Picks and strings

[zeboma]

Lots of threads about picks, and lots about strings, but what about both?

I've become such a tone fiend lately (UPDATE: LOVING my 2000 D55!). Had fun a while ago sampling different picks playing for a friend, and we ended pretty much on the same page as to which pick sounded best. But here's what I've noticed: the picks I liked when strings (JP bluegrass) were NEW, is different from the pick I like best as they've gotten a little older (a week of heavy playing, and they're approaching dead). When new and all jangly, I liked the thicker, mellower triangle pick (a Dunlop, 1.5 I believe), but as the strings have started to deaden, I'm going more for the tortoise-like mystery pick (found in the case of my old HD28 leftover from previous owner) or the Dunlop JazzIII.

Just thought with all this talk about strings and about picks, there ought to be a thread about how both evolve and change in relation to each other!

 

[mattd]

I got a Blue Chip pick about a month ago, so far it sounds good with the two different sets of strings I've had on.

 

[txbumper57]

I have a few Cocobolo picks from a trip to Mexico a Family member brought me. I use them from time to time on my resonator. Mostly I run Medium gauge strings on my acoustics 13-56 all kinds and I run everything from 10's round wound to 12 Flatwounds and everything in between on my Electrics. Mostly For Guitar picks I stick with Snarling Dog Brain Picks, They are flexible and have a sandpaper like surface for your thumb to grip. I use .60mm/purple, .73mm/Red, .88mm/Black. I run them on 6 and 12 strings alike Acoustic and electric. For my Mandolin I use Dunlop Delrin type and Tortoise thumb picks depending on Flat or Round wound strings. For me it is all about preference and what I am trying to do with each guitar. Heavy picks sound good with new strings but tend to wear them out faster in my experience. I try not to beat my guitars to death with a pick. I can accomplish the same tone that a heavy pick does with a lighter pick by the way I play the guitar.

TX

 

[JohnW63]

I've moved, over the last few years, and only one guitar, to using thumb picks and much thicker flat picks, and having 5 more guitars. There is a point , when you go thin on flat picks, that you hear more pick slap. I haven't tried changing pick thickness as the strings age, however.

 

[Rayk]

I find "Cool" picks to be my main stay mostly the .66 if I need I solo I just choke up on them I or I use my wood picks . I also have tray of mixed whatever's sometimes I just grab one .

Hmmm snarling dog brains huh ... Yeah that hit my attention lol must investigate lol

 

[Ronald Reagan]

I've moved away from picks. I use my fingers and nails exclusively, it connects me more with guitar. I've developed some nice techniques to strum in different cadences with my thumb, fingers, and nails, giving the guitar a fuller sound than with a pick. And by using the flesh or nail I can change the equalization of each string depending where on the string I make contact. It's very organic...ommmm

 

[Rayk]

I've moved away from picks. I use my fingers and nails exclusively, it connects me more with guitar. I've developed some nice techniques to strum in different cadences with my thumb, fingers, and nails, giving the guitar a fuller sound than with a pick. And by using the flesh or nail I can change the equalization of each string depending where on the string I make contact. It's very organic...ommmm

That's great I finger pick mostly but not in a complicated way hard for me to do . I keep telling the fingers to do this and that and offer up nice lotions but nope not one will comply .
I can't get past having long finger nails like Doyle Dykes and if I could I'd just end up ripping them off in grueling pain , work would see to that let alone my own activities.

 

[walrus]

I just went through a process of going through several brands and gauges of picks, including Dunlop Gator, Rhino, Jim Dunlop, and Derlin. Also tried some nylon picks.

But I ended up coming back to my classic celluloid mediums. I have lots of them with different logos I've sort of collected. I like a vintage sound, I guess I learned I have to use a vintage style pick.

walrus

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

On bass I use these: (Please don't hate on me for playing bass with a pick!)

Why? reason #1 is because I used to use the John Pearse's below 'cause I like the shape, but I'd break at least one pick per night!

While I've rounded the point down to the same radius as the other two corners, I've never broken a Tortex pick!




Reason #2 is because they're what the rhythm guitarist uses so I can always bum picks off him!

 

[Rayk]

Whoops

 

[txbumper57]

I find "Cool" picks to be my main stay mostly the .66 if I need I solo I just choke up on them I or I use my wood picks . I also have tray of mixed whatever's sometimes I just grab one .

Hmmm snarling dog brains huh ... Yeah that hit my attention lol must investigate lol

I originally found them at Guitar Center about 10-11 years ago. We were playing a lot of outdoor Gigs in the Summertime Texas Gulf Coast Heat and Humidity. After playing a set it would get hard to hold on to a pick from sweating. With the grip spot on the Snarling Dog Brain Picks I never had a problem with losing a pick in the middle of a song.

 

[Rayk]

Those cool picks the whites ones have sand texture grip . Their stealth picks have a rubber grip but the white pics are the best . I'll look for the doggie picks give them a try .

 

[guitarslinger]

Dunlop jazz sized "Speed Picks". That's the one that has the twist at the end. Depending on how you hold your pick the twist causes the tip to cross the strings with a bit flatter aspect.
When playing acoustic finger style or rockabilly I now have resorted to acrylic nails. Vegas ruined my nails. Dry weather caused them to crack and break a lot. They sound good too. I wish I could use a thumb pick but have never been able to adapt.

 

[txbumper57]

Dunlop jazz sized "Speed Picks". That's the one that has the twist at the end. Depending on how you hold your pick the twist causes the tip to cross the strings with a bit flatter aspect.
When playing acoustic finger style or rockabilly I now have resorted to acrylic nails. Vegas ruined my nails. Dry weather caused them to crack and break a lot. They sound good too. I wish I could use a thumb pick but have never been able to adapt.

I only use a thumb pick on my Mando for some odd reason. When I finger pick my acoustics I use my nails. I can't get the precision with a thumb pick I get with my nails. In the past when I was playing Pedal Steel 2-4 nights a week I had to resort to Acrylic nails like you mentioned as my natural nails couldn't hold up to that kind of beating. Never could get used to the metal finger picks every one was using. Love the feel of my nails.

 

[Westerly Wood]

I use the Dunlop Tortex 2.0mm, they are kind of charcoal colored. I love the thickness and it really brings out the volume in the BR. I hold them sideways. I like the side of my thumb to be nearly right on the strings, not sure why. Just feels more stable when I strum hard or fast.

 

[adorshki]

I can accomplish the same tone that a heavy pick does with a lighter pick by the way I play the guitar.

Bingo.
I even went from the original gray Dunlop .60's to .46's shortly after I got my D25, always loved the grip stippling on those.
I actually like the slight flexibility when I strum very fast, and if I'm playing scales I just pinch it a little tighter to flex it slightly so it doesn't bend as much.

 

[walrus]

I've been using Dunlop Wedge picks .6 gauge for months now. I'm done searching for the "perfect" pick - great for all kinds of playing, at least for me!

walrus

 

[awerking]

John Pearse phosphor bronze med. with Dunlop Gator Grip 1.14 or Dunlop Tortex 1.14