Guitar Picks!

FionnK86

Hi There:)

This is a thread to see what are your own personal preferences when it comes to picks?

Include:
Thickness
Colour
Texture
Price(how much is too much)

Im also curious because I've been playing 3 years and have always used 0.75mm. I've tried others but that seems to be fairly popular?

Nervous Wreck

Colour is not something I give a shit about. Thickness depends what I'm playing. Softer for acoustic, harder for electric. Generally use Dunlop cos they've got it right.

FionnK86

Nervous Wreck wrote: »

Colour is not something I give a shit about. Thickness depends what I'm playing. Softer for acoustic, harder for electric. Generally use Dunlop cos they've got it right.

But how much for one with your bands name? Because ive asked my friends in bands and theyve been charged 3 per pick! Which is ridiculous for a custom pick.

Nervous Wreck

I think custom picks are bullshit tbh. Unless you're a major band who's getting them paid for by the label, I really don't see the point.

FionnK86

Nervous Wreck wrote: »

I think custom picks are bullshit tbh. Unless you're a major band who's getting them paid for by the label, I really don't see the point.

You have a point Nervous Wreck, but a lot of small bands I know are pee'd off about having played a gig, getting a good reaction from the crowd, and going home to find nobody bothered to like the band on Facebook. I think Picks are the most cost effective way of getting the bands name out to fans early on?

Havermeyer

FionnK86 wrote: »

You have a point Nervous Wreck, but a lot of small bands I know are pee'd off about having played a gig, getting a good reaction from the crowd, and going home to find nobody bothered to like the band on Facebook. I think Picks are the most cost effective way of getting the bands name out to fans early on?

I would have thought good music would have been the most cost effective way of getting the band's name out to fans, tbh.

Names on picks is a new one to me.

FionnK86

nummnutts wrote: »

I would have thought good music would have been the most cost effective way of getting the bands name out to fans, tbh.

Names on picks is a new one to me.

You'd be surprised how many "good musicians" I've seen that have disappeared because they aren't effective at getting their name out. I used to think it had no effect until I seen a relatively small band in my hometown get a huge audience on Facebook from handing out flyers at a gig and constantly updating a site. Its kind of exciting to see how music is becoming more accessible for smaller bands.

When I go to gigs I hear great musicians but they all have names meant to "stand out" but are forgettable. I think anyone who doesn't think marketing matters in music is naive.

Havermeyer

FionnK86 wrote: »

You'd be surprised how many "good musicians" I've seen that have disappeared because they aren't effective at getting their name out. I used to think it had no effect until I seen a relatively small band in my hometown get a huge audience on Facebook from handing out flyers at a gig and constantly updating a site. Its kind of exciting to see how music is becoming more accessible for smaller bands.

When I go to gigs I hear great musicians but they all have names meant to "stand out" but are forgettable. I think anyone who doesn't think marketing matters in music is naive.

But what has this to do with picks?

And, nobody said marketing didn't work.

Havermeyer

Nervous Wreck wrote: »

Colour is not something I give a shit about. Thickness depends what I'm playing. Softer for acoustic, harder for electric. Generally use Dunlop cos they've got it right.

Dunlop for me also, and Tortex. I don't see the need to looking any further.

FionnK86

nummnutts wrote: »

Dunlop for me also, and Tortex. I don't see the need to looking any further.

Yeah, dunlop seems to be the only brand ive seen in guitarists hands, ive never used another brand. Except these SX ones i got with my first guitar. They were rubbish, cool colour and design but broke after a week of playing each one.

Celly Smunt

Dunlop .73's for me.I used to be a fan of heavier picks but i feel i play smoother with a bit of slack on the pick.

Havermeyer

FionnK86 wrote: »

Yeah, dunlop seems to be the only brand ive seen in guitarists hands, ive never used another brand. Except these SX ones i got with my first guitar. They were rubbish, cool colour and design but broke after a week of playing each one.

I found the same thing happened with Fender pics I tried a few years ago. Kept cracking. Not worth a toss. Not sure if they're still the same or not.

pmcmahon wrote: »

Dunlop .73's for me.I used to be a fan of heavier picks but i feel i play smoother with a bit of slack on the pick.

Your strings will thank you for it too. :pac:

kahler

your name on your pick? jaysus. at any money, that d be expensive. bad enough paying for the things for myself. altho if your memory started acting up, it might prove to be money well spent. how about buying a marker and writing on the bass drum? and print up a t shirt for each band member with your name surrounded by skulls. cant beat a few skulls and swords and things. particularly if you are called something like "banjo ted and the hi visibility jinks" or "sonny terry and brownie mcghee".
dunlop jazz 3's are my favourites. i dont use anything else. i find anything bigger quite clunky now. but thats just me..

FionnK86

Ahh there not too expensive..some online look cheap in bulk around €40 for 100. The problem with the band names like "banjo ted and the hi visibility jinks" is that every band around my age has a name like that. They do it to "stand out" but when every band has a name like that its kind of annoying. I was at a gig before were they handed out picks with the bands members faces on it, original and i remember the bands name.

Casinoking

Band name on a pick is a new one on me, if the music is good enough you'll make a point of remembering what they're called. Make up a banner to hang behind you, make sure to mention the name of the band 4 or 5 times during the set, won't cost you a bob. As for picks, I use Dunlop .60's for both acoustic and electric. Can't remember ever breaking one

Mike747

Jazz 3s all the way. Made a huge difference in my playing when I started using them.

kahler

breaking one? cant imagine breaking one. the thicker ones are used more for tone. you get every ounce of tone with a 1mm pick. brian may used to use 20p coins, the ones with the pointy edges. doesnt explain why he would play a song like we are the champions, tho..
yes indeed, jazz3s are the way of the future..

JonathanAnon

Playing with the planet waves .73mm at the moment. The yellow ones. Very happy with them..



Used to play with Dunlop 70s and 88s, but they completely lose their tension on a hot stage... And dont have enough bite for soloing...

grumbleweed

Dunlop 1mm , The Black one..... Im a Bass player and i also use these when i play acoustic guitar , have done for 20 years ..

Kettleson

Nervous Wreck wrote: »

Colour is not something I give a shit about. Thickness depends what I'm playing. Softer for acoustic, harder for electric. Generally use Dunlop cos they've got it right.

You might just give a **** about it when you drop your last plec' on stage and cant see it in the dark. You'll be wishing then you played with a bright fluorescent one.

Nervous Wreck

Kettleson wrote: »

You might just give a **** about it when you drop your last plec' on stage and cant see it in the dark. You'll be wishing then you played with a bright fluorescent one.

Meh, I'd rather choose a plec that sounds/feels good over one that stands out visually. Also, I use a mic stand-mounted pick-holder and haven't dropped a pick while gigging in about 4 years so I'm not too worried! :pac:

Kettleson

Nervous Wreck wrote: »

Meh, I'd rather choose a plec that sounds/feels good over one that stands out visually. Also, I use a mic stand-mounted pick-holder and haven't dropped a pick while gigging in about 4 years so I'm not too worried! :pac:

How wonderfully organised you are, please do post up some video footage of you in concert.

Nervous Wreck

Kettleson wrote: »

How wonderfully organised you are, please do post up some video footage of you in concert.

Why wouldn't I be organised?!

FionnK86

Well what if it was the same brand you use only a different colour, more bright? Would you intentionally not buy one if it was luminescent?

Nervous Wreck

The only thing I intentionally do when buying picks is make sure it's a .60mm Dunlop. After that, I really don't care.

Kettleson

Nervous Wreck wrote: »

The only thing I intentionally do when buying picks is make sure it's a .60mm Dunlop. After that, I really don't care.

Now available in a range of day glo colours.

Generic Dreadhead

The fact this thread now has 26 replies scares me

Kettleson

27

Generic Dreadhead

^ Page 106 of "Don't do what Donny Don't Does" states: Don't be that guy ^

kahler

twenty what replies? i suppose choosing the correct pick is about the cheapest and easiest method of radically altering your tone. and it is on a par with how the nice or awful your fretboard is in importance. no matter how wonderful your amp or guitar, if you havent got a good, comfortable pick with just enough bite, you might as well throw your hat at it. day glo or otherwise..

Fandango

For me as a bassist its Dunlop 0.73mm. I know most bassists prefer a thicker pick but I personally never go beyond 0.88 as I prefer a bit of bend on the pick. Also go for Dunlops as they are easy to grip compared to many others and available in any shop. You wouldnt think it but even keeping the same thickness but a different make I find a bit uncomfortable. As for colour, I really dont care but as the Dunlops I use are all grey and go with that