Picks, Picks & More Picks!

[LazyLightning]

Hi folks,

I know as with many things picks are highly personal preference for many reasons.

I am about to buy a few different types and had a question or two.

I typically use Tortex .73, not to stiff not to flexible. They are pretty much my go to as far as standard picks go. However, my biggest gripe with them is they wear fast. So I was looking at the Ultex, from what I have read they have a very similar surface as far as grip, etc.. and many claim they last longer.

I am also planning on buying a set of Adamas Graphite 2mm.

I also would like to have a 3rd set to try out, everyone raves about the jazz III Max grip, but they look extremely small in comparison to standard picks. Those who complain about the size typically reference back to the John Petrucci Jazz III 1.5mm sig line.

I am also interested in the Stubby 1.0mm line, hear really good tings about them.

Basically the Adamas are a given and the .73mm Ultex / Tortex ( after I hear if there is a noticeable difference between the two materials )

Lastly Some input from Stubby users in the 1.00mm range would be great as well.

Thanks for any input!

 

[80's_Metal]

Re: Picks, Picks & More Picks!

Hard to beat those jazz 3 picks in any variation. I personally favor the carbon model

 

[greekdude]

Re: Picks, Picks & More Picks!

I used exclusively jazz III back in the 80s, now I prefer as #1 those :

(which BTW can serve as a very convenient feeler gauge)
and recently i discovered the aforementioned :

but still the best IMO are the pickboy 0.88mm

 

[Nacho8807]

Re: Picks, Picks & More Picks!

I recently tried Gravity picks, which have not worn at all 3 weeks of continuous use. That might not seem like a long time but in that same time I would normally wear down two Tortex-type picks. A good starter pick from them might be the Sunrise 1.5mm XL. It's a jumbo jazz iii shape made of an acrylic material, with a nice sharp beveled edge for control.

 

[Kac]

Re: Picks, Picks & More Picks!

Best bet is to have a whole bunch of picks around at all times, like around 100 of em. The. You should always have a good one. Works for me, gotta switch it up every once in a while


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[GuitarStv]

Re: Picks, Picks & More Picks!

Hard to beat those jazz 3 picks in any variation. I personally favor the carbon model

Yes.

Love using Jazz IIIs in any of their variations.

 

[Psykel]

Re: Picks, Picks & More Picks!

I use the purple Dunlop Gels of medium gauge, which is .73 mm, iirc. Sounds good, decent enough grip and looks awesome!

 

[Jackson Distortion]

Re: Picks, Picks & More Picks!

Stubby's tips don't last long at all IME. I'm a Metal guy so that's probably why I've found they don't last as long. But, they're cheap, so give 'em a go!

 

[trevorus]

Re: Picks, Picks & More Picks!

Carbon Max Grip Jazz III's!

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Picks, Picks & More Picks!

Hard to beat those jazz 3 picks in any variation. I personally favor the carbon model

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[DKSEARS]

Re: Picks, Picks & More Picks!

My favorites for electric are some thin stainless steel and copper picks that I've had for a while. On acoustic, I tend to use red gator grips (tortex) or the thinnest guage ultex.


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[Boogie Bill]

Re: Picks, Picks & More Picks!

I mostly use the Dunlop Gators, Tortex and Ultex standards in 1.14 mm.

Another one to try is the new Tusq pick; I like the heavy, cream-colored ones.

And if you haven't tried a V-Pick yet, find one.

Bill

 

[LazyLightning]

Re: Picks, Picks & More Picks!

Thanks for all the input, you have given me some good ideas.

 

[koshikas]

Re: Picks, Picks & More Picks!

i keep two sets of pick with me at all times. i have all sorts of picks, and cycle them into the two groups.

the two groups are for clean/acoustic playing and for overdriven guitar.

of the jazz III varieties, i use tortex, stiffo and nylon ones. both nylon (pinkish-red) and stiffo (black) are jazz III XL, which are slightly larger than regular jazz III and you should find them large enough if the regulars are too small for you. they are my goto picks if i can only carry one to play, and find them very versatile most of the time.

regulars in my clean group are standard nylon 1mm, .73m totex statndard (if i need the mids), fender california clear mediums (for mid-scoop, but they wear like crazy)
.96mm gator grip (for more lows)

regulars for overdriven sounds are mostly tortex stuff: tortex jazz III 1.4mm, 1mm tortex wedge

besides that my main chugga-chugga pick is tortex TIII 1.5 and gator grip 1.5mm

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: Picks, Picks & More Picks!

I've stuck to these since I began using them 3-4 years ago....just perfect for me in every way

...used the regular red/black Jazz III's for years (lol decades) before that..tried the carbon fibre ones/Eric Johnson's/Petrucci's etc..but the yellow ULTEX's are best imo. I like the purple 3.00mm stubby's for leads as well sometimes.

 

[LazyLightning]

Re: Picks, Picks & More Picks!

Thanks for the additional input.

I was going to make some of my own ( just to see how they would work ) was going to have a friend of mine take the leg off our old oak dinning room table and cut them into various width oval chips. That I would then use my dremel to sculpt them into different sized and shaped picks. My dremel has kicked the bucket so that project will have to wait.

I really want to try the Jazz III's my biggest concern is with M.S. sometimes I have a rough time holding onto things. Though considering I can get a dozen for a fairly decent price, I might as well give them a try.

I have also wanted to try the V-Picks, but hear a lot of mixed reviews on them.

I am really glad that Dunlop did a run on the Adamas 2mm graphite picks. If I remember correctly Ovation used to make them, but during my 2 decade break between playing they apparently stopped production. I really loved those picks a lot, even during my short stint playing a Fender Jazz Bass ( though I mostly finger picked )

As I mentioned earlier I like the Tortex .73 for general use, they just show massive wear after a few days ( that's why I wondered if the Ultex .73 might be better, if they have similar grip feel and can hold up longer then a few days ) and I don't even play aggressively. Perhaps the way I hold it?

With the Adamas on the way I think I will give the Jazz III stiffo a try since they are a bit larger and maybe get a bag of Ultex .73's and Tortex .73's, just to compare the two.

Really appreciate all the helpful input everyone!

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Picks, Picks & More Picks!

I've stuck to these since I began using them 3-4 years ago....just perfect for me in every way

What makes them imperfect is that the mother****ers are invisible the moment you drop them on any surface. I've lost about 3 lbs of them around my house somewhere.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Picks, Picks & More Picks!

I like the Ultex for the extra snap, (sharps depending on style I'm playing) as well as the trusty Tortex. It seems the Ultex thickness doesn't matter as much as the Tortex thickness, so I keep tons of Yellow, Green, Blue and Purple Tortexes around.

Best bet is to buy the each of the Dunlop variety packs, you'll get one of nearly every shape, thickness and material, and should allow you to dial into the perfect pick for you. Once you ID the shape and thickness you can experiment with other manufacturers but the same shape/thickness.

 

[Wattage]

Re: Picks, Picks & More Picks!

I used tortex for ages but recently switched since they just seem to wear faster now than ever before.

I use a light pick and found when I tried the ultex I sheared the tip off. The heavier ones wore oddly and the tone was "meh" so I kept looking around. Buddy of mine got a guitar endorsement deal and they gave him a ton of pics and sent me some. They were a little heavier than I like but they sounded and felt really good. Found out they were a custom imprint Clayton pic. I gota regular bag of them and they wore about like the tortexbut I liked them better. Turns out they make one of the sort of bloated looking pics with 3 sides so I tried them and I love them. They're the acetal rounded triangle. They don't cost much more and they last 3x as long.

http://www.steveclayton.com/acetal.php

 

[Mad-Max]

Re: Picks, Picks & More Picks!

Hard to beat those jazz 3 picks in any variation. I personally favor the carbon model

I'm quite particular the the Ultex Jazz III's myself