Exploring different picks

[groove guru]

I have been using Dunlop Tortex picks for about 25 years. The 1.14mm were a perfect balance of feel and durability for my electric guitars and I stuck with them. I would only change to a lighter gauge for a softer feel if I thought a song needed it.

So when I started to play an acoustic guitar I stayed with what I was familiar with. I opted for the Tortex .60 and .73 gauges because they felt best and I knew that they would never break.

But feel aside, the difference in pick gauges have a huge affect on the tone of my acoustic guitars. HUGE. While I don't care for the feel of the 1.14mm for strumming an acoustic guitar, I noticed that playing that gauge pick closely matches the tone that I get while fingerpicking. I switch back and forth from using a pick to fingers from phrase to phrase on my original material and have been struggling with the difference in attack between the two. I get a good balance dynamically and usually have a compressor to help smooth out the differences.

Ideally, I want a pick that gets that deep richness of fingerpicking without the stiffness of a heavy gauge pick or the added brightness of thin gauge pick.

It may come down to improving my strumming technique with a stiff pick. But I do appreciate your insight and advice if you are so inclined.

[mellecaster]

If you use the Pointy side of the Thinner Pick, try using one of the rounder

non-pointy sides for a slightly darker Tone.

[Matt Sarad]

A set of acrylic nails or plastic tips with acrylic overlay sound best for me. I find that I can then use my index finger nail for flatpicking as well as strumming.

I used to use a tortoise shell pick, but now I use a very heavy Clayton Acetal 1.51 mm curvilinear triangle pick. It really tames brightness and brings out a solid midrange punch. I use the pick for both electric and acoustic.

[mrpinter]

I would suggest you try Gravity picks. They are made out of the same material as V-Picks but for some reason I don't hear the "clickiness" of the V-Picks with the Gravities. They feel better to me than other picks, and sound more "alive". You might perceive that as brightness, but I don't find them too bright.

[toddinjax@yahoo]

The Dunlop Ultex material is GREAT for acoustics. They make a few different sizes - you won't be disappointed.

[groove guru]

Thanks for all of the suggestions.

I'll give those a try. I have a feeling that I will have to adapt to a thicker pick for strumming to get the tone I'm looking for even if I switch materials.

[gibson3798]

Pickboy....Meta-Carbonate.....1.0......Hard to find but really nice on an acoustic

[FrankyNoTone]

Strumming gets easier, at least for me, when picks get 1.5mm or thicker because I pick at an angle and the string contacts just the beveled, curved edge of the pick. The curved edge is similar to the flex of thin picks as it gradually releasing the string.

As for warm, flesh sounding materials, there are leather/felt/rubber picks but more common acetate (D'Andrea Pro-Plec's) or (Steve Clayton) acetal picks may be warm enough. Of course if you use certain acrylic picks then they will perfect for anything and do everything, including making your teeth whiter and you a better a dancer

[royd]

I prefer thicker and very stiff picks so take that for what it is worth.

there are some boutique picks out there that can be very pricey.

I really like the Wegen bluegrass picks in a 1.8mm. and use them whenever I use a pick.

Red Bear and Blue Chip have devoted followers but I haven't been able to bring myself to spending that much on a pick.

Also, there are a couple of companies - tuskbuffer and Bob Colosi - who make picks out of bone or fossilized ivory. I like the sound of them a lot too.

And there is the idea of acrylic nails. I like them a lot too but they do require upkeep or you end up getting a string caught underneath the back of one which can be painful.

[frquent flyer]

I use a Dunlop Ultex .73 or a pink Dunlop .96mm.Have used these for years.

[OOG]

i use acrylics and Blue Chip
both sound so good and work so well that sometimes i struggle with which way to play

[Sweetfinger]

Try everything you can in different thicknesses. Have a friend play them for you as well. Picks are an overlooked part of tone.

[PedalFreak]

Originally Posted by royd

I really like the Wegen bluegrass picks in a 1.8mm. and use them whenever I use a pick.

Red Bear and Blue Chip have devoted followers but I haven't been able to bring myself to spending that much on a pick.

I use Wegen 1.4mm, and 2 different Bluechip picks CT55 & TAD50. The Bluechips are the best pick I ever played, highly recommend them, one of the best accessory purchases I've ever made

The more and longer I play acoustic guitar (12 years now) the thicker my pick gets, but I really feel a 1.4-1.5mm or so is my favorite, not sure I'll go thicker than that.

The Wegens can get a little on the bright side, but they don't have a pick click when they hit the strings. The Bluechip is warmer sounding, has a feel of real Tortoise shell picks.

I've also got a Red Bear Tortis pick that I love.

[zumaboy]

I've recently become a fan of John Pearse Fast Turtle picks ( http://www.jpstrings.com/brpicks.htm) and Papa's faux tortoiseshell picks ( http://papasproducts.com/). They are both made from casein, a resin manufactured from milk protein. I like the feel and the tone I get from the thick ones. Don't accidently leave them in your jeans pocket when they go to the washer though because the picks will disintegrate when submerged! I can buy 3 - 4 of these for the price of a Blue Chip.