ADA Depot - A Forum To Support Users of ADA Amplification Gear
Miscellaneous => Discussions => Topic started by: rnolan on April 11, 2014, 06:31:39 AM
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Bats posted an interesting link to Line 6 pick 3D printer. Thought it a good idea to start a thread about what picks we all use and why.
I use Tortex Purples, they are the thickest Tortex make (or use to be), don't flex, absorb sweat and I can buy them by the handful (I destroy 2 per night). I moved to these picks because I had a bit of tortoise shell and was making my own (nice thick solid no flex) but it was going to run out at some stage, and I can't buy tortoise shell anymore... I also tried stone picks, liked them but they broke... Metal picks I also like but they really destroy the strings, so settled on a pick variant that I can buy. When I started playing, I used to use the thinnest big 3 cornered picks, what was I thinking... a corner would crack, catch under the string and ping off into the crowd. Also, as I played longer, I liked heavier picks that don't flex (so you can play faster and harder >:D )
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There's a guy in town that whittles wooden picks out of old window shades. The sound and feel is incredible, but they don't last more than a few songs, so that's a deal breaker.
I have been using Jim Dunlop Max-Grip nylon picks (0.88 thickness) for several years now. They take a while to wear down and the max grip picks have a little 'diamond plate' pattern that really won't slip/slide when wet. I love them. It's a good thing I like them so much, my girlie bought me 5 dozen for Christmas in 2012 and I still have a dozen left!
Here's a pic of my pick :)
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I use the red dunlop Jazz III plectrums (1.38mm).Once you get used to these small plectrums it's hard to play a big plectrum again :)).What i like about these,they are small and the tip is a bit scharper.
Before these i used dunlop 500 delrin plectrums ranging from 0.95mm to 1.50mm.
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I have been using Jackson 451 "Skull" (.50-70mm) for awhile. They just felt right & besides that they look *F-In* cool! :thumb-up: :metal:
(http://i494.photobucket.com/albums/rr306/32spitzer/JACKSON451SKULLPIC_zps634df4ef.jpg) (http://s494.photobucket.com/user/32spitzer/media/JACKSON451SKULLPIC_zps634df4ef.jpg.html)
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I use Tortex sharp 1.35mm
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They're a little pricey, and I thought it looked gimmicky, but my GF got them for my birthday one year and I've been hooked on them: http://v-picks.com/ (http://v-picks.com/)
I use the 'Chicken Picker' style.
Before that I used the Dunlop Tortex blue or purple.
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I use the Dunlop Ultex Jazz IIIs, its basically a brighter sounding version of MJMP's red Jazz IIIs with a different material. On top of that, the material is deceptively effective for gripping. And just like MJMP said as well, once I got onto these smaller picks I stopped playing normal size picks, period. Definitely worth the adjustment period.
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I tend to use a variation of the Jazz III called the black ice. It's nice and thick, and quite small. However I've used it so much that I've had to sand and file it down quite a few times... now it's even smaller than it originally was.
Now I mostly use a black Totex pitch, or the red Jazz IIIs depending on my mood.
Also have a Sterling Silver Jazz III sized pick I use when I want to try something different... for a full year that was my go to pick, however it's gotten so round that you can't tell which point is the point you're supposed to pick with :facepalm:
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Not sure of the brand I use but I dig them because they have a rough surface to them to prevent slippage. I used to glue velcro on picks prior to prevent them from slipping. lol
Thickness is around .88mm. I remember Vinnie gave me this plastic pic (2mm !!!) that he used on his first album. That was a beast. Then I got a pick from EVH he used to play Eruption and it was like .5mm.
For alternate picking I like a nice medium between thick and thin.
BTW, you could always use a coin like Brian May or Billy Gibbons.
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for a full year that was my go to pick, however it's gotten so round that you can't tell which point is the point you're supposed to pick with
Go dude, I chew/destroy 2 tortex purples a night, and buy them by the handfull, when I used to carve them out of tortice shell I'd have to give them a file/sand/sharpen after each gig (until they got too small).
BTW, you could always use a coin like Brian May or Billy Gibbons.
Fine if you change strings allot (I used to change every 2nd gig or I'd break D strings (and with a floating floyed...pick up the spare)). I found a metal pick in my case a while ago, loved it, sounded great >:D but destroyed the strings).
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I use Dunlop Tortex purples (1.14mm) for most things electric, but I recently gave a try to the Tortex TIII (still purple 1.14mm) which are basically the same shape but with a pointy tip similar to the Jazz picks. I really like those TIII, they're better for more technically demanding solos, and I alternate Tortex and TIII depending on the song (because I have a wealth of Tortex that I bought in bulk years ago and don't want to just throw away).
The Jazz models were too small for my taste and these TIII are really the best for me : mostly standard shape, the grip of Tortex, and the pointy tip. They are sturdy enough that I can play entire gigs with them (YMMV).
For acoustic work, I prefer the Tortex blues (1.0mm) as I found that the purples took away some of the brilliance and presence. Tonally I though the greens (.88mm) are better, but the blues are a compromise as I found the greens too thin.
BTW, I'm personally not interested in the 'boutique' picks as I want to be able to get new picks easily and without emptying my wallet, but that's just me.
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Fine if you change strings allot (I used to change every 2nd gig or I'd break D strings (and with a floating floyed...pick up the spare)). I found a metal pick in my case a while ago, loved it, sounded great >:D but destroyed the strings).
metal picks gave EVH throat cancer, or so he says. lol
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Hey finstah, how does that work ?? :dunno: , did he eat them ? They (metal picks) are great to play with though, I recon RandallRG (Steve) would love them. Stone picks (well I busted mine and they are supposed to be unbreakable (NOT)) I also liked (no flex, good solid attack...but it broke :'( ), my fav is still thick hand carved tortice shell but not sustainable, which is why I found the tortex purples and buy them buy the handful, when they run out, I can buy more...
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Hey finstah, how does that work ?? :dunno: , did he eat them ?
I would say it was the cigarettes rather than the metal pick. Who in their right mind would nibble on metal? haha
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I suppose some players put picks in their mouth when they are using just fingers, I slot it under my 2nd finger when I don't need it... But the fags/gaspers are much more likely like you say.
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I suppose some players put picks in their mouth when they are using just fingers, I slot it under my 2nd finger when I don't need it... But the fags/gaspers are much more likely like you say.
I tend to do this quite a bit when I'm just practicing some tapping runs and all that jazz. However, it's usually better to keep it tucked between your fingers or held between the thumb and first finger, and using the middle to tap, or the thumb and middle and using the pointer finger to tap (Like Eddie Van Halen).
Been trying to use my red JAZZ IIIs some more, but they have a bit too much flex for me...
anyone have any recommendations for JAZZ III style picks that do not flex at all?
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No flex is why I used to cut my own tortice shell picks, when I first started playing (early 70's) I used the thinest big 3 point picks, What was I thinking.
I've always slotted the pick in under my 2nd finger kind of instinctively, I didn't realise I did it until a friend pointed it out and I pass it in and out of this position seamlessly.
Don't know about the jazz IIIs but you could try the purple tortex, they don't flex (well a very tiny bit, more than a nice chunk of shell...)
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I like the Pickboy Reefer 1.14mm picks. Also, tried the Red Jazz III. I like picks with no flex. :banana-guitar:
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Hey Jarrod, try the Ultex Jazz IIIs, they use a transparent yellow material that is even stiffer than the Red Jazz IIIs. They are brighter-leaning and really suit well for shredding. I used to play the red ones but these are better in my opinion. Not only that, they have a good natural grip as well.
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I use the same pick MarshallJMP posted - red dunlop Jazz III plectrums (1.38mm) and agree with him completely. Before I used Fender - Heavy and Medium. Tried out the Dunlop Jazz III and loved them. This picks are small and don't get caught up in the strings when you are playing at blistering speeds. I can't use any other picks now. Size does matter when it comes to picks and chics. In this case the smaller wins for a change!!!!! :)
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Yeah it's really strange,played for years and years on regular picks and sice i use the jazz III's i just can't play these anymore.It's really weird. :dunno:
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The Jazz III conversion did the same thing to me, I just cannot use regular sized picks anymore. The minute you change your technique to adjust to it, it changes your world. They really encourage your thumb & finger to finely modulate pick behavior versus letting pick flexibility play a major role in the equation. My playing (though it has its issues) is much much more expressive now because of the switch. It connects you with the strings in a direct manner.
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But makes you bleed more, absolutely agree connects you to the string more, great for lead though but when you want to bash it a bit, well I bleed a bit less with the mid sized picks >:D
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My job guarantees that my calluses and skin are very thick. I can't remember the last time I bleed on my instrument. Though yes, I can imagine that for others that would be a problem.
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Bleeding tends to be my right hand index finger just below the nail (which I used to use for squeals rather than follow with the thumb, these days I squeal just with the pick but I still dig in pretty hard I spose and pound out the riffs etc)
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I am using picks less and less these days. Although I used to use dunlop 1.5mm sharp picks, if I use any pick nowadays I use a 1mm or so tortex (not sharp). I do not think I would go lighter than 1mm though (unless playing an accoustic strumming thing). I just found that the 1mm to 1.2mm lets me dig in when I need it, but it's soft enough to let me lay back.
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Dunlop Jazz III XL. For me, picking just became easier and faster and going back to a regular pick is so weird.
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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 >:D )) just to try the difference. I tried a red Jim Dunlop Jazz II (so very small (as some here like :thumb-up: )), 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 :facepalm: , 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.
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I got a sample set from Gravity Guitar Picks a while back and was really impressed with the quality and feel. I've not tried the Jazz, but from your descriptions the Gravity picks may be similar and a great alternative. Plus they look a lot cooler!
http://gravitypicks.com (http://gravitypicks.com)
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I use these
http://www.awe-in-one.com/products_profound.htm (http://www.awe-in-one.com/products_profound.htm)
I am a firm believer in different material = completely different tone
I use a few of the different materials available in these type of pics, fibre plus is currently the main one I use along with the hard nylon. The fibre plus bites into the string with very little effort, the hard nylon feels softer and seems almost like a delay between hitting the string and sound, so therefore a softer feel compared to the fibre.
I also coat my picks grip area in rubber for extra grip, I am a person who needs the extra help to hold the pick particularly if I am holding the pick loosley which I tend to do when playing fast stuff.
Im played Jazz stubby's for years but then I moved away from them. I would use Jazz IIIs only I find I cannot hold them at all, although the shape as far as the point goes is quite good for me. I need a little more contour though to glide of the strings.
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Dunlop Jazz III, red. Also Dunlop delrin 1.14, hand filed to a sharp point and polished by running it through the carpet. Occasionally use Dunlop stubby & big stubby.
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Hey DesmoBob, you just gave me an idea. I compared 3 picks recently and quite liked the Tortex H3's, they have a sharper point and sound nice and "sharp", good, bight, but are smaller than the Tortex 1.14s I normally use (so harder to hold onto with the way I play >:D ). But if I file the 1.14s to a sharper tip, :whoohoo!: best of both worlds LOL
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LOL I got that idea from Paul Gilbert at a clinic, ~1987 ish. Right down to buffing it in the carpet. These days I think he uses regular rounded tips.
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I tens to mostly use Fender 351 classic celluloid mediums. They just feel right, for metal! :metal:
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I coat my picks with rubber. I also find fattish picks eaiser to hold and less fatiguing on my hand.
I used to refile small stubbies when the point wore away (which was after a gig for me) but I ditched them altogehter years ago for the awe in one profound.
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My preference was real shell (I still have a small piece) and I made my own picks, reshaping between gigs/playing (Like RG I burn picks), but running out over time and can't get any more. Tried metal picks, lots of fun, sound great but cripples your strings (though doesn't Brian May use a penny for his pick ?).
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My preference was real shell (I still have a small piece) and I made my own picks, reshaping between gigs/playing (Like RG I burn picks), but running out over time and can't get any more. Tried metal picks, lots of fun, sound great but cripples your strings (though doesn't Brian May use a penny for his pick ?).
Yeah he does, I have no f**king idea how that works. I have tried metal picks and it's impossible. Just scratchy awkward awfulness!!! I could not play fast with a metal pick. Hell I could not play at all with a metal pick. They are not contoured enough. I prefer finger nail best, it is the best sound for me personally but I cannot alt pick fast for lead stuff using my fingers so I have to use a pick. Awe in one Profound in the fibre material is the closest thing I have come to the humain finger nail sound. It bites without any effort at all and there is very little drag. I do go between this and a hard nylon version though. The materials really do change the sound a lot.
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Someone gave me the metal pick and I gave it a run, very bright, I liked it but it was really destroying the strings (with the way I play). I also had a stone pick once (bit of a novelty when they came out), I liked it allot too but it broke (was sposed to be unbreakable LoL).
The real shell is the closest to finger nail I've come across, they are probably similar material (keratin) but if I hadn't switched I'd have run out of shell long ago. Not to sound gross, but (thought bubble) you could grow your big toe nails really long, cut of carefully and shape to be picks, ready made indent for thumb..
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I tried metal picks, even filed one to a point. Couldn't get used to the ultra thin feeling, yet with no flexibility. Funny side effect is they turn coated strings nice and furry. :lol:
Can't believe I forgot to mention fingernails. My right hand is like a bear claw. I usually fingerpick on acoustic. Tradeoff is I have zero right hand tapping skill.
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I tried metal picks, even filed one to a point. Couldn't get used to the ultra thin feeling, yet with no flexibility. Funny side effect is they turn coated strings nice and furry. :lol:
Can't believe I forgot to mention fingernails. My right hand is like a bear claw. I usually fingerpick on acoustic. Tradeoff is I have zero right hand tapping skill.
yeah some picks will shred those coated strings. I use Elixirs so I know what ya mean. The picks I use now don't damage the coating at all. I've had strings last 6-7 months!! Still sound good and still feel nice and slick :whoohoo!:
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When I was gigging I changed strings every 2nd gig or 85% chance I'd bust a D string on 3rd gig, and with floating FR, put down and pick up spare guitar.
If you shape your right hand nails (not too long), you get the best of both worlds and can still tap ok, I tend to destroy my index finger nail though when I'm playing allot. Use to use tissues and super glue to repair it..
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How do you stop breaking strings now then Richard? I noticed elixirs are definitley stronger, or else I play in such a way that strings break once evey hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm well I broke one about 6 months ago and the last one before that was about 5 years ago.
I can't still tap and I have long nails, just about getting the right length and using more the under side of your finger tip. Sometimes I let them get to freddy krueger though lol
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Hey RG, I don't play nearly as much these days so breaking strings isn't as often (I think I popped a G last year sometime ?? which is unusual, lots of big whammy action popped it IIRC). But back in the day we were doing 4 x 45 min sets 5 (ish) nights a week or 3 hours rehearsal or both (so I chewed through both picks and strings).
Also my nails get a chance to recover now (with lighter load) and I only bleed on the guitar once in a while (lucky my main guitar is red LoL). It used to be a reasonably regular occurrence (bleed from just above RH index finger nail).
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f*ck me thats a lot of playing time!! Totally understandable then Richard. I thought may be you used those shit Ernie Balls :lol: worst strings ever in my experience.
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I haven't tried much of the newer (long life) strings (except on my (daughters ?) baby Taylor acc, they've been on there for 15 years (ish), and finally need changing). After trying lots of electric string brands over the years (45 (ish)) (and many brands come from the same factory BTW), I've settled on DR 10 - 46 tight wounds. They are great strings, good and very consistent. Not too bright when you put them on (e.g. deAdario), have more mass for same thickness (tight wound) so bigger notes, last very well and stay constant (I can attest to now as I change them much less often, but playing much less, they hang in there very well for the often to occasional player (if you play 5 nights/day a week doesn't matter what brand you use I'd need to change them at least every 2nd night)). The DRs also feel really nice under your fingers, and squeal "very" well (in a much better than average way)).
I'm not an Ernie Ball fan either, but some like them, and they are probably the same as many brands, and come off the same machine/batch.
IMHO the DR's are better and they are themselves (I could be wrong :facepalm: ). But hey I like them, use what you like :thumb-up:
Some facts: strings go off, you loose life, top end etc (so do tubes but much slower than strings)
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I hear elixirs like I use are coated d addario strings. I used to use d addario before I went to elixirs. I also used to have to change strings every gig and after one or two practice sessions.
Thankfully I do not have to do that now :) it would kill me having to change all the time considering all the locking trems I own
coated strings really improved my guitar playing life. Anyways enough of that.
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You might want to try Cleartone strings. I used GHS Boomers for many years, than tried Cleartone and have been using them ever since. I really like the tone and feel of them; to me, they feel and sound very much like the GHS strings. But they last *way* longer. :) Maybe worth giving them a try sometime.
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+1 on the cleartones!
I switched to them from D'Addarios about a year ago and haven't looked back. :thumb-up:
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You might want to try Cleartone strings. I used GHS Boomers for many years, than tried Cleartone and have been using them ever since. I really like the tone and feel of them; to me, they feel and sound very much like the GHS strings. But they last *way* longer. :) Maybe worth giving them a try sometime.
says on the packet they are meant to last as long as Elixir's 3x5 times longer. Cost the same too. I might try them for the hell of it but I have never been happier with Elixir strings. They feel great as well, nice and smooth the way I like it for fast stuff. Sounds great after like 10 gigs too. I have one set on a year now on an axe. They still feel nice and smooth and sound great albeit they do need changed now as a year is really testing them. No rust no discolouration though.
They don't last as long on bass though, the coating starts to shred off, well the way I play my bass it does.
Any coating ever come off clear tones?
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Any coating ever come off clear tones?
I've never noticed any.
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Any coating ever come off clear tones?
I've never noticed any.
wonder how they're treated then to stay alive longer? Elixir has a tiny layer of plastic around them.
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CRC used to make a metal protection spray (maybe still do), put's a protective coating on metal things, my Dad got me some when I was in my early teens, back then I made strings go for as long as possible and it really helped. As does wiping them after each play, or use a string cleaning cloth thing, got a couple from the music store, has alcohol impregnated/soaked in ?, they seem to work well also. Though I've gone back to just wiping them well with the cloth (each guitar has it's own) and putting them away.
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Won't that affect the sound and sustain of the strings?
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Won't that affect the sound and sustain of the strings?
is that directed at me? Or Richard? The plastic doesn't affect the string at all. It's made is tiny nanoweb molecular plastic, so basically really f*ckin small moleculed plastic. You don't even know it's there. The older ones had polyweb, which is a little more obvious, but I've tried these also and they are just as good, but the coating is more robust.
@Richard, you don't even need to clean Elixir strings. I wipe down anyways though because build up still happens. But importantly the build up never gets into the string grooves.
Gonna have a try at these clear tones and see what they're like. The are same price as Elixirs. Might buy a set for my bass.
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The CRC goes back to when I was 15 ish (so 40 years ago LoL), I used to buy the sets that had 2 x E(1st) and 2 x B. I was using 007s, 008s or 009s (way too light for me now, I'd bend them off the board...). So I was trying to make them last as long as I could. The CRC corrosion protection spray was a very fine film, yes, I could feel it was there ? but hardly, but it made the strings last.... These days, I'm happy to change them (hey broke an A string tonight on the Anderson, new set coming..). I also used to only change strings when they broke (back then), now I always change the whole set, but I can afford to these days ... Strings technology has improved, but nice fresh strings are always "nice fresh stings"
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Yeah it's really strange,played for years and years on regular picks and since i use the jazz III's i just can't play these anymore.It's really weird. :dunno:
I have to admit that I read all of these reports of how the pick made a big difference in one's playing with a bit of skepticism, but since I respect the folks here so much, I ordered a variety pack of the Dunlop picks to give them a try. I ended up gravitating to the Ultex Jazz III XL, and I have to say, everybody is totally correct! It changes the feel and my approach in a very cool way, and like MJMP says, it is now really hard to use anything else. Amazing how much impact a simple thing like a pick can have!
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yep it's really strange,i had this feeling too. :lol:
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The smaller harder picks I find make a big difference particularly if your coming off regular sized pics. You get a much sharper attack (when you want it). Does anyone remember the Blackmore picks, very small (like Jazz III), hard >:D and V shaped/pointed tip (no curves).