Picks - What's your preference?

Stumbled upon this video a few days ago, and it got me thinking. I haven't really thought about the picks i've used for a heck of a long time, maybe there is something better out there.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p84RxNcl2l4

I have been using the same picks (or similar variations) for well over 15 years now. My last major change was to move from celluloid to tortex. My current preference is Dunlop Gator Grips in .96mm.
http://www.jimdunlop.com/images/products/Gator96-11.png

So, I did some digging around and found a few different manufacturers of interesting new styles and materials. The few mentioned in the video above as well as Hufschmid, Winspear, StoneWorks to name a few, all making handmade picks! Crazy! And really expensive! I don't know about you, but I've always considered picks to be a bit of a disposable commodity. Buy them by the handful and don't worry when the go missing, but at $30 - $100 each...

Anyway, it got me thinking, what picks are you guys using? Anyone using anything unique?

Another thing, over the next few days I'm going to have a go at making some thicker, acrylic picks (because I can, dammit). Depending on how they go, would anyone be interested in product testing one for me? Or does anyone have some suggestions as to what you like or don't like about commercially available plectrums.

Hell yeah I'll product test for you, I personally love thicker picks, I can't stand those flimsy thin and stupid little picks. I'm currently using .73 claytons, not bad but could go thicker and more sturdy but there easy to find locally for me :P

I used to swear by the good ol' Dunlop Tortex .88mm picks- mainly because Metallica used them, and I was 16.

But after falling under the spell of Danny Gatton, I switched to Fender medium teardrops and my playing style changed overnight.

Nowadays, on the rare occasions I play guitar with a pick, I use Jim Dunlop Jazz III picks- ideally with the Tru-Grip rough surface.

For bass I am predominantly a fingerstyle player, but when I need to play with a pick I use thumbpicks. This enables me to switch from one form of attack to another within seconds. I found a brand of thumbpicks other than Jim Dunlop to try called Pickboy- they're much thinner and snappier than the Dunlop thumbpicks with out being too flimsy to withstand bass strings.

First prototype, and I'm already learning. Needs to be bigger, but not a bad start.
http://i.imgur.com/Dnp6QLm.jpg
3mm thick, beveled edges to a point. Now I have to wait until I get home this afternoon to give it a test.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bass Guy

I used to swear by the good ol' Dunlop Tortex .88mm picks- mainly because Metallica used them, and I was 16.

But after falling under the spell of Danny Gatton, I switched to Fender medium teardrops and my playing style changed overnight.

Nowadays, on the rare occasions I play guitar with a pick, I use Jim Dunlop Jazz III picks- ideally with the Tru-Grip rough surface.

For bass I am predominantly a fingerstyle player, but when I need to play with a pick I use thumbpicks. This enables me to switch from one form of attack to another within seconds. I found a brand of thumbpicks other than Jim Dunlop to try called Pickboy- they're much thinner and snappier than the Dunlop thumbpicks with out being too flimsy to withstand bass strings.

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I was very anti pick on bass for a long time. Then I started playing in a punk band and found I needed the extra attack and speed over fingerstyle. Hate using them for pretty much anything else. Gotta play to the situation, I guess.

I always tell people starting on bass to learn both pick and fingers. You never know when you'll need one over the other. I initially found conventional picks very hard to use on bass when I started, so I immediately worked on my right hand callouses instead. The pressure required to hold the pick and give enough attack on the string was too much for me at the time.

Thumbpicks provided an elegant solution for me- still can't use them on guitar, though!

I prefer picks with grip - like Dunlop nylons. Find I can have a looser grip that way. .60s for acoustic, .76s for electric. I do have some 1.5mm Gator Grips I use for bass.

interesting video Pabs and keen to find out how your prototype picks turn out.
I've mainly used the Dunlop purple picks pictured, a stiffer pick works better for me

From when I first started to lean bass around the middle of last century :D I have used a Fender celluloid pick of about .8mm, use fingers very rarely but do hybrid pick on both guitar and bass.

When fingerpicking bass I also use the sides of my nails on 2nd & ring fingers which gives a really edgy metallic sound in conjunction with the heavy gauge round wounds.

For guitar I use .88 Dunlop Max Grip, just starting to fool around with thumb picks but have yet to find one I like so currently less than inspired to keep trying thumbpicks.

i've always found it hard to use a pick, and mainly use fingers. i also use my thumb a lot, sort of Wes Montgomery style (without the talent)

I started with 0.88mm Dunlop picks then went to 0.88mm Max Grips..... Now I prefer a thicker pick (better tone, more control, louder tone overall) and I use Dunlop Max Grip 1.5mm picks, and I'd love to test a Pabs Custom Pick!

Sweet. Pm me your address and I'll swing one out to you. Got a colour choice?

First of impressions are quite good. It took a couple of strums to get used to the feel of it, but sounds stronger and maybe a bit more articulate. No clacking in between strings and the sharp point makes picking out individual strings a tad easier.

I use wood plecks seems to give me nice tone on guitar and bass when needed( mostly use finger style on bass though)
See pics I need to sand edges and as you can see there's different thicknesses. Ref tone differences between them recording at 96khz .I can't tell lol. Recommend a hardwood as you can appreciate.

Sweet Pabs, sending you my address now. Also a good tip dont use celluloid as they wear out really fast, I used a Gibson pick for what would be about 3 weeks and its now more like a circle than a triangle, yet my Max Grip which I have been using for around six months is still going strong and staying in a decent shape.....

Nah mate, I'm using acrylic. These should last for years and years.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pablopepper

Nah mate, I'm using acrylic. These should last for years and years.

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I never said you were using celluloid, I was providing a helpful tip to the forumites :D
Yeah acrylic will last for donkey's years, I might have to do a sound demo if I get the chance.... Your prototype reminds me of the Gravity picks, which IMO are bloody amazing picks!

Fair enough, I can't stand celluloid picks.

Nice Kimball! Did you make those?

Your pick looks awesome Pabs. Interested to know what Callum thinks of it!

cheers,
Gav.

Hey Pabs no I was given them free by Crimson Guitars when I ordered some templates. Also got some free wooden humbucker mounts too. Did you ever use plans to make templates I may need the neck ones and fret markers.truss rod cover

Ok, now we're just gettin silly.
http://i.imgur.com/CaoPgYc.jpg
This thing is huge. 9mm thick.

Pabs you have just made the pick equivalent of the Purple Plectrum!!! (the small one)

Yep Pabs that looks like a Bass Players pick that's been on steroids.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by keloooe

Pabs you have just made the pick equivalent of the Purple Plectrum!!! (the small one)

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That was the idea, bro. Not a fan of this one. Way too ungainly. Sounds good with chords, but meh.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pablopepper

That was the idea, bro. Not a fan of this one. Way too ungainly. Sounds good with chords, but meh.

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So now it's time for the 25mm PP?

I tend to chop-and-change a bit when it comes to picks, I used to use really thin flimsy picks when I first started out playing guitar, then I found out that one of my favourite guitarists, Eric Johnson, used Jazz III picks I had to give them a try, recently I've been using 3mm Stubbies, and some new picks called Teckpicks, they are about 1mm thick and about the same size as a Jim Dunlop .73mm Tortex pick, but are made of metal, there's three types, one is made of Brass, one is made of Aircraft-grade Aluminium and is black with a smooth surface, the other is also made of Aircraft-grade Aluminium but is silver with a textured surface, all three types have three 3mm sized holes drilled in them, the pic below shows what they look like. Attachment 5397

Cool, those picks look pretty nice, DrN. Do they produce a brighter tone than plastics like the other metal picks going around?

Currently 3 mm dunlop big stubbies.

I have a wrist problem which means I can no longer play bass with fingers. Over about 5 years playing with picks this is what I ended up on. I prefer the shape as it allows the pick to slide over the string rather than an edge getting caught and they also last a long time (unlike a lot of my previous picks).

Currently using Jim Dunlop .73mm grey nylon picks mainly for electric and acoustic guitar, and occasionally on bass but working harder on using fingers at present. When playing bass several nights a week about 30 years ago Jim Dunlop 1.0mm black nylon picks were the go as they are durable, did not give off an obvious pick sound, and not so hard that you would end up breaking strings, as did happen on a few occasions using the typical hard plastic ones. If you want more bite or attacking sound from picking would suggest giving one of these acrylic ones a try over metal ones.

So I've given my pick choice before but it has been updated as of recently....

Guitar: 0.71mm Dunlop Gator Grip
Bass: 1mm Dunlop Max Grip

Reason behind going from 1.5 to 1mm is the fact that the 1 is more flexible while still giving the right output from the strings, the 1.5 was just too thick IMO...
And I feel extra shreddy I'll whip out Pablo's picks for a spin on the guitars :D

check these:

http://riki-le-plectrier.net/en/

http://riki-le-plectrier.net/600-thi...-slides-xl.jpg

http://riki-le-plectrier.net/607-thi...lides-mini.jpg

these ones are about 35 euro, but he makes cheaper ones and timber ones, these are super nice though. No i dont have any...

OMG. Those are stunning......not that I'd ever pay almost $60 for a pick, but, wow!

yeah they are off the chain , all right. you could wear it ... I'd be too scared to break the damned thing. This guy is on the electric guitars builders resource page on FB. He seems like a good guy, have messaged him about his work

Giving some Dava Control picks a go . The smalljazz pick is my favourite at the moment as its small size in my big ass fingers gives a lot of harmonic fom thumb touches. real easy to get the high gain Harmonic squeal going.

I'm with you Tony, the small Jazz III's. I used to use the larger ones but now that I have gotten used to the small blighters and I don't think there's any going back. Pinch/false harmonics now whether I want them or not. lol.