A tale of 3 picks LOL, last night I tried 3 different picks and was somewhat astounded by the different tones I got. My go to picks these days (coz real tortice shell is illegal (great for picks though) are Dunlop Tortex Purples (1.14mm), standard size (and I broke out (another new one (I tend to destroy them
)) just to try the difference. I tried a red Jim Dunlop Jazz II (so very small (as some here like
)), and also a small (same size as JD Jz II) again purple tortex H3. The normal sized (my regular pick) tortex and the JDJ II sounded much the same (albeit very different to play with) where the small purple H3 was much brighter/sharper.
I used to carve my own from a piece of shell I had/have (not much left), loved them and they last for ages (just reshape them from time to time) but I needed to move to something I could buy as the shell I had was small and wouldn't last forever. I also tried a stone pick back then, great pick but it broke
, and more recently a mettle pick (not sure what mettle), loved it but it destroys stings LOL (Brian May must get through some strings as he uses a penny coin for a pick). I don't like any flex in a pick (just slows you down waiting for it to come back), if I want to play gently/soft I either use my fingers or get a little bit of gentleness/sponginess?/shock absorbing in my right hand.