Some advice on guitars picks please?

[colinboy]

Hey guys,i am wpndering wot are the best type of picks to use.i only recently go my new BFR JP6 and am trying to learn lots of rock/metal stuff and am working on lots of JP,s technique exercises to build speed properly and to build rocksolid timing also using ametronome.what type of picks does he use himself???ive been advised to try Dunlop jazz III small picks.
what would u guys recommend?

 

[dwells]

tortex jazz picks the purple sharp ones are great

 

[Trev]

I found a Jazz III size pick but made out of stone from these people: Product Details

Not cheap but they NEVER wear out, look beautiful, have a really nice grip and a nice sharp, crisp pick attack. I got a bit fed up of having to file rough edges off plastic picks...

They aren't cheap but I've been using one for the past 8 months every day and it's 100% as new.

No, I'm not on commission - just glad to share something that worked well for me!

 

[leftyguitarblue]

I started using Dunlop Jazz III's for about a year and honestly they have made me play faster and cleaner. I highly recommend them.

 

[candid_x]

Based on the recommendation of some forumites, I've switched to Jazz III's and haven't looked back.

 

[beej]

Jazz IIIs for me. Pete DuBaldo turned me on to the Ultex Jazz IIIs and they rock- same small form factor but much better grip.

 

[Larry]

I like the Ultex Jazz IIIs and thinner regular Ultexs for strumming.

 

[BigTony]

Yup, Ultex Jazz IIIs. Yummy!

 

[glockaxis]

I have to try the Ultex jazz III, but I currently use the older red and black Jazz IIIs. Just today I went back to my regular-shaped green tortex ones and liked them a lot. These are the only two I like.

BTW Trev, how come the stone pick doesn't ever wear out? And was that price for one? Is it too slippery? Thanks

 

[Josh O]

I got turned onto these a few months ago: V-Picks Guitar Picks

 

[Colin]

Jazz III for me

 

[petruccirocks02]

Hey guys,i am wpndering wot are the best type of picks to use.i only recently go my new BFR JP6 and am trying to learn lots of rock/metal stuff and am working on lots of JP,s technique exercises to build speed properly and to build rocksolid timing also using ametronome.what type of picks does he use himself???ive been advised to try Dunlop jazz III small picks.
what would u guys recommend?

Colin, as you already know, I use the 1.14mm Dunlop Jazz III Pitch Black picks. They're actually not called Jazz III's but they're the same shape. They're just Dunlop Jazz 1.14mm picks. They rock. I swear by them. So much so that I've stocked up and got about 70 of em laying around. I always liked the tortex picks better than the nylon Jazz III's anyway, cuz these barely ever slip out of your hands.

-Phil

 

[emkey]

Dunlop Jazz III are the best, but for a couple of years I've been using Dunlup USA Nylon 1 mm and I think they are also ok, especially if you feel that Jazz III are too small/have too less of the holding surface. But I recommend Jazz III,really love them!

 

[Colin]

wow feel the love for the jazz III's

 

[Chris G]

I went out a few years ago and bought a load of different shapes, gauges and types. I used Sharkfins for a while but I now use the Dunlop Gator Grip picks - usually .71 (sometimes 0.96). I like the surface on them - it just seems to stick to my hands which is useful as a lefty playing righty because the grip in my right hand isn't as strong as my left.

As a side benefit these two gauges come in shades of purple to match my Y2Ds.

My advice - try as many different types and makes as you can and choose what works for you.

 

[Trev]

BTW Trev, how come the stone pick doesn't ever wear out? And was that price for one? Is it too slippery? Thanks

Ok; maybe saying it never wears out is a bit optimistic but a few hours a day for best part of a year and no wear yet!

Yeah; that price is for one - they don't feel slippery at all - surprisingly good grip actually.

I love em!

 

[roburado]

There are also the Cool Picks "Juratex" Jazz. Shape and stiffness similar to Jazz III, but they have a nice textured surface for supposedly better grip. Pete gave me one of those at the Desert Bash. I haven't tried it out yet, though. I'm going to do a bit of a trial with the Ultex Jazz III. It's tough to leave my comfort zone with the black Jazz III.

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000TKC8VA?smid=AV55EHESNL1V7&tag=dealtime-mi-20&linkCode=asn]Amazon.com: Cool Picks Juratex Jazz Sand Textured Pick, 1.5mm Single: Musical Instruments[/ame]

Oops, I put a link the 1.5 mm one there. I don't know what thickness, Pete gave me, but I don't think it's 1.5mm. They have a few different thicknesses.

 

[TonyEVH5150]

I went out a few years ago and bought a load of different shapes, gauges and types. I used Sharkfins for a while but I now use the Dunlop Gator Grip picks - usually .71 (sometimes 0.96). I like the surface on them - it just seems to stick to my hands which is useful as a lefty playing righty because the grip in my right hand isn't as strong as my left.

As a side benefit these two gauges come in shades of purple to match my Y2Ds.

My advice - try as many different types and makes as you can and choose what works for you.

Ditto on the Gator Grips. I was using the 0.71's, and just recently changed to the 0.96's. I'm also a lefty playing righty, and they match my Purple hardtail.

I also like Clayton Mediums, but only for two reasons. One, they're white pearloid, and two, they have a hula pin-up girl on them.

 

[DrKev]

Having sat down recently with a selection of picks I've used over the years and tried them all out on electric guitar and mandolin, I'd thought I'd put my thoughts together.

I prefer the rounder tip of small teardrop picks (358s) and find the jazz III shape just too pointy and wide for my liking. (Jazz IIIs are the same length as most 358s, BTW).

Without any shadow of a doubt, my favourites now Clayton Ultem 358s (1.07mm). They sound very similar to celluloid - warm and rich, good top end without being too clicky or bright, and a tight, full bottom end. On guitar, the Clayton picks have a little extra focus in the upper mids, which is probably due to their squarer edge contour and slightly wider tip. Strangely on mandolin, they still sound great but that mid range emphasis is missing. On the guitar these picks pull out the string harmonics beautifully. (Natural harmonics at 7, 5, 4, 3 1/4 and 2 3/4 fret positions just jump off the strings, even unplugged, which is very impressive).

It does seem, the hype for once being right, that Ultex/Ultem is a great replacement material for celluloid or tortoise shell. I love it. Time will tell how long they last. I go through about a hundred picks a year, we'll know soon enough.

Of the old standard jazz IIIs, I prefer the black ones over the red ones. Red is a little too soft for my liking, and I think it shows in the tone - bottom end is OK but there could more clarity in the top end for my liking. With the black ones, there is a little more sparkle which I preferred. But that sharper point of the Jazz IIIs does not agree with me. Personally, for fast picking, I don't think they are ideal. Try some tremolo picked double stops (particularly on a mandolin, that's four strings to go back and forth over very quickly) and you'll see how the sharp tip almost digs in, and for me that doesn't help with control. the rounder tip of the 358s glides over the strings better.

I've also used Acetal 358s, 1.00mm, but they were a little too soft for my liking, flexing more and not lasting as long as I would like. They have a nice warm sound (lots of mid range on a mandolin) but I find on the bottom end is loose, almost spongy, and they lack in top end sparkle, though I imagine they'd be a fantastic replacement for nylon picks for all you acoustic strummers out there.


My custom printed order of 100 Ultems just arrived today, that's how much I like 'em. (And bravo to Clayton for a good job well done and delivered overseas within two weeks of accepting the order). The surface is textured and, IMO, grips better than red Jazz IIIs. BTW, the Clayton teardrop picks are slightly larger than the celluloid 358s I used to use. Maybe a 0.5mm each direction but it is noticeable. If you like the width of the Jazz IIIs but prefer the rounder tip of 358s, the Claytons could be a reasonable compromise.

 

[muzikantje]

I use Big stubby 2mm-not the best for funk ect..but excellent for fast picking solo's!

Jazz III for funk and rock...i use it also for my Taylor 312!!