What pick/plectrum do you prefer?

[Biz Prof]

I've gotten so accustomed to using my fingers that I've really not needed to purchase any picks beyond what has been in my stash. My old standby, for over 20 years, has been the 1.0 mm Hi Modulus "Reefer" picks. Since those were apparently out of production for some time until Pickboy took over the design, my chewed up collection has been due for replacement. I'd been intrigued by Dunlop's Ultex ever since it hit the market a few years ago. Bought a pack today and discovered that I really like them; in fact, I feel more fleet fingered using one.

So, other than God-given digits, what is your preferred plectrum and what makes it stand out?

[Dasein]

Dunlop 1.14 Tortex Jazz Picks -- in the New Black colour (Way cooler though I still have several purple ones).

[Steve Haynie]

Considering the times stone picks have tempted me to part with $25, a $35 to $50 pick is no longer a big deal. Those Blue Chip thumb picks look interesting.

So far the most expensive picks in my stash are the V-Picks.

[Feynman]

Feynman was nice enough to send me an Ultex Jazz III, but I didn't care for that as much as the red, either.

In a Circle of Life kind of way, Velorush's disappointment in the Ultex led me to try the red Jazz III, and I ended up liking those better. I am still struggling to learn how to use a pick, but it's the red Jazz III and Dava nylon jazz these days.

[formula73]

Dunlop Sharp 1.5mm.

I'm not what you call a 'finesse' player.

[rugby1970]

I have never found a pick that I am truly comfortable with and I have searched high and low. I have very large hands, the hands of a former college offensive tackle/heavyweight wrestler; large, mangled; meaty. I have tried contoured, V-Picks, wooden, plastic, stone and most recently the Graphtech picks. Started using the monster grips on my picks. I've drilled holes in my picks; glued cork on them, scoriated the surfaces; nothing works. Tried all sizes and thicknesses. Every one of them turns in my fingers during a song and I spend more attention on the orientation of my pick than on what I'm playing

So help me God, if I ever invent a solution I'll make a fortune and retire a happy man!!

[Steve Haynie]

Les Paul had a very coarse sandpaper stuck to his pick. You could experiment with a sheet of coarse sandpaper and some double sided tape or maybe some glue.

There are some thumbpicks that are made with a normal shaped pick, so you get that wide pick feel instead of that pointy type of pick that most thumb picks have. You can also make your own and try to come up with something like this:

[atquinn]

Eric Johnson Jazz III's. Or regular Jazz III's if I must. But definitely not those damn max grip ones!

-

Austin

[specialk]

Thorn sent me some picks about a month ago. Among them were Clayton picks and their Ultem model. I'm using those most of the time now. They feel and sound good.

http://www.steveclayton.com/ultem.php

Thanks again, Thorn!

[Biz Prof]

After playing some Ultex .73s the past few weeks, I have determined that I like them...overall. They produce a rounder sounding attack than nylon does. The Ultex works well on acoustic and for some songs on electric. Nylon imparts a sharper, raspier attack when needed, and I found it to be superior to Ultex on medium gain settings.

[Harkonnen]

Used to play Jazz III for a long while. Recently discovered the John Petrucci Jazz III ones, and I kind of prefer those for solo guitar stuff. They feel a bit sharper and thus a bit faster. Still using Jazz III for other kinds of playing.

[django49]

Just got introduced to some Dunlop thicker (3.0 and 5.0mm) picks. Primatone, whatever that is. I cannot say I like them as much (at first shot) as the V-Picks, but they are relatively economical.

[Biz Prof]

checkers...

Picked up a pack of D'Addario checkerboard picks this Sunday at GC in Fayette-Nam while wasting time during a break in the action at a volleyball tournament my oldest daughter was playing in. They look cool and have a nice medium gauge feel.

 

[scottcald]

I use the standard Fender heavy.  If on sale, I'll use other brands.  I've tried heavier but I strum too hard for something like that.   

I'll use mediums on acoustic for the strumming thing as well.