what thickness picks do you shredders use?

[neastguy]

I've a fender medium all my life and I'm thinking about going to something thinner? what yah think? what do you guys use?

[Jo]

Me and myself alone, is the only person who uses a thin pick here. :D

I love a thin pick, the only problem is that they warp after just a couple hours of use.

[neastguy]

I always wondered who the guy was who bought the thin picks..now I know

[Jo]

I always wondered who the guy was who bought the thin picks..now I knowI'd like to know who the guy is that buys the thin picks too.

You're a newbie so you won't get this... but you will see the joke one day and then I'll forgive you :D

BTW, welcome to the forum.

:dude:

[neastguy]

haha.....I have something to look forward to

[Jo]

haha.....I have something to look forward toOh yes... you do!

Am I allowed to thwap an unsuspecting newbie? :D

[kev]

Oh yes... you do!

Am I allowed to thwap an unsuspecting newbie? :D

by all means, yes!

[BIG GINGER GIT]

IMHO thin picks + thin strings = THIN SOUND

I use 10's and Dunlop 500 2.0mm picks, thicker picks give a much better sound :dude: you can really dig in.

In Guitarist (UK) this month there are tips on improving your sound and heavier strings and heavy picks are two of them ;)

[aleclee]

Am I allowed to thwap an unsuspecting newbie? :DHe has to learn at some point. :p

[Jo]

by all means, yes!

Well in that case....


Grrrrr, I'm not a "guy".....
*thwap*
http://www.kitepower.com/prs/gifs/whip2.gif

[Dan Desy]

Hope that was as good for you, nesstguy as it was for Joe;)

I like my picks in the neighborhood of 1.0 mm which is not thin in any way.

[BIG GINGER GIT]

I like my picks in the neighborhood of 1.0 mm which is not thin in any way.

Still half as thin as mine mate ;) :D

[Dan Desy]

Still half as thin as mine mate ;) :DI noticed that too. But 1.0 mm is thick. 2.0 mm is crazy! ;) And possibly dangerous too!

[DanHund]

I noticed that too. But 1.0 mm is thick. 2.0 mm is crazy! ;) And possibly dangerous too!
It'd put an eye out, for sure.

[kev]

Neastguy, welcome to BAM! Consider yourself fortunate, most of us haven't had the honor of being thwapped by Jo.

IMHO thin picks + thin strings = THIN SOUND

I use 10's and Dunlop 500 2.0mm picks, thicker picks give a much better sound :dude: you can really dig in.

In Guitarist (UK) this month there are tips on improving your sound and heavier strings and heavy picks are two of them ;)YMMV, but I'm with B.G.G. on this one. I prefer a thicker pick and thicker strings as well. I change out pick brands quite regularly. The Fender heavy confetti type and Dunlop Tortex's have been staples for years for me. I've never been confused for a shredder though, so if I ever got to that level of dexterity, I might not be using thick picks. I got one of Ty Tabor's picks after a King's X show and I wouldn't use it, too floppy for my current tastes. I love Ty, but I wouldn't use those picks just because he does.

[Aldwyn]

It'd put an eye out, for sure.
Only if he's playing one of those recalled SC Trems.

Peace,
Aldwyn


:D

[jbird]

The Orange one's, Dunlop Tortex .60's. I had some custom picks made by D&D once with the bands name on em', ordered mediums, and they were really nice, had that grippy tortex feel to em'.

[neastguy]

thats my first thwaping!!! hopefully my last!! lol...

[Adam]

thats my first thwaping!!! hopefully my last!! lol...There are some of us around here that would beg for a thwapping from Jo. Scary in an internet-wierdo kind of way, yes, but strangely comforting also.

Welcome to BaM!

Edit: Oh yeah - picks. I prefer the "BRAIN" cats tongue picks in about 1mm thickness. I think Snarling Dogs makes em. Grippy, but a smooth picking surface.

[johnreardon]

When I do use plectrums, they tend to be medium-ish, however, I find myself using my fingers more and more these days.

Nice solid sound and you can do a lot with 3 fingers, that is difficult, or impossible, with a plectrum. Try it

[jas]

I use a 1.0mm Jim Dunlop - I bought a gross of them a while back.

I use a pick plus 3 fingers - pick for the bass and the naughty bits, pluck and fingerpick with flesh for anything else.

I used to play with a real thin pick and real thin strings. I thought it helped me for fast strumming. I can't imagine what I was thinking.

-John

P.S. I am not a shredder - I am a human being. I'm not even sure I know what a shredder is.

[neastguy]

i found a .96mm dunlop laying around and I think I like it better than my fender medium, seems like a bit more control and I like that the pick is a little smaller. Maybe an old dog can learn new tricks..........

[RandyO]

Clayton Acetal, Small Teardrop - .63mm.

http://www.steveclayton.com/guitarpicks.html

[johnreardon]

-John

P.S. I am not a shredder - I am a human being. I'm not even sure I know what a shredder is.John

I'm with you there. Don't understand why people have to give stupid childish names to things. For god's sake, what the hell is 'Death Metal', 'Nu-Metal', 'Shredder', etc.... WHY?


P.S. These people are so stupid, they can't even spell 'NEW'

[FrankiePRS]

Clayton's also... but the big triangley ones. 1.0mm thick. Thicker = more attack control.

[neastguy]

John

I'm with you there. Don't understand why people have to give stupid childish names to things. For god's sake, what the hell is 'Death Metal', 'Nu-Metal', 'Shredder', etc.... WHY?


P.S. These people are so stupid, they can't even spell 'NEW'


well, what I consider a shredder to be....someone who plays lead runs very fast and clean...(but I think most people consider a shredder someone who plays metal and rips leads) its a general tearm, just a general reference. I guess in the future I could just say "those who can play solo runs real fast and clean" as to not to cause hurt feelings....i apologize.....

I can never tell if people are joking on these boards or are serious....

[johnreardon]

well, what I consider a shredder to be....someone who plays lead runs very fast and clean...(but I think most people consider a shredder someone who plays metal and rips leads) its a general tearm, just a general reference. I guess in the future I could just say "those who can play solo runs real fast and clean" as to not to cause hurt feelings....i apologize.....

I can never tell if people are joking on these boards or are serious....
Serious on BAM, of course we are ;) ;) ;)

[jas]

well, what I consider a shredder to be....someone who plays lead runs very fast and clean...(but I think most people consider a shredder someone who plays metal and rips leads) its a general tearm, just a general reference. I guess in the future I could just say "those who can play solo runs real fast and clean" as to not to cause hurt feelings....i apologize.....

I can never tell if people are joking on these boards or are serious....
No hurt feelings whatsoever. For the record, now I'm SURE I'm not a shredder. ;)

As to who's joking and who's serious, here's a brief guide:

John Reardon...joking. Everyone else...serious.

-John

[SteveK]

If you're trying to play fast single note runs, I don't see how a thin pick could possibly be an asset. The flex of the tip of the pick would have to "recover" to it's original position to pick the next note cleanly. A thicker pick, would maintain it's position so you could hit the next note with much less (if any) recovery time needed.


Now for strumming cords ala Mr. Townsend in Pinball Wizard....gimme that thin pick!

All just IMHO.

[Tom Gross]

If you're trying to play fast single note runs, I don't see how a thin pick could possibly be an asset. The flex of the tip of the pick would have to "recover" to it's original position to pick the next note cleanly. A thicker pick, would maintain it's position so you could hit the next note with much less (if any) recovery time needed.


Now for strumming cords ala Mr. Townsend in Pinball Wizard....gimme that thin pick!

All just IMHO.
That's exactly why I have to use a thicker pick. If you can play very fast & very sloppy and still be a shredder, than that's me. I cannot stand any movement of the pick tip, at warp speed the pick has to be where I think it's gonna be. I ain't got time to wait for it to recover.
I use the purple Dunlop Tortex's. Back in the day, I used the tiny teardrop fender jazz heavy picks.

[kev]

I must be living right. I'm using the same picks Tom uses. Sadly though, I can't seem to get that last 2% of the elusive Tom Gross tone. Of course! It's because I SUCK!! :D

There are some great players on this thread. I'm not one of them!

[jas]

I must be living right. I'm using the same picks Tom uses. Sadly though, I can't seem to get that last 2% of the elusive Tom Gross tone. Of course! It's because I SUCK!! :D

There are some great players on this thread. I'm not one of them!
If you play 98% as well as Tom, you hardly suck. I'd say that makes you pretty f@$!@#$ good!

And Tom, I'm still scratching my head about your "very sloppy" comment. If your playing's very sloppy, I'm headlining at Spring Cleaning at a MOVE house in Philly.

-John

[kev]

If you play 98% as well as Tom, you hardly suck. I'd say that makes you pretty f@$!@#$ good!

And Tom, I'm still scratching my head about your "very sloppy" comment. If your playing's very sloppy, I'm headlining at Spring Cleaning at a MOVE house in Philly.

-John
No, I don't play 98% as good, 'twas a bad joke.

[BoyMambo]

For 12 string acoustic strumming, use a light pick, this gives a nice bit of slap. Slightly heavier for 6 string acoustic strumming. For electric, pretty heavy flat pick, this gives a good bit of bite. I really like the PRS picks that came with the goodie bag at the 1st UK Forum, they were class.

[BIG GINGER GIT]

I really like the PRS picks that came with the goodie bag at the 1st UK Forum, they were class.

I gave all mine away, I thought they were bloody horrible :eek: :(

[BoyMambo]

I ended up with two packs, so I think that you must have given me yours. I thought your MP3 you posted was absolutely brilliant!

[BIG GINGER GIT]

I thought your MP3 you posted was absolutely brilliant!

Cheers mate :D ;)

[Phil Bennett]

I use Dunlop 2mm thick picks...................................

Shredder...

Hardley.
Regards

[Hello Kopter]

Dunlop Jazz III's for the Strat

Gator Grip .73mm's for the Martin

[Goober]

Good ole' Fender heavy's for me when playing electric.
I'll sometimes use mediums when playing acoutic or something
that requires fast strumming.

[Brian Hill]

I use the thick blue Tortex picks. Better attack and control. A thick pick will open the door to more power and tone (at least for me?). I don't know how any one can use those super thin picks?

[raptor5618]

.96 or .82 mm tortex. depending upon how I feel. I cannot imagine a 2.0, think my hand would cramp up just holding it.

[BIG GINGER GIT]

.96 or .82 mm tortex. depending upon how I feel. I cannot imagine a 2.0, think my hand would cramp up just holding it.
Real men use 2.0 ;) :D :eek:

[ikkyu2]

When I used to shred I used a Jim Dunlop Jazz III. It is so thick they don't bother saying how thick it is ;) It is the ideal shredder's pick - only a bit sticks out and it does not bend, affording you complete control.

I find that the thinner the pick is, the more its tip is 'waving around' when you're going at the strings. And when you're going at 'em hard and heavy like Jason Becker or Al di Meola, I've always felt that the flimsy picks sort of tangle you up and slow you down.

For chording and strumming, I like a Fender medium or even a thin pick - it decreases that sharp string attack while still getting the string ringing.

This is not eternal truth, though - it's only what works for me. Lots of people do it differently.

[irwcustom]

When I used to shred I used a Jim Dunlop Jazz III. It is so thick they don't bother saying how thick it is ;) It is the ideal shredder's pick - only a bit sticks out and it does not bend, affording you complete control.

I find that the thinner the pick is, the more its tip is 'waving around' when you're going at the strings. And when you're going at 'em hard and heavy like Jason Becker or Al di Meola, I've always felt that the flimsy picks sort of tangle you up and slow you down.

For chording and strumming, I like a Fender medium or even a thin pick - it decreases that sharp string attack while still getting the string ringing.

This is not eternal truth, though - it's only what works for me. Lots of people do it differently.

Absolutely 100% the same for me - got be be red jazz III's though ... there's a difference in the grade of PP ;) . I prefer for acoustic a fender medium or as you say thin pick for chordal work, but for hybrid picking, the Jazz III is the one.

[joeln87]

I use the green tortex picks.. i think they are like 1.2 or somthing i used to only use medium picks ... but about 2 years ago my teacher gave me a 1.5 pick to try.. i think it was a clayton pick.. and i now i love thick picks.

later
joel

[BIG GINGER GIT]

After reading irwcustom and ikkyu2's comments on the Jazz III's I thought I'd get some as I used to use these picks in the eighties and can't remember why I stopped using them :confused:.

I probably know why now...... great for fast picking but they're not that thick so I'm getting a much thinner sound compared to my Dunlop 500 2.0mm, can't really dig in with them, they're no good for strumming and not that good for chugging along and I find they're really hard to keep a hold of if you start sweating.

So it's back to the 2.0's I'm afraid, I love them :D glad to see Phil Bennett is using them now too .......... I'm sure I converted him ;).

[irwcustom]

Hmmm, not tried them BGG. 2mm! I don't think that anything thicker is needed for me - there is barley much flex in them - though I must admit, I don't dig in that much. I'm after a good positive connection with the string. Good for speed are the Jazz III's for sure. I agree - perhaps a 'knurled' finish to the Jazz III would be an improvement as should you start to perspire, they can get a bit slippy. I have found that they sometimes rotate a bit on chords and this (all be it probably phsycological) makes me loose track on timing a bit as i'm more worried about the pick turning and puts me off - especially if your playing something that requires spot on the money timing - I think this is called 'chugging?'

I think I might give the 2.0's a go ...but I REALLY like the shape of the Jazz III's. The Jazz II's are the same pick, but with a rounded end - good for nothing IMHO.

Talk about 'converting' .... I gave a red Jazz III to Hank Marvin when I met him. He obviously wasn't on them at the time. Then I see's one of these adverts in a Guitar mag with 'everything Hank' for sale about a year later. Guess what pick was on the list!!!

[Dan Desy]

John Petrucci plays with Jazz IIIs, and I just saw him last night. He was also losing them between his fingers during rhythm parts. But he was pretty good at recovering and didn't miss a note, much less a beat. That's what seperates the pros from us...

[Turbo Gerbil]

I've a fender medium all my life and I'm thinking about going to something thinner? what yah think? what do you guys use? Actually, I think thicker picks are better for "shredding" because the pick isn't flexing all over the place. I use mediums because they have enough control for soloing but have enough give so that I'm not launching picks all over the place when chording.

[ikkyu2]

Absolutely 100% the same for me - got be be red jazz III's though ... there's a difference in the grade of PP ;)

No, it's got to be the red, I agree wholeheartedly, and I'm only half joking. I hate the black picks.

I've been using the red Jazz XLs quite a bit lately. They're easier to grip when you get sweaty and you can take a heckuva bite of the string with em if you suddenly feel like your preamp needs to be driven a little harder :) A buddy wanted to do something nice for me so he sent me 100 red Jazz IIIs and 50 XLs - most thoughtful gift I've received in years.

[irwcustom]

I'm always loosing them! So I have a job lot too. Where on earth do they go? Your up late Ikky2 - still, they do say that it's a city that never sleeps:cool:

[Stink Fiddle]

Been doing a lot of pick experimentation lately. I've been liking thin picks for chordal work with no distortion. Seems to have a bit more even tonality than using heavier picks, not so peaky. Don't like them for soloing though, too flimsy. Mostly I use Fender extra heavy picks, teardrop and rounded triangle. The teardrops are nice for speed, but the rounded triangle have a real fat tone.
Matte Henderson got me into trying the red Dunlop Jazz III picks, it's taken me almost a year to feel comfortable playing with them. I don't like them for chordal work because they are a little too small for me to strum with and sometimes fly out of my fingers, but for lead work they rule. I don't like the rough edge they have new, so I have to smooth them out with 600 grit sandpaper.

[irwcustom]

I don't like them for chordal work because they are a little too small for me to strum with and sometimes fly out of my fingers, but for lead work they rule. I don't like the rough edge they have new, so I have to smooth them out with 600 grit sandpaper.
I agree SF. They aren't moulded very well - you tend get a pronounced parting line impression around the pick. Never attacked it with the sand paper though - good idea. Think I need a job at JD.

[Stink Fiddle]

I stole that idea from Eric Johnson, he smooths out the edge of his Jazz picks with sandpaper, too.

[Mike Dresch]

I use Clayton acetal standards - .80mm

I've used them for at least the last 6 years and nothing else feels quite right to me.

[John Cowan]

I love these Dunlop Gator's 1.14. You can beat them in any size. I swear they coat them in Talcum poweder to keep em sticking.


John

[Doug Lewis]

StinkFiddle in MN? .. Or is there another Lake Calhoun?

I like the thickness and point of the Jazz III's (red) but I wish the rest of the pick was a little bigger. Otherwise I play the Green Tortex .88's

[devine10]

A fender medium here for the past 5 years or so, I used to use Jazz III's for years before that tho..