The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > General Acoustic Guitar Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 08-12-2011, 08:18 PM
RiloKiley RiloKiley is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,034
Default What is the best pick for strumming?

I've been experimenting with different kinds of picks to see what I like the most. So far what I've found is that your can get a decent sound out of many picks for flatpicking. My preference is for a bigger pick (IE not a jazz pick).

However I am very particular about the pick that I use for strumming. Many do not have a great clear tone and make the strings kind of bleed into each other when you strum, which I don't like. They can also sound muted or not sustain very long.

So far the pick that I like the most is the Dava pick with the yellow or white tip. I believe that is is the one in the far right in the below picture. Great string seperation, works very well for both strumming and flatpicking, and makes your guitar extremely loud. Ergonomically it is very easy to use on my dreads



What I'm wondering is that if there are better picks out there for strumming? I'm curious about the higher end picks as as Wegen, Blue Chip, Red Bear etc... Or anything that works well
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 08-12-2011, 10:31 PM
Joe M Joe M is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 466
Default

My brother bought a 3 pack of Wegen picks and gave one to me to try. IMHO, it made both my Martin and Taylor guitars sound more mellow or softer, especially the bass strings. Ironically, my brother thought they made his Taylors sound brighter. It was a sound I didn't like, I think a guitar should have bass strings that ring out, not sound muffled.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 08-12-2011, 10:40 PM
Andromeda Andromeda is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Canandaigua NY
Posts: 14,271
Default

I like the Jim Dunlop nylon picks of various thicknesses. For certain songs the real thin ones work well and for other songs the thicker picks also work well.
__________________
Liam F. 👽🖖🏼👑 🎶
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 08-12-2011, 10:55 PM
Landru Landru is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 3,755
Default

Blue Chip TP 50 or 60 - I have the 60, and it's the best strumming pick I've ever come across.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 08-12-2011, 10:58 PM
Ilovetaylors Ilovetaylors is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: NYC
Posts: 2,190
Default

Blue chip are amazing picks!!!!! kinda pricy, but well worth it.
__________________
selling it all...
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 08-13-2011, 08:02 AM
richyirich richyirich is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 777
Default

I use Dunlop Tortex 0.50 mm pick for strumming.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 08-13-2011, 08:50 AM
williejohnson williejohnson is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,484
Default

OK I'm going to have to "fess up now." I mostly fingerpick acoustic nowdays but have been using a flat pick on both electric and acoustic guitars for 50+ years. Until recently (a month or so ago) I always used a Fender or Gibson thin pick (so 50 years of a Fender/Gibson thin.) A month or so ago there was a post on picks and specifically ( I believe) on Blue Chip picks. After reading the comments from both Landru and rmyAddison I thought, "OK, what the hell, I'll bite (if these two think so highly of them)" I Got the Blue Chip TD 35. My first impressions of it was boy, that feels different but it's way too thick for me. I kept using it and a couple of days later I thought man, that really sounds good , I can play this lick much faster with this pick and it "feels" wonderful. As I stated earlier, I've used thin picks my whole life but I have tried hundreds of picks of all types over the last 50 years. Well, it's now been a month or so and I must say this is the best pick I have ever used, period. Maybe I'm crazy but it has almost the same feel while playing that I get when I use a compressor ( I don't know how to better explain that feel.) I would like to thank both Landru and rmyAddison, as well as AGF for teaching an old dog a new trick.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 08-13-2011, 09:39 AM
rmyAddison rmyAddison is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Addison, TX
Posts: 19,007
Default

Blue Chip.........the best!! Gave my Wegans away.

Expensive but worth it every day, they are fantastic!!

Beautiful tone, no pick noise (once you find the right pressure), everybody I have let try one of mine has "converted".

If you're a serious player it's a serious pick!!
__________________
Rich - rmyAddison

Rich Macklin Soundclick Website
http://www.youtube.com/rmyaddison

Martin OM-18 Authentic '33 Adirondack/Mahogany
Martin CS OM-28 Alpine/Madagascar
Martin CS 00-42 Adirondack/Madagascar
Martin OM-45TB (2005) Engelmann/Tasmanian Blackwood (#23 of 29)

Last edited by rmyAddison; 08-13-2011 at 10:15 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 08-13-2011, 09:45 AM
Bikewer Bikewer is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,342
Default

I use the same pick for everything. Dunlop nylon .88 mm (the gray ones)

Wear like iron, sound good. I had a more rounded-profile old Fender plastic pick lying around (I was going to punch circles out of it to make fret markers) and I picked it up last night and played a bit... Dreadful.

That being said, I know many who prefer a lighter pick for strumming. We had a friend who played for many years using nothing but light-gauge nylon material that he cut out of a sheet of the stuff with scissors.
Almost as floppy as paper. Never played a single note in his career, but he could do a rapid "folk" strumming style with considerable gusto.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 08-13-2011, 09:51 AM
Bltprf502 Bltprf502 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: NW GA
Posts: 1,029
Default

Without a doubt... The Wegan Bluegrass pick. Sturdy, east to hold and really bring out the tone when you want to dig in. I have a Red Bear as well that's good. The Wegan is better! I they are 3 picks for about $15. They last forever!
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 08-13-2011, 09:55 AM
RiloKiley RiloKiley is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,034
Default

Thanks for the opinions everyone, keep them coming! I'm going to pick up some of the recommended picks and I will report back.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 08-13-2011, 10:13 AM
mr. beaumont mr. beaumont is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 10,254
Default

I don't do much strumming, but I like my fat picks for everything...2.5 to 4mm, depending on my mood...I'm really liking a few dugains I bought recently...great control for strumming, freddie green rhythm or lead playing.
__________________
Jeff Matz, Jazz Guitar:

http://www.youtube.com/user/jeffreymatz
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 08-13-2011, 10:19 AM
Dotneck Dotneck is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Raleigh, NC
Posts: 2,887
Default

Fast Turtles
__________________
Kopp Trail Boss - Kopp L—02 - Collings C10 Custom - Gibson J-200 Jr - Halcyon 000 - Larrivee 00-70
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 08-13-2011, 10:36 AM
310Taylor 310Taylor is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,302
Default

I find the orange tortex to be perfect for strumming, if I want a little more meat the yellow one. Sorry to describe in colors. I think they are .63 and .76 tortex
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 08-13-2011, 10:38 AM
Landru Landru is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 3,755
Default

You've all got me wanting to buy more picks - like I need more picks.
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > General Acoustic Guitar Discussion






All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:17 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=