Pick size?

DumbChild · #1 05-21-2006, 09:48 PM

I have to ask what size picks you guys use, now i know most of you are finger players. But personally i like playing with a pick, i like the sound and thats all my buisness.

Now i went in for my Bass lesson last week and ive been informed that he'd rather i use a thicker pick. My current pick is 0.8mm and ive been givin a 3mm pick which i absolutely hate lol. It sounds crappy and feels awkward. So anyways for those of you that do use picks at times, could you please advise me what sizes are alright and tell me wether i should even bother to get another one, because quite frankly im happy with my other picks.

Cheers

#2 05-21-2006, 09:51 PM

I asked a similar question a couple of days ago (see the paper thin pick thread), and basically, use whatever pick works for you. I simply prefer the sound and playability of the thin copper pick I have over thicker picks, even thicker metal ones at least for now. The bass taste police aren't going to come and arrest you for using a thin pick.

DumbChild · #3 05-21-2006, 09:55 PM

haha awesome, my instructor will have to deal with it then

Showdown · #4 05-23-2006, 10:55 PM

You should use whatever pick that feels right to you.

That said, I just found a new pcik for me. I play 90% fingerstyle, but use a pick on some stuff, particularly punk. For years I've use the purple Dunlop Tortex, 1.14mm. I also play mandolin, and I just tried a David Grisman "Dawg" mandolin pick on bass. All I can say is WOW. They are big and very thick, with rounded points. The sound with these picks is so FAT and punchy, making the Dunlop sound wimpy by comparison. Give them a try and see if you like them. They are available at Elderly Music:

http://www.elderly.com/accessories/items/GDP.htm

timidbassist · #5 05-23-2006, 11:02 PM

Yay I can talk about my picks!!!!! Anyone heard of the Big Stubby?? It's very thick, almost completely stiff, and very purple lol (yes I do believe they only come in pretty purple.) Has anybody else used these? I like them because they give me a real great pluck sound being so think, I need to grind to cut through two guitars in my band.

It'd be cool to hear about anyone else that uses these!

Peace,
Davey

vindy500 · #6 05-23-2006, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timidbassist

Yay I can talk about my picks!!!!! Anyone heard of the Big Stubby?? It's very thick, almost completely stiff, and very purple lol (yes I do believe they only come in pretty purple.) Has anybody else used these? I like them because they give me a real great pluck sound being so think, I need to grind to cut through two guitars in my band.

It'd be cool to hear about anyone else that uses these!

Peace,
Davey

ya can get red ones too

blast_tyrant · #7 05-23-2006, 11:24 PM

I play with a pick about half the time. Recently, I got a sampler of Wedgie hard rubber picks. The hardest one in the sampler pack is pretty close to perfect for me. I'm using flat-wounds on my Thunderbird and my Mike Dirnt Precision. It gives me the speed for punk/garage rock that I need, but no clicking sound (which isn't always a bad thing).

skoti89 · #8 05-23-2006, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blast_tyrant

I play with a pick about half the time. Recently, I got a sampler of Wedgie hard rubber picks. The hardest one in the sampler pack is pretty close to perfect for me. I'm using flat-wounds on my Thunderbird and my Mike Dirnt Precision. It gives me the speed for punk/garage rock that I need, but no clicking sound (which isn't always a bad thing).

ive been wanting to get some of those! i found a pick today, is was metal i love the sound, it adds punch(kinda like how you get with a thin piick) and treble for a good punk sound. when i play with my fingers, i tend to push to hard, and down on the strings, causing distortion and noise. i was thinking a rubber pick would have no string noise, yet a good finger tone for worship, and slower songs.

jrduer · #9 05-23-2006, 11:43 PM

I just moved up from a Dunlop .88mm nylon to a Dunlop 1mm nylon. Don't know why; I just did.

~John

Jeff Martinez · #10 05-23-2006, 11:54 PM

Dunlop 1.14mm Gator Grip for me. I used 2.0mm for a long time, but I'm much happier with the control I get from the thinner ones.

FrigginChris · #11 05-24-2006, 01:37 AM

i use a pick on some occasions if i need that sound, when i do use one it's either the blue or green dunlop tortex picks, i'm not sure on the sizes at the moment i smugged that part off of it heh

The BurgerMeister · #12 05-24-2006, 01:49 AM

when i play pickstyle, i use the green dunlop tortex .88mm most of the time. sometimes i use yellow tortex .73mm... on recordings if i need a softer sound, for instance. the .88mm are my favorite, though. i also like claytons.

DumbChild · #13 05-24-2006, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timidbassist

Yay I can talk about my picks!!!!! Anyone heard of the Big Stubby?? It's very thick, almost completely stiff, and very purple lol (yes I do believe they only come in pretty purple.) Has anybody else used these? I like them because they give me a real great pluck sound being so think, I need to grind to cut through two guitars in my band.

It'd be cool to hear about anyone else that uses these!

Peace,
Davey

Yea i used one on my quest to find the right pick. I hated the feel of it however. It sounded pretty good i suppose but its got damn finger holes, and i find them uncomfortable

snow_storm · #14 05-24-2006, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timidbassist

Yay I can talk about my picks!!!!! Anyone heard of the Big Stubby?? It's very thick, almost completely stiff, and very purple lol (yes I do believe they only come in pretty purple.) Has anybody else used these? I like them because they give me a real great pluck sound being so think, I need to grind to cut through two guitars in my band.

It'd be cool to hear about anyone else that uses these!

Peace,
Davey

Yeah I use those too! When I first started, I was using my regular guitar picks until I found out you could actually get thicker picks. It was heaven the day I ripped that big stubby package open! Oh, and I thought they only came in purple too-I asked the guy at Guitar Center and he said they didn't have yellow...

Big Stubbies are my only pick...I am a loyal fan forever..I like the point on the end too-I can get into the string well without slipping around if I want to rotate my hand a little.

Rick Brienzo · #15 05-24-2006, 08:31 PM

I have always used green tortex .88 picks. On guitar and bass. But use what ever feels right to you!

DumbChild · #16 05-24-2006, 09:21 PM

at the moment nylon .88s are what im using, however i got a 1mm and a 1.3 something and those thick ones (yes in purple

). I'm going to stick to my .88mm picks then

teej · #17 05-24-2006, 09:27 PM

I use the red Dunlop Jazz III and tear drop mandolin picks. And for really fast picking, I've got a few of the white .46mm Dunlop Nylons.

Showdown · #18 05-24-2006, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teej

I use the red Dunlop Jazz III and tear drop mandolin picks. And for really fast picking, I've got a few of the white .46mm Dunlop Nylons.

About ten years ago I used those thin nylon Dunlops. I ended up with carpel tunnel. I was playing so hard to get volume from the thin picks that I overdid it. They are way too flexible. I use heavy picks now, they sound better and are better for your hands.

DumbChild · #19 05-24-2006, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Showdown

About ten years ago I used those thin nylon Dunlops. I ended up with carpel tunnel. I was playing so hard to get volume from the thin picks that I overdid it. They are way too flexible. I use heavy picks now, they sound better and are better for your hands.

What is carpel tunnel? Ive never really had any problem with playing with them, nor would i call my playing hard. However i try to keep the volume minimal at home

emblymouse · #20 05-24-2006, 09:58 PM

At least thats what I heard.
I've got a ceramic/plastic super heavy pick w/ knurled grips on top - it says 'pick boy' on it - that I've been carrying around for 20 yrs. Swear to god. I love this pick. I've crawled under many a stage to retrieve it. Turn it around and scrape the knobby part over a fresh set of Rotos and man, it's a nasty sound.