best pick to use on a bass

skinzz · #1 08-12-2008, 01:17 PM

hi can someone tell me whats the best type of pick to use on a bass guitar, i have a hofner violin bass which i just recently bought to learn to play, just can get the hang of the finger thing!!! the bloke in the guitar shop gave me a few 2mm plastic ones, are these any good, i heard that felt 1's are good for basses

fenderhutz · #2 08-12-2008, 01:18 PM

I use the Green Tortex. You are going to opinions here. Picks are cheap, buy a bunch.

paganjack · #3 08-12-2008, 01:19 PM

dunlop big stubbys: i use a 1mm or 2mm sometimes- i think the 2mm is better for bass. they have a nice little groove for your fingers

skinzz · #4 08-12-2008, 01:24 PM

and also what grade, thanks

lowtide · #5 08-12-2008, 01:28 PM

I have some polished stones that come in handy

Rocinante_x1 · #6 08-12-2008, 01:28 PM

.88mm

BassBob185 · #7 08-12-2008, 01:28 PM

When I use a pick........I've tried all thicknesses and always go back to the plain ole Fender heavy.

I also like the grey Jim Dunlop .88mm and the Tortex yellow.

For reference:
Fender picks seem to vary but generally here are the thicknesses
Thin .45- .48
Med .55 - .78
Heavy .85 - 1.06
Extra Heavy 1.15 - 1.25

Doodaddy · #8 08-12-2008, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenderhutz

I use the Green Tortex. You are going to opinions here. Picks are cheap, buy a bunch.

Green Tortex for me too.

ErebusBass · #9 08-12-2008, 01:30 PM

I use 1mm Dunlop nylons. Thinking about going back to the 1.5 gator grips though. There is no single best pick for the bass, or any instrument.

sssmmike · #10 08-12-2008, 01:34 PM

+1 to Dunlop Tortex. If I use a pick it's the Yellow tortex.

Any of those hard plastic picks are too brittle for me and usually end up broken. I probably have 20 of the tortex picks but it seems like I've been using the same one for years.

zbasstringer · #11 08-12-2008, 01:35 PM

I use a 3mm big stubby pick. I guess thats a bit big?

Amitio · #12 08-12-2008, 01:37 PM

I use dunlop delrin ones, the 2mm and .76mm for different things.

Ampeg SVT · #13 08-12-2008, 01:38 PM

I use .73 and .88 nylond dunlops

I also use Herco Medium thumbpicks.

Generally a lighter (thinner) pick will give a really trebly sound while a heavier (thicker) pick is not as bright and a little more deep sounding

danomite64 · #14 08-12-2008, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ErebusBass

I use 1mm Dunlop nylons.

+1

CPplaysBASS · #15 08-12-2008, 01:41 PM

Green Tortex .88mm as well .... thick enough for nice attack without the "click" noise and just enough give to dig in when required.

scuz · #16 08-12-2008, 01:46 PM

The .88MM version of these. They will change your LIFE. Not kidding. They NEVER break, and they actually sound different. Don't ask me how, it's some space-age thing that we pick players just won't ever understand

Qvist · #17 08-12-2008, 01:50 PM

I think the .73 mm nylon dunlops are pretty good for rock bass. You can play pretty fast without too much resistance!

McHaven · #18 08-12-2008, 01:54 PM

I use Fender Medium triangular picks. They have a nice big gripping surface and you have multiple points in case you break one.

Connor · #19 08-12-2008, 01:58 PM

green is good(the blue is thicker than the green, and the purple is thicker than the blue (i think))any of those would be fine. the better you get with a pick, the pick wont really matter as long as it's not too thin. plastic picks have a sharp twangy kind of tone though.

felt picks are warmer with more thump, better for reggae. try out both.

CopperState · #20 08-12-2008, 02:09 PM

I like a large pick with a lot of give, so I usually grab these in a .63 guage:

Edit: Plus, they always come from the factory with a light convex bend to them, which is useful for an angled pick attack. And they're really easy to find on a dark stage floor after I toss them in god-knows-what direction.