Pick Questions?

[Chas007]

What kind of pick do you prefer for acoustic guitar?

What thickness do you prefer?

What shape point?

How long does a pick usually last you?

When do you know it's time to replace your pick?

[pickinray]

Originally Posted by Chas007

What kind of pick do you prefer for acoustic guitar?

What thickness do you prefer?

What shape point?

How long does a pick usually last you?

When do you know it's time to replace your pick?

1. Mostly Fender celluloid, but I also like Dunlop primetones

2. Heavy (Fender) or 1.0 mm (Dunlop)

3. 351 shape

4. Usually years

5. The only time I have to replace a pick is when I lose it. I don't wear them out.

[Wade Hampton]

I like D'Andrea Classic Celluloid 84 mm medium-heavy picks. D'Andrea manufactures Fender's picks for them, so if you use a Fender celluloid pick, it was made by D'Andrea. I also like Blue Chip TD 35 picks, which are quite similar to the D'Andrea medium-heavies in terms of flex and feel.

It's hard for me to say how long the celluloid picks last for me because typically I carry a lot of them. The Blue Chips seem to last forever.

Hope this helps.


Wade Hampton Miller

[kizz]

Dunlop Primetone 1.0 standard, great tone and grip, maybe last 6 months.

[RalphH]

Medium Gibson triangle.

I don't think I've ever worm one out - I lose them well before that.

[FoxHound4690]

If it's 6 string acoustic I like a nice heavy pick. Tortex 1.4mm gives me a lovely loud tone on my Martin D-16.

On my 12 string I prefer to use a little bit of a less thicker pick like a 1.0mm I find I can pluck the "courses" easier with a thinner pick than with a thick one.

[Mike McLenison]

I use an array of picks of differing materials usually around 3mm thick. Currently my fave is a fiddy cent Dunlop stubby. Sounds powerful without a percussive nature.

[AndrewG]

Graphtech Tusq, 351 shape, 0.88 or 1.00 give a nice bright, crisp tone.

[RoyBoy]

Blue Chip CT-55 or TAD 50 (~1.4mm)
Large triangle with speed bevel
I've got over 7 years on my CT-55
They glide through the strings beautifully and do not slip with a light grip

[jaymarsch]

Over the past few years I have discovered that my pick preferences have generally evolved into:
Casein - .90mm to 1.1mm
I like small triangle with a bit more rounded corners. Apollo and Charmed Life are my faves but Red Bear and Pearse also make great casein picks worth checking out

Vespel - .89mm - 1.mm
I have 2 Blue Chips - the small tri with one rounded corner is my favorite. I think that it is the TP-40-1R model. I also have a TD-35.
Ultem/Ultex - .88-1.3
Dunlop Primetones (no raised grip) and Clayton’s are the ones that I prefer when it comes to this material. Again, I like the tri-shape better than the teardrops but I use both.
I have only been flat picking about 20% of the time so my picks last a good long time. I am not a heavy handed strummer and use light gauge strings. The thinner casein picks can break if they are held with too much pressure but mine have survived so far. I like a pick that has a teeny bit of flex to it.
Best,
Jayne

[leonski]

Wegen TF120

D'Addario classic celluloid 1.25 rounded triangle

[guitararmy]

I use medium Fender 351 picks in pink (easy to find when dropped).

Never replace them, usually lose them first.

[nightchef]

Fender mediums or Dunlop .73s for acoustic, Fender mediums or Dunlop .88s for electric, Dunlop .88s or 1.00s for bass. All 351s, and Dunlops all Tortex.

That’s basically what I’ve used for decades now. But I’m thinking of experimenting with thicker picks and different materials.

As others have said, I generally lose picks before they have a chance to deteriorate noticeably.

[Dyson Guitars]

I typically make my own picks, I've been getting Casein from a manufacturer in Turkey and making picks form that recently.

I'm usually aiming for 1.4 mm or so thickness for playing my acoustic

I like a tri-corner shape. Like the Blue Chip TP shape

They last me a really long time, I generally lose them before they ever wear out.

I am not sure I have ever retired a pick. Ha.

[Ds114]

Tortex or Primetone .73 regular 351 shape, I don't wear out picks, but Tortex get slippery/smooth over time and harder to grip