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Post by Deleted on Aug 15, 2019 13:09:41 GMT
I don't use a plectrum much, preferring the adaptability of fingers, but if I do I have two requirements. For lead work I need something made from a shiny, hard substance not fuzzy nylon, and in the shape of a big pointy teardrop. Nice and firm too. No flexibilty. But for acoustic strumming I love an old 0.50mm nylon one called a Wedgie. I couldn't find one anywhere on ebay except for silly money direct from the USA. So I ordered these nylon, glow in the dark, Jim Dunlop ones at 0.53mm. Hope that .03 doesn't make too much difference in the feel. They seem nice. And a lot cleaner than that appalling looking old vintage pick!  |
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Post by hallon on Aug 23, 2019 6:32:33 GMT
It is weird, I only use Fender extra Heavy for everything I play, regardless of style. I tried to switch and change to some other brands, and similar thickness, shapes, etc, but it makes such a big difference, I simply can't play anything else than the regular Fender xtra Heavy picks.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2019 9:51:34 GMT
I like my thick picks to be a bit broken in hallon . My favourite seems to be a 1.21mm D'Andrea Volts pick that glows in the dark - is that the same sort of thickness as a Fender Extra Heavy? I think I found this one a floor somewhere. Maybe it works for me because it's got a bit of a ground down tip and has been equally worn on both sides in the most often used direction of play so, looking down it, it has taken on the look of a propeller! It's certainly less pointy than these two new ones I just found on the internet.  Anything a bit like that will suit me. I can always set to it with a nail file to shape it a bit. As for the zingy thin strummers that I bought, I can use them but they do feel different to my fave Wedgie. Either I've got to wear them in too or else that extra 0.03mm or the material used is making a difference. |
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Post by MartinB on Aug 23, 2019 10:21:09 GMT
I definitely prefer a worn in pick, I still use some that are now very old, I have a little bowl full of picks but I gravitate towards the ones I’ve been using for years.
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Post by hallon on Aug 23, 2019 11:10:12 GMT
I like my thick picks to be a bit broken in hallon . My favourite seems to be a 1.21mm D'Andrea Volts pick that glows in the dark - is that the same sort of thickness as a Fender Extra Heavy? I think I found this one a floor somewhere. Maybe it works for me because it's got a bit of a ground down tip and has been equally worn on both sides in the most often used direction of play so, looking down it, it has taken on the look of a propeller! It's certainly less pointy than these two new ones I just found on the internet. Anything a bit like that will suit me. I can always set to it with a nail file to shape it a bit. As for the zingy thin strummers that I bought, I can use them but they do feel different to my fave Wedgie. Either I've got to wear them in too or else that extra 0.03mm or the material used is making a difference. Interesting, you guys like the pick to be a little worn down a bit. I really need my picks to be new, as soon as they begin to lose the edge, I must change as my playing really suffers from it. I tried to switch to some picks that were a little sharper more pointy (just slightly), but that didn't work either. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2019 11:36:13 GMT
I think the shape of the tip, even the size, will depend on the type of playing that we do and the sound we want to generate, even the output of our pickups. Maybe because I use my fingers and side of my thumb so much I don't like a huge tonal difference. I do use my finger nail too but that attack is also calmed by the flesh just behind it. With the plectrum I will often use it slightly sideways to sort of slide off the string or even turn it through 90 or 180° to get an even more rounded or flatter section which can help me with trills or pinch harmonics. I guess we all adapt the tools we use to our needs and the plectrum is almost as basic as a flint.
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Post by dodger on Aug 23, 2019 13:12:58 GMT
I use .73 Dunlop Tortex for everything - tried loads of different ones but keep coming back to them. Being yellow they're easy to see as well. Same with strings - always come back to Elixir 12s. Loads of people have told me they like the sound of my guitars and I think it's more to do with the strings and plectrums (and guitar itself of course) than my playing  |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2019 13:35:41 GMT
I'll have to see what I have in my store and check out whether I have one of those dodger. Tortex is similar to a delrin rather than nylon type I believe? Might suit me. |
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Post by dodger on Aug 23, 2019 15:29:33 GMT
Aye @defjef it's a very plain plastic; the .73 are the heaviest I would use on acoustic and are good for electric too (not that I play much).
To my ears they give a nice clean and bright sound with good definition. I have a few nylon ones but they're a bit too flexible for me.
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Scurvy
Harley Benton Club Junior Member
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Post by Scurvy on Feb 22, 2020 12:51:34 GMT
I'll have to see what I have in my store and check out whether I have one of those dodger. Tortex is similar to a delrin rather than nylon type I believe? Might suit me. A little late for an answer on this topic again, but I'll give it a shot! Lol Yes DefJef, Dunlop Tortex picks are made of Dupont delrin material although not all manufacturers of this type are the same. Tortex has better wearing capability/durability than any of the others I have found. I have googled over the years till I'm blue in the face and haven't found the true chemical makeup of why they are so different. I play with pick mostly and have been using Tortex for over 30 years. The only difference from Dodger's post above is that I use the lighter gauge right below his which is .60mm orange colored standards. Pretty close to a regular "medium" thickness. They are worldwide and probably in your local music store as we speak and won't set you back too much. Give them a try... You'll lose them before you wear them out like I do. Lol P.S. If I don't lose the damn things right off the bat, I'll trim them back quite a few times to get a sharper edge once again before I toss them. I have never broken one either... Cheers! 🎸 |
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Post by dodger on Feb 25, 2020 11:46:07 GMT
Scurvy - I have a few of those as well and they make my acoustics sound great too - a bit more "shimmer" and brightness. I've been switching between both lately after years of just using the yellow .73mm - I find my playing is a bit "lighter" as well with the lighter pick - I'm not digging in as much. Great strummers but I prefer the .73mm mostly because my style is a bit of strumming with some flat picking thrown in just to try to vary the sound as I'm mostly solo or the only guitarist in a two piece.
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Scurvy
Harley Benton Club Junior Member
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Post by Scurvy on Feb 25, 2020 17:00:19 GMT
Scurvy - I have a few of those as well and they make my acoustics sound great too - a bit more "shimmer" and brightness. I've been switching between both lately after years of just using the yellow .73mm - I find my playing is a bit "lighter" as well with the lighter pick - I'm not digging in as much. Great strummers but I prefer the .73mm mostly because my style is a bit of strumming with some flat picking thrown in just to try to vary the sound as I'm mostly solo or the only guitarist in a two piece. Excellent my friend! If there was only one gripe I would have about the standards would be as you use them, where your thumb and index finger starts to polish them up making them slippery. I mean there are products out there like (gorilla snot) yes it's real... that are a adhesive that you rub on your fingers for better grip. I personally just sand the pick a little with 440 grit just to rough it up and it works. Very minor issue to me. I am serious though, I never have really broken one playing. I went as far as bending one back and forth quite a few times before it finally snapped and I mean I put the hurt on it. I was convinced. I wish I had a dollar for every broken celluloid pick I've thrown at people in the audience before the first or second song in the first set! (The days before delrin.) Lol I keep all of the standard gauges in tortex on hand for when others stop by,gigs, or if I want to switch up as I like the yellow .73 for playing slide on my national dobro. My wife thinks I'm crazy. I could be. In my pockets and my wallet at all times there are orange dunlop tortex .60mm picks. I never go anywhere without them. It's just become a habit after so many years. P.S. I'm not a salesman in disguise trying to promote EB products. Use what best suits you and you are comfortable with regardless whom they are made by or what material. Except NEVER real tortoise shell or ivory please. Okay, Enough blabbering from me for now... lol Best regards always, |
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Post by dodger on Feb 26, 2020 13:18:57 GMT
ScurvyI nearly always have a .73 in my pocket as well. I'm going to the local music shop to get some .60 now - a fiver for 12 is great although I am a serial plectrum loser. The tortex plecs have really served me well for years now. I used to use the more flexible grey coloured ones but much prefer the ones I use now. The same with strings - have tried loads of different ones and always go back to elixir 12s.
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Post by LeoThunder on Feb 27, 2020 10:11:31 GMT
I don't know what material I use. It's cheap plastic, I guess.
I see celluloid and nylon being mentioned, maybe it's time I found out what I have. I'm curious like that.
I really like the blue Thomann picks but I see they are no longer on offer. I also like their black teardrop which are celluloid.
I got some on ebay I like too, all celluloid. Then I have these funny, raspy Alice picks which are said to be "ABS plastic" and wear out fast. I won't buy more of these. I doubt I'll ever buy picks again, they last even longer than strings…
I still have two of the three I got with my first guitar, back in 1981. The thin one (0.46mm) broke at the tip and was thrown away. The medium one (0.71) was my favourite and has lost all its inscriptions.
I find the sound dulls out past 0.8mm. Something in the flexibility of the item changes the way strings react and I am most pleased with the attack I get from the 0.6 to 0.7 mm range without them feeling too imprecise. On my SC-450 Plus and CST-24HB, both with Roswell LAF pick-ups, I mostly use 0.46 picks to get some of that back.
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Post by MartinB on Feb 27, 2020 10:20:51 GMT
LeoThunder it’s supposed that the thicker a pick is the warmer or duller it sounds, this follows your opinion that thinner picks are brighter.
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