What are your favourite plectrums/plectra?

[Alistair]

I think this is a Songstuff first!

If you play guitar, and don't exclusively fingerpick, what plectrums do you like to use?

Me, I like Jim Dunlop 0.65 gauge (the light grey ones). Good grip and just the right amount of flex and attack.

Sometimes I sue the next gauge up (0.75? the dark grey ones) if I want to play loud.

I've tried Fender ones but they are too smooth and slip out of my fingers.

My wife recently bought me some metal ones. I don't think I am going to get along with those.

A couple of years ago I tried those round plastic ones wth a hole in the middle - looks like a Polo mint/Lifesaver. Rubbish.

I always keep a plectrum in my wallet - you never know when you will be caught short. I have used cut-up detergent bottles in the past but they never work as well.

A guy comes to our weekly session who uses a pick the thickness of a paving slab. Turns out he is really a bass player and isn't used to anything else - but it makes for a disjointed style of playing.

Watch out for more fab guitar accessory threads!

[FinnArild]

Hmmm ... can't say I care, as long as they're not too hard or too soft. I like plectra with a little "give" in them but not too much.

I'll post a new one on nail-care ...

[Alistair]

Didier may be about to tell us that in fact this topic has been done before (July 2003 - before my time!)

Still, there are some new members since then....

[Didier]

If you play guitar, and don't exclusively fingerpick, what plectrums do you like to use?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

A detailed discussion on my pick preferences:

http://www.songstuff.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=2070

The short answer: Gibson medium triangular.

I always keep a plectrum in my wallet - you never know when you will be caught short. I have used cut-up detergent bottles in the past but they never work as well.

Mine (two or three, usually) are in my right trousers pocket.

Didier

[Alistair]

Didier may be about to tell us that in fact this topic has been done before (July 2003 - before my time!)

Still, there are some new members since then....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well, I got something right for a change!

Thanks, Didier, I shall go and have a read.

[Steve]

I used to use these.

But I haven't been able to find them for years! They are Fender .71. You can see they are quite small! (Thats a pound coin there)

[hariossa]

I just read that John uses a stone!!!... well I tried that too, but the stones I found were not very hard and wear out really fast, also had an awful attack sound.

I wrote about my picks on the strings thread Here.

quoted:"also my picks are very strange because I make them myself using a thumb pick, a 3mm jim dunlop big stubby, some superglue and a dremel machine..."

that's it!

[Alistair]

Me, I like Jim Dunlop 0.65 gauge (the light grey ones). Good grip and just the right amount of flex and attack.

I think they are 0.60mm actually!

I used the next gauge up last night because it was so damn hot and the 0.60 turns to mush in the heat!

[Rudi]

Like Didier, I like Gibson triangular picks (they are always black). I find the gauges LIGHT, MEDIUM & HEAVY very unreliable. In other words they vary, and sometimes a HEAVY will be about the same as a certain MEDIUM. So I handle them before I buy. I end up buying some of each.

As a general rule, the heavier pick suits the heavier gauge strings, and there should be a little give in them.

I couldnt find these picks for about 3 years and was using up my `stock'. I now have found them again (Yippee!) & so bought some new ones.

[tgrover]

Jim Dunlop Tortex 1m. Very firm.And you can do lots of pick scraps before they wear out

[Alistair]

I use light strings and find that firm picks get tangled in them? Am I alone in this? Is it just my cack-handed technique?

[phantomengineer]

I use medium strings - and whatever picks I can find. I like Taylors and Brains (.73mm). The Brains have grips on them, so they don't slip as much

[Rudi]

I use light strings and find that firm picks get tangled in them? Am I alone in this? Is it just my cack-handed technique?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If you mainly strum, more give is desirable, so a lighter pick makes sense. Light picks are ok for melody work if you dont mind all your notes sounding the same.

Thats what I reckon anyway

[john]

Hey

I use either red or white sharkfins for strumming, but for lead guitar I use a stone. Yes a stone. The stones in question are picked up from a beach where they have been smoothed by the sea. Picking the right stones you get something that glides easily across the strings, but you won't get anything harder.

Cheers

John

[Alistair]

Deja vu?

[Steve]

I heard that Brian May uses Sixpenny pieces? I tried it once, kept snagging the string... until it snapped

[john]

Deja vu?

Well you will ask the same question...

[Alistair]

Well you will ask the same question...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You're losing it John! You posted the same reply twice in the same thread!

[phantomengineer]

I think John perhaps deleted his original post about the stones? Now everyone will be confused. And Alistair looks foolish for saying that John posted something twice....

[Alistair]

But because you mention John's original post, it lets me off the hook because it's obvious I'm not going mad.

Don't mess with The Beast of Farlington, sonny!