best pick to use on a bass

[doctorjazz]

Nothin' but fingers will do for me.

Really, I don't think anyone can tell you what the best thing is to use, the best solution is to experiment and try it yourself. On guitar, which I generally DO play with a pick, I only use a Fender 351 in Extra Heavy, and I hold it sideways and pick with one of the rounded top corners. They're pretty uncommon, and have to be ordered by the gross - hey, at least I have spares - but it just so happens that an uncommon pick played in a nonstandard manner is the only thing that really does it for me. Fortunately for you, picks are probably the cheapest bit of our equipment when it comes to buying up a whole bunch of examples of different kinds and trying it out.

Your tactile connection with the bass is probably the most subjective part of playing the instrument, therefore it's extremely prone to variability among individuals.

 

[rarbass]

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

+1
I don't use them anymore, but they're thick and sturdy enough to get the job done.

 

[steve21]

I like Dunlop Ultex and Jazz III.

I never knew there was an Ultex Jazz III.

Interesting.

 

[Number27]

i make my own picks out of bits of random wood, so they're pretty thick. i've tried using plastic ones but i hate that clickity sound they make.

 

[MEKer]

the gray, nylon Dunlop .73mm give me great tip speed, flexible enough to fly over/around strings and stiff enough to dig when needed.

 

[Ach]

My list, from best to good:
1) Ibanez with sandgrip 0.8~1mm (black)
2) Fender 0.8~1mm (violet)
3) Ibanez Steve Vai 0.8~1mm (brown)

 

[GhettoBrassGuy]

Felt! I recorded with a felt pick the other day....awsome! But that's just my opinion of course.

 

[tom once dead]

I like the Dava picks, becuase they have a hard, thick plastic tip, but it has a thiner part, where you hold, so it has flex.

 

[McThumpin]

Everybody knows this is the best pick for bass. sheesh.

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But seriously.. For years I used the green tortex and the purple gator grips from dunlop. Wouldn't even touch a pick that didn't have a cartoon reptile on it. Then one day I borrowed a fender heavy out of necessity. And it felt pretty good. When I went back to the dunlops, I was shocked at how my once trusty picks were so chalky and slippery compared to the fender. Well, a total pick shoot-out ensued... and long story short: fender heavy is my pick of destiny.

 

[musicman1987]

I think picks on a bass should be illegal! Any followers???

Marty x

 

[armywalaby]

Well congrats, you get the finger prize!

No way, I've had girls award me with the finger prize years ago....

 

[armywalaby]

I second the Jazz III.

 

[Skapunkgiz]

Picks ftw -

I normally take about 10 picks with me to practice or gigs - play what ever feels right on the night - never really found they make "too much" difference to Tone, but i do enjoy using 2mm Stubbys - got thumb indent for extra control..

 

[JimB52]

The big triangular Fender mediums - I prefer white because they're easy to spot on a dark stage.

 

[SwamiRob]

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

It all depends how you play and what material your using. If your playing soft, to me a soft pick won't have as much top end to it, but if your playing hard, you'll get alot of pick noise. Personally I think the only thing that can be said all round is that hard picks have more definition then thinner ones. But I always find that the harder the pick, the less rounded the sound.

I use .88 nylon Dunlops, with 3 fingers and only using the tip. I find only using the tip causes alot less pick noise when playing hard, and that using hard picks in this fashion sounds a little thin, the attack seems to mask the rest of the note. Picks don't make THAT much difference to sound in some circumstances, but can make alot of difference to your ability to play properly, I can't really play anything apart from nylons now, used to play .73s religiously, but moved to .88s for a slightly more solid sound. I think the material makes more difference then the gauge sometimes though.

Although if you own a violin bass, I'm assuming you don't play anything all that agressive. So I'd recommend just trying everything and see what suits your style and sound. Try lots of materials as well as gauges, if you like a bit of flex, try nylon, if you prefer a more rigid plectrum, try tortex style picks, if you like them to be outright solid, try plainer plastics as used in most Fender and Gibson picks.

 

[BassBob185]

Tortex 1.mm The blue ones.

I'll lose them long before I'll wear them out.

Those are great picks Savit. I put some stick on felt on both sides of one of those and trimmed to shape with scissors. The sound was mellow, less pick click. The felt doesn't last long especially with rounds but putting it on both sides will get you through a 2-3 hour gig.

 

[Rickengeezer]

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.

+1 on the Claytons, although I mainly use the .80 version, I also have some of the .63 and 1mm versions to suit my mood. Great picks. Don't like the tortex version as much as the acetyl version, too clicky.

 

[ChrisPbass]

I use Cymbolic picks. they are cut from old drum cymbals. They bring out high harmonics like no business. They are killer for acoustic guitar as well. Superb attack as well.
I don't know where to get them anymore though...I have one left!

I really enjoy playing w/my fingers but I also like being heard by others and picks seem to do that...plus I dig PHil Lesh and I love that highend KUNK KUNK sound. Wish I could get the pick sound w/my fingers.

 

[Lowbrow]

Best? That I don't know.

The best for me is Dunlop Tortex .88mm, shield shape. They're like pretty green leaves.

Used to use Clayton 1.00 mm shields, but found that something a little thinner prevented me from breaking strings (also opted for a lighter string gauge).

Strings and picks that "gave" more prevented breakage (Kung Fu philosophy in effect).

 

[22pauld22]

+1

another plus one or the dunlop nylon 1mm .. thats the black one right ... its been years since I used a pick on bass

but I still have quite a few of these from years back when I played that style .. I always kept a fender heavy as well .. it gives a terrible clangy sound when you use it which i don't like for day to day the nylon give a warmer thump ..

but the fender clang can be just what some songs ask for

like was said earlier thin are a waste of time so just buy the thick to very thick and as many different types

different picks different sounds on different strings

cheers
Paul