Picks redux

Help!I'maRock!

Help!I'maRock!

Mediocringly Derivative
Years ago, a friend gave me a Wegen pick and sent me on a pick journey where I ended up hating all of them and going back to Ultex. 8 years, 4 bands, 3 bass gigs, 1 kid, and a cross-country move later, I'm back on the wagon and taking my first stab at Django's "Minor Swing".

I changed from Dunlop Tortex to Ultex so long ago, I can't remember when it was. I'm sure it's chronicled here somewhere. I use 1.14 on electric and .73 on acoustic. I still have all those old Tortex picks and use the Tortex 1.14 on bass. I like how they feel on the strings compared to the Ultex. And Tortex cuts some of the highs.

I remember giving my friend back his Wegen pick and the Wegen I bought. I think the Dunlop polycarbonate picks I bought got lost in the move. The heaviest picks that stuck around were a dozen 1.5mm Gator Grip picks and a dozen nylon picks.

I hate how the nylon picks feel because of the textured grip. There's nothing comfortable about them. They sound ok, but I don't want to play them. The Gator Grips feel good, just like thick Tortex. But using them on an acoustic feels like I'm playing with an eraser. And all the highs are gone too. Apparently, Gonzalo Bergara uses them. Maybe they work better on an actual Selmer than on my Taylor.

Using the 1.14 Ultex takes out some of the highs but feel good on my novice attempts at La Pompe. So I ordered some of the newer Primetone 3.0 picks. These are the standard pick shape ones that are made out of Ultex, not the Wegen looking polycarbonate ones. They'll be here whenever.
 
My brother made these.
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These 3.0mm Stubbys are by far my favourite picks that can be found in your average music store.

Thin and flexible are like training wheels — makes sense for beginners, but kinda creepy on anyone else.
 
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Oh hey, I found the Big Stubby (TWSS).

Still hate it. (TWSS)

But, it did show me that playing the 1.14 Ultex isn't the way to go. Watch this space as I complain more about the 1.5mm Gator Grips and nylon picks until the new ones show up.
 
Flamencology said:
View attachment 56537

These 3.0mm Stubbys are by far my favourite picks that can be found in your average music store.

Thin and flexible are like training wheels — makes sense for beginners, but kinda creepy on anyone else.
Click to expand...

I use these too! And the smaller sized stubbies. Back when I took lessons my teacher got me onto them and I haven’t looked back
 
wok said:
I use these too! And the smaller sized stubbies. Back when I took lessons my teacher got me onto them and I haven’t looked back
Click to expand...

I use the smaller ones for the mandolin. Pretty sure that’s what they were designed for. But they’re both great mass-produced picks.
 
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If gator grips came in a jazz shape, that’s what I’d use. I accidentally ordered jazz picks like 10 years ago, and now anything else feels weird.

I use Dunlop graphite picks now.
 
Jazz 3 XL for me. Electric or acoustic. I'm too tone deaf to hear a difference between picks and material. If I was a touring musician maybe I would care. I just need to be able to hold onto the damn thing.
 
My favorite pick is and has always been a good old US quarter. Tone to die for, but it eats up strings (and pickguards) quickly.

My best compromise pick is Tortex. I alternate between blue and purple.
 
I use Jazz 3 for electric, and fender mediums for acoustic. And I cannot switch that - the Jazz do not work on the acoustic at all for me.
 
Gator Grip .71 for me - I've tried a bunch of others, lighter, heavier, different materials - I always come back to these, they just feel and sound right.
 
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