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Tele-Holic
I just got a variety pack of Dunlop Flow picks, and had a few days to play with them. I don't think I've been as excited about new gear for a while. What other gear can you spend less on, that really impacts your playing?
These picks are made from Ultex, which is a pretty hard plastic, and they have a pointier and more tapered tip than the standard shape. They are embossed with a pattern and lettering, which lends to a nice grip. Maybe the marketing is working on me but they really do seem to "flow" through the strings.
Here's what they look like. Variety pack has 0.73, 0.88, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 mm picks in the "regular" flow size, and 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 mm in the "jumbo" size.
If you're curious about the sizes, here's the regular and jumbo size laid next to a Jazz III size pick and standard size Tortex pick:
Here's my impression of the sizes: I never warmed up to the Jazz III--it is too small and I prefer the traditional size. The regular Flow pick, while smaller than standard is still large enough that it doesn't feel too small. I don't mind its size. The 2.0 mm Flow comes in two sizes, and I actually prefer the regular, even though the jumbo is closer to what I am used to.
For thickness, I find myself gravitating to the 1.5 mm. My usual pick is the Tortex 0.88 mm, so naturally I thought I'd like the 0.88 Flow. But for some reason the Flow feels thinner than it measures. It's weird, but even the 1.0 feels a bit thin. Maybe it's due to the contour of the tip? Something about the shape lends itself well to being thick, and the 1.5 is the Goldilocks choice of thick but not too thick.
My previous experience with thick picks is with 2 and 3 mm Stubby, from which I liked the 2 but not the 3. That sums up my feelings with the Flow as well. Once it's over 2 mm I'm not enjoying the extra girth, although I can see how some people may like them.
These are my first impressions. So far I am enjoying these picks, and while it's too soon to say, I might even call them my favorites. What picks do you like?
These picks are made from Ultex, which is a pretty hard plastic, and they have a pointier and more tapered tip than the standard shape. They are embossed with a pattern and lettering, which lends to a nice grip. Maybe the marketing is working on me but they really do seem to "flow" through the strings.
Here's what they look like. Variety pack has 0.73, 0.88, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 mm picks in the "regular" flow size, and 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 mm in the "jumbo" size.
If you're curious about the sizes, here's the regular and jumbo size laid next to a Jazz III size pick and standard size Tortex pick:
Here's my impression of the sizes: I never warmed up to the Jazz III--it is too small and I prefer the traditional size. The regular Flow pick, while smaller than standard is still large enough that it doesn't feel too small. I don't mind its size. The 2.0 mm Flow comes in two sizes, and I actually prefer the regular, even though the jumbo is closer to what I am used to.
For thickness, I find myself gravitating to the 1.5 mm. My usual pick is the Tortex 0.88 mm, so naturally I thought I'd like the 0.88 Flow. But for some reason the Flow feels thinner than it measures. It's weird, but even the 1.0 feels a bit thin. Maybe it's due to the contour of the tip? Something about the shape lends itself well to being thick, and the 1.5 is the Goldilocks choice of thick but not too thick.
My previous experience with thick picks is with 2 and 3 mm Stubby, from which I liked the 2 but not the 3. That sums up my feelings with the Flow as well. Once it's over 2 mm I'm not enjoying the extra girth, although I can see how some people may like them.
These are my first impressions. So far I am enjoying these picks, and while it's too soon to say, I might even call them my favorites. What picks do you like?
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