Best pick?

Passacaglia

martin b wrote:

I'm afraid I must confess, having recently acquired the genuine aquatic creature-derived article, there's no going back for me. A revelation in fact.

Dried sea cucumber works for you, Martin? When I used it, I sucked. Big time.

howlingmonkeypicks

hanear21 wrote:

I got to try a hand carved tagua nut pick a while back and I really loved it! It was about the same as a 2.5mm wegen in design. The person who made it said that they were going to start selling them pretty soon, but until then I don't really know how you would get a hold of one.

Not sure if you are referring to our picks, but we make guitar picks from Tagua nut. Check us out over here: www.howlingmonkeypicks.com

We can make picks to almost any spec.

Buco

BlueChip

I use SR60. It made a pretty major difference in sound for me:
viewtopic.php?f=12&t=11065&start=60

jonpowl

Being a newbie gypsy jazz picker, but long time blues, rock and country player, I like the Dunlop Primetone large round tip. It makes my Gitane DG-255 sound much better and at a great price on a gypsy budget. Of course, I can only dream of Wegen picks and Dupont guitars.

andre

Hi... Don't forget there are a couple of factors that will make a difference... Ie...
Do you live in a very humid/dry area? Hands sweat a lot?
Do you try to emulate the accepted 'standard' right hand manouche techniques - or do you have your own? (Many 'real' manouches do!)
Do you use a Selmer-type guitar? Amplified? Through a pick-up or straight to PA? Magnetic pick-up or other? Or different guitars - nylon string? Semi acoustic?
Are you looking for an 'authentic' manouche tone? Looking for your own, personal tone?
These things matter when reviewing products - even the humble plectrum! Especially when many of those mentioned are so expensive, compared to standard picks!
Just asking...

AmundLauritzen

Bones wrote:

What Amund said.

I've mostly been a rhythm player so I've always used the thicker Wegens but recently I switched to a thinner Wegen (I think 2 or 2.5mm) since I'm working more on leads and I definitely like it better for leads (louder more focussed tone and easier to control).

But for rhythm I still think that the thicker pick is warmer, smoother sounding. The thinner picks are harder (for me) to get a nice dry tone for rhythm. The tone tends to be harsh (to my ear) for rhythm with the thinner picks but I know a lot of guys use them and get a great sound so it is probably just a matter of making an adjustment in the technique.

I notice that as well. I seem to get too much pick noise with the 1.8mm. On the DVD "In the style of Stochelo Rosenberg", Stochelo explains how he only uses the tip of the pick to play.
From my observations, it seems he uses a larger portion of the pick for lead playing.

This seems to be a good solution. It could be possible to use two different picks for rhythm and lead, but then there is the awkward transition when you have to switch picks.

The best solution is probably to choose the pick that fits the players primary style. Someone who is primarily a rhythm player but who likes to take a solo too can use a thicker pick and still get an acceptable tone, while someone who specializes on lead guitar can use Stochelos solution.

andmer

These djangojazz picks are quite good. I bought one here last year, seems out of stock at the moment. I like it better than wegen on the whole.

http://shoppingcart.djangobooks.com/Cat ... jazz-picks

Al Watsky

FWIW
I've been making my own picks out of cow bone.
between 4.5 and 5 mm thick , shape is more or less based on the venerable Dunlop 208 but the bevel is copied from the Wegan , I also do the grooves . I like them.
I use the Dunlop 208 on electric guitar presently its a 2 mm pick.
Oddly I used the Wegan 3.5 mm pick for years on my electrics. Touring, recording and etc. I wore them out quickly on a set of 10's playing rhythm.
Pick choice is critical for playing acoustic, it so directly effects the tone of the instrument.
Turtle shell is great but hard to find thick enough for my liking.
I like a heavy pick and enjoy bone for the brightness, but on some guitars the Wegan or this new Dunlop 5mm thing is excellent especially for the money.
I stylus pick with a 2mm 208 if I'm playing a lot of electric Jazz guitar.
On the GJG's I flat pick with the 3-5 mm picks as stylus picking is only suited to electric guitar playing.

Steveareno

Have experimented like everyone else (or so it seems). I like the feel and tone of celluloid picks and use David Grisman Dawg picks on my flat tops. Celluloid was apparently D'andrea's original alternative to tortoise shell when they stopped using it. They're about 1.5 mm, which feels a little thin for GJ, so I also use 2.5 mm V picks (rounded triangle, pearloid). 3.5mm or thicker just feels too big. Definitely prefer rounded edges for a fat tone. I found Wegens to be a little brittle and clacky sounding. Also have a 2.5 mm Red Bear which is a good alternative to real tortoise shell. They're kind of expensive. I actually think the Dawgs sound warmer and they're only about $1.25 each.
Swang on,