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Crazy how pick size impacts the sound…

#21
I remember when I was starting off and didn't know any better, my dad (who plays guitar) was at Guitar Center with me and asked about getting me a pick in case I wanted to try playing with that. The guy sold us a Big Stubby (~3.0mm) and was like "Yeah! This is what you wanna use!"

I HATED everything about that pick (still do). Tone, feel, response....blegh. So I was decidedly anti-pick for a long time, under the impression that was what you're supposed to use as a bassist. Then I tried one of my Fender heavies (~1.0-1.5mm I think?) and loved it. Experimented with some Dunlops too and liked them a lot. So picks made it into rotation and I'll use anything from .80mm to 1.5mm :bassist:
 
#22
Yes. I started out with 1mm tortex for the most part for a long time. I read somewhere that Matt Freeman always used the orange which is what, .66mm? I tried but can't quite get into the orange. A little too much give, too plinky. Is that a word? These days I switch between the green and yellow. Large triangles, of course.

As much as it has an impact on sound, feel is still the main variable Im concerned with. Its balancing the two I guess.
 
#25
IMG_8283.jpeg

Agree with the OP 100%

These three types of picks are always in my jeans coin pocket.

Although for gigs I actually prefer the Claytons because they feel sturdier and are easier to find at the end of the night.
 
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#26
Black Mountain Thumbpicks for me.

I've played guitar and bass for over 45 years, using both fingerstyle and picks.

I now have a physical problem where a pinched nerve in my neck and tendonitis in my plucking elbow has left my fingers frequently feeling a tingling pain and sometimes my fingertips being numb. There are times I can't play finger style, but in those moments I can't hold a pick either. Best case is the Jamerson index fingerstyle, but then it's only slow tempos.

Yes, I am doing physical therapy and all that, along with a copper compression glove (open finger tips).

But the Black Mountain Thumbpicks have a spring loaded thumb-wrap that allows me to use a pick without dropping it. Plus being spring loaded they are very comfortable. They aren't cheap but as an alternative to not being able to play at all, they are well worth the price.

It's taking me a lot of practice to get used to using a pick again. I will switch to fingerstyle when I'm able because there is a lot of music I write on my 6 string where plucking chords requires it. Nice thing is these picks stay put and I can still pick without having to "hold" the pick and can also use my fingers simultaneously.

I've spent quite a bit to find the right thickness and I prefer the thinnest they make, which yes it does mean I have to make some tonal adjustments to fill out the sound better.

pick.jpg


6String-new2.jpg
 
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#31
Ian774 said:
The 1mm one made the sound thicker, bassier, warmer. The .88mm made it snappier, clearer, thinner.
Click to expand...

I was exclusively fingerstyle for decades, the only exceptions being when I had a blister on a plucking finger. I used heavier picks (1mm or greater) because I assumed that's what bassists should do.

This millennium I decided not to be a fingers snob, and added pickstyle to my repertoire so I could get That Tone. Long story short, I settled on thinner picks because they sounded snappier, which is exactly what I want from pickstyle.

I mainly auditioned the yellow 0.73 and green 0.88 picks, but settled on the .73. I later learned that the awesome Bobby Vega uses the same. Now he attacks the strings with the "shoulder" rather than the point, but I will stick to the point (no pun intended).
 
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#32
I was also super surprised about this when I discovered it! When I played with pick, I just played with whatever was lying around.

But yeah, if you are a pick player, picks make an enormous difference on tone! I would say it's just as big, or bigger, difference than rounds vs flats, or P vs J vs Stingray etc.

Biggest difference is the thickness, as OP said, but pick material also makes a substantial difference. Pick profile is also audible: pointy vs rounded, and beveled vs blunt.
 
#34
Playing with a pick is something I always found a bit of learning curve, especially trying different gauges/materials. I've personally found I use more grip/pluck force than necessary using lighter picks, so for me it's not so much about gauge but really trying to use the my wrist/forearm rotation as an unit rather than try to "Press and pull" on the string with the pick with just my fingers.


I generally use Dava picks, probably the best non slip picks which I find work surprisingly well for both guitar/bass, as the don't have so much as traditional "gauges" but flex differently depending on where you're holding the pick (i.e floppier the more you hold the pick at the fatter edge like a light pick, stiffer when you hold it closer to the tip like a heavy pick). Otherwise I use the white tortex flex picks as a backup, since I'm trying to use the least force possible holding the pick to avoid tension in my hands/wrists.
 
#35
I like em FAT...... Gavity 3.0 is the biggest (upper right) .... the two at the bottom are Dunlop 1.5 Prime Tone - that large one is cool, you won't drop that and its ambidextrous hahaha. But my favorite is a fat wooden one (upper left). Can't be any wood. This box had a variety of wood picks. You can tell the difference and only two of the types had "that" tone (for me). I've tried felt and leather.... they were cool, but not worth keeping unless for a specific song / section.
The greatest is the wood pick / palm muting on a '54 P-bass. Mmmmmmmmmm.......
IMG_5360-1.JPG
 
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#37
Yes to OP insights!

I love the heavier thicker tone I get from thicker gauge picks but I compromise speed and accuracy.

I used to think 0.6-0.8mm large triangles were my thing, until another TBer recommended....
Rombo picks

I too thought "I'm not paying that". But I'm converted. Different textures and angles on these picks add extra helpful variables:
- ease of grip
- grip technique
- thickness/gauge at strike point
- size of pick (width) at strike point
- grip consistency/reduced slip

If anyone is game enough to try these, commit and buy the full range pack. Don't choose based on "well I normally use 0.6mm so I'll just get the few around that gauge". I can use +/- 0.8mm with Rombos (from my previously usual tortex 0.7m). The process of trying them and evaluating them is fun.

Ps - when you pay this much for a pick, you treat it accordingly. Mine live in the zip pouch with my custom ear plugs, connected to my car keys
 
#38
groovaholic said:
I don't use picks often since they tend to make my hand cramp up.
So a couple years ago, I ditched all my smaller "guitar size" picks and started using the larger triangular picks.

Prior to that change, my favorite picks had been textured nylon: "Brain" or Dunlop Max Grip for grip, durability, and nylon's warmer tone.

But I haven't been able to find a large triangle pick made out of nylon.
Click to expand...
Have you tried Dunlop Tortex Flex? Those are part nylon and I think the closest you can come in the triangle shape. After also failing to find nylon triangles I settled on these
 

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