Picks: What do you prefer?

OzZie · 20 Jan 2007 at 10:54

I'm in the process or ordering some new picks this morning because my old ones have about had it.

I've been playing basic un-branded and cheap 25p plectrums from the local guitar shop and quite frankly they are really bad compared with others out there. I've been looking at www.stringsdirect.co.uk and seeing as though delivery is free i'm gonna spend a few quid getting some decent ones.

My question is, what are your personal favourites when playing guitar? Obviously depending on what you play has a major influence, but there is clearly some that come out tops from reading the comments on the site.

I've been looking at the small stubby pluctrums at 60p each, but how small actually are they? Also, they go up to 3mm, but isnt that really thick? The thickest i've ever seen were like just over 2mm :eek:

I must say im not into thick picks at all however, but i also need some firmness for alternate picking, some around the 1mm mark i find best. I will be playing with .10 gauge D'Addario EXL's.

Anyway, just wanted to see people's opinions on what they most prefered in relation to price and duribility etc.

riddlermarc · 20 Jan 2007 at 11:23

I buy these a handful at a time:

I always used Tortex picks since I started playing 18yrs ago, then for a year recently I switched to some of the smaller stubby ones.. bit of a fad thing, now I'm cured I am back with the 1mm Tortex blue's

They last a long time and are less easy to lose than stubbys!

Jaap74 · 20 Jan 2007 at 11:24

I prefer the Pick of Destiny.............

hendrix · 20 Jan 2007 at 12:01

Can't stand playing with thick picks or those that are thin enough to bend. Bog standard slim picks do it for me. Picked up a few House of Blues picks when I went to florida about 5/6 years ago. Most of them are still in one piece

JonnyGLC · 20 Jan 2007 at 13:24

Dunlop Tortex .73mm's for me

Just right for me.

Bigpops · 20 Jan 2007 at 14:15

When i started, i used Tortex 0.50mms. Then i went up through .73, .88, 1.0, 1.13, then Tortex sharp in 1.13.

About 5 years ago, i switched to Dunlop Jazz IIIs, and i've used then almost exclusively since. When i can find them however, i like the 1.0mm Tortex black gold Jazz (http://www.jimdunlop.com/index.php?page=products/pip&id=17&pmh=products/picks).

[noodle] · 20 Jan 2007 at 16:53

I use the Standard Tortex 1mm (the blue one) for most stuff, but I also use Standard Tortex .88mm (the green one) for more Acoustic and Funky stuff.
Also: Loving the Tortoise!

THMRK · 20 Jan 2007 at 16:58

I use Jim Dunlop .88s or .73s for electric and .33s (I think) for acoustic.

Andelusion · 20 Jan 2007 at 17:38

Jazz IIIs.

banja · 20 Jan 2007 at 17:57

White Shark Fin. Greatest pick ever, if there can be such a thing

Nazca · 20 Jan 2007 at 18:05

I've been using Jazz III's and Tortex's, can't go wrong with them!

Jotun · 20 Jan 2007 at 22:01

banja said:
White Shark Fin. Greatest pick ever, if there can be such a thing

I've tried a those and I was seriously not impressed.

I use Tortex like a few people it seems, I've only really used the .88mm Green although I may order a few different ones.

What really does it for me is that I find they are a lot easier to grip that other picks.

banja · 21 Jan 2007 at 10:44

Jotun said:
I've tried a those and I was seriously not impressed.

I use Tortex like a few people it seems, I've only really used the .88mm Green although I may order a few different ones.

What really does it for me is that I find they are a lot easier to grip that other picks.

I've used them for 15 years. I wear them down to the point where they can't be used any more. Don't know why, but I prefer the smooth type of plectrum to the rough nylon type - I find I can switch from strumming to lead phrasing much quicker and easier without catching.

I occasionally use the nylon Dunlop picks, but only the very light ones for acoustic guitar rhythm - they give a nice breezy zingy sound on a nice acoustic guitar.

Docaroo · 21 Jan 2007 at 10:53

I use Tortex yellow (.73) and green (.88) - sometimes blue (1.0)...

But by far my fave picks are the Ibanez Steve Vai ones, they come in pink, green and brown but are a bugger to find so usually its tortex.

here's the steve vai's:

OzZie · 21 Jan 2007 at 12:52

Went for a mixture of tortex .88's with a few Jazz III's and some other dunlop ones in the end. Cant complain at 1st class royal mail delivery for £0 either!

Northwind · 23 Jan 2007 at 01:01

yellow .73 for preference... And 2.5 Big Stubby for bass.

OzZie · 23 Jan 2007 at 08:38

What good delivery service from stringsdirect and Royal Mail!

Goods ordered late sunday night, came first thing tuesday morning, and no delivery costs at all :cool:

Highly recommended.

alexthecheese · 23 Jan 2007 at 16:37

I used to prefer the .73mm ones, but I could only find a 1.1mm one a little while ago and can't go back to the .73's any more... it feels like I have more control over the attack with a more rigid pick

alexthecheese · 23 Jan 2007 at 16:37

OzZie said:
What good delivery service from stringsdirect and Royal Mail!

Goods ordered late sunday night, came first thing tuesday morning, and no delivery costs at all

Highly recommended.

Yep, stringsdirect are very good and cheap - half price compared to my local guitar store!