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January 2004
Posts: 1225
Location: Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey | I was talking to Cliff at one of my gigs a few weeks back and he mentioned something about possibly trying a lighter pick so that he wouldn't break so many strings. I'm not a string breaker myself, but I am a heavy strummer and I like low action, so I thought that I would give it a try.
I had been using Jim Dunlop Tortex .60mm picks for years, so I decided to try the .50mm's. The .50mm Dunlops feel just a bit firmer than a Fender "thin" pick (just for reference). The nice thing about the Tortex picks is that they are easy to hang on to and hard to break.
Aside from getting used to the feel of the thinner pick, I must say that I'm pretty happy so far. The guitars sound brighter and there is very little buzz even when I'm strumming heavily. They also feel a lot smoother for fast songs. These are not the best picks for picking single notes, but for my purposes, I think they might work out.
What kind of picks do you all use? |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15682
Location: SoCal | Fender mediums, on all guitars, electrics, steel string acoustics, 12 strings,and nylon strings.
As for thinner picks not being the best for picking single notes, don't tell Glen Campbell. He's always used a thin pick and is a very fast single note picker.
Picks are a very very personal thing. It's whatever makes you happy. I tried a thiner pick a few years ago, didn't like the feel or sound, and found that the Fender mediums didn't feel right when trying to come back. It took a long time and a journey of many types of picks to come back to the Fender mediums.
By the way, the OFC off white picks are just like the Fender mediums and look much cooler to boot! |
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Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 100
Location: Warren, OH | I like the Fender large tri-oval (I'm sure there's a correct name that I can't think of right now) in thin tortoise. Only issue I have is that it tends to tear easily. The white ones are a little better for durability, however.
Unfortunately, the local shops around here have a very limited selection. I ended up buying the ones I have at distant Guitar Center and Sam Ash stores. |
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October 2004
Posts: 180
Location: Chicagoland | I've got the 1.0 mm Tortex pics. I like them thick, plus they can double as bass guitar picks too. |
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December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | Fender tourtouse shell mediums or the OFC Off-whites! |
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November 2004
Posts: 4413
| The ones that grow out of the ends of my fingers. |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | I used to have a nice large heavy white pearl Johnson till Cliff stole it...... |
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Just kidding, I mean I really couldn't pass that chance up.
The actual answer is the normal guitar pick shape, white MOT Johnson pick and I have abut 500 at each house.
When I use a pick it's these but often it's super glue and acrylic powder on the index and hole finger nails and the thumb when it breaks. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | CT House: 499.
Bill, those picks have a nice feel and "snap" to 'em, but do they wear down quickly for you?
I used that one for maybe a set and a half and rounded the point right down on it . . . .
Actually John;
I've gone to HEAVIER picks to cut down on breaking strings . . . .
I'd been using thin (Tortex .50mm) for a long time, but found myself flailing like a madman on the strings for volume. Thicker picks (like Fender .65 - .70mm) slightly "darken" the sound a little, but gives me the volume and makes me "hold back" a little on the strumming, and in turn saves me some strings. Haven't broken anywhere NEAR what I usta.
A lot of time it depends on the song, and I'll select from a small variety on my mic stand. If I'm playing a lot of arpeggiated chords on the 12, I'll use a heavier pick - on the more "strummy" stuff, maybe a light one. On real fast, percussive strumming patterns, I just like the sound of the "slap" of a thin pick on a fast strum . . |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 112
Location: WV | Picks??? Isn't that why I have fingernails? You can always spot a fingerpicker 'cause the nails on his right (or left) hand are condiderably longer than the other hand. When I do use a pick I prefer the Jim Dunlop Nylon .60 mm.
Bob |
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December 2004
Posts: 7
Location: Sparks, NV | Jim Dunlop Nylon Regular, mostly .73, but might try .46 and .60 |
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Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 1225
Location: Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey | "Actually John;
I've gone to HEAVIER picks to cut down on breaking strings . . . ."
I must have misunderstood you. That's an interesting way to look at it. I'm going to keep experimenting (with PICKS that is). :D |
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December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | fender extra heavy or heavy. |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | I started using Coolcell "Cool Picks" about a year ago and really like them. Comes in thin (.60), medium (.80), and heavy (1.0) and have a rubberized grip so that they don't slip out of your fingers.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3756525448&ssPag...
Same company different style, this one comes with a sand-textured grip.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3745623519&ssPag... |
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Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 623
Location: Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey | Uh...the Tortex orange ones. Dunno what size. Been usin' 'em for years...A thicker pick is just too stiff for feel, and a thinner one doesn't provide enough attack. But what do I know...."I'm John, and I'm a string-breaker". Confessions of a guitarist with really poor technique I suppose.
Has anyone tried the ones with the star shape cut out of the center for a better grip? I've been curious about those. |
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July 2003
Posts: 181
Location: North Carolina | I pick with the flesh of my fingers.
Franklin |
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November 2004
Posts: 4413
| Disgusting habit. |
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December 2001
Posts: 7247
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | I use either the OFC med picks, .60 picks or the Adamas graphite picks. |
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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 1614
Location: Converse, Texas | Dunlop .58mm -- bacause they're not as thick for me as mediums, and they're a little thicker than the thins. Logical, huh? |
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Joined:
June 2004
Posts: 580
Location: NW NJ | Jim Dunlop Nylon Regular .46 because they have a great texturized grip so I don't sling them out of my hand when I get excited and they never, ever break. |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 55
Location: England | ooo i only ever use thick pics, the thicker the better, much more control than those thin wimpy picks.
i prefer anything near 1mm. give or take a little either way>>
now onto my favourite picks>>>>>
Dunlop Ultex picks, impossbile to find in the Uk but when you do you never lose them coz they rock on anything with strings, i can even lend it to my bass player>
if their not availble, dunlop tortex is the next choice, the purple ones, blue ones or yellow ones are all good>>>>
and heres the wild card>>>>> i make my own out of ivory that i buy at jumble sales as i do not agree with trade in animal parts, but see no reason why recycling them isn't a good idea!
seriously until you've used an ivory or bone pick, you've never opened up your guitars full sound.
They are So painfully stiff you get unparralelleleled control ( i can't spell)
the take a very long time to wear down and can be re carved over and over
they take a little bit of time to make but are well worth it
but remember guys and girls. trade in animal parts is wrong, but recycling is great
love matt
x |
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Joined:
May 2004
Posts: 383
Location: Indiana | Bakersfield thin (the black ones).I use them for guitar (unless finger pickin') or bass. Have never broken one.
Bill |
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May 2004
Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | Fingernails mostly, but when not, Dunlop Jazz Stubby's in 1mm (clear red). |
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Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 2246
Location: Yucaipa, California | Alaska Piks (fingerpicks)
http://www.alaskapik.com
Propik thumbpick w/Delrin tip
Dunlop brass fingerpicks for banjo... |
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Joined:
January 2003
Posts: 1498
Location: San Bernardino, California | .38 Clayton Ultem, Black Jazz and Acetal, Dunlop Tortex Sharpies, also make my own picks out of brass. |
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November 2004
Posts: 1374
| I too it's either thick or fingerpick, 1mm or better, naturals(wood,bone,ivory) or the new graphites, occasionally the big stubby's show up.
never got the hang of the thins or lights didn't seem to have the accuracy or control.
other than that it's my short stubby fingers.
God Bless,
Glenn |
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January 2005
Posts: 29
Location: Hyattsville, MD | I also only use the flesh of my fingers. You can't always spot a fingerpicker by his tidy fingernails! :cool: |
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Joined:
January 2005
Posts: 49
Location: Orlando, Fl | I use the Fender Medium red moto picks. They look lovely and my dog seems to like to chew on them when they fall off my amp, rather, when my cat bats them off the amp. Between myself, the guitars, and the pets... its like a friggin zoo here!! I feel sorry for my wife, the zoo keeper!!! |
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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 1614
Location: Converse, Texas | So none of you use those Fender dorito picks, huh? |
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What kind of picks do you use?