Picks/Plectrums

G4Z · #1 02-23-2009, 07:12 PM

Just wondering what Picks you guys use and why? do you use a certain thickness for a particular style of playing?

shogun · #2 02-23-2009, 07:29 PM

ive been using jazz for about 4 years now.. i started with the black jazz 3's.. then switched to the purple jazz tortex.. eventually switched back to the jazz 3's again.. the tone in the 2 picks are different, and i personally like the tone and dynamics i get from the black ones.. the red aren't my bag, and are too slippery, and the ultex don't feel or sound good in my opinion..

shogun · #3 02-23-2009, 08:04 PM

it also has to do with control.. regular sized picks feel enormous to me now, and the thin gauged ones have a horrible 'flick' sound to them

AnDr3wYoN · #4 02-23-2009, 08:21 PM

Same here. I heard on one of these threads how great the Jazz III's were.

Went out and bought a pack of the red ones. Haven't gotten around to trying out the black ones yet.

I refuse to use regular picks anymore since they feel really big and kind of weak.

The Jazz III's also give less of a plastic on metal "flicking" sound.

Sigar · #5 02-23-2009, 08:51 PM

I've been using Dunlop Tortex 1.0 mm for years. Good grip and the right size for me.

Jay777 · #6 02-23-2009, 09:55 PM

Ages ago I bought a big jiffy bag full of Planet Waves (D'addario) medium heavy .041's which were great and I used them for years. I bought an Ibanez PGM300 off the bay and found a couple of the Paul Gilbert signature picks in the case so plugged everything in for a play and all of a sudden the boost in my picking speed and accuracy was truly epic! It was slightly smaller all round but what made the difference was the much sharper point which also helped string-skipping and arpeggio accuracy. The ones I had been using were rounded off at the point.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/123/3...c7ee4d6b_m.jpg

AxeHappy · #7 02-24-2009, 02:35 AM

I'm using the black Jazz III's as well. I was useing Hofner jazz picks before but the were thick enough but I loved how small they were. Cheap to, like 35 cents a pick. And I had to specially order the Jazz III's in as I will have nothing to do with the only shop in town that sells them but they're worth it.

It's all about the sharp point. Rounded picks are just gross now.

DMTransmutation · #8 02-28-2009, 06:46 PM

Black Jazz III's all the way!

Depends on what I'm playing though. If I'm playing a lot of chords I will use a normal sized pick if I have one, but in my wedding/party band I played lead guitar and used a black Jazz III 100% of every show. I would keep a pocket full of them...just in case.

EvoGiant · #9 02-28-2009, 08:41 PM

Green Tortex Derlin 88s

dark_void86 · #10 02-28-2009, 08:55 PM

I definitely recommend the Paul Gilbert plektrums. The material they use to my ear is just awesome, it really helps the guitar cut and have a percussive attack. They also sound very nice at an angle for that "scratchy" sound which is obviously a trademark thing of Mr Gilbert's. Apart from the sound, what i also love is how hard the material is, that its not as thick as a jazz III but are similar in size and shape. However have the benefit of a much wider base which makes them much easier to grip for me. I truly love these picks, also i find flipping them around and playing with one of the round corners sounds very nice for jazz without being really really muddy. Alot of the plektrums i find don't sound very good at all if you want really soft attack by flipping it around. This is pretty much my ultimate plektrum, its shame though that the material wears out relatively quickly so that i file around the tip to make it pointy again once a week!

markg5150 · #11 03-01-2009, 06:09 AM

Large black jazz III for me. I tried the small ones but I prefer the bigger ones.

Pursuit · #12 03-01-2009, 06:43 AM

I use Jim Dunlop picks (the transparent ones that are different colours depending on thickness). They sound great.

I also have a bunch of Ernie Ball picks, but their sound may have been altered a bit because i rubbed the logos off with nail polish remover and drew my own designs with Sharpie pens. But, changed or not, they sound good too.

I like medium thickness personally. Heavy thickness I use sometimes but they are a little too thick, and thin ones are like paper (I hate light picks lol). Mediums, however, are good all-rounders.

skins345669 · #13 03-01-2009, 09:43 AM

Jim Dunlop 1mm Nylon

Does everything I need.

forest4 · #14 03-30-2009, 10:02 PM

Interesting topic. Picks are so subjective, but I have a different take. Along time ago in a galaxy far far away.. I used to use those big triangle picks, heavy gauge, because you could get a cool spitting type sound when you wore the edges down. But I have been using the same kind of pick (and if you don't lose them, the same one forever) since the late 70s, there called 'Hotlicks' - and there made of machine grade bronze alloy. They come in packs of three and don't wear out, ever. That's not why I use them though, I just like the sound and control of them. They are almost as thin as paper, and when my fingers sweat I use a little 'Sure Grip' powder that the drummers use for their sticks on my finger tips. I've only had my local shop order them for me twice in 20 years, so consider it a lifetime supply.