When do you dispose your guitar pick?

Re: When do you dispose your guitar pick?

I don't have this issue very much--I lose them; but when I was gigging and needed to watch my pennies, I would use an old mill file and sharpen the point, and square off the edges. That brought back the feel and tone of a new pick. Of course, you can only do that so many times before the pick becomes too small. (I like the Dunlop Tortex, Gators and Ultex picks in the classic Fender 351 shape.)

Bill
 
Re: When do you dispose your guitar pick?

In case anybody didn't already know this... here ya go.

 
Re: When do you dispose your guitar pick?

I have a ton of picks as I hate to throw things away. More than a few are really worn down and not all that comfortable in my fairly large hands. Lately though, I have rediscovered the joy of a new pick. I've been much more willing to toss them out after a couple hours and so much happier when playing because of that.
 
Re: When do you dispose your guitar pick?

I use them til I lose them... When I started, I ended up using the same pick for like 4yrs... I'd probably still use it, but it got so small it got lost in the carpet or something...

Except for gigging. the pick from a gig, gets put into an album with a date and the occasion/venue it was used. Well one of them anyway... the others used throughout the night, get deposited in the cleavage of some.. endowed.. fans :naughty:
 
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Re: When do you dispose your guitar pick?

I don't think I've ever disposed of a pick. I use them, lose them, and give them away.
 
Re: When do you dispose your guitar pick?

I use Ultex Jazz 3 2.0 for electric. Acoustic, I use a Tortex .5 (the red one) and I'll use those until my fingers cant hold them anymore. The wider the pick the better for acoustic for me.
 
Re: When do you dispose your guitar pick?

As soon as I feel like I am losing some HP on fast alt-picked runs, which I love to do and need clear note definition for. It's like having a race car with tires that are shot...it doesn't matter how powerful your engine is, you're going nowhere.
 
Re: When do you dispose your guitar pick?

I don't ever throw them out. Picks just end up retired in the couch cushions or corners of the house.



LOL! Me too. I have two kids, so my picks get lost long before they get worn out. :biglaugh:
 
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Re: When do you dispose your guitar pick?

I just had 100 of these made I figured why not.

XMen Bruce Picks.JPG
 
Re: When do you dispose your guitar pick?

When I loose them. Lol. With that said, I have had the same Dunlop Jazz III pick since 1994. It's in my desk drawer now, but still is quite playable.
 
Re: When do you dispose your guitar pick?

Does anyone else use their pick upside down? Striking with one of the top rounded corners?

I do!

No idea how I arrived there - I used to pick the normal way, but I pick this way now, always.
 
Re: When do you dispose your guitar pick?

I do!

No idea how I arrived there - I used to pick the normal way, but I pick this way now, always.

Me too. I have been playing that way since I started about 30 yrs ago and I don't know why. I have tried playing the normal way but at this point it just ain't happening....too much of an adjustment. Less speed.....but I'm no shredder anyways.
 
Re: When do you dispose your guitar pick?

I do!

No idea how I arrived there - I used to pick the normal way, but I pick this way now, always.

Thats how people like the Edge arrived at their sound. Those old herco styled picks sound really unique (scratchy, in a good way) when picked backwards.

As for me, I've never had a pick wear down. I always lose them long before it gets to that point! Right now I'm using EJ signature picks, which are pretty expensive, so I'm doing my absolute best to not lose them... yet I've lost 2 out of this pack in the past few months.
 
Re: When do you dispose your guitar pick?

Well, the picks I use are nearly 2.0mm in thickness and have a quick release, soooo they don't get disposed of for several months. I mean, I could have been using the one I'm using for a year and I play regularly.
 
Re: When do you dispose your guitar pick?

I don't ever throw them out. Picks just end up retired in the couch cushions or corners of the house. Extremely dead picks like what you've got there end up being used with the acoustic for strumming usually.

Ah, I see that you like to recycle! And I also see that you like to ride bikes (assuming that's you in the avatar) thus further saving our environment. We need more people like you in the world.
 
Re: When do you dispose your guitar pick?

Ah, I see that you like to recycle! And I also see that you like to ride bikes (assuming that's you in the avatar) thus further saving our environment. We need more people like you in the world.

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Re: When do you dispose your guitar pick?

I don't think I have ever thrown out a pick ever. I used to use Dunlop jazz picks, but I have switched to ultex 1.14 and I must pick to light cause they never seem to wear down on me and I play atleast an hour everyday.
 
Re: When do you dispose your guitar pick?

i keep them to strum acoustic tones, muddy passages or to simply shim things

IMG_20150215_001043.jpg

for example when i replaced the old rusted saddles on my guitar the rusted screwa were gone also, i was too lazy to measure and cut the new screws to size, so i took one of my old worn purple tortex picks, a little work with a hacksaw, dremel and a couple drops of super glue and the job was done

now i'm using the dunlop jazz iii max grip carbon fiber, half month of 1 to 2 hours of thrashing at day and still no signs of wear while at this point ultex or tortex would be wearing down
 
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Re: When do you dispose your guitar pick?

I've never thrown out a pick, I always lose them! I've noticed the more expensive they are (e.g. Gravity picks or Hot Licks copper picks), the faster they get lost :(

These days, I use one of these things to create a big supply of picks:



I prefer a heavier pick but I've found a lot of gift cards/credit cards aren't thick enough--I get the best results from Starbucks gift cards, they have a little extra thickness that makes a difference.

By accident, I discovered that the carpet trick is kind of a necessity when punching out these picks, as the edges usually need a little smoothing out.
 
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