Best material for a pick?

[Bassman316]

Sorry if this has been discussed before- I tried searching but no dice. I've been a fingerstyle player from the beginning 8 years ago, and I'd like to develop an ability to play with a pick as well. Not that I want to emulate them for every aspect of their sound, but I listen to a lot of Phish, Grateful Dead, Widespread Panic, and even stuff like Yes and Pink Floyd, and I love the attack that a pick can bring to the sound, and I'd like to try to shape my sound a little differently in my never-ending quest for "the sound". I've always just used the run-of-the-mill Fender celluloid guitar picks I have laying around, but what pick material would you consider best for bass? While poking around, I found these:

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.c...ick?sku=110302

The reviews say these are pretty good for bass... just looking for any kind of input/suggestions. Thanks guys!

[RicPlaya]

Best Material for a pick?

Guitar solos

[Slax]

I'd say just head down to the store and buy a whole bunch of them as singles. Probably about 5 cents a pop. You won't know what you'll like until you try it.

That said, I find that it doesn't really matter what brand or thickness pick I use (except felt), I still sound like me. I do find that thicker picks give a deeper sound but that's about it.

[Ric5]

I prefer picks like these ...

http://www.music123.com/Clayton-Delr...23620.Music123

http://www.music123.com/Dunlop-426P-...23449.Music123

http://www.music123.com/D-Andrea-346...23876.Music123

[Lesfunk]

Fender Heavy

[chrisrusty99]

may I suggest these picks?
http://internetsiao.com/?p=825

[The Birdman]

I like these....

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.c...ick?sku=110062

I would say, though, that I've only been playing bass for 3 months, so I'm "on the learning curve" as well.

Roger

[pbass2]

Just heavy and stiff. For guitar it's important to juse different weight picks for different things, but for bass I always find something heavy with minimal give. I like Fender Heavies as well---they work fine, but my faves I try to keep in hand are the Dunlop Ultex, 1.14

http://www.jimdunlop.com/index.php?p...products/picks

[solomon707]

Originally Posted by pbass2

Dunlop Ultex

+1

[The modifier]

air

[Darkstrike]

I use Wedgie .73's, the transparent ones. They work well for me.

[Gubna]

Originally Posted by Slax

I'd say just head down to the store and buy a whole bunch of them as singles. Probably about 5 cents a pop. You won't know what you'll like until you try it.

That said, I find that it doesn't really matter what brand or thickness pick I use (except felt), I still sound like me. I do find that thicker picks give a deeper sound but that's about it.

yes. +1

I have used Dunlop .88 for guitar for years. Occasionally use them for bass, but mainly I'm a finger player. recently I tried DAVA control (the blue ones). there are several gauges in one pick. but I'd recommend getting a whole bunch and see what works for you.

[steveinohio]

Dunlops all the way.

[nysbob]

If you're looking for the sound of a pick don't use felt - they're more for pick players who want to sound like they're playing with their fingers.

I like the Dunlop delrins - they wear down, but they don't break. I use a .73

[Dogbertday]

I lie Dunlop 2mm... but that's not for most people

[WillieJ]

This happens to be my fave. Stash pick classic, 1.0mm.
Real nice meaty fell. And you gotta love the graphic.

[Aged_Clayman]

For some funny sounds try bamboo, you can change your tone by just flipping it around. The outer-bark part is more like plastic, and the inner side gives your notes a nice warm feeling. And they are fun to make)

[MEKer]

Depends what you are looking for the pick to do.

I use the gray nylon Dunlop .73mm exactly because I get great tip flex off it and can get it going tremendously fast for sweeping or just plain really fast work. Can I do it with a thicker pick, well, yes, because I have been using pick since '72 so its natural for me. But the .73mm's, for me, are effortless and on the other hand, as needed, I can dig in hard just as well as using it for the light-fingered speed use.

Definitely stay away from the guitar-style Fender picks outta that celluloid or tortoise shell stuff as they crack and chip and don't do well on heavy bass strings for very long at all.

[7flat5]

I like 3mm Big Stubby Triangles.
http://accessories.musiciansfriend.c...ack?sku=111007

[Ampeg SVT]

I like the Clayton Triangles for both guitar and bass.