Christian Jones Posted June 11, 2019 Share Posted June 11, 2019 (edited) I play a slow melodic doom metal and my favorite pick for a while now is the black Dunlop 1mm nylon. They have that wide raised lettering that provides some good grip w/o digging into my finger like sandpaper like some other grip picks do, and they have a little more give than other materials of the same thickness which makes them feel better in my hand. But for me the nylons need some serious touch up, as they have a super thin plastic flap that surrounds these picks and causes a kind of fluttering-like attack on the strings, unlike, say, a derlin pick, which is smooth all around w/ a quick release. For me the nylons would be perfect if they had that derlin smoothness on the edge. Why don't they? I've been just dealing with it, but recently I got a 72 pack of nylons and some 2000 grit paper and have been going through one pick at a time while I watch TV at night and just smoothing the edges until they're slick like a derlin. I've almost finished all 72 but I feel this was a bit obsessive so I've been trying some new picks again; .96 Dunlop derlin 500 Prime Grip w/ a pointy sandpaper grip that I just hated until I melted it down some w/ a hot needle. Some Dunlop pink derlin .96 that I poked holes through with a hot needle for some grip and that works ok I guess. Still somehow the nylon feels more comfortable in my hand. What do you guys do to your picks, or are you just not that picky? Edited June 11, 2019 by Christian Jones don't know Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSteven Posted June 11, 2019 Share Posted June 11, 2019 (edited) After years of exploring, experimenting & mutating I discovered Dunlop Ultex Jazz III Guitar Picks . I have no need to resurface them or alter them. Edited June 11, 2019 by TheSteven 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mesh Posted June 11, 2019 Share Posted June 11, 2019 Speaking of picks, Brian Walton suggested these Blue Chip Picks: I haven't tried this yet and not sure if I can really justify paying that price for a pick, but it seems to get good reviews. I generally use heavier/thicker picks (much cheaper ones ) and haven't had any issues with wear and tear (can't remember the brand name). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Roseberry Posted June 11, 2019 Share Posted June 11, 2019 2 hours ago, TheSteven said: After years of exploring, experimenting & mutating I discovered Dunlop Ultex Jazz III Guitar Picks . Tried a bunch of different picks... Dunlop Jazz III works best for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Byron Dickens Posted June 11, 2019 Share Posted June 11, 2019 Dunlop Jazz III here as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Jones Posted June 11, 2019 Author Share Posted June 11, 2019 Yeah I just ordered some XL Jazz iii picks, the .88 tortex flex, shaped like a jazz iii but nearly the size of a regular pick. This could be it! And that's the last pick I'm going to try for a long time in any case. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigb Posted June 11, 2019 Share Posted June 11, 2019 I used these for a couple of decades, then switched to... These. Both are similar to the popular Dunlap Jazz III's mentioned above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Jones Posted June 12, 2019 Author Share Posted June 12, 2019 5 hours ago, craigb said: I used these for a couple of decades, then switched to... These. Both are similar to the popular Dunlap Jazz III's mentioned above. That dava's cool. Does that grip hurt your fingers at all after a while? I looks like it could. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigb Posted June 12, 2019 Share Posted June 12, 2019 I've never had any problems with it. When I first started playing (mid-70's) the picks tended to all be very smooth and I used to have a lot of problems with them flying out of my fingers. The cool part about the Dava's is that you basically get two picks in one. They flex a bit in the middle so if you hold them on the wide area (the "normal" place you'd hold a pick) then they work well for strumming but, if you hold them closer to the tip, then you get a much more rigid pick which is good when you really want to chunk on the strings or dig in. Although I suck at finger-picking (to be fair to myself, I never really tried to pick it up or learn how), there are training videos of Jon Bonamassa (for example) using a small, stiff pick in conjunction with his fingers that is very versatile. Maybe someday I'll get around to learning and practicing that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HIBI Posted June 12, 2019 Share Posted June 12, 2019 I'm using these picks without resurfacing for a couple of decades. Pickboy - GP-33R Hi-Modulous Carbon/Nylon Pickboy - GP-99R Hi-Modulous PEI(Ultem) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gswitz Posted June 12, 2019 Share Posted June 12, 2019 I begged one of trey anastasio's picks from a roadie in Denver. Big graphite pick. Super thick. Still have it some where. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msmcleod Posted June 12, 2019 Share Posted June 12, 2019 The guitarist I used to write with used to make his picks out of stainless steel washers. He'd cut & grind them down, then buff them with an industrial polisher until you could see your face in them. I always shy'd away from metal picks, but these were so smooth they just slipped off the strings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Walton Posted June 12, 2019 Share Posted June 12, 2019 (edited) As Mesh pointed out, I'm picky about picks. I spent hundreds finding the ones that work for me on the quest. Two standouts that make something noticably different than your run of the mill "guitar center" picks. Blue Chip - very expensive but magical material (was used in the production of semi-conductors. Grippy but glides off the strings effortlessly. A wonder substance. V-Picks (ghost rim versions) - thick acrylic picks. They claim they are grippy, but I actually make them more grippy with some careful dremel tool work. The ghost rim option has an interesting grittynes to the attack and really excites the strings, I like this for dirty electric work - not so much acoustic playing. I tried tons of models and the B# ghost rim is my prefered choice from this company. It is kind of a custom order of sorts where you have to put in the notes you what ghost rim on that model, not sure why they havne't made it an official model as at one time the maker indicated it was his "go to." The attack on the string will likley be something you love or hate. My advise is experiment with makers, there are tons of them out there. I would stay away from any pick thinner than at least 1.0mm basically shouldn't even make that trash. 😂 Edited June 12, 2019 by Brian Walton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pwal³ Posted June 12, 2019 Share Posted June 12, 2019 in answer to the OP's questions: yes get a guitar player any Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
synkrotron Posted June 12, 2019 Share Posted June 12, 2019 I used to like them Dunlop ones. There was never one lying around when I needed one, though, so I got into the habit of just using my finger, or finger nail, if it was long enough. That said, I ain't a proper guitarist... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pwal³ Posted June 12, 2019 Share Posted June 12, 2019 i once tried to simulate a sitar by blu-tacking a coin between two picks, if that helps? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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