Of course vintage picks are better… (Eric Johnson)

[PFDarkside]

I've been using Jazz IIIs (or very similar picks) for all my strumming for years with no problem, and I play a lot of fast funk stuff. Even with my acoustic. There's a slight adjustment from a regular pick but they get quite comfortable with practice.

I just prefer lighter Tortex or Cellulose for strumming. I’m seeing if I can make these sharp Hetfields my “standard”
pick. I’ve been practicing a lot of heavy rhythm and lead stuff which them and Jazz III work great for, but those raking blues styles I’m still more comfortable with a more rounded, larger pick tip. I’m sure with practice I can adapt, but 25 years of playing is a long time. :P

[devastone]

I like the Jazz III XLs, the regular Jazz IIIs just feel too small to me.

But, my tastes change every few weeks, I'm back on a Delrin 351 kick now.

[beaubrummels]

I bought a handful of Jazz picks just to try them, not expensive or anything, and I just looked at one now and it's an Eric Johnson TX pick. Wow, so I'm in the vintage club, accidentally. What I can report is the sucker is too small and constantly gets ripped out of my fingers by the strings, similar to using a coin on my Brian May Guitar (have to totally change my playing to make it all work). If it were a little bigger, it would be perfect, for me. But then I also have the credit card punch kit to make my own picks, so I use all kinds, depending on the sound, weight of strings, kind of music, etc. For example, I change thickness/pliability of picks based on the tempo of the songs; for the same reason I change length and weight of drumsticks on my drums based on the tempo of the song. Makes the resistance/liveliness match the speed I have to play, so it ends up feeling consistent/constant to me.

[PFDarkside]

I like the Jazz III XLs, the regular Jazz IIIs just feel too small to me.

But, my tastes change every few weeks, I'm back on a Delrin 351 kick now.

I bought a handful of Jazz picks just to try them, not expensive or anything, and I just looked at one now and it's an Eric Johnson TX pick. Wow, so I'm in the vintage club, accidentally. What I can report is the sucker is too small and constantly gets ripped out of my fingers by the strings, similar to using a coin on my Brian May Guitar (have to totally change my playing to make it all work). If it were a little bigger, it would be perfect, for me. But then I also have the credit card punch kit to make my own picks, so I use all kinds, depending on the sound, weight of strings, kind of music, etc. For example, I change thickness/pliability of picks based on the tempo of the songs; for the same reason I change length and weight of drumsticks on my drums based on the tempo of the song. Makes the resistance/liveliness match the speed I have to play, so it ends up feeling consistent/constant to me.

The Petrucci picks are a little bigger than standard Jazz III.

[Aceman]

Where does Bonamassa weight in on this issue? As in he has these too, right?

[Mincer]

Where does Bonamassa weight in on this issue? As in he has these too, right?

They have a "JB" on them, which makes them completely different.

[dave74]

The Petrucci picks are a little bigger than standard Jazz III.

You talking about the JP Trinity picks?

I really like those and they last forever with the material and three tips each.
My all-around pick of choice is the carbon-fiber max-grip Jazz3 but sometimes I like the change of the Trinity and it's very easy to go back and forth between those two types.

[PFDarkside]

You talking about the JP Trinity picks?

I really like those and they last forever with the material and three tips each.
My all-around pick of choice is the carbon-fiber max-grip Jazz3 but sometimes I like the change of the Trinity and it's very easy to go back and forth between those two types.

You can kind of see here:

[dave74]

You can kind of see here:

Oh OK those are the standard JPs.

People should give those Trinity picks a try. They're really good for fast alt-picking and they are 3in1.

https://www.jimdunlop.com/john-petrucci-trinity-pick/

[esandes]

Eric Johnson is very discerning. He's a tone hound. I recall an interview I read where he said he removes cabinet casters and keeps the cabinet directly on the stage floor to produce a wider frequency spread. Brilliant guy.

[dave74]

I agree with Eric on the casters. Depends on the floor but generally I like cabs directly coupled for the thicker lows and lower-mids it provides.