What Picks Do You Use?

I originally used heavy celluloids from Fender and Ernie Ball. Then one day, I couldn't find my bulk bag of picks (pretty sure my brother took them and didn't want to admit to it) and only had a few left, and my dad had bought one of those guitar pick punches and made me a ton from old credit cards, driver's licenses, etc. He made me so many that I stopped using real picks for years because I didn't care if they broke, got frayed or I lost them quickly. He still gives them to me every time I see him. Fast forward to a couple weeks ago, I'm in the guitar store and they give me a real pick while I'm testing out my new guitar. I forgot how good real picks are. I'm never going back to the credit card picks again. So anyway, I now have gotten:

• Dunlop Med/Heavy Sample Pack (sizes .88 to 1.14)
• Clayton Acetal sizes .80mm and 1.00mm

Unfortunately, I didn't have a chance to test them out because I ordered them online (should've bought while I was at the store, but didn't think about it at the time), and they got delivered 2 days after I dislocated my shoulder. I'll heal soon and then really be able to test all these picks and see what I like best. I can already tell I will like the Claytons, and I really like the feel of the Dunlop Tortex and Gator Grips. I don't think I'll like the Nylon picks in the pack, but you never know.

Anyway, I have now become kind of obsessed since I can't practice. I have been looking to see what other picks people are using, and from this website, I see a bunch of artists I like use the Dunlop picks, but in sizes smaller than I ever really used. I did technically have some celluloid medium and lights, but I never really got into them. What do you guys think about the Dunlop .73 and .60 size? Should I also order some of those while I'm on the shelf? What other picks do you recommend/use? Does anyone else spend this much time thinking about their picks haha?

the older I get the more I use my fingers or whatever's laying around.... which is usually a tortoise fender heavy since I still have a sack of them fender gave me one time. Its finally dwindling...

EDIT: when I was touring around I think I mainly used dunlop ultexes at like 1mm or less. I also had tortexes with band name but I guess I preferred the ultexes. I usually used to punch a star shaped hole in them to get them to suction to my thumb so I wouldn't drop them on stage. I thought the utexes had a better balance of kachunk and flex than a tortex through an old marshall for some reason. I really have no clue why I was worried about it.

Thanks. The ultex feels nice. I only have 2 of those so not much experience. I like the sound of getting a hole punched in it for more grip. That’s a cool trick.

there used to be a company who made picks like that in I guess the 90s.... they were tortexish picks but not as good... I just bought a star shaped hole punch at a craft store.... somepick materials and ticknesses will shatter though while others you can't even punch through without power tools

Picks... Oh my God I could make this topic last months.

I've been playing a couple years now and I'm a big user of picks but I also play with my fingers, I'm always trying to figure out what I like and I'm always looking for more, I always have about 12 different picks on me and then I have a small Altoids (type of mint) tin of random picks that I never use. Anyway, I would definatly suggest Dunlop, They're the best in the industry and they're about all I use.

Out of the picks I'm currently using these 5 are my favorites:

Dunlop Jumbo Flow 4.20 - Love these ones, my absolute favorite so far, I love the thickness and the Ultex lasts forever.

Dunlop Stubby Trinagle 3.00 - Some of the first first picks I ever used, they feel great but wear a bit too easy.

Dunlop Ultex Triangle 1.14 - Started using these about a month ago, very durable, if I use flat picks it's these.

Dunlop John Petrucci Jazz III XL - Great look & feel, I like these for small picks, they're made of Ultex so they last forever.

Dunlop Kirk Hammet Jazz III - It's a good pick it's just on the edge of being too small.

Maybe I should try some of those really thick picks. The thickest I’ve gone is 1.25 and that felt a bit too thick, but maybe going the extreme to a 3 or bigger might do something really different. Thanks for the tip.

Just this Christmas I got some dunlop 5.0mms, they weren't so great, I need to beval the edges with some sandpaper cause it's too square, I like 'em thick not blunt.

I don't usually. But if I do, I use Claytons. Sometimes I use .80s, sometimes I use .67s. But usually I just fingerpick.

Good point. The sampler pack has a Jazz III so it has that sharp edge. I gave it a quick test run, but I need to give that one more of a try. I do also have some triangle style from Clayton and Fender. The Clayton is rounded, so it is similar to the others, but the Fender one is definitely sharp. The Fender triangle is a bit too large, but I do like the pointy edge, so I think maybe I'll get a pack of sharp Tortex and see about any other shapes I haven't tried yet. I thought about getting some of those fancy thick Honey picks. Heard a lot about them from the Tone Mob Podcast. I wonder if anyone else has actually tried them and how they like them. The honey jar design in particular looks really interesting to me.

As an update to my story in my quest so far, I have decided that I don't need to buy celluloid anymore, and I can't get into the nylons. I messed around with some thins I had lying around on electric and acoustic, and still can't get into them at all. Anything under .70 feels like I'm playing with a piece of paper hah. The Claytons are great and so are the Dunlop Tortex and Gators. I'm still willing to test more of course. You'll never know until you've tried the gamut.

To both of you I'd personally recommend the Dunlop Flow Series picks, I'm not sure what the standard gauge packs (0.50 - 1.14) feel like as I haven't tried them yet, however I've gained quite a likeing for the 2.5 and 4.20 gauges as they're about all I use now.

I say give 'em a try, see if you like 'em.

Yeah, that sounds good. I was actually just looking at Stringjoy's Jumbo Jazz picks yesterday. I think those would be very similar to the flows. I like the idea of having a bit more grip than the typical jazz picks. https://www.stringjoy.com/categories/strings/picks/jumbo-jazz/

At the same time, I was also looking at getting the sampler pack from Bog Street just to try something very different. This pack gives you one of every type of pick they have. Could be interesting. It would give me an opportunity to play some of those bigger gauges that you like. https://bogstreet.com/collections/most-popular/products/new-bog-street-sampler

Also, for some of those bigger styles there are these https://www.etsy.com/shop/HoneyPicksStore?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=852772859. You may be interested in trying something from them.

Going to spend so much money on picks haha.

Yeah, I've been thinking about trying some Snarling Dogs lately.

Thank you for the suggestions. I had never heard of the Snarling Dogs, but I've looked them up now, and they look really good. I might have to check those out.

my son feels pink 90s ibanez picks are best... but he's 7 and plays keys, not guitar LOL

Hi, I use a few different picks depending on what I'm about to play and on which instrument. For Country and Bluegrass on my Martin HD-28, I use a Dunlop Primetone 1.3 mm (small tri), which gives me a really nice tone and a good feeling in my hand. I can articulate my picking properly and I'm happy with the thickness and resistance of the pick when hitting the strings. (My strings are 0.13 gauge) If I'm only doing strumming also lighter picks could come into action on my Martin like the Dunlop Ultex 1.0 or even a Dunlop Tortex 0.73. On my Strat, I use the Dunlop Ultex 1.0 or a Fender Heavy Celluloid (approx. 0.94mm in thickness). Here I can fell a clear difference in handling and wear on the pick. The Ultex is more snappy in his tone and the Celluloid a little more mellow - both have their advantages and their moments when they come into action. Sometimes I even use a Jazz III XL it is a really rigid pick and offers a good tone - I would not recommend this one for strumming.

Sometimes I even use a Jazz III XL it is a really rigid pick and offers a good tone - I would not recommend this one for strumming.

Might I recommend you try the John Petrucci Jazz III XL? I think they're similer but a bit more durable.

tortex .73 on bass .60 on guitar