Choosing a pick for pickstyle

crijan · #1 11-12-2008, 11:05 PM

I've been practicing up on Pickstyle playing after almost exclusively playing fingerstyle for my whole life. I always had that prejudice that bass players should play with fingers, so I never learned. I decided to pick it up though to increase my available skill sets thus hopefully making me a more diverse, in-demand player.

For a while it wasn't going so well as I wasn't really comfortable holding the pick, even with having my teacher focus several bass lessons on pickstyle. Today though I ended up buying some new picks (Dunlop Tortex 0.73) and wow are they way more comfortable to me than the Fender Medium and Heavy Tortoise Shell picks I had before. The pick actually stays in the position I want it to in my hand! Yay!

I guess the point is don't give up on pickstyle just based on one type of pick. What works for someone else, may not be the best pick for you.

Swin · #2 11-12-2008, 11:08 PM

when using picks i'm pretty much sold on Dunlop stubby's 2.5mm (red) - they dont slip and dont seem to wear as quick as others

Number27 · #3 11-13-2008, 03:01 AM

i hate plastic picks.. clack clack clack

bleh

i whittled a pick out of soft wood (3 times now) gets much less clack, plus its slowly worn itself into a propellor type shape which makes it easier to play with (being like 3mm thick).

Stealth · #4 11-13-2008, 03:21 AM

Though I'm not a pick player by default, when I do use it, it's either the Dunlop Tri-Stubby (1.5mm) or the Dunlop Big Stubby (3mm) that gets the job done for me.

tom once dead · #5 11-13-2008, 03:33 AM

I use Dava picks, they have a really hard 2mm thick tip, that is glued into a grip thing that has a bit of flex, So I can get a lot of attack and good flex

tapp01 · #6 11-13-2008, 04:37 AM

When I play guitar, I use the yellow tortex (0.73). These guys get a lot of love from pick players on TB. However, they don't do it for me on bass. I like pretty much any heavy celluloid pick for bass instead.

atheos · #7 11-13-2008, 04:44 AM

Yellow Tortex triangle picks here too. I ordered a pack of 72pcs a while ago and they're probably gonna last for the rest of my life

I hit the strings so hard (especially on gigs) that I just end up breaking them with any hard pick. The orange Tortex picks on the other hand are too soft.

Shaun_Bass0 · #8 11-13-2008, 07:38 AM

Yellow tortex .73 all the way, gives me a real "twang" that cuts through that thicker picks seem to kill off...although to be fair thats probably technique rather than the pick itself!

RED5 · #9 11-13-2008, 07:42 AM

Always keep a pick slipped into the gap between the bridge pup and the body on my Jazz. It just speaks differently than other techniques. I have no religious beliefs keeping me from trying other approaches. And I just dig palm muting on some rock tunes.

Nashrakh · #10 11-15-2008, 04:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Number27

i whittled a pick out of soft wood (3 times now) gets much less clack, plus its slowly worn itself into a propellor type shape which makes it easier to play with (being like 3mm thick).

Wow, what an awesome idea!

Gotta try that myself. Sounds very interesting

As of now, I use Dunlop Jazz IIIs... some say they dislike them because they're so "small", but I like them better that way...

Craig_S · #11 11-15-2008, 01:13 PM

I prefer the yellow Tortex, (.73mm standard shape) for a bit of snap and some bite in the tone, but I have used heavier picks on occasion.

Siegy · #12 11-15-2008, 01:18 PM

Orange tortex (.6mm) for me. I like the nice snap I get with them. Anything heavier I seem to drop more often. They're also what I use on guitar so it's rather convenient.

KsToaDangr · #13 11-15-2008, 01:29 PM

I tend to stick with the 1.0mm tortex picks. I was having a problem with them slipping a lot when I was playing fast, so I took a razor blade and cut a grid into the grip of a bunch of them before going into the studio. Ever since, I do the same thing to them when I get new ones.

envika · #14 11-15-2008, 01:30 PM

My favorite pick of all time is the discontinued (but occasionally available) D'Andrea Thermoplastic. I bought a 12-pack of 1.5mm, which I like well enough, but I also have one in 2.0mm which is the best. It's basically plexiglass, so I had to sand it up to make it a little less slippery. I've been having trouble finding another 2.0mm, so I have to be really careful with the one I have. I've already lost it three times but fortunately have found it again. Great for jazz guitar too.

I'm not a full-time pickstyle player, but I've experimented a lot. Stashpicks sound great and come in an awesome-looking tin but they have a lame feel due to the not-at-all beveled edges. Dunlop Tortexes are awesome, although I prefer the green and blue to the yellow. The little oddly shaped Dunlop picks meant for jazz guitar are good for certain things. Fender (or whatever) celluloids are the classic safe choice. Felt picks sound good but wear out too quickly. I don't like hardwood picks. Picks are cheap, buy one of everything and see which ones you like.

MEKer · #15 11-16-2008, 01:05 AM

Dunlop gray, nylon .73mm have been my pick of choice since late 1970's. Stiff enough to grab and juuusssttt flexible enough to get up tremendous pick tip speed for shredding or other really fast runs. Also, they last a really long time! When you get used to them you'll find yourself having no problem "micro-shifting" your grip on the pick for different attacks.
Tried the Rhino and Tortex, but ended up going back to the gray nylons.

bggeezer · #16 11-16-2008, 06:28 AM

Clayton .94mm ....not the cheapest I've ever used, but certainly the best...bendy yet strong , and they don't wear down too quick

dls59 · #17 11-16-2008, 09:07 AM

Ultra Cool .80s, the modified triangular design. Has nubs on it for grip, and doesn't click as much as tortex-type materials.

Johnny StingRay · #18 11-16-2008, 02:20 PM

I really like the Dunlop Gators 2.0mm picks. Something about the plastic makes them very easy to hold. Even though they are made of very stiff plastic, it has a softness to it that doesn't make that clicky sound.

Oh, I've used Carol Kaye's picks, too. The ones she sells on her website are the exact same ones she personally uses. I'm pretty sure they are thicker than the Gators. She is so good at using a plastic pick that it sounds like really crisp finger style, no clicky sound. Back in the day everyone thought she used a felt wool pick, but that's a myth. She herself told me she never used a felt pick, only autoharp players use those things!

FrankenIbanez70 · #19 01-19-2011, 02:36 PM

Im personally a fan of brass Ice Pix and 1.14 Tortex

LiamPodmore · #20 01-19-2011, 02:54 PM

Dunlop Tortex 1.14mm here. Got the perfect amount of clack, bend, and attack for how i play. I used to use 1.5 and 1.9mm picks but then i realised they were too thick and hard to play with. Gonna try the Tortex Sharp 1.14mm when i can get my hands on some aswell.

Liam