Looking for Guitar Pick Suggestions

AtomicJeff said:
It's not a reflection of your technique; those V-Picks chirp like a nest full of hungry baby sparrows.
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real and true GIF
 
acwild said:
I want to love my Red Bear but it’s been too slippery for me to get a good grip with. Plus the texture got all weird from a little moisture.
Out of curiosity, has anyone worn out their Blue Chip picks? I love them and am wondering how long they last.
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That being said... I have found my 2 new favorites: ToneSlabs and McQuan (I will be ordering a custom McQuan very soon. Probably 2 of the same, or maybe one without bevel). And, I think once the matte finish has polished, PickSmith will also be up there (their bevel is great, and the tone is excellent). I have dry hands, so a smoother finish that responds quickly to heat is the perfect choice for me.
 
pima1234 said:
That being said... I have found my 2 new favorites: ToneSlabs and McQuan (I will be ordering a custom McQuan very soon. Probably 2 of the same, or maybe one without bevel). And, I think once the matte finish has polished, PickSmith will also be up there (their bevel is great, and the tone is excellent). I have dry hands, so a smoother finish that responds quickly to heat is the perfect choice for me.
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Just ordered 2 custom smaller McQuan MJAZZ picks, one with bevel, one without. I'll chime back in.
 
acwild said:
I want to love my Red Bear but it’s been too slippery for me to get a good grip with. Plus the texture got all weird from a little moisture.
Out of curiosity, has anyone worn out their Blue Chip picks? I love them and am wondering how long they last.
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I do struggle with my Red Bear picks being slippery for my fingers. I have barely worn my BlueChip picks after years of use, though I don't play with a pick as much as many guitar players.
 
OrganicZed said:
Dunlop Primetone Jazz III 1.4 mm:
View attachment 124546
Very much like the Flow Standard Grip, this pick has lots of raised texture in the center of the pick with almost identical feel; not too aggressive, but enough to make a real difference. As the name implies, it is the same size as a standard Jazz III. The main differences between this pick and my refrence Ultex Jazz III are the red color, the extra grip texture, and the polished beveled edges. This pick addresses all of my complaints about the Ultex Jazz III while maintaining the shape, thickness, and tonal qualities that I like. Thank you to everyone for the suggestion, this one hit the request squarely on the head. I could easily stop here and say that the search is over, but that Flow Gloss 2.0 mm may yet edge this out as my new favorite.
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I ordered a few of these and I just tried them out. During an earlier 2025 pick thread I switched to Dunlop Tortex Flow in .88 size. I like those but they are chirpy picks. I’m liking the Primetones at 1st impression but they are small picks. It looks like they sell these in a larger size with the same profile. Are the Jazz style picks normally tiny in size?
 
skolacki said:
I ordered a few of these and I just tried them out. During an earlier 2025 pick thread I switched to Dunlop Tortex Flow in .88 size. I like those but they are chirpy picks. I’m liking the Primetones at 1st impression but they are small picks. It looks like they sell these in a larger size with the same profile. Are the Jazz style picks normally tiny in size?
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Yes, Jazz III picks are small in size. The Jazz III XL is about the size of a normal guitar pick.
 
OrganicZed said:
Yes, Jazz III picks are small in size. The Jazz III XL is about the size of a normal guitar pick.
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I saw those and will order them if I’m still liking the little guys but can’t get used to the size. I’ve been following this thread wondering how everyone is happy about thick picks because I’ve never tried one I liked. It’s the point shape I guess. My earlier tries with thick picks had the big rounded points.
 
rossipedia said:
Weird. Those are my main pick specifically because they're the thickest picks I can use without them chirping on me 😅

FWIW Dunlop makes standard Flow picks in the same material as the Primetone, even with the same grip bumps on 'em:

View attachment 164542
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The chirping probably has a lot to do with my crappy technique 😂. I really like the .88 Flows and they improved my picking. These Primetone Jazz 1.4’s were instantly comfortable aside from the size. I’m probably going to do a little rabbit holing on picks, the ones you show on the post. There I was all happy and now I’m doing it again lol.
 
skolacki said:
I saw those and will order them if I’m still liking the little guys but can’t get used to the size. I’ve been following this thread wondering how everyone is happy about thick picks because I’ve never tried one I liked. It’s the point shape I guess. My earlier tries with thick picks had the big rounded points.
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Thick picks allow for much better control and improved dynamics. A stiff pick only goes where you move it whereas a thin pick can bend and flex thus moving without the player’s direct control. The sharp point makes it easier to be precise.
 
skolacki said:
I saw those and will order them if I’m still liking the little guys but can’t get used to the size. I’ve been following this thread wondering how everyone is happy about thick picks because I’ve never tried one I liked. It’s the point shape I guess. My earlier tries with thick picks had the big rounded points.
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The best part about Blue Chips is they’re stiff but not thick. I tried to like the thick Adamas ones Trey and Jerry use but just couldn’t get used to the thickness. I felt disconnected from my guitar. Blue Chips are like speed racers.
 
iaresee said:
The best part about Blue Chips is they’re stiff but not thick. I tried to like the thick Adamas ones Trey and Jerry use but just couldn’t get used to the thickness. I felt disconnected from my guitar. Blue Chips are like speed racers.
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Which Blue Chip are you using?
 
I like a pick with a more rounded point for a darker tone. So usually turn the pick on its side instead of using the point.
 
skolacki said:
Which Blue Chip are you using?
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TD45 very similar in shape to the Ultex picks I preferred before I found Blue Chips.

Edit: picture. They're the same thickness as well. Blue Chip is slightly stiffer, has less of a point to it. I do not order them with a bevel on the edge. That you have to order them with the bevel tells you a lot about how durable these are. Adding a bevel is actual work and the bevel lasts as long as the pick.

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The pick search never ends. Fifty years ago I used tortoiseshell, until it’s was banned. The closest material I’ve found for feel and flexibility is casein, which has several different trade names. This is the pick I use, It’s 1.2mm, which has a similar feel to 1.8 in other plastics.

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iaresee said:
TD45 very similar in shape to the Ultex picks I preferred before I found Blue Chips.

Edit: picture. They're the same thickness as well. Blue Chip is slightly stiffer, has less of a point to it. I do not order them with a bevel on the edge. That you have to order them with the bevel tells you a lot about how durable these are. Adding a bevel is actual work and the bevel lasts as long as the pick.

View attachment 164590
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Appreciate the info @iaresee. The problem with the Blue Chips is you need to buy them to try them. Which isn’t too bad at the usual pick prices but at the Blue Chip prices it could cost $100 or more to zero in on what you need. I have no doubt they are very good and last a long time. I’ll keep these in mind for now. I can already see how my wife would react to a $35 pick 😂
 
This is the best I have tried so far. Lost it in 1989 while I was in Seattle, some skinny guy named Kurt took it from me at a bar and disappeared, saw him on TV a couple of times...
PickofDestiny.webp
 
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