Tonight I'm...

Astral Traveler

Astral Traveler

Ambassador of Both Time and Space
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...testing picks. I know I have more somewhere, a little box full. I just can't find them. I usually go for a heavy one, a Dunlop Little Stubby 3mm or the green teansparent Gravity 1.5mm pick. A couple of days ago I grabbed a 0.6mm Ultex and really enjoyed it, I found more control than with the heavier picks as I could grip it further out and let it flex or grip it closer to the tip to stiffen it up. Plus all the usual attack stuff.

One of the most interesting ones here is the blue one with three holes along the edge. It's an aluminium pick and it feels really weird as it seems to stick to the strings in a rubbery way. I stopped using it after I found metallic dust all over my pickups. It'll get its chance again tonight, in the name of science!

IMG_20210225_001514.jpg
 
I went through a "plectrum evaluation" period about 20 years ago. I bought one of everything they had in the shop and tried them all to figure out what worked best for me, including aluminum ones (which sound really cool but feel weir as hell). After that, for the past 20 years, it's nothing but these:

OIP.ztYiPiIz2i4AlUSJlqBuyQHaHa
 
gball said:
I went through a "plectrum evaluation" period about 20 years ago. I bought one of everything they had in the shop and tried them all to figure out what worked best for me, including aluminum ones (which sound really cool but feel weir as hell). After that, for the past 20 years, it's nothing but these:

OIP.ztYiPiIz2i4AlUSJlqBuyQHaHa
Click to expand...
Been using The Fender medium version of this pick for..... hmmm....... probably 35+ years.
 
gball said:
I went through a "plectrum evaluation" period about 20 years ago. I bought one of everything they had in the shop and tried them all to figure out what worked best for me, including aluminum ones (which sound really cool but feel weir as hell). After that, for the past 20 years, it's nothing but these:

OIP.ztYiPiIz2i4AlUSJlqBuyQHaHa
Click to expand...

The aluminium one, contrary to what I initially thought and compared to all the others, has a really mellow sound.
 
Astral Traveler said:
...testing picks. I know I have more somewhere, a little box full. I just can't find them. I usually go for a heavy one, a Dunlop Little Stubby 3mm or the green teansparent Gravity 1.5mm pick. A couple of days ago I grabbed a 0.6mm Ultex and really enjoyed it, I found more control than with the heavier picks as I could grip it further out and let it flex or grip it closer to the tip to stiffen it up. Plus all the usual attack stuff.

One of the most interesting ones here is the blue one with three holes along the edge. It's an aluminium pick and it feels really weird as it seems to stick to the strings in a rubbery way. I stopped using it after I found metallic dust all over my pickups. It'll get its chance again tonight, in the name of science!

View attachment 59938
Click to expand...
The dunlop ultex is my favorite. But i tend to use a wider shape ( ultex triangle) and typically an .88. Awesome picks
 
After the first 45 minutes of highly scientific testing I had three piles. One with picks I didn't like at all, like the 0.46mm nylon pick and the sharkfin.

One pile with OK picks and one with those I really like.

I then tested the good pile again. I tested for feel, grip, tone, chuggability, sweepabilty, pinched harmonic-ability, strumming and dynamic range. I then allowed myself to choose three favorites and ended up choosing three that complement eachother, rather than three that were the same. They were the 3mm Dunlop Little Stubby, the 1.5mm Gravity and the 0.6mm Ultex.

A few (dis)honorary mentions. The 0.46mm nylonnpicknwas like playing with a piece of paper. The sharkfin was just aweful. The aluminium revisited was a pleasant surprise. The red, flat and shiny no-name pick was also a pleasant surprise, both for grip and tone. And finally, I was surprised at how much tonal difference there was between Little- and Big Stubby.
 
gball said:
I went through a "plectrum evaluation" period about 20 years ago. I bought one of everything they had in the shop and tried them all to figure out what worked best for me, including aluminum ones (which sound really cool but feel weir as hell). After that, for the past 20 years, it's nothing but these:

OIP.ztYiPiIz2i4AlUSJlqBuyQHaHa
Click to expand...
I have gone through lots of picks from time to time to try out different things myself. I always end up with these, which I have been using for over 30 years. I guess I'm just boring and set in my ways.:rolleyes:

iu.jpeg

I can tear up one of those Fender picks in no time flat. I like them, but they just don't last long enough for me.
 
Ebidis said:
I have gone through lots of picks from time to time to try out different things myself. I always end up with these, which I have been using for over 30 years. I guess I'm just boring and set in my ways.:rolleyes:

View attachment 59954

I can tear up one of those Fender picks in no time flat. I like them, but they just don't last long enough for me.
Click to expand...

I liked these as well Ebidis, I like a pick thats firm with some flex for good strumming, yet firm enough to do lead as well. Now these are my full time picks. The Cat Tongue 1.00



1614220628732.png
 
I never buy picks, I get free one's by shopping smart!

These are two good examples, bought a pedal and some pickups (both were crap, so I threw them straight into the garbage disposal unit), and got these free sweet looking picks!

20210225_115129.jpg

Remember: shop smart! o_O
 
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