I first heard about tortoise shell picks in the early 70's. Most people heard of them but had never seen 1. I was given 1 by an older country guy & worked w/it until it was lost. Looked for years, no luck. I started using buffalo horn, as it was closer to the tortoise, but not quite right. It could be sanded to your flex preference. I used those until I found a source of Tortoise shell from Japan(pre-Cities). They were really expensive & illegal. I spread a few around until I had 1 left. I had no reason to "break the law" so I kept searching. My wife was into antiques & dragged me to shows. I was looking around & found a full set of tortoise shell "boudoir" sets(hair brushes, files & such). A bolt of lightning hit. I bought the set & took it home. I removed all the shell & cut/sanded to shape & haven't looked back! Now I pick up tortoise whenever I get the chance. There was a resurgence where manufacturers started making imitation tortoise(like the binding, pickguards & picks that you find everywhere) so you need to be careful. When you find 1 heat a pin & insert it in an inconspicuous place. If it smells like burnt hair, you win. Obvious smell. I have since lost nerves in my index finger & couldn't do much flat6picking. None of the thumbpicks had the same feel. I learned how they formed/bent shell(not as simple as it sounds) & have been trying to get it right ever since. Haven't made "the" pick I am seeking but the failures have been entertaining. I've used some pieces as small pickguards for the custom instruments I make, so no waste. Just another treasure hunt to find "that" tone/feel. Great stuff Zac. I'm thrilled to have found your channel! Thanx for all the work you do!
Another great episode Zac. My wife’s getting into your stuff. She’s starting to play a bit of guitar (she plays upright bass usually) and she finds your shows to be very informative.
I hope you appreciate your wife's interest in guitars. As you probably know. The biggest enemy of guitar purchases are spouses who don't understand this sickness. 👍
Hmm, the biggest problem I have with picks, other than losing them, is that I sweat a lot, and they ALL pivot in my fingers as I play, even if I have a death pinch on them. This was until a friend who lives in his camper and collects jade from the mountain areas of N California had some picks made from his jade. They don't pivot in my fingers at all. Being very hard, they are kind of bright. Using the shoulder makes them not so bright. I think I need to tweak the shape a bit to get "perfect". I did try some round picks, but they were too dull. I have tried just about every texturing I could think of to keep them from twisting as I play, but nothing seems to work. Maybe I need to get some 2 part epoxy and put some on both sides, and make an imprint of my fingers. I noticed the Mike Bloomfield disc on your shelf. One of the best concerts I ever saw was him with the Super Session group. They let us in for free at 11, and he played till about 1:30. Will check out some more of your videos. Oh, Danny Gatton was another favorite guitar player of mine, but never got to see him. Jeff Beck was my favorite of all time. I did get to see him once.
Thanks for an awesome video!! As a pick enthusiast, finding good quality content is a struggle in itself. I’ve had the pleasure to play a blue chip before, and they are fantastic. Personally tho, I prefer the Ares from Purple Plectrums. Can’t recommend it enough.
D'Andea celluloid picks are hands down the best celluloid picks available. They have been using that material for picks since the late 50's(?). I've used D'Andrea picks since 1969. Recently I've been using Dunlop Primetone sculpted "round" 1.3MM. These are thicker than my preference but don't feel stiff. Though they are "round", there are three "points" to the pick that give a variety of tone quality. The sculpted aspect means the edges near each "point" is bevelled to mimic a worn-in pick. Probably why they don't feel stiff. A little more expensive but well worth it.
On your recommendation, I ordered some D'Andrea MH picks and used them for about a month before commenting. They are fantastic! It's become my main pick for Fender guitars. Has all the best attributes of a medium and heavy celluloid. Retains the high end and pick attack of the medium, but adds the fullness and single note feel of the heavy. Tried the pick the TPS guys use and it's just too muted. No life to it. But I immediately noticed that my picking precision with the MH was improved the first time I used it. Thought it might be a placebo effect, but it remains until now. So much more precise. For Les Pauls, I still go to yelllo Tortex, but this is my main pick for almost everything else. Thanks!
Zac is the only person I could imagine getting me to invest 18 minutes of my day to think about picks. Now I sit here questioning whether or not I even like the picks I I have been using ... maybe I don't like Ernie Ball Everlast .60 picks?
Indeed... picks make a difference and I can relate to your pick journey... I too have played a lot of various picks over the years... it's the only way to find what works best for us as individual guitar players.. and what a great experience it has been.. it's one of the things that makes playing guitar such an awesome thing... :)
Thanks for sharing your journey. I've been playing since 1965 and I'm still unsettled. At my local store I found a couple of Jim Dunlop variety packs for just a few bucks each: one is Light-Med, the other Medium-Heavy. Some are smooth, some are rough. I also found a variety pack of Clayton picks. So I'm trying them all. Cheers!
Love the "ask zac" celluloid pics you kindly sent to me when I joined "friends of ask zac". I have recently started using the dunlop herco flat thumbpick after watching Brent Mason use them and those are a good hybrid between a flat pick and a thumbpick.
Hello Zac! Love your channel. I appreciate your laid back pace. :) After my own 30+ year search for the right medium/heavy pick I finally landed on the .9 mm rosewood picks from Thalia. Just the right balance of flex and rigidity. At least for my style of playing. Highly recommended!
Many years ago, 1980s. Discovered that Jerry Garcia used Adamas graphite 2.0 mm. Could not always find them, so tried The Dunlop Gator grip 2.0 mm. Fell in love and still happily married. As a Strat/Tele/ bluegrass acoustic player the extra horsepower when needed is like amp headroom. Thin picks have no headroom. I use very little of the pick and due to the design love the beveled edge. The exception is when playing a 12-string acoustic a thin pick is hard to beat. The Dunlop has less pick sound than the Adamas but for a bluegrass jam outdoors a D28 with an Adamas pick is as LOUD as you ever need to be. And someone might even ask you if you can turn your acoustic guitar down. LOL.
I wonder if that Adamas pick is the same as what Modulus Graphite produced back in the day. I had a bunch of those and recently sold most of them on Reverb as I've found a better pick for myself. Still, those graphite picks are pretty nice.
I went on a pick journey a few years ago looking for something that sounded better with acoustic and the two things that happened to me were, I started playing using the shoulder of the pick and before long physically couldn’t return to using the point. The way I describe it is when using the point you hear the pick, when using the shoulder you hear the note. The other change for me was using Dunlop’s prime tone picks. They really seem to sound good, feel good, last longer and not cost anything crazy. I always used a lighter gauge for acoustic vs electric and now I can just use the prime tone in a .73 for everything. Until I find the next thing to try, cause like you said, it’s a sickness.
Great video Zak! I have always used a variety of different types of picks for different things. On bass I use tortex 1.5mm, on guitar medium heavy just like you, on acoustic I use many types depending on the sound I'm after. The most change to your tone for less than $20 is strings and picks.
The best pick I’ve ever had came to me from Jason Lollar’s company. I bought a couple of his pickups and each one came with a free pick made from the material used to make bobbins. It’s a black fibre material that’s impregnated with some kind of resin. It’s not that hard so it doesn’t sound too clicky. I think you can buy bags of them from JL. That said, I struggle with a pick because the person who started me on guitar was a great fingerpicker so I just copied her.
The JL pick adds something special to my Fender electrics. 2 of my YT favorites, Tim and Ian Meadows both are using the Dunlop Primetone .88 smooth. If it works for them they must be good, they are and well worth the $6 for a 3 pack Amazon.
Dude, the Canadian company SOLO sent me some picks when I bought some JESCAR EVO Gold Jumbo fretwire, they are my favorite picks now.. Taylor makes some great picks too..
I play the Jazz III XL, basically the Eric Johnson pick plus the ability to switch to strumming. For recording, having pick options can change the entire feel of a song, so I switch regularly
I had the same problem and I bought some Dandrea MH them after your info…perfect combination. I also got some Monster Grips to keep them from slipping around which helps also.
I've been playing for 42 years and have been mostly consistent with a Jim Dunlop 351 shape extra heavy, held sideways. Years ago I read SRV held his pick sideways, Guthrie Trapp too.
My journey with flat picks began decades ago. It didn't take me 37 years, but it did take me quite a long time to figure out what pick qualities changed the sonic character and feel in ways I enjoy best. There are many factors, but the main factors are 1) material, 2) thickness, and 3) shape. Everyone's journey is unique. What I want from my electric guitars is clean, clear and articulate. I'd rather chime and clang when I use a pick in my playing style. Many materials that feel great don't support the sounds I favor. Like Zac, I began with the same Dunlop shades of gray Nylons, because they were there. I eventually went to their thicker black because the feel was too soft and squishy, but then I lost the upper frequencies that define the attack. Other materials vary in hardness - polycarbonate being very hard, but brittle. Delrin is slick but dull. Horn/antler, wood, stainless steel, stone, copper, brass, titanium all have their character. I even tried genuine tortoise picks (antiques) of a couple different thicknesses - they were okay, but not stunning. Blue Chips were a big bust, for me - I gave mine away. All polymers have a kind of clackity quality that I don't prefer. Thin celluloid and certain thicknesses of Ultem/Ultex were my favorite. Like Redd, I found that celluloid are inconsistent, so only a few were to my liking, even though they appear the same. What do I use? I found that the thinnest copper alloy used in Ice-Pix "copper flex" picks bring the articulation I crave. Thicker copper picks are dull to me. This "flex" copper alloy contains a small amount of beryllium which stiffens it to the point that "flex" really is a misnomer. Whatever flex there is can be controlled by choking up on the tip. The feel has been the real challenge - I find that taking off just a little bit of the tip with a file can increase speed and ease. But too much taken off decreases the articulation. Oh yeah, like celluloid, there is variability among individual picks. I go through a 10-pack and will find the one or two that I like best. At $1.50 per pick, they're not too awfully expensive. Once you find your favorite, they will last a long time. I went 15 years on my last one, and am on my second year of its replacement. Yeah - it's a journey! And my journey isn't your journey - so I urge everyone to experiment if you are at all curious.
Picks are essential gear for me .I began my playing career as a classic guitarist and shaped my nails for picks.Over time I so love electric guitar that I began using picks that's how I felt I got my best sound. The light grey Dunlop was my first choice for many years but this year I discovered Dunlop Flo picks .88 and use the exclusively for me absolutely phenomenal. I saw an interview with Tom Bukovac and he informed me people in the know use the shoulder of the pick.So I have switched to that style because it does seem to produce a smoother well rounded tone.Any way love your dives into the important oft overlooked intricacies of guitar playing.The constant evolution of Ask Zac continues to inspire ( Though sometimes I miss the old Attic office and trying identify and unravel the story behind the gear leaning against the wall)Thanks for being you friend!
I've gone pretty much full-circle with picks. When I started playing, it was pretty much .88mm Dunlop Tortex. I did Jazz IIIs, Black Ice, V-Picks, and a whole load of others, before coming back to .88mm Dunlop Tortex "The Wedge" picks. Although I have a beautiful pick-shaped stone I bought in Napa Valley once that I use for specific tones, and I'll switch up a bit for recording sometimes.
I've settled on a brand called Star Picks. They've got a star-shape punched out of the middle for grippage. I use .73mm for electric and 1.14 mm for acoustics. They have tortex feel to it
Oh jeez I’m right there with you. 40 years of trying to figure it out. I still haven’t. Started on nylons. Tortex through all my touring years it was the only thing I could hold onto. Had a jazz III phase. Tried the $40 hand shaped ones. Iron age Viking style picks lol all of it. I realized along the way standards size flats suit me best. I landed a couple years ago on Tortex Flex’s which are apparently a blend of tortex and nylon. A little warmth from the nylon. Always used celluloid for acoustic but I don’t play much acoustic. I roll my pick constantly. Pretty much any rhythm work is done on the shoulder.
For the last three years my pick of choice is the 1.3mm Triangle Dunlop Primetone 517P13. I started using them on mandolin, now it’s my guitar pick as well. I will not lie, I like me some big ass picks
Thank you, Zac! I just ordered 24 of the MH picks. I am an old Fender Medium guy and just tried out a BlueChip TD-35 with a beveled edge. I sent it back, tonight, because of way too much pick noise with my acoustics. I discovered it was the bevel, so I requested an un-beveled replacement. But wow! $40 a pop is too rich for my blood. I'm looking forward to trying out the MH's.
I too, went down the Bluechip rabbit hole, thanks to you, Keith. But I always wind up playing my JD Ultrex .68s, because I can't remember what guitar Bluechip is sitting on!
Very very very true and thank you for elaborating your experience. Pick shape and size does matter very much, and differ for and from person to person. Thank you for showing this facet of execution in playing the guitar. Love your channel always try to find my own sound through learning from you.
I tried many picks...many shapes and measures...I just ended up with Blue Chip Jazz LG 60..amazing sound...no string noise, glides through them smoothly...Just love it!!! Well worth it and I dont want to loose it! :)
Great video. I started out playing Fender Heavys and switched to green Tortex Dunlops somewhere along the way because they didn't wear out as fast. A few years back picked up a few different kinds of picks on a whim and couldn't believe HOW MUCH they changed the sound of everything on an electric guitar (I always kind of knew you heard it a lot on acoustics). The search never ends.
Great topic that's not often discussed. I also went on a 'pick journey' and after MANY buys and tries, I settled on the Dunlop Tortex 1.0 as my one pick that rules all. I also find using the shoulder of the pick is best for my style and the sound I'm looking for.
Thanks for the recommendation. Placed an order for some of the heavy ones to try. I have some old fender picks from the 70s that I love. Hopefully they’ll be really close.
Dunlop Nylon .73mm using the shoulder side of the pick, never the point. I learned this from my dad, and now my son as well. This has always been my pick and preferred use. Cheers
First time i´ve heard about to use the shoulder of the pick was last years video of "Uncle Larry". Its so interesting after these years of playing. And as you said: Go to a store and check different picks. thanks and greetz ✌🏼
I had Medium/Heavy pick (the large triangular one) FMIC sent me about 50 picks when they replaced my set of strings I'd bought (2 packs came with 2 D strings). But the pick wasn't celluloid. Of course they only sent 1 of those. FMIC told me about the pick manufacturer you mentioned. Now I use Fender Heavy picks exclusively. But I miss that Med/Heavy. (I left it at my old Bass player's house, never to be seen again.) I've got all kinds of picks around this place. I'll look at the floor & in a corner will be a pick. LoL
Another great show Zac. Well highlighted that everyone is different and you have to find what works best for you - your playing, your hands, your style etc. Finding the right flat pick is one of the cheapest investments any guitar player can make and make - and will provide the greatest return! I'm sure many have found your advice today helpful and valuable. Thanks Zac. Best wishes Ky
Easiest and cheapest way to experiment with tone and feel.. It took me forever to realize this but such a big impact changing nothing else in your setup. Thanks for the encouragement as always Zac! (I have a blue chip which is really great - or ultex prime tones jazz III XL from Dunlop as my every day go to for guitar .88 for acoustic and 1.4mm for electric and mandolin - but every one likes something different!)
I’m digging fender 551 picks in med. I always loved medium gauge celluloid for rhythm guitar playing and enjoyed jazz iii style picks for lead. These are a happy medium. Kinda hard to find though.
I've had trouble finding the right pick since I've had progressive arthritis in my right thumb. I just didn't have the stength to hold on to the pick, especially with any agressive struming. I tried slip on cushions over a Fender heavy but it was hard to control. A few years ago we got the roof of our house replaced and there were a lot of these orange plastic washers around the yard. They were for nailing through to hold the roofing felt. I found it worked great as a pick and I could easily hold on t it. It's like playing with the shoulder of a regular pick. WHo knew.
Great topic.....it took me years to find the right pick.....got it now..... .50mm..... surprisedly light but very versatile..... I used a Fender medium for years but found the lighter pick more to my liking....
I recently tried out heavy Snark picks and could really hear a difference. They made my sound a bit bolder and full. They wear quickly but I love the tone.
I gotta try some of those D’Andreas, they sound like they would be just right…unfortunately, I think they’re even harder to come by now that you’ve been spreading the word! :) Just realized that the picture over your shoulder is the colonel…very cool!
Zac i recently found the Master 8 infinix picks. the .88 is my new favourite. well worth a try - the material is unique. imagine a harder wearing celluloid but still has that natural feel. amazing picks. Best :) Luke
I loved the CT Blue Chip picks. Ended up with the Dunlop Primetone in a comparable size and have been very pleased for a fraction of the price. I still record with Blue Chips because they just sound the best to my ear.
@@AskZac I bought a bag of extra heavy fender celluloid picks. They had medium, but I forgot that is what you liked. Anyway if you want them tell me where to send them. I think Fender is making them again as these are in a fender package (12 pcs).
Got Damn Zac !!!!!!! I commented earlier on how much I loved this video but Ive been playing Joe Walsh stuff all day long and the shoulder of my Jim Dunlop is the freakin tone Ive been lookin for !!!!!! Its heavier darker and more substantial !!!!!! Thanks Man !!!!!!!
The trick is to get s heavy pick you like, and buff on 1000 grit sandpaper till its right, also dragging a pick through carpet, on edge is a perfect way to sculpt the tip, or refurbish a beat up or worn pick. Cheers Zac, you the mane
I know this vid is a bit old, but I’ve used Fender 351 Mediums for just about my whole musical career but tried the D’Andrea picks and really liked those too. I even played a recent show with some unknown pick from Amazon because my niece gave it to me with her picture on it! It did great too! But I play in a variety band that plays country, rock, pop, R&B both old and new and just find that I’m not good enough to really tell a difference. The main thing I do for real difference is to hybrid pick or just use all fingers on some songs. I’ve even played a last set with a golf marker ‘cause someone said they’d tip me $100 if I did it! It actually sounded pretty darn good! So, give ‘em all a try!
I always had trouble with flat picks couldn't feel it, so i went to 3 fingerpicking, dont know for sure but been going to chiro & i can feel it now & learning to flat pick better
I only arrived at the same place on the journey in the last couple of years too. Started on the grey .88mm Dunlop, went through everything from the shark’s fin one to a coin, and finally settled on Dunlop Prime Tone (the brown one with the raised dimples) and anything around the 1mm mark. I also prefer using the shoulder for a fatter tone. Great video - one for the nerds and yet a subject that impacts probably 99% of players.
My experience has been pretty similar to yours. Strangely enough, since i started playing guitar, medium or heavy were your choices. My dad plays guitar too and always had both gauges on hand. I used medium (.73mm) a lot for gigs over the years and struggled at times. I settled on heavy gauge (1.00mm) a few years ago and prefer it every time, even if i try to switch back to medium. If i can play the solo to Rock Around The Clock with little effort, then it's the right gauge for me. You can feel the tension build in certain areas with either pick, (in your shoulder with medium and in your hand with heavy), for me.
Dunlop Primetone.88 Play with shoulder. I find that it feels like it has some bite to it that I love. The perfect amount of flex. Great for acoustic and electric.
I keep a Dunlop 1.0 and 1.5 with me at all times and switch back and forth depending on the song and/or what guitar I'm playing. More strumming I use the 1.0 more lead 1.5. I have found I like the 1.0 more on a Telecaster regardless though. Great episode!
I started in the early '80s with fender celluloid thin and mediums, played them well into the late 90s, discovered Tortex, and started going thicker.. discovered Ultex and then sharps.. then this last year by total accident I got their Tortex in "Flow" shape.. and now have fallen in love with 1.5mm Ultex flow picks for lead stuff and 1.14mm tortex flow for other stuff. The Tortex is warmer and really helps tame my G&L asat down a bit Sometimes I'll want to change picks mid set just because of the different tones or textures. Zac, thanks for sharing your pick journey. I would echo your encouragement to younger or newer players. Get a bunch of different types, sizes, shapes, gauges. Try them. Some will fail, some will be meh, but you will find some you love... and interesting to hear the different tones just a pick can make
I've always loved the "Ultex" material they use for those slightly see-through amber picks. Really love how light and strong they are. I did PRS's tonewood drop test on a variety of pick materiels and the Ultex material is always the loudest and crispiest when dropped on my wooden desk. I know this doesn't fully translate a lot of information but I gravitate towards the Ultex for that reason and many others I can't quite articulate. I just loved the material world's more than others.
Red Bear T-II Medium with standard bevel is the best pick I've ever played. Three tones in one pick. Sounds just great on my Tele - it's all I use, FWIW.
So relatable for us guitarists. I tried like all the Dunlop jazz picks, and used to really like the xl size ultex. Played great for me but I couldn't get rid of the string clicking. I switched to D'Anderea proplecs jazz size which I loved - great tone and the least string click on any pick I've ever used. But, they are a bit slippery, and recently started to deform (apparently they absorb moisture). So I found these pickboy jazz celuose picks with holes for grip - almost identical sound minus the warping and with better grip.
I bought some Dunlop felt picks to use with my flat wound bass. I've found that I really like them for acoustic guitar and even electric too. They grab the string and snap it back in a way that gives a particular bite to the sound. My new favorite pick is a 1.5mm unpolished Gravity pick that came with a JHS pedal. I was unfamiliar with Gravity when I got the pedal and figured that the pick must just be some cheap souvenir thing. One day I thought that I'd try it out on my acoustic, and it was like a light turned on. I have other thick acrylic picks that never really grabbed me, but the way that unpolished edge plays with the strings really makes it for me.
JHS logo Gravity pick. 1.5mm. Changed my playing for the WAY better. Maybe going thicker just forced me to pay more attention to my right hand. I don’t know but I love it.
Another fun episode Zac. I use my fingers most of the time, white Fender 358 for country style and Baritone guitar and Blue Chip thumb pick for Lap Steel & Weissenborn. Thanks
Great topic. I've experimented with a lot of picks over the years and keep coming back to Dunlop max-grip 1.5's. These seam always resonate with my playing and produce a tone I enjoy.
I was watching a Tommy Emmanuel video and he mentioned he uses the D'Andrea PRO-385 Pro Plec 1.5mm Guitar Pick. I bought some and boy they sound very warm. The point for this guitar pick is similar to the shoulder from the 351 shape.
I've been at it for 55 years and I'm still experimenting with picks. I like the heavy V picks for grip and for electrics, but not for acoustic guitars or mandolins. I recently started using a different pick hold, which changes everything. So the journey begins again.
Zac, I was a very "subtle" player when I started out in 1966. Can't tell you how many plastic picks and little E strings I broke! LOL! Eventually I calmed down and went with Fender Heavy picks. Then I moved on to hybrid picking and about 15 years ago I switched to bare fingers. I'm at home with me fingers! I've never gotten on with thumb picks.
Picks do make a huge difference in tone and feel and I’ve used many through the years but I find myself using a Dunlop tortex 1 mm pick a lot these days for electric when I’m not using my Herco Blue thumb pick. I use a 60 mm Dunlop nylon for acoustic. I may give those D’Andrea’s a shot. Thanks for the info and another informative episode!
I bought a bunch of real celluloid picks from Italy because Redd Volkaert said they’re right. I must say, they are excellent! Last I checked my local store doesn’t carry blue chip picks, and 30 bucks is too dad-blamed much to spend to find out I don’t like ‘em. Tried the Eric Johnson’s, never took to ‘em either.
I use the Dunlop Tortex, the three pointed round point ones. I find they have a grippy feel, and they don’t wear much. Usually a red or orange, mostly the red, which I think are a .38mm. I use the .46 orange for acoustic. Same ones since mid 80’s.
This is such a timely topic and I am appreciative of this post. I have been struggling to find the right pick for some time. I had settled on the acrylic V-picks after years of searching, and they sound great for overdriven stuff, but for cleaner playing the acrylic material can be a bit bright and seems to overpower the strings a bit. So I have been back to Tortex, Nylon, and currently the Fender 351 heavy. I also use the shoulder of the pick. I also tried the D’addario heavy and it feels great but it is quite dark. I am going to order these D’andrea picks. I was about to try a Blue Chip, but I’m going to try these D’andrea’s first. Thanks Zac!
Great video, Zac! I had a few picks that I hated during college. So, after graduation, I gave them to my wife's brother. I actually felt guilty about it because I hated those picks so much. A few weeks later, he called and told me that they were the best picks he had ever used. I finally ordered a couple of Dunlop variety packs and found a few picks that just felt (and sounded) right. I just order those individually now.
I love this video so much, there may be one already but I’ve always thought a book of interviews with guitarists telling their pick stories would be very interesting. It really is the most under appreciated element of every players style
I started playing at 12 in 1964. My mentors were a family, Charles and Norma Bell. They played country, but also jazz standards from the 30s through the 50s. Their recommendation for picks was Fender medium celluloid. I liked the light gauge version for the string slap on rhythm, but they broke too easily. This was offset because a broken celluloid pick suddenly had 2 points, which gives an interesting attack. Celluloid also is fun to burn, which impresses your friends. My dad made me a few picks using semisoft plastic, which didnt really work for me. In the 70's I used Herco and Dunlop nylon on the shoulder to emphasize that Doobie Brothers hi gain scratch on my Les Paul. I have hundreds of picks...i still like light gauge nylon for rhythm that doesn't break. I learned Chet style finger picking in my teens, starting with a crappy metal thumbpick, working my way through white Nationals and finally settling on Golden Gate mother of toilet seat picks, so i use both flat and thumb picks. I still have piles of tortex, and other types of picks from over the years. The Jellyfish was a real goofy idea, but fun, and like you, i find jazz picks to be a really bad idea!
My wife saves those plastic clips from loafs of bread. The hole in them is good for us older people with carpal tunnel. They have four corners and two have double tips so you can angle the clip and get two plucks with one stroke. You can take a file and sharpen the two single nubs. I got into the habit of playing like Albert King from many visits to the local GC. Jeff Beck also plays with the thumb. Saw him play at the Ryman.
I never gave picks much attention until I started playing clean tones. Celluloid picks made a big difference compared to many of my other picks. Thanks for the D'Andrea reference. I will check them out.
I first heard about tortoise shell picks in the early 70's. Most people heard of them but had never seen 1. I was given 1 by an older country guy & worked w/it until it was lost. Looked for years, no luck. I started using buffalo horn, as it was closer to the tortoise, but not quite right. It could be sanded to your flex preference. I used those until I found a source of Tortoise shell from Japan(pre-Cities). They were really expensive & illegal. I spread a few around until I had 1 left. I had no reason to "break the law" so I kept searching. My wife was into antiques & dragged me to shows. I was looking around & found a full set of tortoise shell "boudoir" sets(hair brushes, files & such). A bolt of lightning hit. I bought the set & took it home. I removed all the shell & cut/sanded to shape & haven't looked back! Now I pick up tortoise whenever I get the chance. There was a resurgence where manufacturers started making imitation tortoise(like the binding, pickguards & picks that you find everywhere) so you need to be careful. When you find 1 heat a pin & insert it in an inconspicuous place. If it smells like burnt hair, you win. Obvious smell. I have since lost nerves in my index finger & couldn't do much flat6picking. None of the thumbpicks had the same feel. I learned how they formed/bent shell(not as simple as it sounds) & have been trying to get it right ever since. Haven't made "the" pick I am seeking but the failures have been entertaining. I've used some pieces as small pickguards for the custom instruments I make, so no waste. Just another treasure hunt to find "that" tone/feel.
Great stuff Zac. I'm thrilled to have found your channel! Thanx for all the work you do!
I started using the Eric Johnson pick when I found out that's what he used... and I love it... just shows, you gotta just try stuff out.
Another great episode Zac. My wife’s getting into your stuff. She’s starting to play a bit of guitar (she plays upright bass usually) and she finds your shows to be very informative.
That is awesome!
I hope you appreciate your wife's interest in guitars. As you probably know. The biggest enemy of guitar purchases are spouses who don't understand this sickness. 👍
@@bryanfinkell5184
Or if you're like me and 20 years old it's your mom
Hmm, the biggest problem I have with picks, other than losing them, is that I sweat a lot, and they ALL pivot in my fingers as I play, even if I have a death pinch on them. This was until a friend who lives in his camper and collects jade from the mountain areas of N California had some picks made from his jade. They don't pivot in my fingers at all. Being very hard, they are kind of bright. Using the shoulder makes them not so bright. I think I need to tweak the shape a bit to get "perfect". I did try some round picks, but they were too dull. I have tried just about every texturing I could think of to keep them from twisting as I play, but nothing seems to work. Maybe I need to get some 2 part epoxy and put some on both sides, and make an imprint of my fingers.
I noticed the Mike Bloomfield disc on your shelf. One of the best concerts I ever saw was him with the Super Session group. They let us in for free at 11, and he played till about 1:30. Will check out some more of your videos. Oh, Danny Gatton was another favorite guitar player of mine, but never got to see him. Jeff Beck was my favorite of all time. I did get to see him once.
Thanks for an awesome video!! As a pick enthusiast, finding good quality content is a struggle in itself. I’ve had the pleasure to play a blue chip before, and they are fantastic. Personally tho, I prefer the Ares from Purple Plectrums. Can’t recommend it enough.
D'Andea celluloid picks are hands down the best celluloid picks available. They have been using that material for picks since the late 50's(?). I've used D'Andrea picks since 1969.
Recently I've been using Dunlop Primetone sculpted "round" 1.3MM. These are thicker than my preference but don't feel stiff. Though they are "round", there are three "points" to the pick that give a variety of tone quality. The sculpted aspect means the edges near each "point" is bevelled to mimic a worn-in pick. Probably why they don't feel stiff. A little more expensive but well worth it.
After 35 years of Fender Mediums, I found the Dava picks that sound the same but are so comfortable to hold, and give my sore thumb joint some relief.
On your recommendation, I ordered some D'Andrea MH picks and used them for about a month before commenting. They are fantastic! It's become my main pick for Fender guitars. Has all the best attributes of a medium and heavy celluloid. Retains the high end and pick attack of the medium, but adds the fullness and single note feel of the heavy. Tried the pick the TPS guys use and it's just too muted. No life to it. But I immediately noticed that my picking precision with the MH was improved the first time I used it. Thought it might be a placebo effect, but it remains until now. So much more precise. For Les Pauls, I still go to yelllo Tortex, but this is my main pick for almost everything else. Thanks!
Welcome!
I have several picks I use. I'm always trying new ones. That using the shoulder of the pick has been a game changer for me. Thanks for the tip.
Even after playing for 56 years, I still have that bug for trying new picks. Now you've given me a reason to try yet another..LOL Thanks!
Zac is the only person I could imagine getting me to invest 18 minutes of my day to think about picks. Now I sit here questioning whether or not I even like the picks I I have been using ... maybe I don't like Ernie Ball Everlast .60 picks?
Indeed... picks make a difference and I can relate to your pick journey... I too have played a lot of various picks over the years... it's the only way to find what works best for us as individual guitar players.. and what a great experience it has been.. it's one of the things that makes playing guitar such an awesome thing... :)
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing your journey. I've been playing since 1965 and I'm still unsettled. At my local store I found a couple of Jim Dunlop variety packs for just a few bucks each: one is Light-Med, the other Medium-Heavy. Some are smooth, some are rough. I also found a variety pack of Clayton picks. So I'm trying them all. Cheers!
Love the "ask zac" celluloid pics you kindly sent to me when I joined "friends of ask zac". I have recently started using the dunlop herco flat thumbpick after watching Brent Mason use them and those are a good hybrid between a flat pick and a thumbpick.
Hello Zac! Love your channel. I appreciate your laid back pace. :)
After my own 30+ year search for the right medium/heavy pick I finally landed on the .9 mm rosewood picks from Thalia. Just the right balance of flex and rigidity. At least for my style of playing. Highly recommended!
Good timing. Tonight I came home to a package on the porch containing a dozen Dunlop Max-Grip nylon picks in .73mm. I’ll get to try them tomorrow.
Many years ago, 1980s. Discovered that Jerry Garcia used Adamas graphite 2.0 mm. Could not always find them, so tried The Dunlop Gator grip 2.0 mm. Fell in love and still happily married. As a Strat/Tele/ bluegrass acoustic player the extra horsepower when needed is like amp headroom. Thin picks have no headroom. I use very little of the pick and due to the design love the beveled edge. The exception is when playing a 12-string acoustic a thin pick is hard to beat. The Dunlop has less pick sound than the Adamas but for a bluegrass jam outdoors a D28 with an Adamas pick is as LOUD as you ever need to be. And someone might even ask you if you can turn your acoustic guitar down. LOL.
I wonder if that Adamas pick is the same as what Modulus Graphite produced back in the day. I had a bunch of those and recently sold most of them on Reverb as I've found a better pick for myself. Still, those graphite picks are pretty nice.
@@IvorThomas Adamas is Ovation Guitars. Long before Modulus was born. Dunlop is making them again Thomann in Germany has them and will ship Globally.
@@stratjed Yep, I haven’t run across that Name in ages and just brain farted it. Thx
Me too. I finally ( 2 years ago ) Discovered the Jim Dunlop = John Petrucci guitar picks . . . Love em. "Dunlop 427PJP John Petrucci Jazz III"
I went on a pick journey a few years ago looking for something that sounded better with acoustic and the two things that happened to me were, I started playing using the shoulder of the pick and before long physically couldn’t return to using the point. The way I describe it is when using the point you hear the pick, when using the shoulder you hear the note. The other change for me was using Dunlop’s prime tone picks. They really seem to sound good, feel good, last longer and not cost anything crazy. I always used a lighter gauge for acoustic vs electric and now I can just use the prime tone in a .73 for everything. Until I find the next thing to try, cause like you said, it’s a sickness.
Great video Zak! I have always used a variety of different types of picks for different things. On bass I use tortex 1.5mm, on guitar medium heavy just like you, on acoustic I use many types depending on the sound I'm after. The most change to your tone for less than $20 is strings and picks.
The best pick I’ve ever had came to me from Jason Lollar’s company. I bought a couple of his pickups and each one came with a free pick made from the material used to make bobbins. It’s a black fibre material that’s impregnated with some kind of resin. It’s not that hard so it doesn’t sound too clicky. I think you can buy bags of them from JL. That said, I struggle with a pick because the person who started me on guitar was a great fingerpicker so I just copied her.
The JL pick adds something special to my Fender electrics. 2 of my YT favorites, Tim and Ian Meadows both are using the Dunlop Primetone .88 smooth. If it works for them they must be good, they are and well worth the $6 for a 3 pack Amazon.
Dude, the Canadian company SOLO sent me some picks when I bought some JESCAR EVO Gold Jumbo fretwire, they are my favorite picks now.. Taylor makes some great picks too..
I play the Jazz III XL, basically the Eric Johnson pick plus the ability to switch to strumming. For recording, having pick options can change the entire feel of a song, so I switch regularly
I had the same problem and I bought some Dandrea MH them after your info…perfect combination. I also got some Monster Grips to keep them from slipping around which helps also.
Just got the 1.5mm heavy D'Andrea picks, very nice! Will try the medium heavy when in stock.. Thx Zac
I've been playing for 42 years and have been mostly consistent with a Jim Dunlop 351 shape extra heavy, held sideways. Years ago I read SRV held his pick sideways, Guthrie Trapp too.
My journey with flat picks began decades ago. It didn't take me 37 years, but it did take me quite a long time to figure out what pick qualities changed the sonic character and feel in ways I enjoy best. There are many factors, but the main factors are 1) material, 2) thickness, and 3) shape.
Everyone's journey is unique. What I want from my electric guitars is clean, clear and articulate. I'd rather chime and clang when I use a pick in my playing style.
Many materials that feel great don't support the sounds I favor. Like Zac, I began with the same Dunlop shades of gray Nylons, because they were there. I eventually went to their thicker black because the feel was too soft and squishy, but then I lost the upper frequencies that define the attack. Other materials vary in hardness - polycarbonate being very hard, but brittle. Delrin is slick but dull. Horn/antler, wood, stainless steel, stone, copper, brass, titanium all have their character. I even tried genuine tortoise picks (antiques) of a couple different thicknesses - they were okay, but not stunning. Blue Chips were a big bust, for me - I gave mine away. All polymers have a kind of clackity quality that I don't prefer. Thin celluloid and certain thicknesses of Ultem/Ultex were my favorite. Like Redd, I found that celluloid are inconsistent, so only a few were to my liking, even though they appear the same.
What do I use? I found that the thinnest copper alloy used in Ice-Pix "copper flex" picks bring the articulation I crave. Thicker copper picks are dull to me. This "flex" copper alloy contains a small amount of beryllium which stiffens it to the point that "flex" really is a misnomer. Whatever flex there is can be controlled by choking up on the tip. The feel has been the real challenge - I find that taking off just a little bit of the tip with a file can increase speed and ease. But too much taken off decreases the articulation. Oh yeah, like celluloid, there is variability among individual picks. I go through a 10-pack and will find the one or two that I like best. At $1.50 per pick, they're not too awfully expensive. Once you find your favorite, they will last a long time. I went 15 years on my last one, and am on my second year of its replacement.
Yeah - it's a journey! And my journey isn't your journey - so I urge everyone to experiment if you are at all curious.
Picks are essential gear for me .I began my playing career as a classic guitarist and shaped my nails for picks.Over time I so love electric guitar that I began using picks that's how I felt I got my best sound. The light grey Dunlop was my first choice for many years but this year I discovered Dunlop Flo picks .88 and use the exclusively for me absolutely phenomenal. I saw an interview with Tom Bukovac and he informed me people in the know use the shoulder of the pick.So I have switched to that style because it does seem to produce a smoother well rounded tone.Any way love your dives into the important oft overlooked intricacies of guitar playing.The constant evolution of Ask Zac continues to inspire ( Though sometimes I miss the old Attic office and trying identify and unravel the story behind the gear leaning against the wall)Thanks for being you friend!
I've gone pretty much full-circle with picks. When I started playing, it was pretty much .88mm Dunlop Tortex. I did Jazz IIIs, Black Ice, V-Picks, and a whole load of others, before coming back to .88mm Dunlop Tortex "The Wedge" picks. Although I have a beautiful pick-shaped stone I bought in Napa Valley once that I use for specific tones, and I'll switch up a bit for recording sometimes.
Epic journey. So glad you made it through alive….God Bless
I've settled on a brand called Star Picks. They've got a star-shape punched out of the middle for grippage. I use .73mm for electric and 1.14 mm for acoustics. They have tortex feel to it
Oh jeez I’m right there with you. 40 years of trying to figure it out. I still haven’t. Started on nylons. Tortex through all my touring years it was the only thing I could hold onto. Had a jazz III phase. Tried the $40 hand shaped ones. Iron age Viking style picks lol all of it. I realized along the way standards size flats suit me best. I landed a couple years ago on Tortex Flex’s which are apparently a blend of tortex and nylon. A little warmth from the nylon. Always used celluloid for acoustic but I don’t play much acoustic. I roll my pick constantly. Pretty much any rhythm work is done on the shoulder.
I will check out the Flex pick. Thanks!
The Dunlop.88mm has a nice grip on it…nylon…try them dude
For the last three years my pick of choice is the 1.3mm Triangle Dunlop Primetone 517P13. I started using them on mandolin, now it’s my guitar pick as well.
I will not lie, I like me some big ass picks
Thank you, Zac! I just ordered 24 of the MH picks. I am an old Fender Medium guy and just tried out a BlueChip TD-35 with a beveled edge. I sent it back, tonight, because of way too much pick noise with my acoustics. I discovered it was the bevel, so I requested an un-beveled replacement. But wow! $40 a pop is too rich for my blood. I'm looking forward to trying out the MH's.
I use two different Blue Chips these days. I thought I’d lost one…but then I found it. ;)
Wash your clothes, Keith! It's how I find my picks.
I too, went down the Bluechip rabbit hole, thanks to you, Keith. But I always wind up playing my JD Ultrex .68s, because I can't remember what guitar Bluechip is sitting on!
@@AskZac Also under couch cushions.
Hey Kieth!
Trying to decide on a blue chip now. You recommend the speed bevel or not on the first order? Thanks.
Very very very true and thank you for elaborating your experience. Pick shape and size does matter very much, and differ for and from person to person. Thank you for showing this facet of execution in playing the guitar. Love your channel always try to find my own sound through learning from you.
My pleasure!
I tried many picks...many shapes and measures...I just ended up with Blue Chip Jazz LG 60..amazing sound...no string noise, glides through them smoothly...Just love it!!! Well worth it and I dont want to loose it! :)
Very nice!
It’s the big hillbilly Bluegrass triangles for me. The radius you can get off of those things is incredible
Great video. I started out playing Fender Heavys and switched to green Tortex Dunlops somewhere along the way because they didn't wear out as fast. A few years back picked up a few different kinds of picks on a whim and couldn't believe HOW MUCH they changed the sound of everything on an electric guitar (I always kind of knew you heard it a lot on acoustics). The search never ends.
Great topic that's not often discussed. I also went on a 'pick journey' and after MANY buys and tries, I settled on the Dunlop Tortex 1.0 as my one pick that rules all. I also find using the shoulder of the pick is best for my style and the sound I'm looking for.
Thanks for the recommendation. Placed an order for some of the heavy ones to try. I have some old fender picks from the 70s that I love. Hopefully they’ll be really close.
Enjoy!
Dunlop Nylon .73mm using the shoulder side of the pick, never the point. I learned this from my dad, and now my son as well. This has always been my pick and preferred use. Cheers
First time i´ve heard about to use the shoulder of the pick was last years video of "Uncle Larry". Its so interesting after these years of playing. And as you said: Go to a store and check different picks. thanks and greetz ✌🏼
Cool!
I had Medium/Heavy pick (the large triangular one) FMIC sent me about 50 picks when they replaced my set of strings I'd bought (2 packs came with 2 D strings). But the pick wasn't celluloid. Of course they only sent 1 of those. FMIC told me about the pick manufacturer you mentioned. Now I use Fender Heavy picks exclusively. But I miss that Med/Heavy. (I left it at my old Bass player's house, never to be seen again.) I've got all kinds of picks around this place. I'll look at the floor & in a corner will be a pick. LoL
Been using a Fender Heavy and playing on the shoulder for several years now. Keep experimenting, but always come back to the Fender Heavies.
Jazz III has always been my fave
I want to like them, but they’re so small my fingers hit the strings.
I love my jazz iii's. I even made a couple out of .030" brass. The brass ones sound awesome on acoustics
I’ve played Fender Heavy 351 celluloid for 27 years. Bought my first gross in 1995.
Man, I got a blue chip TD 50 6 months ago, and ive been using the same pick since then. I cant switch. its perfect
Another great show Zac. Well highlighted that everyone is different and you have to find what works best for you - your playing, your hands, your style etc.
Finding the right flat pick is one of the cheapest investments any guitar player can make and make - and will provide the greatest return!
I'm sure many have found your advice today helpful and valuable. Thanks Zac. Best wishes Ky
Easiest and cheapest way to experiment with tone and feel.. It took me forever to realize this but such a big impact changing nothing else in your setup. Thanks for the encouragement as always Zac! (I have a blue chip which is really great - or ultex prime tones jazz III XL from Dunlop as my every day go to for guitar .88 for acoustic and 1.4mm for electric and mandolin - but every one likes something different!)
Glad it helped!
Trying new picks in search of tone magic and feel are one of my favorite things.
I’m digging fender 551 picks in med. I always loved medium gauge celluloid for rhythm guitar playing and enjoyed jazz iii style picks for lead. These are a happy medium. Kinda hard to find though.
Ive used fender 358 heavy's for 40 years the old white ones sounded brighter but havent been in production in 25 years cheers
I've had trouble finding the right pick since I've had progressive arthritis in my right thumb. I just didn't have the stength to hold on to the pick, especially with any agressive struming. I tried slip on cushions over a Fender heavy but it was hard to control. A few years ago we got the roof of our house replaced and there were a lot of these orange plastic washers around the yard. They were for nailing through to hold the roofing felt. I found it worked great as a pick and I could easily hold on t it. It's like playing with the shoulder of a regular pick. WHo knew.
Same problem - triangle Fender medium with "craft spot dot stickum". Warm adheres, peels off when ya want to....
Great topic.....it took me years to find the right pick.....got it now..... .50mm..... surprisedly light but very versatile..... I used a Fender medium for years but found the lighter pick more to my liking....
I recently tried out heavy Snark picks and could really hear a difference. They made my sound a bit bolder and full. They wear quickly but I love the tone.
I gotta try some of those D’Andreas, they sound like they would be just right…unfortunately, I think they’re even harder to come by now that you’ve been spreading the word! :) Just realized that the picture over your shoulder is the colonel…very cool!
Zac i recently found the Master 8 infinix picks. the .88 is my new favourite. well worth a try - the material is unique. imagine a harder wearing celluloid but still has that natural feel. amazing picks. Best :) Luke
I loved the CT Blue Chip picks. Ended up with the Dunlop Primetone in a comparable size and have been very pleased for a fraction of the price. I still record with Blue Chips because they just sound the best to my ear.
Bought 3 BC TAD in 40, 50 and 60 in 2010. Still use them on electric and acoustic.
Bought some of these pics that you suggested they’re very good I’ve used Dunlop 2.0 stubies for years and I think these are better thanks
I saw Fender Medium Heavy picks at lightning Joe's guitar heaven in arroyo grande, CA this weekend Maybe they are making them again...
BUY THEM AND SEND THEM TO ME
@@AskZac I bought a bag of extra heavy fender celluloid picks. They had medium, but I forgot that is what you liked. Anyway if you want them tell me where to send them. I think Fender is making them again as these are in a fender package (12 pcs).
The Fusion pick from V-Picks is amazing. Super informative and interesting video. Thanks, Zac!
Got Damn Zac !!!!!!! I commented earlier on how much I loved this video but Ive been playing Joe Walsh stuff all day long and the shoulder of my Jim Dunlop is the freakin tone Ive been lookin for !!!!!! Its heavier darker and more substantial !!!!!! Thanks Man !!!!!!!
Zac, great video. I did the same, tried a bunch of picks and have been using V-Picks Euro. They fit what I do and everybody finds their own way.
The trick is to get s heavy pick you like, and buff on 1000 grit sandpaper till its right, also dragging a pick through carpet, on edge is a perfect way to sculpt the tip, or refurbish a beat up or worn pick. Cheers Zac, you the mane
I know this vid is a bit old, but I’ve used Fender 351 Mediums for just about my whole musical career but tried the D’Andrea picks and really liked those too. I even played a recent show with some unknown pick from Amazon because my niece gave it to me with her picture on it! It did great too! But I play in a variety band that plays country, rock, pop, R&B both old and new and just find that I’m not good enough to really tell a difference. The main thing I do for real difference is to hybrid pick or just use all fingers on some songs. I’ve even played a last set with a golf marker ‘cause someone said they’d tip me $100 if I did it! It actually sounded pretty darn good! So, give ‘em all a try!
Gator grip .96 for me. Not perfect but a great compromise that I can hold on to. Great vidio. Thanks!
I always had trouble with flat picks couldn't feel it, so i went to 3 fingerpicking, dont know for sure but been going to chiro & i can feel it now & learning to flat pick better
I only arrived at the same place on the journey in the last couple of years too. Started on the grey .88mm Dunlop, went through everything from the shark’s fin one to a coin, and finally settled on Dunlop Prime Tone (the brown one with the raised dimples) and anything around the 1mm mark. I also prefer using the shoulder for a fatter tone. Great video - one for the nerds and yet a subject that impacts probably 99% of players.
My experience has been pretty similar to yours. Strangely enough, since i started playing guitar, medium or heavy were your choices. My dad plays guitar too and always had both gauges on hand. I used medium (.73mm) a lot for gigs over the years and struggled at times. I settled on heavy gauge (1.00mm) a few years ago and prefer it every time, even if i try to switch back to medium. If i can play the solo to Rock Around The Clock with little effort, then it's the right gauge for me. You can feel the tension build in certain areas with either pick, (in your shoulder with medium and in your hand with heavy), for me.
Same for me. 1.0mm feels right, and has a jazzy tone.
@@joeltunnah Whichever one is considered heavy works for me. I still try in vain to change picks, but heavy makes me play the best.
Dunlop Primetone.88
Play with shoulder.
I find that it feels like it has some bite to it that I love.
The perfect amount of flex.
Great for acoustic and electric.
I keep a Dunlop 1.0 and 1.5 with me at all times and switch back and forth depending on the song and/or what guitar I'm playing. More strumming I use the 1.0 more lead 1.5. I have found I like the 1.0 more on a Telecaster regardless though. Great episode!
Fender mediums....used to be tortoise-shell, now white (harder to lose)...using them 50 years or so.
I started in the early '80s with fender celluloid thin and mediums, played them well into the late 90s, discovered Tortex, and started going thicker.. discovered Ultex and then sharps.. then this last year by total accident I got their Tortex in "Flow" shape.. and now have fallen in love with 1.5mm Ultex flow picks for lead stuff and 1.14mm tortex flow for other stuff. The Tortex is warmer and really helps tame my G&L asat down a bit
Sometimes I'll want to change picks mid set just because of the different tones or textures.
Zac, thanks for sharing your pick journey. I would echo your encouragement to younger or newer players. Get a bunch of different types, sizes, shapes, gauges. Try them. Some will fail, some will be meh, but you will find some you love... and interesting to hear the different tones just a pick can make
I've always loved the "Ultex" material they use for those slightly see-through amber picks. Really love how light and strong they are. I did PRS's tonewood drop test on a variety of pick materiels and the Ultex material is always the loudest and crispiest when dropped on my wooden desk. I know this doesn't fully translate a lot of information but I gravitate towards the Ultex for that reason and many others I can't quite articulate. I just loved the material world's more than others.
Been playing more than 50 years, the last 2 using a thumb pick. A medium Dunlop Ultex thumbpick to be exact. I feel my playing has improved greatly.
I was using the Tortex .88 picks, but recently switched to the Dunlop Prime Grip Delrin 500 .71 picks, they grip my fingers so well and no slipping.
Red Bear T-II Medium with standard bevel is the best pick I've ever played. Three tones in one pick. Sounds just great on my Tele - it's all I use, FWIW.
So relatable for us guitarists. I tried like all the Dunlop jazz picks, and used to really like the xl size ultex. Played great for me but I couldn't get rid of the string clicking. I switched to D'Anderea proplecs jazz size which I loved - great tone and the least string click on any pick I've ever used. But, they are a bit slippery, and recently started to deform (apparently they absorb moisture). So I found these pickboy jazz celuose picks with holes for grip - almost identical sound minus the warping and with better grip.
I bought some Dunlop felt picks to use with my flat wound bass. I've found that I really like them for acoustic guitar and even electric too. They grab the string and snap it back in a way that gives a particular bite to the sound.
My new favorite pick is a 1.5mm unpolished Gravity pick that came with a JHS pedal. I was unfamiliar with Gravity when I got the pedal and figured that the pick must just be some cheap souvenir thing. One day I thought that I'd try it out on my acoustic, and it was like a light turned on. I have other thick acrylic picks that never really grabbed me, but the way that unpolished edge plays with the strings really makes it for me.
JHS logo Gravity pick. 1.5mm. Changed my playing for the WAY better. Maybe going thicker just forced me to pay more attention to my right hand. I don’t know but I love it.
Another fun episode Zac. I use my fingers most of the time, white Fender 358 for country style and Baritone guitar and Blue Chip thumb pick for Lap Steel & Weissenborn.
Thanks
Great topic. I've experimented with a lot of picks over the years and keep coming back to Dunlop max-grip 1.5's. These seam always resonate with my playing and produce a tone I enjoy.
I was watching a Tommy Emmanuel video and he mentioned he uses the D'Andrea PRO-385 Pro Plec 1.5mm Guitar Pick. I bought some and boy they sound very warm. The point for this guitar pick is similar to the shoulder from the 351 shape.
I've been at it for 55 years and I'm still experimenting with picks. I like the heavy V picks for grip and for electrics, but not for acoustic guitars or mandolins. I recently started using a different pick hold, which changes everything. So the journey begins again.
Zac, I was a very "subtle" player when I started out in 1966. Can't tell you how many plastic picks and little E strings I broke! LOL! Eventually I calmed down and went with Fender Heavy picks. Then I moved on to hybrid picking and about 15 years ago I switched to bare fingers. I'm at home with me fingers! I've never gotten on with thumb picks.
2mm dunlop adamas graphite for me. I love the warmth and fullness
Dunlop 71mm delrin plastic. They wear out quickly but they stick to your finger and don't move around.
Picks do make a huge difference in tone and feel and I’ve used many through the years but I find myself using a Dunlop tortex 1 mm pick a lot these days for electric when I’m not using my Herco Blue thumb pick. I use a 60 mm Dunlop nylon for acoustic. I may give those D’Andrea’s a shot. Thanks for the info and another informative episode!
I bought a bunch of real celluloid picks from Italy because Redd Volkaert said they’re right. I must say, they are excellent!
Last I checked my local store doesn’t carry blue chip picks, and 30 bucks is too dad-blamed much to spend to find out I don’t like ‘em. Tried the Eric Johnson’s, never took to ‘em either.
I use the Dunlop Tortex, the three pointed round point ones. I find they have a grippy feel, and they don’t wear much. Usually a red or orange, mostly the red, which I think are a .38mm. I use the .46 orange for acoustic. Same ones since mid 80’s.
Took me a long time to find the pick for me ,finally……..the Ed King V-Pick.Works fantastic for me.Great video.
This is such a timely topic and I am appreciative of this post. I have been struggling to find the right pick for some time.
I had settled on the acrylic V-picks after years of searching, and they sound great for overdriven stuff, but for cleaner playing the acrylic material can be a bit bright and seems to overpower the strings a bit. So I have been back to Tortex, Nylon, and currently the Fender 351 heavy. I also use the shoulder of the pick. I also tried the D’addario heavy and it feels great but it is quite dark. I am going to order these D’andrea picks. I was about to try a Blue Chip, but I’m going to try these D’andrea’s first.
Thanks Zac!
Great video, Zac! I had a few picks that I hated during college. So, after graduation, I gave them to my wife's brother. I actually felt guilty about it because I hated those picks so much. A few weeks later, he called and told me that they were the best picks he had ever used. I finally ordered a couple of Dunlop variety packs and found a few picks that just felt (and sounded) right. I just order those individually now.
After using Jazz lll's for almost 30 years, I switched to Swiss Picks Sharp Cheddar (1.5), about 6 years ago. Best picks I've ever tried.
I love this video so much, there may be one already but I’ve always thought a book of interviews with guitarists telling their pick stories would be very interesting. It really is the most under appreciated element of every players style
I started playing at 12 in 1964. My mentors were a family, Charles and Norma Bell. They played country, but also jazz standards from the 30s through the 50s. Their recommendation for picks was Fender medium celluloid. I liked the light gauge version for the string slap on rhythm, but they broke too easily. This was offset because a broken celluloid pick suddenly had 2 points, which gives an interesting attack. Celluloid also is fun to burn, which impresses your friends. My dad made me a few picks using semisoft plastic, which didnt really work for me. In the 70's I used Herco and Dunlop nylon on the shoulder to emphasize that Doobie Brothers hi gain scratch on my Les Paul. I have hundreds of picks...i still like light gauge nylon for rhythm that doesn't break. I learned Chet style finger picking in my teens, starting with a crappy metal thumbpick, working my way through white Nationals and finally settling on Golden Gate mother of toilet seat picks, so i use both flat and thumb picks. I still have piles of tortex, and other types of picks from over the years. The Jellyfish was a real goofy idea, but fun, and like you, i find jazz picks to be a really bad idea!
Love your story. Thank you for sharing your pick journey
Same problem for me, heavy/medium. I will order from Andrea...Thanks!
Perfect!
My wife saves those plastic clips from loafs of bread. The hole in them is good for us older people with carpal tunnel. They have four corners and two have double tips so you can angle the clip and get two plucks with one stroke. You can take a file and sharpen the two single nubs. I got into the habit of playing like Albert King from many visits to the local GC. Jeff Beck also plays with the thumb. Saw him play at the Ryman.
I never gave picks much attention until I started playing clean tones. Celluloid picks made a big difference compared to many of my other picks. Thanks for the D'Andrea reference. I will check them out.