What Picks/Plectrums do you use ?

[Harley Hexxe]

Is that a pick or a projectile? 

Actually, all joking aside, that kind of looks like a pointy version of a Dunlop Jazz III. It sort of reminds me of another Dunlop pick called a "Stubby." That was a thick pick also but more rounded. It had a great plectrum tone, but it wore down super fast.

I'm still using the same metal pick I posted on here years ago. It's indestructible.

[Harley Hexxe]

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).

I remember those tortoise shell picks, but had no idea who made them.

[rnolan]

The Screamer is about the same size as normal picks just 3 cornered and it is thick, but I like that.  It's not slippery at all, quiet the opposite (one of its' stated features).  Great for string slides (best I've ever used for that).

I was  skeptical when I first got it, then I played with it all night and really like it allot.  So I ordered a bunch more and some of their other ones to try.

I tried the Blackmore pics years ago, I like them but they are too small for me.

BTW when I went looking to buy some more, some places had them for $50 + post WTF.  Then I found there site in the US and bought direct from them.

[Harley Hexxe]

You know, years ago when I was first making these metal picks I use, I thought about trying to market them.

I had sourced a place that could plasma cut the basic shape of it from the carbon-molybellum stock, and I would have to shape the edges and polish them by hand until they were perfectly tapered and rounded off at the edge to not cut strings when used aggressively. That process requires a bench grinder with diamond wheels and a diamond honing block soaked in kerosene. It takes about two hours to make one pick.

I thought if I marketed these picks, I'd have to charge around $20 USD each with packaging and shipping. Then I thought what Dante confirmed: guitar players lose picks all the time. I decided it wouldn't be worth it.

I've been using the same guitar pick since 1998, and it hasn't worn down at all.

[rnolan]

I tried a  metal one years ago and it was ok (probably not as good as the ones you make).  I also tried one of those stone pics they used to make, also years ago, allegedly indestructible it was also ok but I broke it .

Anyway, I'm liking the screamer, the tips are staying sharp so far.

My fav was the tortoise shell ones I used to cut out and shape but it wasn't going to be sustainable

[Kim]

A bandmate made a pick for me out of a broken/retired crash cymbal.  Very nice, but I only use it occasionally.  Otherwise it's always the green .88 Dunlop tortex triangle ("Dorito" ) for me.

[Harley Hexxe]

A bandmate made a pick for me out of a broken/retired crash cymbal.  Very nice, but I only use it occasionally.  Otherwise it's always the green .88 Dunlop tortex triangle ("Dorito" ) for me.

As long as it doesn't leave Nacho cheese powder all over your strings, then it's cool 

[rnolan]

my V-Pic pick order arrived today .  AustPost lost/had stolen the first delivery  despite it being sent the right way...  They tried to assume it was a scam site, I can assure you V-Picks is not a scam site.

Anyway, Vinne at V-Picks was great and just resent my order for 20 pics, they arrived today.  So I now have 5 more white (pearly gates) Screamer picks, 5 of the same but blue, 5 Spirit (more a traditional shape but thick) and 5 EKG, these are a little thinner (though still thick (ish)) and a little bigger than normal shape. Note the Screamer pics are 3 cornered.

I used my Screamer pic at a gig last Sunday, love it lots (as I said before it's the first time I've changed pics in 40 +years).  I dropped it twice (as you do sometimes when you are going for it..).  Now I have spares  .

The tips are very sharp and give you squeals that you can't get with normal pics.  Only down side so far is that they create allot of dust between the PUs when you do lots of of string slides (as I like to do).  They are fantastic for string slides BTW, although the edges are getting a bit serrated LoL.  I asked them if they could make a "low dust" version like car break pads.

Ok they are not cheap.  The Screamer is ~$5 USD.  But if you like a thick no flex pic for fast playing with squeals to die for (that you haven't got before), really articulate and accurate, buy one and try it.  Seriously, this is the first pic in over 40 years that has got my attention....

Moreover, Vinnie and Nancy at V-Picks are really nice people and have a bunch of good pics to "pick" from.

Obviously everyone has different needs in their pics.  Typically I destroy 2 Dunlop Tortex Purples per gig and have done for may years. As Angry Anderson from Rose Tattoo said, "no one attacks a guitar like an Australian".  So my initial V-Pic Screamer pearly gates (sent to me recently from my dying friend) is still doing well.  That's about 1 1/2 month rehearsal and now a 3 x 45min gig and it's still doing fine...  Yes the sides are serrated but that's fine (doesn't detract) and the tips (it has three) are all still nice and sharp.

The main reason I wanted more of them is in case I drop it.. because it's lasting way, way longer that the Tortex pics.