What kind of picks do you use, and why?

[Mark Wein]

For years I have used the humble Fender 351 Medium (Celluloid, the clears are PVC and break easier)

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5167P7SyomL._SL500_AA280_.jpg

While I was in college I had a professor turn me onto the Dunlop 3mm Stubby, which is nice for Jazz with its small tip but rigid and thick size. Terrible for rhythm guitar, though.

http://www.lutherie.net/pk_stubby.jpg

I've tried other picks (like the Jazz III) but the Fender Medium always seems to work the best for me. Last week Robert (dolphinstreet here on the forum) stopped by and jammed a little bit ad playing on my guitar through my amp he got a very different sound. I really liked it and I've been trying to incorporate a little of it into my sound this week.

One component of that difference was that he likes to use thicker picks so I've been experimenting with the Fender 351 Heavy today and discovering that many of the things I didn't like about the pick in years past have gone as my technique has improved.

So what picks do you use and why do you use them?

[Help!I'maRock!]

most electric guitars/bass: dunlop tortex purple
electric 12 string/baritone: dunlop tortex green
acoustic: dunlop tortex orange

[Prages]

I use mostly yellow Dunlop Tortex. (.73mm)

I've tried a bunch, but they just seem to feel best to me.

http://www.thewindtunnel.com/GuitarPics/Picks.jpg

[telecaster911]

Yellow tortex. Nothing else feels the same to me. Seems most people must like these as the bin is always empty at the local music store. frown0

[Prages]

Yellow tortex. Nothing else feels the same to me. Seems most people must like these as the bin is always empty at the local music store. frown0


Every Christmas I ask my mom to order me some strings and picks from Musician's Friend. I usually have about 6 dozen picks on hand at any given time. She usually gets me about 2 dozen every Christmas, and those replentish the supply that I've lost over the past year.

[Aahzz]

Dunlop Gator Grip blue...I think they're 1.15 mm, similar to Fender Heavy, which are my second choice. I tend to get slippery fingers, and the Dunlops really are easy to hold on to.

For bass (yeah, I play bass with a pick, my tendinitis won't allow me to use my fingers) I use a .73 mm pick - I prefer the tone of a light-ish pick on the bass.

[Denverdave]

For acoustic guitar I use the Fender 351 Medium - nothing else feels better than those. Since my acoustic playing is almost all rhythm, these picks just seem to get the job done. They do break a bit too easy, but nothing else I have tried does the job better.

http://www.americanmusical.com/ProductImages/Large/p19901.jpg

For electric I was using the Dunlop Gator grip picks, but I tried the Dunlop Delrin picks  (.96 gauge) and I like those more. The only issue is that the color of the .96 in the Delrin picks is a shade of pink that I just don't like, but they just changed the color to a redder shade so I need to get a few more. I like a thicker pick on the electric, but it can't be too thick (like the Jazz picks everyone likes) because I am primarily a rhythm player.

http://www.after-beat.co.jp/images/sale/pick/jim_dunlop_41r.jpg

It is strange, but I like the Delrin picks better on the electric, but not on the acoustic. And visa versa with the Fenders and the acoustic. So i switch picks whenever I switch guitars. If I had to only use one pick it would be the Fender...

[Mark Wein]

For acoustic guitar I use the Fender 351 Medium - nothing else feels better than those. Since my acoustic playing is almost all rhythm, these picks just seem to get the job done. They do break a bit too easy, but nothing else I have tried does the job better.


I've found that the celluloid picks "wear" rather than "break" better than the clears...I used to break the tips off the California clears on gigs but the tort. celluloid seems to be more flexible. I kind of like the feel of them better, too...

[Ronk]

I only like the white/gold letters for some reason idn_smilie ... and i use the rounded edges not the pointed one.

http://www.fender.com/products/prod_images/accessories/0980351380_md.jpg

[Mark Wein]

I've tried playing with the pick sideways for warmer sounds and it works pretty well. If I am playing Jazz one way I can get closer to a typical Jazz sound is to turn the pick smi

[JModius1972]

I use purple Tortex (1.14mm, I think). I was always a light pick guy but one day tried one of these on my 'lectric. It just clicked. I use the big triangular ones. They may even be bass picks. Lots of surface area to hold on to and three points...when one wears down you just switch to the next one! ide

[dolphinstreet]

Thick picks is my thing! Yep.

I use V Picks (www.v-picks.com (http://www.v-picks.com)) and the Dunlop Gator 2mm picks. I also have a couple of Brossard picks that are interesting. They are made out of bone and ebony wood.

V picks are really worth checking in to. There's something about the material that makes them feel very comfortable to play with and they do come FAT too!

[12Pack]

I use a purple fender medium pick and just like RonK use the rounded side to pick.

The only reason I use purple is because it is my wife's favorite color. I know - that's cheesy.

[Ronk]

I use V Picks (www.v-picks.com (http://www.v-picks.com)) and the Dunlop Gator 2mm picks. I also have a couple of Brossard picks that are interesting. They are made out of bone and ebony wood.

I have a few vpicks kicking around they are pretty nice. I just refuse to get hooked on a 3$ pick as I seem to always have 20 picks scattered throughout the house.

[White Gold]

I play with this....http://cachepe.samedaymusic.com/media/quality,85/brand,sameday/fit,330by330/0980351_White-44e853a1954f109eb811c938c46805a9.jpg

But wanna try this....http://www.firstqualitymusic.com/product_images/349/P_349_S00.jpg

Mark and I talked about this in my lesson and it sounded pretty descent...

I wanna give it a shot...

rolleyes1 THIN SUCKS!!!

[SLBluz]

I am also a fan of Vinnie's V-Picks. I like the Screamer and Small Pointed. Mark, you might want to check out his rounded tip picks for jazz. Give him a call and he can help with selecting something that should work for you. He is still small enough to offer very personal service and it is a pleasure to do biz with him. Highly recommended.

[Mark Wein]

I might just do that! AOK

[SLBluz]

I recently turned one of my friends on to them. He is a highly respected player here in the SE, does some session work here in Atlanta and Nashville and plays in a couple of different bands locally. Opened for Sonny Landreth when he was here last year. He told me, "If you are not using these V-Picks you are leaving tone in your guitar." Something about the material and thickness brings something extra to your tone.

[Mark Wein]

you're killing me here :weebz:

Maybe my accessories vendor caries them...if they do I'll just order some and try it smi