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There are so many types and styles of guitar picks out there that I'm curious to hear what people prefer. Personally I like Cool Picks. They have a rubber, somewhat grippy area to hold and have a nice sound on the strings. For me, the grip is very important. I need something that won't slip out of my hand. 

They make a couple I prefer. One is the CoolCell pick. This one has raised rubber nubs for gripping.

s-l640.jpg

And the other is the Cool Stealth pick. This pick has a very fine rubber texture to the grip (unlike the one above which has the raised rubber nubs).

51iWyzGJh1L._SY355_.jpg

What brands/types of picks do you like? What features are important for the style of playing you do? Do you use different picks depending upon the style you play, or do you gravitate to one particular type of pick? :)

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I have tried (and unfortunately, have purchased hundreds of picks). Here are the ones I use the most (from left to right) - for electric: V-Picks Euro II, V-Picks Tradition UL; for acoustic: Blue Chip TD50, National thumb pick, and a custom Blue Chip thumb pick. The V-Picks and Blue Chip all have a slight 'tackiness' that helps them cling to your fingers.

File Jan 26, 7 08 35 PM.jpeg

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I like Jim Dunlop Nylon picks.  I use .38 or .46 mm for strumming and .73 mm for picking.  Great picks last forever and have a nice grip. 

They aren't pretty.  The lighter the color the lighter the pick. The black picks are the thickest and white is thinnest.  

image.png.c72be7be54dae91de44ec630cb226a7e.png

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2 hours ago, Dave White said:

I have tried (and unfortunately, have purchased hundreds of picks)...for acoustic: Blue Chip TD50,

I've heard about the Blue Chip picks. They are very pricey but certainly have lots of fans. How would you say they compare to the plastic, cellulose, or nylon type of traditional picks? 

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1 hour ago, UncleHammy said:

I like Jim Dunlop Nylon picks.  I use .38 or .46 mm for strumming and .73 mm for picking.  Great picks last forever and have a nice grip. 

They aren't pretty.  The lighter the color the lighter the pick. The black picks are the thickest and white is thinnest.  

I had a few Jim Dunlop picks--I never knew about the colors being related to their weights! This is good to know. Thanks. :)

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Someone over at our previous home, in a similar thread, turned me on to V Picks.  I never thought I would like a thick pick.  Now I can't use anything but a V Picks Screamer.DSC_0207_2.thumb.jpg.40221e887abaf6c7fcb169d73a247048.jpg

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2 hours ago, UncleHammy said:

I like Jim Dunlop Nylon picks.  I use .38 or .46 mm for strumming and .73 mm for picking.  Great picks last forever and have a nice grip. 

They aren't pretty.  The lighter the color the lighter the pick. The black picks are the thickest and white is thinnest.  

image.png.c72be7be54dae91de44ec630cb226a7e.png

Hi Uncle Hammy, I use the same picks but only the .38. I find it does every thing I need . and real easy to pick 16 th notes. when I was young before grade school I had a guitar and we cut picks out of milk jugs to use. any thing bigger fells like it's ripping the string off the guitar

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I like the tone from celluloid picks the best of any I've tried. I use Planet Waves extra heavy, 1.25 mm and Fender heavy. Fender doesn't say how thick they are, but I've read they're around .9 mm, which is probably about right based on how they feel compared to the PW extra-heavy. 

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I have quite an assortment of picks... :D  These are the ones I tend to use most often. 

I really like the V-picks, but with a glass-top desk, it can get tricky finding it if you put it down... O.o

The blue chip picks are really nice and give you a really nice grip, but they are pricy... if you tend to lose picks that would be an issue...  

 

IMG_6493.jpg

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Never could get the hang of Dunlop Jazz picks

I like Dava  Jazz Control 

www.davapick.com/picks/jazz_grip

I use it from strumming to picking.

My 2nd type is Dunlop Cat's Tongue picks

 

jazz_grips.jpg

Edited by Eracer_Team-DougH
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6 hours ago, K9kaos said:

I have quite an assortment of picks... :D  These are the ones I tend to use most often. 

I really like the V-picks, but with a glass-top desk, it can get tricky finding it if you put it down... O.o

The blue chip picks are really nice and give you a really nice grip, but they are pricy... if you tend to lose picks that would be an issue...  

 

IMG_6493.jpg

Is that your glass-topped desk? If so, I'm curious as to what it looks like. How do the Blue Chip compare to the Ultex? I used to have an Ultex but needed something with more grip.

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I choose picks based on the particular instrument being used.  Electric guitars I use Fender Heavy celluloid, acoustic guitars I use Fender Medium celluloid, Resonator guitars I use a medium weight with gripping surface or pick with grip hole (no favorite brand yet).

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I've been using Wegen picks of late.   I bought the TF triangular ones and the Bluegrass ones (pictured).  I started with the 100 mm thickness.   Otherwise, I reach for my Dunlop nylon pick for strumming (60-70 range).

bluegrasspicks.jpg

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10 hours ago, Cindy said:

I've heard about the Blue Chip picks. They are very pricey but certainly have lots of fans. How would you say they compare to the plastic, cellulose, or nylon type of traditional picks? 

Cindy - the Blue Chip pick is made out of some very cool material. I have heard that it is the same stuff they use to coat circuit boards - but don't know whether that is true or not. It looks soft, but doesn't wear out. I have had that pick for years (lost it once for a year - and then miraculously found it - long story) and other than some very light surface scratches, it shows no wear at all. I like it because it is very quiet when used to either pick or strum and it has that tackiness factor that keeps it from either rotating or falling out of my hand. Blue Chip's are expensive ($35 for a pick?) and are probably not ideal for those who frequently misplace their picks. I had heard a lot about them, so I thought I would try one out. I am glad I did. My guitar sounds totally different with it.

Edited by Dave White
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1 hour ago, Dave White said:

Cindy - the Blue Chip pick is made out of some very cool material. I have heard that it is the same stuff they use to coat circuit boards - but don't know whether that is true or not. It looks soft, but doesn't wear out. I have had that pick for years (lost it once for a year - and then miraculously found it - long story) and other than some very light surface scratches, it shows no wear at all. I like it because it is very quiet when used to either pick or strum and it has that tackiness factor that keeps it from either rotating or falling out of my hand. Blue Chip's are expensive ($35 for a pick?) and are probably not ideal for those who frequently misplace their picks. I had heard a lot about them, so I thought I would try one out. I am glad I did. My guitar sounds totally different with it.

I am intrigued by these picks and will see if one of our music stores have any in stock. Thanks for the info, Dave! :)

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Cindy,

You can order online here:

http://www.bluechippick.net

OBTW: when Julian Lage and Chris Thile (among others) endorse them, you might be able to overlook the cost.  I chose Wegen for cost and Jack Pearson recommended them last summer at GG.  A four pack of bluegrass ran $15 while the TF100 ran $15 each at Elderly in Michigan.  Offered in white or black as shown in earlier picture.

 

 

 

Quote

 

 

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14 hours ago, UncleHammy said:

I like Jim Dunlop Nylon picks.  I use .38 or .46 mm for strumming and .73 mm for picking.  Great picks last forever and have a nice grip. 

They aren't pretty.  The lighter the color the lighter the pick. The black picks are the thickest and white is thinnest.  

image.png.c72be7be54dae91de44ec630cb226a7e.png

I have some Jim Dunlop picks myself and I prefer them. I have left thumb metal thumb picks and plastic thumb picks from Dunlop as well as the  Stubbies. But my favourite guitar picks, my fingers.

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6 minutes ago, Plantsman13 said:

Cindy,

You can order online here:

http://www.bluechippick.net

OBTW: when Julian Lage and Chris Thile (among others) endorse them, you might be able to overlook the cost.  I chose Wegen for cost and Jack Pearson recommended them last summer at GG.  A four pack of bluegrass ran $15 while the TF100 ran $15 each at Elderly in Michigan.  Offered in white or black as shown in earlier picture.

Since I'm not familiar with Blue Chip picks, I'm trying to understand the differences between them. Their web site doesn't give a summary of the benefits of each one. So are they all made out of the same material?

My question here is directed at anyone...for example, is a 50 in one pick the same thickness and material as a 50 in a different style, and are the only differences between them the shape? Or am I missing the product info for each style somehow? o.O

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I think of the number as an expression of "mm" thickness, but I have no experience with Bluechip.  I have the impression the how the material "feels" while playing is the "artistic" measure, with tortoise shell picks setting the bar (at least from comments read over the years).

I believe the material is similar but shape and size differ. Looking at Wegen, there is a very large array of picks manufactured to meet differing tastes and demands.

Edited by Plantsman13
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1 hour ago, Cindy said:

My question here is directed at anyone...for example, is a 50 in one pick the same thickness and material as a 50 in a different style, and are the only differences between them the shape? Or am I missing the product info for each style somehow? o.O

Cindy, the 50 in Bluechip terminology is probably consistent between styles of Bluechip picks.  If you go to their webpage for their 55 picks that number represents 55/100 inch. 

Unfortunately, it is inconsistent with most other manufacturers.  I thought, like Plantsman that it represented something in metric.  Most pick makers describe their picks in mm thickness.  I think most do anyway.  V Picks does.  Most of the posts above are describing picks in mm.

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I haven't settled on a favourite pick just yet. Right now my go to pick is a Dunlop Ultex .73.

 

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I use the Jim Dunlop Nylon picks in .48 for strumming.

For picking I like the Snarling Dogs Brain Picks in .88. I like the raised grips on these the best.

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3 hours ago, Cindy said:

Since I'm not familiar with Blue Chip picks, I'm trying to understand the differences between them. Their web site doesn't give a summary of the benefits of each one. So are they all made out of the same material?

My question here is directed at anyone...for example, is a 50 in one pick the same thickness and material as a 50 in a different style, and are the only differences between them the shape? Or am I missing the product info for each style somehow? o.O

Cindy - Ron is correct - the Blue Chip sizes (35, 45, etc.) are consistent across the pick styles. I have tried thinner and thicker ones and prefer the 50.

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4 hours ago, Plantsman13 said:

I think of the number as an expression of "mm" thickness, but I have no experience with Bluechip.  I have the impression the how the material "feels" while playing is the "artistic" measure, with tortoise shell picks setting the bar (at least from comments read over the years).

I believe the material is similar but shape and size differ. Looking at Wegen, there is a very large array of picks manufactured to meet differing tastes and demands.

 

2 hours ago, matonanjin said:

Cindy, the 50 in Bluechip terminology is probably consistent between styles of Bluechip picks.  If you go to their webpage for their 55 picks that number represents 55/100 inch. 

Unfortunately, it is inconsistent with most other manufacturers.  I thought, like Plantsman that it represented something in metric.  Most pick makers describe their picks in mm thickness.  I think most do anyway.  V Picks does.  Most of the posts above are describing picks in mm.

 

1 hour ago, Dave White said:

Cindy - Ron is correct - the Blue Chip sizes (35, 45, etc.) are consistent across the pick styles. I have tried thinner and thicker ones and prefer the 50.

Thank you all for the explanation! I appreciate the information as I haven't ever seen any Blue Chip picks in person. :)

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20 hours ago, UncleHammy said:

I like Jim Dunlop Nylon picks.  I use .38 or .46 mm for strumming and .73 mm for picking.  Great picks last forever and have a nice grip. 

They aren't pretty.  The lighter the color the lighter the pick. The black picks are the thickest and white is thinnest.  

image.png.c72be7be54dae91de44ec630cb226a7e.png

These, in .88mm size.

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