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Picking a pick (Dunlop Flow, Primetone, Wegen Fatone content - open to recommendations)

Dragonlord

Dragonlord

Rocks Around The Glocks
Aug 30, 2000
2,573
464
46
Greece, Europe
#1
After switching to picking some months ago, I started the search for my ideal pick. I've tried a bunch but still haven't settled. Thought I'd share where I'm at in case you can help.
So, from the ones I like I have concluded that 1) I like Ultex as a material and 2) thick picks is where it's at for me, at least 3mm. One of my favorites is the Dunlop Flow 3mm, although I'd like something with a better grip. So I ordered the Primetone 3mm that seemed to have a better grip, and thought I'd also try the 5mm (508), which seemed a bit too much but I thought why not. Thinner Primetones are made of Ultex, like the Flow, but for some reason the thicker ones are made of some polycarbonate. Anyway, didn't care much for the 3mm compared to the Flow, the grip is indeed better but the sound is a little more dull. But the 5mm surprised me. It takes some getting used to, as it feels more like a lego brick than a pick, but its stiffness means it needs less tension and the sound is very full, much like fingers (but with the added attack, which is the main reason I started picking in the first place). The thing is, the 3mm Flow still sound sounds clearer and brighter, for which I blame the Ultex. I think my ideal pick might be a 5mm Primetone made from Ultex, but sadly AFAIK Dunlop only makes Ultex picks up to 3mm thickness. It seems that with those thicker Primetones they tried to copy the Wegen Fatone (maybe that's why they used a different material, to get closer to those?). Still haven't tried a Wegen, although I intend to. So, on to the questions:
1) Has anyone directly compared the Primetone 5mm and Wegen Fatone? How do they compare soundwise?
2) Any other recommendations? I see other brands use Ultem, is it the same as Ultex? Any 5mm Ultem picks for example?
Thanks!
 
#3
Dragonlord said:
Paging @gebass6 , reading older threads I saw you have both the Fatone and the Primetone 5mm, I'd appreciate your feedback!
Click to expand...
You rang?
Lurch.jpg

The Dunlop Primetone and the Wegen sound exactly alike.
They look alike too!
But the Primetones are cheaper.
 
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#4
Watchootognbout said:
The Dunlop Primetone and the Wegen sound exactly alike.
They look alike too!
But the Primetones are cheaper.
Click to expand...
Damn, I was hoping the Wegen sounded a little brighter. Any other recommendations you might have are more than welcome, since we both seem to like'em thick. I also liked the 3mm Dunlop Big Stubby for the shape but still no match for the ultex tonewise...
 
#5
Dragonlord said:
Damn, I was hoping the Wegen sounded a little brighter. Any other recommendations you might have are more than welcome, since we both seem to like'em thick. I also liked the 3mm Dunlop Big Stubby for the shape but still no match for the ultex tonewise...
Click to expand...
For brightness I suggest a V-Pick Big Fattie or a TimberTone agate pick.
(Far right.Top and bottom)
20170721_151759.jpg
 
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#7
sissy kathy said:
Find some bite pads for woodwind mouthpieces. Get some that fit a clarinet and add them to the grip area of your 3 mm Primetone. You're welcome.
Click to expand...
Something like this would do? https://www.thomann.de/gr/stoelzel_bissplatten.htm
Do you suggest this for the grip or/and for more rigidity/thickness to affect the tone? Because I find 5mm picks to sound "bigger" than 3mm (for example Primetone 3mm vs 5mm), I just prefer the tone of Ultex... wondering if you think this will sound more like a 5mm Ultex pick.
 
#8
Dragonlord said:
Something like this would do? https://www.thomann.de/gr/stoelzel_bissplatten.htm
Do you suggest this for the grip or/and for more rigidity/thickness to affect the tone? Because I find 5mm picks to sound "bigger" than 3mm (for example Primetone 3mm vs 5mm), I just prefer the tone of Ultex... wondering if you think this will sound more like a 5mm Ultex pick.
Click to expand...
Yes, that is just what I'm talking about. Not for tone; for the grip. IMO if you need picks thicker than 3mm it's time to try rock picks.
Stone Guitar Picks | Guitar Pick Wallets | Stoneworks Guitar Picks
 
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#9
sissy kathy said:
Not for tone; for the grip.
Click to expand...
Oh ok, thanks but I'm more concerned about the tone than the grip, maybe I didn't make that clear, I can see how it can be confusing the way I wrote it. I improved the grip of a 2.5mm Flow I was using by burning it and making dents with a knife. The 5mm Primetone has better grip, but what got me more interested in it is the bigger sound. Unfortunately it loses clarity and high end compared to the Flow, and that's an Ultex vs polycarbonate thing because I can also hear it comparing the 3mm Flow to the 3mm Primetone. Was hoping to find a pick that does it all, bigger sound from the extra thickness and the clarity and fuller range (to my ears) of the Ultex...
 
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#10
Last edited:
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#12
Dragonlord said:
Oh ok, thanks but I'm more concerned about the tone than the grip, maybe I didn't make that clear, I can see how it can be confusing the way I wrote it. I improved the grip of a 2.5mm Flow I was using by burning it and making dents with a knife. The 5mm Primetone has better grip, but what got me more interested in it is the bigger sound. Unfortunately it loses clarity and high end compared to the Flow, and that's an Ultex vs polycarbonate thing because I can also hear it comparing the 3mm Flow to the 3mm Primetone. Was hoping to find a pick that does it all, bigger sound from the extra thickness and the clarity and fuller range (to my ears) of the Ultex...
Click to expand...
Until you posted,I never knew about Ultex picks.
Tortex Vs. Ultex Plectrums - What's The Difference? | Guitar Pick Zone
Now I've ordered a set of Dunlop Jazz lll 2.0 Ultex picks.
Ultex jazz lll.jpg

Have you tried using the round corner of the pick?
It'll give you the full,rounded tone of a 5 mm PrimeTone.
 
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#14
Watchootognbout said:
Until you posted,I never knew about Ultex picks.
Tortex Vs. Ultex Plectrums - What's The Difference? | Guitar Pick Zone
Now I've ordered a set of Dunlop Jazz lll 2.0 Ultex picks.

Have you tried using the round corner of the pick?
It'll give you the full,rounded tone of a 5 mm PrimeTone.
Click to expand...
I'm curious what you'll think of the Ultex!
Using the round corner is a great suggestion, I hadn't given it much thought because I like sharper picks, I find I can play faster with them. I tried the back corner of the 3mm Flow and indeed it gives bigger lows while maintaining the clarity, I need to play more this way to see if I can get used to it, thanks!
 
#16
Dragonlord said:
I'm curious what you'll think of the Ultex!
Using the round corner is a great suggestion, I hadn't given it much thought because I like sharper picks, I find I can play faster with them. I tried the back corner of the 3mm Flow and indeed it gives bigger lows while maintaining the clarity, I need to play more this way to see if I can get used to it, thanks!
Click to expand...
These should be interesting.
Most of my thick picks tend to have a dark round sound.
Except for the agates and the Big Fattie.

I want something with a sharp,crisp sound.
Playing on the rounded corner( I call this Metheny style) gives me a bit more speed and less "hang up"on the string.
 
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#17
Dragonlord said:
I'm curious what you'll think of the Ultex!
Using the round corner is a great suggestion, I hadn't given it much thought because I like sharper picks, I find I can play faster with them. I tried the back corner of the 3mm Flow and indeed it gives bigger lows while maintaining the clarity, I need to play more this way to see if I can get used to it, thanks!
Click to expand...
The dunlop Ultex Jazz came in yesterday.
Kinda small...........I thought they would be a bit bigger.
They will take a some getting used to.
A bit harder to hold.
 
#18
Watchootognbout said:
The dunlop Ultex Jazz came in yesterday.
Kinda small...........I thought they would be a bit bigger.
They will take a some getting used to.
A bit harder to hold.
Click to expand...
I think they also make an XL Jazz III. I like the Flow picks, they're also made of Ultex and they're the same size as the Primetone 308/508.
 
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#19
I recently bought a few Primetone 5 mm's, and while I ended up going back to my usual Max Grip 1.5 mm's, for certain things the 5 mm's are absolutely outstanding. No experience with the Wegens because I'm happy with the Primetones.
 
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#20
Been going the opposite direction for years. Used to use 3mm Stubbies because I thought bigger was better, now I'm down to Tortex .88s and .73s.

In hindsight, I never liked how some of the bigger picks would chirp against the string. I like how with a thinner pick like a Tortex I can hear the sound of the string ripping the pick apart through the amplifier. Ultex glides better and the picks last longer, but it doesn't give me the same digging in sound.
 

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