Picking the best pick for the job

[collingsd2]

I am curious to see what everyone's favorite picks are. Yes, I totally get that it depends on the kind of music you play. For me, I play bluegrass/flat pick style but also play other styles such as jazz and others.
But overall, which picks do you play with?
Personally, I love bluechip picks (I play with a tad 55 or CT), I've also tried Wegen picks, Mccray picks, even a old tortoise shell. So many options but I'm trying to branch out and any help would be appreciate.

[Ncbandit]

I prefer the Dunlop max-grip nylon .73 and 1.0. They have a great sound and minimal pick noise for recording.

[skyblue314]

Dunlop Primetones and Big Stubbies are my favorites.

[Murphy Slaw]

I can't get away from teardrops and the Bluechip TD40 is my workhorse.

The Wegen Bluegrass 1.0 is faster, but not as toney.

[musicman1951]

I use a BC TAD 40 on all my acoustic guitars for all styles of music.

[J Patrick]

...I love my EML picks in various shapes thicknesses and materials....the gypsy jazz shape is really getting a lot of play time these days....I have one in Casein and one in Acrylic for a slightly brighter tone....ithe bees knees for flatpicking...

[Goodallboy]

I own BC's and I think they're too muted, except when recording or playing amplified.

I love a pick that has dynamics and will stay in your hand. For those reasons a V-Pick Traditional Ultra Lite is what I choose.

[Tnfiddler]

I have a BC TD50 that I like, but I prefer my Wegen bluegrass 1.20 overall. It is a more dynamic pick and brings a guitar to life where the BC tends to dull the tone. If I'd had more time to sample a BC, I wouldn't have bought one.

[mr. beaumont]

I like D'Andrea Pro-Plecs for softer sounds, and the black Dunlops with the alligator on them (2.0mm) for louder/brasher sounds.

I use the rounded end of both picks, not the tip.

[bufflehead]

If I had to settle on a single pick right now it would be a BlueChip TP40. I also use Wegen BigCity jazz picks, Charmed Life nt-1.5s, and sculpted Primetones.

[foxo]

I like Dunlop .6 nylon for strumming, nice balanced sound.

[B. Adams]

I also use Blue Chip TP40.

[Charmed Life Picks]

The consensus of my years in the biz.....

$10.00 or less: John Pearse casein Fast Turtles, Dunlop Primetones, Dunlop Ultex, Wegens, Casein models from Clayton and Fender, V-Picks, Gravity, and other brands recommended by members here.

$20.00 and $25.00: Gravity Gold Series, V-Picks

$25 and up: EML, Red Bear, BC, ipicks, and a few I'm forgetting. Great stuff out there.

And I always say the same thing: One's high-end pick journey IMHO is not complete until you've played a good quality casein pick. I have been playing genuine tortoise picks for more than 40 years and have not found anything that comes closer. Close, yes. But as good as casein? No. IMHO. If curious, find a vendor who offers a full 30-day refund, buy one, and play it against everything you own. You won't be disappointed.

To the OP: You will hear a lot of great suggestions here, but there's nothing like actually playing a pick on your instruments, in your home or studio. The problem is most (but not all) of the boutique vendors sell only direct from their website, not through retails or online distributors. So if you see something you like out there, contact the pick vendor BEFORE purchase via email, and get IN WRITING from them that they're cool with you returning it within a couple weeks for a full refund. Typically, they will ask you to return it with USPS tracking (about 3.00) to confirm delivery.

Hope this helps. Happy Hunting,

scott memmer

[Mr. Jelly]

I have just now moved back to using a flat pick again after several years of using finger picks. In the process I stumbled on using a new, for me, pick. I was using the larger tri cornered Dunlop toltex 1.0. Now I've gone to the larger tri cornered Ultem Gold Clayton .94 picks. They are a touch stiffer but not as bright or thin sounding. Picking nicks here.

[Tnfiddler]

I had our banjo player and bass player do a "blind" pick test the other night at my house while we were practicing. I had both of them turn their backs to me and then I switched back and forth between my Bourgeois and Martin guitars while using my Wegen bluegrass 1.20, BC TD50 and a small triangle Primetone 1.4. They both liked the Wegen better than the BC and the Primetone, on both guitars.