On bass I prefer thick picks. Dunlop stubbies for me, nice and grippy, the 2-3mm ones.
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Pick Thickness
- Thread starter ulgeby
- Start date
On bass I prefer thick picks. Dunlop stubbies for me, nice and grippy, the 2-3mm ones.
Salud!
I started with 2mm, went down to 1mm, then 0,50, then 0,60 and 0,70... Now I use the 0,82 yellow Dunlop ones. They are cheap, buy several and try them
I started with 2mm, went down to 1mm, then 0,50, then 0,60 and 0,70... Now I use the 0,82 yellow Dunlop ones. They are cheap, buy several and try them
I'm going to go different than most on here but I think a .06 - .08 is the sweet spot, at least for me. I have tried just about every popular pick out there and I usually end up gravitating to something within this thickness. My favorite right now is the D'Addario DuraGrip .060
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Well yeah... Common sense goes a long way and would suggest you test out cheap ones to find the thickness you like and then once you get that down you can get more expensive ones in that thickness.
I have used Fender #355 medium "Taco chip" picks since 1976. they fit my big hands, and these have 3 playable points. They are stiff, but still pliable.
Many years ago I'd use the big triangle 'Heavy' Fender ones. My playing at the time (HEAVY) caused me to break many a corner off.
I switched to Clayton Acetal rounded triangle style picks, and use a .80mm because I like the mild flex. I can't get on with heavier, non-flexing picks now.
They don't break, just wear down, and are infinitely easier to find on a dark stage if you drop one.
I switched to Clayton Acetal rounded triangle style picks, and use a .80mm because I like the mild flex. I can't get on with heavier, non-flexing picks now.
They don't break, just wear down, and are infinitely easier to find on a dark stage if you drop one.
Mainly a fingerstyle guy, but when I do use picks, I use the Dunlop Max Grip. I like to have a little more retention so I don't drop my picks as much.
I alternate between 1.5mm and 1.14mm; I feel like 1.5mm gives me a little more punch, yet 1.14mm allows me to sound like I'm actually using a pick.
No idea why.
I alternate between 1.5mm and 1.14mm; I feel like 1.5mm gives me a little more punch, yet 1.14mm allows me to sound like I'm actually using a pick.
No idea why.
Just to be “that guy,” I’m going to argue that it’s actually the Fenders that are the clones, as it was D’Andrea that first introduced celluloid picks after Mr. D’Andrea bought some surplus celluloid and variously shaped punches from, if I remember right, an out-of-business milliner, brought them home, and searched for a use for them. For many years D’Andrea was the supplier for other companies’ branded picks before they decided to put them out under their own name.
This book is far more interesting than it should be:
Attachments
Sr. Farace, I'm half Sicilian, so you're preaching to the choir, used Sr. D'Andrea's picks most of my time, and intuitively thought he was the OEM for the 'Fender' stamped ones. I'd read this before and it slipped my mind, thanks for the catch-up.
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355 Heavy
Or their 'Delrex' equivalent 355
JW
I love picks. I have accumulated 100's of them. I only like the inexpensive ones. I'm not interested in those $20+ picks made out of flamed Brazilian cocobolo or ancient church bell brass. I just like the regular old plastic, nylon, delrin, etc. ones. I like all the different shapes and thicknesses, and I love all the endless variations of logos and other images that you can find on picks. I have them stashed all over my practice space. I have them in my gig bag. I enjoy them so much that I always carry a few in my front pocket. I like to give them away to people I meet, even peeps that don't play.
Here's the weird part: I never play with a pick - I always use my fingers. I just love picks as objects.
Here's the weird part: I never play with a pick - I always use my fingers. I just love picks as objects.
Bobby Vega begs to differ, he used a Dunlop Tortex .073mm pick.
And he is probably THE pick guy when it comes to bass.
Perosnaly, as I already mentioned in this thread, I feel I get more control and better tone with a Dunlop Tortex .60mm pick.
Also you can't just generalize and disregard material.
Different materials have very different flexibility.
Also personal technique has a huge influence on what pick is right to you, why there doesn't just exist one ultimate pick.
I posted thee video of his pick bass groove earlier in the thread. I never made concerted efforts to play with a pick until I saw that video. It kinda blew my mind how dynamic and fluid it could be. Granted, that's also a mountain of experience and skill at work, but the approach and playing with a 'thinner' pick sort of opened my mind up to it. Anyway, BV is a beast and thinner picks are worth trying for anyone who hasn't...
Supadope
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In more than 50 years of playing bass i've always used the thicker picks..and if doubtful about grip because of no raised lettering etc, I usually drill a small hole in the pick where my thumb and finger meet, just for the extra grip, especially when fingers are sweaty. Never dropped a pick yet by drilling the "grip" hole.
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I like that idea!! I have been using these while playing guitar, (not this thickness) and they work well
