is too small then I will drop it. I have a tendency to drop picks anyway. Or loose them. Or the dog eats them. I am experimenting with making picks out of split boxwood, it's a bit tedious because box is very hard with long fibres than can tear out. The pick can be made thinner than a plastic one for the same tone but I can't really say they are any better than the bought ones, just novelty. The same technique, Dremel, hand sanding and emery board (nail file), can be used to re-shape any larger pick to the desired size, it's a bit like doing a fingernail.

When I visit ye shoppe I usually ask if they have any jazz picks and just buy what is available or interesting. I have a collection of useless picks. I like good quality genuine celluloid, it is the nearest to real tortoiseshell (no-no), plus it sticks to sweaty fingers, but best quality celluloid are not readily available nor in all shapes and sizes, and so they get modified.

[tonyguitargoat]

I use D'andrea 330 Pro Plecs, or Pick Boy jazz picks.

[warmingtone]

I use fender medium for everything. Unfortunately, I am having trouble finding them locally now I am living in the wilderness...hahhaa...seems like dunlop have taken over in most shops.

I remember once being convinced by something I read to get little "jazz picks" and bought 100 of them and had them all over the house...unfortunately they weren't for me.

Basically, I find the "mediums" to be the most comfortable and versatile for everything I do and I find changing anything a little disorientating. There is plenty to get a hold on so you can hold it lightly for a light feel, or tighter closer to the point...or even flex it slightly to make it very stiff.

Very stiff picks do tend to make a bit of a click, especially when I play them and now I play a tele, and they really stop a percussive element to my personal style that I find a bit frustrating...those little picks seem to prevent my natural chording work (and I have a tendency to drop them for some reason). Also, I find the small ones difficult to 'palm' for occasional fingerpicking stuff.

Anyway...it's all personal preference I guess, different picks can change your style a bit, but I found for me that radically forcing a "jazz" or other kind of pick just held up development where you can get a lot of the same effects with a standard or familiar pick.

It's probably worth noting it is difficult (not impossible) to simulate flexibility with a stiff pick, but easy to make a flexible pick stiffer with the force, position or type of grip. So, worth finding what works for you and not necessarily what your hero or who ever does...

Of course, we are all a bit guilty of this kind of thing...I love Jeff Beck and love the styles of knophler for instance, so spent a year without a pick at all...a great sound and experience, however it really limited a lot of full chord work and stuff that tends to predominate unless you only play lead or have a rhythm player or something.

[6x47]

Dunlop Stubby 3.0mm

[Chris S.]

Fender 358 Heavy in white (so I can find 'em when I drop one on a dark stage... ) ;-) I've been using them for everything (including jazz) since '73 or so. -- CS

[cousinpaul]

I like the Dunlap Jazz II, the red nylon ones. A friend turned me on to them years ago and it's too late to stop now. I read that Bill Frissel is using Tortex M3's, the green ones. I think I'm going to try those if I can find some. I'd like a little more snap for some things.