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Started By
Message
Guitarists: high end picks
Posted on 6/19/21 at 11:54 pm
Posted on 6/19/21 at 11:54 pm
I know this will probably not be well received. I spent 19 years playing with all kinds of picks. The past 10 years have been 2mm Dunlop big stubby picks. They are great. Low friction, beveled, grippy surface.
I recently spent $35 on a 1mm Blue Chip pick. It's amazing. It somehow doesn't make all the "clicky" noises that all other picks make. Even weirder, the moisture from your hand makes it EASIER to hold onto. It's especially great for bluegrass licks or anything where individual note intonation is important.
I know. 35 bucks for a pick. I would never recommend it for an intermediate player. This is to make good players 2% better.
Blue Chip Picks
I recently spent $35 on a 1mm Blue Chip pick. It's amazing. It somehow doesn't make all the "clicky" noises that all other picks make. Even weirder, the moisture from your hand makes it EASIER to hold onto. It's especially great for bluegrass licks or anything where individual note intonation is important.
I know. 35 bucks for a pick. I would never recommend it for an intermediate player. This is to make good players 2% better.
Blue Chip Picks
12
Posted on 6/20/21 at 6:26 am to Tigerlaff
Picks are definitely an important thing, and getting the right one in your hand can make a real difference. I've been paying around with different things for a while, and have come up with something that I like. It's a pain in the arse to make them, but it's better than spending 35 bucks.
Then again, when I started experimenting with different shapes and materials for picks, that also caused me to think more about how I use a pick and be more conscious about it. Maybe that is the real payoff, and it might be the same with a 35 buck pick, because if you spend that kind of money on one, you've got to learn to make the most of it.
Then again, when I started experimenting with different shapes and materials for picks, that also caused me to think more about how I use a pick and be more conscious about it. Maybe that is the real payoff, and it might be the same with a 35 buck pick, because if you spend that kind of money on one, you've got to learn to make the most of it.
This post was edited on 6/20/21 at 7:36 am
Posted on 6/20/21 at 8:51 am to auggie
I tell my clients all the time, many of you have already heard this ... your first mods on ANY guitar should be focused on value (bang for the buck), least intrusive and easily reversed without a trace if you don't like the results. That being said, your FIRST modification with EVERY guitar is your choice of strings and your choice of picks.
FACT: There is no one perfect brand, one perfect gauge, one perfect alloy/material, one perfect blueprint for strings or picks. My guitarsenal is probably strung with a half dozen different varieties of strings ... and my pick cup on my bench probably has 15 different types of picks in it. Celluloid, Delrin, Tortex, acrylics, coconut and even cow hoof and longhorn antler bone.
I carried V-Picks in my shop for a couple years because I was so impressed with them and because Vinni is a truly class act who sells a stellar line of products. But I discontinued them, solely because I couldn't lose scarcely available appointment slots educating people on the pros of $4, $5, $6 and $10 picks and then watching them burn an hour of my time trying every one of them as they moan about their price and then buy one $5 pick.
If you want a crash course on a variety of custom picks and what they bring to your different guitars, different playing genres and different playing techniques, V-Picks offers a Pick Assortment Starter Kit that offers seven of his acrylics in different sizes, thicknesses and edges. I HIGHLY recommend this kit if you want to explore this crucial element of your playing and your tone.
Search "V-Picks" on Google Images or Vinni's website's "shop" page to get an idea of his varieties. There are a ton. Notable endorsers include Billy Gibbons, Carlos Santana, Johnny Hiland and Vernon Reid, and the late Ed King and Walker Becker.
FACT: There is no one perfect brand, one perfect gauge, one perfect alloy/material, one perfect blueprint for strings or picks. My guitarsenal is probably strung with a half dozen different varieties of strings ... and my pick cup on my bench probably has 15 different types of picks in it. Celluloid, Delrin, Tortex, acrylics, coconut and even cow hoof and longhorn antler bone.
I carried V-Picks in my shop for a couple years because I was so impressed with them and because Vinni is a truly class act who sells a stellar line of products. But I discontinued them, solely because I couldn't lose scarcely available appointment slots educating people on the pros of $4, $5, $6 and $10 picks and then watching them burn an hour of my time trying every one of them as they moan about their price and then buy one $5 pick.
If you want a crash course on a variety of custom picks and what they bring to your different guitars, different playing genres and different playing techniques, V-Picks offers a Pick Assortment Starter Kit that offers seven of his acrylics in different sizes, thicknesses and edges. I HIGHLY recommend this kit if you want to explore this crucial element of your playing and your tone.
Search "V-Picks" on Google Images or Vinni's website's "shop" page to get an idea of his varieties. There are a ton. Notable endorsers include Billy Gibbons, Carlos Santana, Johnny Hiland and Vernon Reid, and the late Ed King and Walker Becker.
Posted on 6/20/21 at 9:22 am to TheFretShack
Anything other than a 1mm Tortex feels wrong in my hand. I’ve tried dozens and I always come back to it. It’s definitely personal preference.
Posted on 6/20/21 at 10:47 am to Tigerlaff
Did you know Brian May (of Queen) uses a sixpence silver coin as a pick? Also I'm curious, do you guitar players use the pointy end of a pick to play? I have always used the "side" curved portion of the pick. No I wont pay $35 for a guitar pick but to each their own. I use a yellow, Dunlop Tortex .73 mm.
This post was edited on 6/21/21 at 5:51 pm
Posted on 6/20/21 at 12:24 pm to Shanegolang
My goto is a Petrucci jazz. It's a little bigger than a jazz III but still smaller than a regular pick. Love those things.
There's also a Petrucci trianglar shaped pick, but I find the attack isn't quite the same.
There's also a Petrucci trianglar shaped pick, but I find the attack isn't quite the same.
This post was edited on 6/20/21 at 12:26 pm
Posted on 6/20/21 at 3:14 pm to Shanegolang
quote:
do you guitar players use the pointy end of a pick to play? I have always used the "side" curved portion of the pick.
The pointy end gives me more attack with a brighter sound while the side gives me a really smooth mellow sound.
Where you pluck on the string (close to the bridge or up on the neck) affects the tone a lot too.
I always liked the dunlop tortex just because of the grip. But I haven't tried a ton of picks.
Posted on 6/20/21 at 3:52 pm to Tigerlaff
What I've been using over the past year
Posted on 6/20/21 at 7:32 pm to Tigerlaff
I think what makes for good or bad qualities in a pick also depends on whether you're playing acoustic or electric.
Excessive pick noise on an acoustic can really interfere with the sound and I'm glad OP found a pick that he/she/they/them/we/nobody is happy with.
For years played either green or purple Tortex on electrics. Somehow I've migrated exclusively to a stainless steel pick that has some flex.
I think this is the one. The edges last forever too.
Ice Pix
Excessive pick noise on an acoustic can really interfere with the sound and I'm glad OP found a pick that he/she/they/them/we/nobody is happy with.
For years played either green or purple Tortex on electrics. Somehow I've migrated exclusively to a stainless steel pick that has some flex.
I think this is the one. The edges last forever too.
Ice Pix
Posted on 6/20/21 at 8:54 pm to Tigerlaff
I like these, generally between 8-10 bucks.
Posted on 6/20/21 at 9:09 pm to Tigerlaff
Tortex 3mm
This post was edited on 6/20/21 at 9:10 pm
Posted on 6/21/21 at 7:12 am to Tigerlaff
I’ve used cool picks for years they have the sandpaper like grip. Then I realized my picking style was wrong and had to completely relearn so I could do hybrid picking. Now the grip spot is in a bad location for me. Those were $1-2 per pick.
Now I love the Dava picks with the rubber grip. Pricey but awesome.
Now I love the Dava picks with the rubber grip. Pricey but awesome.
Posted on 6/21/21 at 8:14 am to Tigerlaff
I only use pick on a couple of harder rock songs (technically, for bassists, picks are illegal). I like a little clickity clack, but not a lot. Was using the plastic Fender picks but they just clacked way too much. Got the Dunlop’s pictured and they are great. And cheap, which is great because I can lose a pick in about five seconds.
Posted on 6/21/21 at 11:10 am to Tigerlaff
quote:
know. 35 bucks for a pick. I
Pffft.
Cheaper than a new guitar. A lot cheaper.
A. At 35 bucks you will pay attention to the damned thing. Less chance of washing it in a pocket or losing it.
B. Been on many guitar centric sites. NOBODY says “meh” that have played one. The replies are either like me and they just haven’t dropped the cash for one or they have one and love it. No middle ground.
C. Like Fret said picks and strings are the cheapest way to make your guitar sound different/better. Even at 35 bucks it’s cheaper than adding a pickup or changing a nut or saddle. Or cheaper than a pro setup. A setup is still a great idea, but the fact remains that 35 bucks is cheaper.
My answer for pick of choice are Dunlop Hand Made. They are about a buck and change a piece. Otherwise I literally have a drawerful of picks beside my bed. Same drawer that a young me would keep condoms. Old married me NEEDS that many guitar picks. Lol
Posted on 6/21/21 at 11:51 am to LSU alum wannabe
^^^^^ I agree with this ...
The problem with expensive picks is most players have the mentality engrained that losing picks is part of being a player. We lose them in the couch, we find them in the dryer, because we simply choose to not keep track of them. It's probably because we buy a dozen at a time for cheap rather than one or two nice expensive picks that lasts.
Just like I keep track of my keys, my wallet, my phone, I also keep track of my guitar pick, whether it's an expensive booteeky pick I paid big bux for, a heirloom longhorn pick a client made me by hand, or a simple and cheap silver Herco Flex 75.
If you frequently lose keys, wallets, phones, sunglasses, however, I don't have an answer nor a solution haha
The problem with expensive picks is most players have the mentality engrained that losing picks is part of being a player. We lose them in the couch, we find them in the dryer, because we simply choose to not keep track of them. It's probably because we buy a dozen at a time for cheap rather than one or two nice expensive picks that lasts.
Just like I keep track of my keys, my wallet, my phone, I also keep track of my guitar pick, whether it's an expensive booteeky pick I paid big bux for, a heirloom longhorn pick a client made me by hand, or a simple and cheap silver Herco Flex 75.
If you frequently lose keys, wallets, phones, sunglasses, however, I don't have an answer nor a solution haha
Posted on 6/21/21 at 12:48 pm to TheFretShack
Picks I like are lost instantly. I can go through a pack in a month, easy. Picks that suck come back like a bad penny. I can throw a bad pick away and find it again by my amp the next time I want to play.
Posted on 6/21/21 at 2:17 pm to kingbob
quote:
Picks I like are lost instantly.
This is the same reason I only buy cheap sunglasses. Cheap ones hang around for years.
Posted on 6/21/21 at 3:33 pm to Tigerlaff
I used the Dunlop Tortex standard .73mm for years but recently discovered the Tortex Flex in the triangle shape and have really grown fond of them.
Posted on 6/21/21 at 5:49 pm to MudCatMatt
quote:
Dunlop Tortex standard .73mm
Precisely what I use, the yellow one. I will try the flex now.
This post was edited on 6/21/21 at 5:50 pm
Posted on 6/21/21 at 7:43 pm to kingbob
quote:
Picks I like are lost instantly
I like pick holders
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