northcntryblues Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 (edited) It's been discussed here before but I continue to be amazed at how significant a role the choice of pick can have in a guitar's tone. After many years of primarily fingerpicking, the flatpicks I'd been using were Dunlop standard nylon .73, which I found very comfortable, but I didn't dig the tone from the soft nylon. Kind of muted, muffled almost. There is a tone I associate with Gibson flattops that I don't really know how to describe other than its what I hear from the strummed chords at the beginning of The Beatles 'A Day in the Life' - just a certain chiming quality that is like no other. It's on a bunch of early Dylan too. I picked up some thicker gauge , harder Herco 'Holy Grail' nylon picks after reading some reviews...and...there it was, from my L-00 - that unmistakable Gibson chime. Needless to say I'm thrilled to hear it from my guitar 10 years after purchasing it! Edited January 20, 2023 by northcntryblues Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedzep Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 Many picks will give you that tone. Much of it's in your attack and style. We all accept that this is a bottomless topic, and we dive in gladly. Just like strings, dif picks for dif guitars, for dif songs... I'm still experimenting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 (edited) 17 minutes ago, jedzep said: Many picks will give you that tone. Much of it's in your attack and style. We all accept that this is a bottomless topic, and we dive in gladly. Just like strings, dif picks for dif guitars, for dif songs... I'm still experimenting. Red Bear are nice picks but too thick for me. I had a few. I think they are made of Casein, which is made from dairy protein. Edited January 20, 2023 by Sgt. Pepper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedzep Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 (edited) Yeah, I begged them to make me a .88, but their minimum is 1, so I sanded, shaped and buffed 'em out to my liking. I like the .88 Dunlop Primetones, Ultex .73 and .90's too. I'm no vegan. Edited January 20, 2023 by jedzep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksdaddy Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 My favorite. I typically use the rounded edges though. The pointy end is there if I need it. Big thick sound, not flappy or clicky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 (edited) I have always been a fingerpicker so have nuttin' to say regarding flatpicks. I have found, however, that certain of my Gibsons (and others) respond better to being played with fingerpicks than they do to being played with bare flesh. Has nothing to do with tone though. To my ears it is all about the difference in the amount of attack you hear. So obviously the amount of attack you hear will vary based on pick thickness and material. When I use fingerpicks (which admittedly is as little as possible) I will go with both plastic and metal at times mixing them up. I tend to go thicker with the thumbpick and lighter with the others. While I have used Delrin thumbpicks the fingerpicks leave me cold. Edited January 20, 2023 by zombywoof Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 (edited) 6 hours ago, jedzep said: Yeah, I begged them to make me a .88, but their minimum is 1, so I sanded, shaped and buffed 'em out to my liking. I like the .88 Dunlop Primetones, Ultex .73 and .90's too. I'm no vegan. When I got my Blue Chips I asked them for the thinnest ones they have. Usually the thinnest you see if 40's. You have to ask for 35's. That is the thinnest they go. Its about a .9mm. Primetone are nice to and don't break the bank. Edited January 20, 2023 by Sgt. Pepper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G Man Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 I drank the Blue Chip kool aid a while ago and now its what I reach for 95% of the time, particularly the TAD1R 60, a great pick for bringing out the tone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted January 20, 2023 Share Posted January 20, 2023 2 hours ago, G Man said: I drank the Blue Chip kool aid a while ago and now its what I reach for 95% of the time, particularly the TAD1R 60, a great pick for bringing out the tone. I have the same one in a 35 thickness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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