Let's Talk About Picks!

Back in "the day"--- (80's ish) I used VERY thin picks -- and I played VERY fast -- and used a LOT of (probably) wrong notes----but they were covered by MANY other wrong notes in a giant hodge podge of noise and ----well-- that was youth----

now I prefer FEWER -- correct notes done with "style" and a little BB King ish vibrato---a heavy pick ---just "works" better
 
Chubbies said: "I'm damn surprised that as a group, most of us use similar heavy-ish picks."

not me... *grins
Pix & slide @100.jpg
I like Clayton picks... just like Chili. To me, they give better tone. I believe that tone begins with
the pick, so I'm picky too. I don't always play slide, but when I do I prefer a real bottle neck.

I throw picks away when they get too raggedy, because I can hear the difference.
I never knew about Clayton picks until a guy came up to me after we played a set at a
festival and gave me some samples. I liked them instantly, and have been a customer ever since.
Probably about fifteen or twenty years now. Before that, I used Fender mediums... always in white
for the same reason quoted above. Play sweaty nights in a greasy atmosphere and your pick is
bound to fly out of your hand. If it's white, I can find it... mostly.
Acoustic pix@100.jpg
I use the .73mm for acoustic and the .5mm or .6mm for electric. I actually like the feel of the thinner
pick when playing electric. And I'm very comfortable with the large triangles in .63 to .73mm as
above. One of mine is pretty raggedy, the upper right. That's due for the trash soon.

I also use Dunlop .73 large triangle for acoustic... I like the feel and the tone of those as well.
and Dunlop .6 mm small for electric. I had to teach myself to play all over again when I began playing
electric, (with a lighter touch) and changing pick size and thickness was part of that process.
I used .5mm for quite a while ...if there's some kinda delay in those, I must be used to it.
Electric pix@100.jpg
But I've been gradually drifting the two kinds together, and that's been interesting.
so I've got some .6 mm in the small size and some .63mm in the large size, and now use
them interchangeably for electric. I stick with the larger and thicker ones for acoustic.
Using those thin picks on electric guitar, I NEVER break strings. The pick will rip first.
Of course, I change my strings often, and that's probably the secret.

Bass: I very seldom use a pick. Once in a while if I need a clicky sound, or if I need a brighter
sound, or need to play a lot of fast notes for some particular song. Sometimes I'll use a pick
on my bass if I'm jamming with some guys and one's a keyboardist. I do that so we don't
step on each other. A more percussive electric bass tone distinguishes me from his left hand.

AND NOW!..... we need a whole new thread on PICK BOXES...
I gave my step daughter a set of vampire fangs for Halloween one time, and told her that the
box they came in would make the world's coolest pick box. She laughed, but it's in her guitar
case. *grins
Pick Box lg@100.jpg
Like others on this thread, I've tried many different picks, including a Kennedy Half dollar,
and a piece of Mammoth Ivory, and beach flat pebbles, and different tone woods...
...and that weird Grover pick, which you punch out of the Grover Tuners container... (nah)

But I return to Clayton like coming home to a familiar house. I like my tone more when
I use them. Maybe it's the material they're made of. I believe there's been progress made
in plectrum materials... So I haven't bought any Fender Mediums this century.
 
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Awesome. We finally found a weirdo in the bunch. Just kidding.

A pick is an integral part of the playing experience. That's why I've tried dozens of types over the years. I use Tortex, but I used black Dunlop nylons for years. Before that, plastic types. Recently, I realized it doesn't make as much of a difference anymore, thank G-d. I always carry freebees from GC, Sam Ash, 8th Street Music, Premier Guitar, George's Music, etc... Sometimes thats all I have on me, so I use them. It's great not being obsessive compulsive about picks. At least I have one thing. If only I weren't so picky about strings...
 
Last edited:
Col Mustard said:
Chubbies said: "I'm damn surprised that as a group, most of us use similar heavy-ish picks."

not me... *grins
View attachment 31835
I like Clayton picks... just like Chili. To me, they give better tone. I believe that tone begins with
the pick, so I'm picky too. I don't always play slide, but when I do I prefer a real bottle neck.

I throw picks away when they get too raggedy, because I can hear the difference.
I never knew about Clayton picks until a guy came up to me after we played a set at a
festival and gave me some samples. I liked them instantly, and have been a customer ever since.
Probably about fifteen or twenty years now. Before that, I used Fender mediums... always in white
for the same reason quoted above. Play sweaty nights in a greasy atmosphere and your pick is
bound to fly out of your hand. If it's white, I can find it... mostly.
View attachment 31836
I use the .73mm for acoustic and the .5mm or .6mm for electric. I actually like the feel of the thinner
pick when playing electric. And I'm very comfortable with the large triangles in .63 to .73mm as
above. One of mine is pretty raggedy, the upper right. That's due for the trash soon.

I also use Dunlop .73 large triangle for acoustic... I like the feel and the tone of those as well.
and Dunlop .6 mm small for electric. I had to teach myself to play all over again when I began playing
electric, (with a lighter touch) and changing pick size and thickness was part of that process.
I used .5mm for quite a while ...if there's some kinda delay in those, I must be used to it.
View attachment 31839
But I've been gradually drifting the two kinds together, and that's been interesting.
so I've got some .6 mm in the small size and some .63mm in the large size, and now use
them interchangeably for electric. I stick with the larger and thicker ones for acoustic.
Using those thin picks on electric guitar, I NEVER break strings. The pick will rip first.
Of course, I change my strings often, and that's probably the secret.

Bass: I very seldom use a pick. Once in a while if I need a clicky sound, or if I need a brighter
sound, or need to play a lot of fast notes for some particular song. Sometimes I'll use a pick
on my bass if I'm jamming with some guys and one's a keyboardist. I do that so we don't
step on each other. A more percussive electric bass tone distinguishes me from his left hand.

AND NOW!..... we need a whole new thread on PICK BOXES...
I gave my step daughter a set of vampire fangs for Halloween one time, and told her that the
box they came in would make the world's coolest pick box. She laughed, but it's in her guitar
case. *grins
View attachment 31840
Like others on this thread, I've tried many different picks, including a Kennedy Half dollar,
and a piece of Mammoth Ivory, and beach flat pebbles, and different tone woods...
...and that weird Grover pick, which you punch out of the Grover Tuners container... (nah)

But I return to Clayton like coming home to a familiar house. I like my tone more when
I use them. Maybe it's the material they're made of. I believe there's been progress made
in plectrum materials... So I haven't bought any Fender Mediums this century.
Click to expand...
Pick boxes....
Not a half bad idea....I've got a couple interesting boxes
 
Hey Mitch, it's great to see another insomniac on the forum at 4am. I wish there were something to keep me from posting this late. I get more stupid than usual.
 
I use these, Dunlop Max Grip standard nylon 1.14mm picks.

22449114033.MAIN.jpg
 
iblive said:
In there with you. I’m usually awake at 4 too. But I am in denial. Denial that I need to get up and pee. Denial that I really think I can fall back asleep.
Click to expand...
4:00 AM is my normal time to get up!
But no need for it on Sunday morning!!
But I had gone out to the garage to have a smoke!
And I always check the forum !!
Cheers Mitch
 
Chubbles said:
Awesome. We finally found a weirdo in the bunch. Just kidding.

A pick is an integral part of the playing experience. That's why I've tried dozens of types over the years. I use Tortex, but I used black Dunlop nylons for years. Before that, plastic types. Recently, I realized it doesn't make as much of a difference anymore, thank G-d. I always carry freebees from GC, Sam Ash, 8th Street Music, Premier Guitar, George's Music, etc... Sometimes thats all I have on me, so I use them. It's great not being obsessive compulsive about picks. At least I have one thing. If only I weren't so picky about strings...
Click to expand...
Oh just rub it in, why don't you? Lol

I do tend to be obsessive compulsive about picks....
 
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