Different Picks for Different Occasions

[Metalman_666]

Hey guys,

Thanks to a suggestion from Virtual Kevorkian I've been using Dunlop Tortex Jazz picks (purple gauge) for a few years now and I've been loving the combination of Tortex feel and Jazz size for everything.

The other day though I found a pack of Ultex Jazz IIIs that I must have ordered around the same time as the Tortex ones. I tried one out and I noticed that the attack seems to be a lot more crisp, but not necessarily brighter. The only problem was that for metal rhythm playing the Ultex's smooth release doesn't allow me to be quite as precise; it's as if the pick just slips off the strings more easily than the Tortex material.

I've decided that I really like the Tortex Jazz for rhythm and overall chording, and the Ultex Jazz for lead playing. Out of curiosity, has anyone else found they like certain picks in certain situations, and do you actually switch picks live or in the studio to fit the occasion?

Happy picking,
Nick.

[FuseG4]

I use fender medium gauge if I'm playing mostly clean stuff. If I wanna play with a lot of overdrive I feel like the dunlop tortex heavy gauge picks. They have a way stronger attack. Plus, when I'm really playing, my hands sweat and the tortex is easier to hold.
So yeah, picks make a difference.

[tc]

I use sharpened 2.0mm Gators and similar picks for the faster stuff because they don't bend and for lack of a better term, "track" better when I play faster stuff. I've also taken a liking to wooden and bone picks because they're thick so they "track" fast stuff really well yet have very unique tones.

For strumming along with an acoustic or most other stuff on the electric besides playing guitar hero I like thinner picks, like Fender's 351 heavies or stuff like that.

[El CHupacabra]

I use some kind of purple thick pick that has a small hemisphere cutout for the fingers to grip. Works like a charm.

I also like Dunlop Large thumbpicks. Again, made just for me!

[Evan Skopp]

I use 3.0mm Dunlop Jazz Mini-Stubbies for electric and tortoise shells for acoustic.

[BlueSnMettle]

Originally Posted by Evan Skopp

I use 3.0mm Dunlop Jazz Mini-Stubbies for electric and tortoise shells for acoustic.

Really Evan? I used to use the same when I first started out, but I just can't use'em now. I just bought some Dunlop Ultex .60's and I love them. I know .60 seems thin but the material makes it a good sturdy medium. They have a great grippy feel and slide off the strings beautifully.

Peace,

Darrin

[J Moose]

Generally I use the blue Tortex 1mm for most everything... sometimes the green .88 if I want a quicker response for funk playing & I was on a purple Tortex kick for a while but usually only use those when I play bass, if I play bass with a pick.

Recording though, and specifically recording acoustic guitars, mandolin & other such instruments I'll always try different picks. Its a 50 cent equalizer & makes a HUGE impact on tone...

[jake_xms3_punk]

i use jim dunlop nylon 73mm for all occasions! inc acoustic, bass, mandolin etc! i've tried thousands of picks and they're the only ones that do it for me!

[guitfiddle]

Originally Posted by J Moose

Generally I use the blue Tortex 1mm for most everything... sometimes the green .88 if I want a quicker response for funk playing & I was on a purple Tortex kick for a while but usually only use those when I play bass, if I play bass with a pick.

Recording though, and specifically recording acoustic guitars, mandolin & other such instruments I'll always try different picks. Its a 50 cent equalizer & makes a HUGE impact on tone...

Have you tried the V-picks on mando? The large rounded ones make a HUGE impact on the sound...it's like a blanket has been taken off of the instrument.

[LesPaulRules]

I use Red Dunlop Jazz III's for everything.

and yes, they have to be red. The black ones feel and sound a little different.

[DoronEsh]

I use 1.0 for acoustic, 1.0 for LP, and oddly enough, 0.73 tortex for the SG. I tried flipping it, playing the 1.0s on the SG and the 0.73s on the LP, and it just didn't sound right. The BluesHawk takes both picks. I use 0.10 strings on all guitars. Strange...

DoDo

[rivera213]

I use Dunlop Small Stubby 2mm (used to use the 3mm) because they give the positive and "instant" attack I'm looking for.

I only have 1 main guitar and play 1 type of music on it, but in theory, if I were to play a jazz club at the weekends I would use a different pick for a different type of attack/tone.

When arpeggiating chords on clean, I use my fingers.

[Aceman]

I change picks for particular reasons from time to time.

I generally use a lighter pick for acoustic strumming. Sometimes on electric I like a slightly softer smoother one than my standard yellow tortex.

[Invader09]

73 mm Stringdog Black Snappers. They have the best grip i;ve ever felt, and last quite a long time. http://www.stringdog.net they also make GREAT strings

[FrankyBoy]

For acoustic playing I use a .46mm nylon Dunlop pick (it is pretty much white) or the .73mm cause it works for everything like Jake said.
For electric I pretty much prefere the little red mini Stubbies from Dunlop, dunno if it's 2.0mm or 1.0mm but it his hard. I just seem to sound better when I play with these.

[MMurray]

I love the black 1.35mm or white 1.5mm tortex sharps. i played yellow tortex for years, then started going thicker and thicker and then i found the tortex sharps, and found the pick for me, whether it's metal or acoustic...

but after reading the above responses i may buy start experimenting again for the softer stuff.

[Zerberus]

I normally play Dunlop Tortex 1.14 picks live and while noodling around, but in the studio I´ll try like 2 dozen picks before I even consider tweaking the EQ

[Sanford]

I knew a guy who would keep about 4 or 5 different picks on top of his amp and routinely switch them out for different songs. I asked him about it one night and he basically said what everyone here is saying: Some picks feel better on different tunes for different playing styles. He had one for mostly strumming, one or two for different lead playing (fast, slow...light or digging in). It made sense to me, but I tend to use the same pick and change my right hand position/pressure or I'll rotate the pick while I'm playing to get different textures. Same principle, different execution.

Lately I've been liking the 3.0 mm Big Stubby picks, but in general I stay away from anything too "bendy" when it comes to what picks I use.

[beandip]

I generally use dunlop tortex 1.0mm for my every day use. When playing live, I have some Dawg and Blue Chip picks that I'll whip out every now and again, and only use Dawgs on my mandolin...well when I had a mandolin, anyway.

[TwofacePimp]

Originally Posted by jake_xms3_punk

i use jim dunlop nylon 73mm for all occasions! inc acoustic, bass, mandolin etc! i've tried thousands of picks and they're the only ones that do it for me!

Yes, I'm glad that someone likes those besides me! I've found that nylon picks have a lot less string noise than tortex, etc. Everytime I go to something else that "feels" better to me, the string noise bothers me and I go back to nylon again.

If only you could get nylon picks with your band name on them...