How Thick's Your Pick

[t_ross33]

Probably covered before, but here's the thing...

Over the past couple of years I've been steadily increasing the thickness of the picks I use. Nothing too heavy, mind you but settled in on "M" or .73mm - .8mm and found them to be comfortable. I have been using 10s on my Tele & Strat and 11s on my HB-30.

I just had my Tele set up and decided I'd try some 9's (per original stock) on her and while it plays nice for bends and such, I wasn't getting the tone I wanted... until tonight. I grabbed a thinner pick off my acoustic, .46mm and I'm back in the game. A touch light, but better with the 9's than the .73mm.

Does anyone else vary the thickness/weight of their pick with string gauge?

 

[sunvalleylaw]

Lately, the ones I use most are my Dunlop 1.0 Ultex. On my acoustic, I still tend to use the 1.14 purple Tortex's. I like the softer attack on my acoustic strings as I tend to get less noise. I like a couple of the V-picks I have too, but I just don't use them that often. I like the thick rounded one for strumming, and the thick pointed one for picking/general. I need to throw the one I like on my acoustic (rounded) in the acoustic case, and the other one I like on my electrics in one of their cases.

 

[markb]

Fender heavies for me. Celluloid for preference but plastic's fine really. I used to like those 1.14mm purple Tortex ones but the Fenders just have a bit more attack.

 

[sunvalleylaw]

I agree about the Tortex vs. The Fender Heavys, which to me are a lot like the 1.0 Ultex's which have quite a bit of attack. But I like them (the tortex's) while just strumming on the acoustic.

 

[street music]

It has really been a continued study for me at the differences in tone you get with the different picks, size and material. The v-picks I immediately noticed the many different sounds that came about and I have been experimenting since that time with several brands and thickness and shape too. Quite interesting to hear the changes.

 

[Jimi75]

For years I use Fender Heavy Glo picks (yes, they are phosphorized and glow in the dark, at least a litte bit of RNR for a man my age).

The reason for playing this sort of pick is that while I was working for Fender I picked a bag of these picks and I guess there were about 500 of them in it, so I still got enough stock. I fear the time though when the bag is empty.

I only use very heavy picks.

 

[Suhnton]

THICK.
Mine's about 4mm thick (sharpened to a point) and made from some kind of hardwood. Took about 2 weeks just to get used to holding it in my hand, now I won't use anything else. Gives a mellower sound as the pick attack is dampened.

 

[Robert]

I like 'em fat. I use Vinnie's V-picks, or Dunlop Gator 2mm.

 

[sunvalleylaw]

I like 'em fat. I use Vinnie's V-picks, or Dunlop Gator 2mm.

Robert, I am curious. Which V-pick(s) do you use mostly?

 

[Fab4]

I finally settled on the purple Fender Tortex 1.14mm - not much flex, but not like a rock, either. I used the 1.14 Tortex Dunlops for a long time, but then they changed them to more of a square edge. That changed the attack, so I went to the Fenders, which seem to have a rounder edge.

Does anyone else vary the thickness/weight of their pick with string gauge?

I don't vary them for string gauge (my picking technique is bad enough without introducing that kind of variation), but when I want a really chimey strum for recording, I'll use a thin pick. The extra flappitiness of a thin pick seems to emphasize the "ching" of a strum, where a heavier pick gives you more of a "brrrang." (Does that make sense?)

 

[kiteman]

I use two picks both by Dunlop, a white and a grey.

.46mm and .60mm.

 

[Robert]

Robert, I am curious. Which V-pick(s) do you use mostly?

I use the ones he first designed. I have no idea what the model is called. It's the one pictured at the top of his website.

http://www.v-picks.com/

After I got those, he started doing a whole bunch of other ones.

 

[marnold]

Well, now I'm using the V-Pick Screamer all of the time. It's 2.75mm thick. Besides the thickness and pointyness of it, I like how the material tends to give you better grip. There are certainly some tonal changes which are nice enough, but it's more the feel for me.

 

[sunvalleylaw]

I use the ones he first designed. I have no idea what the model is called. It's the one pictured at the top of his website.

http://www.v-picks.com/

After I got those, he started doing a whole bunch of other ones.

I don't know the names either, but that is the one I like best overall. I like the rounded version for strumming, as it has very little string noise, but I feel like I am cheating on my technique. He also sent me a thinner one in the style you like, but that one is not all that special to me. I like the Dunlop Ultex 1.0s or Fender Heavy picks just as well as that one. Marnold, I agree with you that the grip is a big part of it.

 

[just strum]

It seems that I keep increasing the preferred thickness of the picks I prefer.

I use to like in the range of .60, but now prefer the range of 2. to 3. (Big Stubby).

I also have a pick that I bought some time ago and didn't really use until last night. I didn't know what kind it was until I Googled it this morning (it's marked with 208USA). I may buy some more since now that I am using it, I am sure to lose it.

http://www.music123.com/Dunlop-JD-JazzTone-208-Guitar-Picks-6-Pack-111015-i1176456.Music123

I also use a V pick occasionally (medium rounded and pointed)

 

[Big K]

56's>88's depending on the instrument and feel..

 

[Nay]

I haven't really experimented all that much with picks. I generally use .73mm or thinner, i just like a little bend to my pick. After reading all this and checking out some reviews I am really interested in checking out some v picks

 

[Fab4]

I'm assuming the answer is "yes," but do all the V-Pick users really think they're worth $4.00 each?

The Fender picks I use are $4-5 a dozen. I can afford to have a "critical mass" of them around so I always have one or two when and where I need them - in my car, in my gig bags, in my guitar cases, etc. And I can afford to wear them out and/or lose them, which I do on a regular basis.

I don't think I would want to do that with V-Picks at four bucks each...unless they're dramatically, amazingly superior to anything else. Are they? And if so, why?

 

[just strum]

I'm assuming the answer is "yes," but do all the V-Pick users really think they're worth $4.00 each?

Before this one spirals out of control, I will say that it's an individual thing. I think they are a good pick and others are higher on them and find the value worth the cost.


My favorite pick is the Big Stubby's at about $5.00 per dozen.

Edit: I don't think you will wear out a V pick, but you may lose a couple (they're clear), plus your friends might walk off with them.

 

[marnold]

I'm assuming the answer is "yes," but do all the V-Pick users really think they're worth $4.00 each?

The Fender picks I use are $4-5 a dozen. I can afford to have a "critical mass" of them around so I always have one or two when and where I need them - in my car, in my gig bags, in my guitar cases, etc. And I can afford to wear them out and/or lose them, which I do on a regular basis.

I don't think I would want to do that with V-Picks at four bucks each...unless they're dramatically, amazingly superior to anything else. Are they? And if so, why?

I was in the same boat. After trying a couple I came to the conclusion that I just liked it better. For reasons, I mainly listed them here. There's a bunch of other reviews in that thread as well.

 

[TS808]

I use either Fender Heavy, or Clayton picks at .80 thickness. I tend to switch around with picks alot though and will use a Fender medium once in a while, or a Dunlop Tortex at .73.

 

[Robert]

Actually the V-picks are only worth $3.99 but I can handle that extra cent.

Joking aside, assuming you don't lose picks all the time - what is $4.00 to you? A big investment, a Latte at Starbucks, a juicy hamburger, a pack of the cheapest strings you can find? I don't lose my picks very often, and I am by no means wealthy, but 4 bucks for a great pick is for me not a big investment for something that makes guitar playing more enjoyable and fun.

 

[just strum]

Robert is known as "money is no object" so the extra penny is a drop in the bucket to him.

He is right, if you aren't prone to losing them at a rapid rate, $4.00 isn't a big deal and most likely you will like them. Robert and I didn't see eye to eye on this not to long ago, but I do find the picks to be nice. However, I lose picks at a very rapid rate, so I am careful with the three remaining ones I have.

 

[Fab4]

Let me clarify: I don't mean to imply that a $4 pick (or a $20 pick or whatever) isn't worth the investment. If it works for you, then it's worth whatever you're willing to pay for it. In fact, I'd be willing to give one a try to see if it is worth it to me.

What I'm asking is "Why is it worth it to you? What do you like about them so much that they're worth the money to you?"

 

[just strum]

Let me clarify: I don't mean to imply that a $4 pick (or a $20 pick or whatever) isn't worth the investment. If it works for you, then it's worth whatever you're willing to pay for it. In fact, I'd be willing to give one a try to see if it is worth it to me.

What I'm asking is "Why is it worth it to you? What do you like about them so much that they're worth the money to you?"

For me, they do seem to provide a different tone, they tend to be more versatile in attack (could explain the tone) and for some reason you can play them with a looser grip than many other picks (don't know why)

 

[thekiwidisciple]

Dunlop Tortex 2mm

 

[rev156]

Dunlop black gold 1.14 in the Jazz III size. Awesome!

 

[Fretcruiser]

2.0 baby. You have total control over the sound that you make when you hit the string. You have great recoil which makes it so much easier to play fast. My buddy had a thin pick that I tried to use...and to me it felt like I was trying to strum with a piece of paper.

 

[wingsdad]

As thick as it needs to be.

What I mean by that wisenheimer crack is it depends on what style I'm playing and the right-hand technique it requires for attack & tone.

A constant is the shape/size. I prefer smaller, rounder, blunt-tipped types. To me, big picks and/or pointy tips are clumsy.

But as for thickness, for steel-string acoustic guitar, as I string primarily with .010-.047's or .012-.053's, for strumming, mostly .073's (mediums) for flexibilty yet enough volume, but as thin as .050 for faster, lighter, complex strums & to get the rhythmic 'raking' percussive sound in the mix. For flatpicking, single string lines or arpeggio things, I go for around .80-or-so, but no heavier.

For electrics, stringing only with .010-.046's, it's pretty much no lighter than .073's/mediums for rhythm strums, to keep the right hand light, but usually I go with .80's or 1mm's as the 'most versatile', all-purpose type.

Single string and arpeggios, though...again, to keep the right hand light and in control of attack for tonal nuances, it's:

THICK.
Mine's about 4mm thick (sharpened to a point) and made from some kind of hardwood. .... Gives a mellower sound as the pick attack is dampened.

I went with (and still go to) Dunlop Big Stubby 2 or 3mm's, but about 5 years ago, I found these 'Pickboy' exotics at my Local GAS Station. I found this link to one place that may carry them.Scroll down past the stone picks to the Bone, Ebony and Horn ones, the 3 that I have. There's also a Rosewood on the next page:

Pickboy Exotic Picks

They only show the thumb indent (like a Big Stubby's) side here; the other side has a nicely angled finger groove that the side of the index finger nestles nicely into. Very natural feel, and especially good to keep a firm grip as you loosen up a little to mellow things out.

The bone's the 'brightest', the ebony the 'mellowest' of the 3.

They cost me $2 each at the time I got them, but my dealer hasn't gotten them back since, although he carries a variety of Pickboys' other types.

 

[Robert]

Oh Wingsdad, looking the prices on those picks, you might get in trouble with the "picks police"!

I'd sure like to try a rosewood pick though.