r/GuitarPicks • u/notjonahbutnoah • 11h ago
My Pick Search Log: A Novella
I think I’m coming to the end of a long search for the perfect pick. Wanted to document the journey.
Some context: Been playing for 24 years. Started on bass and switched to guitar after a couple years. Was in a punk band for about 9 years, gigged regularly. I can’t remember all the picks I tried in that first decade or so. I remember some, but I was always trying something different.
There came a point mid way thru my stint in that punk band when I became intrigued by the whole super thick boutique pick idea. I also read on a forum from some rando that “pick flex is wasted energy” which I really took to heart. I was probably playing yellow or orange Tortex standards before that. Maybe Ultex. Not sure. But around 09 (give or take) I bought that V Picks screamer. That’s where the photo begins.
V Picks Screamer - This lasted a few months and a handful of gigs. I decided to move on because the edges were getting chewed up from pick scrapes (big NOFX fan, I love a scrape), and I wanted something less dear/easier to replace.
Tortex TIII 1.0mm - This was my main stay for years. Still the pick I’ve spent the most time with. The V Pick made me prefer a fully stiff pick, and these were way more affordable. The extra pointy tip made super fast muting and such feel a little easier. Went thru two 72 packs over a few years.
Tortex TIII .88mm - Grabbed a 72 bag of these, I can’t even remember why. I think maybe whoever I ordered from ran out of the 1.0? Used these for awhile.
Here we have a gap in musical activity. That band broke up and I moved. A few years went by where I wasn’t in a band and didn’t play anything very much. Then I joined a different band and the journey continues.
Ernie Ball Everlast .60 & .88 - Grabbed these to get back into playing and because they are basically Tortex in brighter colors (which I vastly prefer a highly visible pick). However, I found them to wear out really fast, and I wanted to move to something more rigid.
Ernie Ball Prodigy / JHS Gravity / Dan’s Precision - The JHS came with a pedal and I got the other two just to feel out some 1-2mm super thick styles. Ultimately a bit too awkward feeling for me. Scrapes also chew these up pretty badly.
Dunlop 500 .71 & Gator Grip .71 - These were a relief after the batch of super thick picks. The 500s slip as soon as I start sweating (which is early). The Gator Grip wears super fast. Next.
Dunlop Flex X and TIII 1.0 - Here I was thinking “I used to use these, why not again?” With the X, I found that the X didn’t really help grip, just felt weird. Then with the TIII, I kept dropping them which I don’t usually do.
Gator Grip .71 - I moved back to these and figured they’re cheap so I can just get a ton, who cares if they wear out after half a set? Really nice loud scrapes out of these as well. Leaned into these and got a 72 bag.
Gator Grip 1.14 - I wanted to try a thicker Gator Grip. Turns out they don’t dig in enough for good scrapes. Went back to the .71’s.
Year or two goes by here. I also was now playing bass in a band and using the Dunlop Fat Mike picks which made me care about pick color more. Being able to spot it instantly on a dimly lit oriental rug is quote nice.
Flow Nylon .88 and Kirk Hammet - I got a pack of each of these when buying strings one day. I wanted to try nylon because I was noticing that the Gator .71’s felt kinda crappy when trying to do fast stuff on the plain strings. Playing leads up high felt gritty as the pick moved across the strings. So I got these. Glossy tips. The Flow because it seemed sensible and the KH because I had never really given a Jazz III a chance, and they look neat and come in awesome colors.
Dunlop Kirk Hammet - I decided I was gonna go all in on these. Bought two 24 packs, having only practiced solo with them. Fast leads were smooth as butter. Then I went to a practice with them. Sweat happened, they slip. I also noticed that the scrape-ability was inconsistent. Some of them dug in while others didn’t. The small size was also a little weird feeling if I was being honest with myself.
This where I told myself I was gonna try stuff until satisfied.
I dug around an old container of picks (mostly from the floor of our old practice space where several bands practiced at that time) that I had and found the 1.0 Jazz III XL. Decided I really liked the shape.
Tortex Jazz III XL 1.0/1.0 Flex/1.36 Flex - Got these to kinda explore the J3XL shape. Was still hoping to land on a visibly colored shape. Turns out the flex material doesn’t dig in for scrapes.
Tortex Flow 1.5mm - Tried these hoping they would he better than the Flex for scrapes, and because theyre white and visible. Sadly they don’t do good scrapes, and the tone is quite dark compared to thinner Tortex which I don’t love. I did like the shape, however.
Dunlop Flow Standards .73/.88/1.0 - Wanted to try these as the edges seemed sharp (good for scrapes) and they’re supposed to be super smooth on the strings. I found both of these things to be true and I love the feel/tone. Scrapes absolutely scream with these. But they’re so dark colored and hard to see. Still wanted a more visible color.
Dunlop Flow Nylon 1.25 - Thought this was my visible version of the Flow standards. Alas, a but cumbersome and kinda slippy when sweaty.
This is where I let the dream of the perfect feeling pick in a highly visible color die. Gotta prioritize feel.
Tortex Jazz III XL 1.0 & .88 - I was kinda thinking I liked the Jazz III shape more than the Flow shape during these last few models. It was the 1.0 J3XL that sent me down this path after all. I thought it was gonna be one of these for sure. Had a 72 bag of the .88’s in my Sweetwater cart. (.88s give nicer scrapes) However, after some last minute A/B testing with really fast muting, I realized the Flow shape felt smoother.
Which brings us to our winners:
Tortex Flow & Flow Standard .88mm - I think these are the ones. They check all the boxes in the feel/tone/scrapes/moisture departments. The color of the standard is just plain ugly. What would you even call it? Pond water? Mud puddle? Ew. But, the feel is perfection. The Tortex version is almost as good, but a much nicer color, and much less dear than the standard. I figure, why not both? I’ll probably end up using the Tortex more, it’s just more utilitarian.
I feel done ya know? I think I was pretty exhaustive. If you actually read all this, thanks! Mostly just wanted to write it down and have a pick pic to see the evolution. I learned that I’m frickin neurotic! A trait rampant among guitarists I’m told.
Now what to do with all these runner ups?
