I just spent $100 on picks...

[IndyHD28]

Originally Posted by RP

I'm not sure that I've spent $100 on guitar picks in my whole life...

Got it.

My dealer opened my eyes (a bit) when he says...

“You’ve spent thousands on guitars searching for optimum tone but you won’t spend 1% more to improve it?”

[Groovingdan]

Yup the tone improvement with good picks is incredible.

[PiousDevil]

I legitimately cannot remember what kind of picks I used before I got casein John Pearse fast turtle a couple of years ago. The difference was so profound that I completely forgot whatever it was that I used before.

[Rosewood99]

I'm not a fan of either of those picks but if they work for you I have no problem spending that much on picks. Considering many of us have guitars that range in value from $1,000 to $5,000 (and even greater) $100 is a very small percentage if it improves your tone. Why cheap out on anything if it helps?

[Skip Ellis]

Originally Posted by RP

I'm not sure that I've spent $100 on guitar picks in my whole life...

Me neither! I've been using the same Fender 358 heavy jazz picks for, at least, 20 years. Same with my Fred Kelly thumb picks - I've had them forever and see no need to change. But.....whatever floats your boat

[Brucebubs]

US$100 would buy me close to 200 of my favorite picks.

I don't need that many.

[SpiderTrap]

Serial pick dropper here , settled on Guitar Moose Classic 80s , sorta a hardened nylon and is very mellow , and never ever drop one . Been thru 100s non Boutique , and am very happy with these .

[JC.]

Originally Posted by IndyHD28

Got it.

My dealer opened my eyes (a bit) when he says...

“You’ve spent thousands on guitars searching for optimum tone but you won’t spend 1% more to improve it?”

Just to slightly pick up on this, I’m in what seems to be a small minority here who has bought lots of expensive picks (BC, CL, Wegen, EML....) only to conclude that I prefer the cheap ones. I’m just challenging the assumption that spending more *will* get you better tone. Just like string choice, there is more subjectivity than objectivity in it.

[SalFromChatham]

I have three BC picks... they sound great on some guitars, but not on others. On my 000-28 I like the sound of a plain plastic Gibson Heavy. On my Country Western I like the same cheap plastic heavy, or the Dunlop prime tones, which are 3 for $5.

By the way I bought a Casein Clayton protein pick... a heavy... and loved it. $7 bucks too. I lost it... I think I’ll order another.

I will likely sell the Blue Chips. I will try a Charmed Life at some point.

[Perchman]

Sit down with different material picks of the same thickness that are easily obtained at GC or Sam Ash, celluloid, tortex, Ultex, primetone (ultex but different) and nylon. Spend an hour on the couch switching back and forth. It’s impossible not to hear very discernible differences. As much as different strings to my ears. Whether or not you want to spend more for casein or Vespel will be up to you. But I can say that my purchase of casein picks (Fast Turtle and Charmed Life) was well worth my money. None of the store bought picks sounded or felt like casein.

[tnez13]

Looking at my pick container one day, I realized I could have almost purchased an entry level guitar for all the picks I've purchased. No regrets though because it allowed to dial in on the thickness and size of pick I like to use. The Blue Chip STP 60 is my current favorite. Even with those purchases, there are more picks out there that I want to try.

[619TF]

Originally Posted by JC.

Just to slightly pick up on this, I’m in what seems to be a small minority here who has bought lots of expensive picks (BC, CL, Wegen, EML....) only to conclude that I prefer the cheap ones. I’m just challenging the assumption that spending more *will* get you better tone. Just like string choice, there is more subjectivity than objectivity in it.

$100 on picks is certainly a "first world" issue and the alleged improvement in tone would be nice but sometimes you just have to draw the line somewhere based upon the degree of perceived improvement and your household budget. The $800 it took for me to buy a beat up $2200 Taylor 5 years ago is 1/8 of the $100 of the pick purchase discussed here and was a really hard decision. Still, I'd rather make my music now than have to save up for a pricey pick that is just as easily lost as the cheaper ones I get. My most expensive pick purchase was the 6 for $12 Taylor Ultex Pros they just released and I ended up splitting the cost of those with a friend. I just can't see spending that kind of money on a pick or two (especially when that's several weeks of food money) but then again, I guess if I was rolling in it then maybe. Nah, not really. That's just my 2 cents - probably all it's worth and I simply don't have more to spare.

[alnico5]

Originally Posted by Hoyt

Agree that picks make a big difference. There’s a pick for whatever sound you want with a decent guitar.

Want a darker sound, a thicker pick that is a bit soft will get you as dark as you want. Want bright, thinner pick and try different materials. And there’s a bunch in between.

Alter where you pick/strum the strings — toward neck, over sound hole, toward bridge — for more control over tone.

It’s just hard breaking old habits, but doesn’t take long.

100%. Also, the firmness of your grip on the pick alters the tone.

[s2y]

Originally Posted by 619TF

$100 on picks is certainly a "first world" issue and the alleged improvement in tone would be nice but sometimes you just have to draw the line somewhere based upon the degree of perceived improvement and your household budget. The $800 it took for me to buy a beat up $2200 Taylor 5 years ago is 1/8 of the $100 of the pick purchase discussed here and was a really hard decision. Still, I'd rather make my music now than have to save up for a pricey pick that is just as easily lost as the cheaper ones I get. My most expensive pick purchase was the 6 for $12 Taylor Ultex Pros they just released and I ended up splitting the cost of those with a friend. I just can't see spending that kind of money on a pick or two (especially when that's several weeks of food money) but then again, I guess if I was rolling in it then maybe. Nah, not really. That's just my 2 cents - probably all it's worth and I simply don't have more to spare.

I don't mean to pick on ya....no pun intended given the subject matter....

Do you guys keep a log of what you paid for everything? I've known a ton of guitarists and they're constantly telling me what they paid for an X guitar 5-20 years ago. I bought a Taylor or two about 5 years ago and I don't remember what I paid.

[B. Adams]

Originally Posted by s2y

Do you guys keep a log of what you paid for everything?

Just the itemized spreadsheet I use for my taxes.

I can pretty much remember what I paid for things though. At least most of the time.