Recommend Picks? Stone or similar alternative material.

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vultures

vultures

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After years of using the John Petrucci signature pick, I went down a rabbit hole of trying many different ones out. I've explored some off the shelf stuff and some pretty cool boutiquey types. Inevitably I run into the same predicament.. I end up with a tin or bowl filled with picks that are worn out and I dig through them to find a fresh one. I'm kind of over picks wearing down. I'm kind of over using the same pick for a few months and getting used to the worn in feeling and then picking up a fresh one and it feels different.

I maybe thought about a BlueChip, but it looks like their material wears down as well. Looked at some Acrylic options like Gravity or Honey picks, but will acrylic wear down the same as Delrin, Ultex, Celluloid, etc? Anyone have some suggestions for stone picks or similarly hard material?

Looking at Stone Age Agate 3.5mm:
DSC06167_1024x1024@2x.jpg

Stone Works Biggs Jasper 2.4mm:
16EEEBE4-FDDB-4B28-9A26-9B4278A6.jpg

Stone Works Jafar Jasper 2.1mm:
IMGP0991_737959f8-40a3-47d5-befd.jpg
 
Clayton 1mm triangle. I went with them to keep a pick that I get used to that last 3x as long. It was strange at first but now it really helps having the added surface area to hang on to.
 
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I swear by gravity razors 1.5mm and 2mm. They will wear but slower than Dunlop nylons. I play pretty aggressively but I enjoy the brightness gravity acrylic adds to my tone. I recommend them and have been using them for well over a decade now (a pack of picks will last me a VERY long time) but if you’re looking at fucking stone picks I’m not sure we have the same expectations of life expectancy ??
 
I got about 700 gigs and 400 rehearsals out of a National NP-2 before the edge rolled so hard it became rippled, but it's a fingerpick. I can say that anything nickel silver or pure silver lasts a loooooong time and with a decent small stone or file can be reworked to like new when the edge rolls back. The fingerpicks are cupped so it's not really worth the headache unless you have a pure silver like a Landis or something expensive.
 
I’ve been using the same mammoth tusk pick for about 7 years now. It’s pretty worn but still usable.
It’s tough to find new ones though.

I’ve tried a couple made out of some kind of really hard nut but I didn’t dig the shape. Howling Monkey was the brand I think
 
vultures said:
After years of using the John Petrucci signature pick, I went down a rabbit hole of trying many different ones out. I've explored some off the shelf stuff and some pretty cool boutiquey types. Inevitably I run into the same predicament.. I end up with a tin or bowl filled with picks that are worn out and I dig through them to find a fresh one. I'm kind of over picks wearing down. I'm kind of over using the same pick for a few months and getting used to the worn in feeling and then picking up a fresh one and it feels different.

I maybe thought about a BlueChip, but it looks like their material wears down as well. Looked at some Acrylic options like Gravity or Honey picks, but will acrylic wear down the same as Delrin, Ultex, Celluloid, etc? Anyone have some suggestions for stone picks or similarly hard material?

Looking at Stone Age Agate 3.5mm:
View attachment 266718

Stone Works Biggs Jasper 2.4mm:
View attachment 266730

Stone Works Jafar Jasper 2.1mm:
View attachment 266733
Click to expand...
The Dunlop Flow Picks. All day long. I've used all sorts of expensive picks and the flow picks sound the best and feel the best to me.
 
VonBonfire said:
I got about 700 gigs and 400 rehearsals out of a National NP-2 before the edge rolled so hard it became rippled, but it's a fingerpick. I can say that anything nickel silver or pure silver lasts a loooooong time and with a decent small stone or file can be reworked to like new when the edge rolls back. The fingerpicks are cupped so it's not really worth the headache unless you have a pure silver like a Landis or something expensive.
Click to expand...
700 gigs? WTF, are you in KISS or the Stones?
 
This guy makes some from industrial plastics: https://www.plectrum.ch/. The torlon ones are advertised as his most durable I believe, also his most expensive. I haven't tried them myself though, just been gassing for one. Same with these titanium picks: https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/ohm-picks-review-a-titanium-pick.2353494/. Those are more "reasonably" priced though compared to the industrial plastic ones.

Oh, also steel picks seem pretty durable from what I hear. I don't have any links though, if I recall where I saw some interesting ones I'll link 'em.
 
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After using damn near everything, I’m a Black Jazz-III guy.
 
vultures said:
After years of using the John Petrucci signature pick, I went down a rabbit hole of trying many different ones out. I've explored some off the shelf stuff and some pretty cool boutiquey types. Inevitably I run into the same predicament.. I end up with a tin or bowl filled with picks that are worn out and I dig through them to find a fresh one. I'm kind of over picks wearing down. I'm kind of over using the same pick for a few months and getting used to the worn in feeling and then picking up a fresh one and it feels different.

I maybe thought about a BlueChip, but it looks like their material wears down as well. Looked at some Acrylic options like Gravity or Honey picks, but will acrylic wear down the same as Delrin, Ultex, Celluloid, etc? Anyone have some suggestions for stone picks or similarly hard material?

Looking at Stone Age Agate 3.5mm:
View attachment 266718

Stone Works Biggs Jasper 2.4mm:
View attachment 266730

Stone Works Jafar Jasper 2.1mm:
View attachment 266733
Click to expand...
The Dunlop Flow Picks. All day long. I've used all sorts of expensive picks and the flow picks sound the best and feel the best to me.
rsm said:
View attachment 266808


I used pointless picks for years, can't find them anymore:

View attachment 266811
Click to expand...
Lmao no wonder. Who would like playing with a Bingo marker?! I've tried various things over the years. Circular objects are horrible in general for me, I can play far better fingerstyle.(Coins, etc have their own thing for a specific sound but I mean in general)
 
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GuitarGuy08 said:
The Dunlop Flow Picks. All day long. I've used all sorts of expensive picks and the flow picks sound the best and feel the best to me.
Click to expand...
The grip on the 420 Flow is quite nice I think, surprisingly grippy. The do lose their tip pretty fast in my experience though. I think it was less than a few months, two or less maybe, before the point was gone and I was playing with a blunt-tipped pick.
 
GuitarGuy08 said:
The Dunlop Flow Picks. All day long. I've used all sorts of expensive picks and the flow picks sound the best and feel the best to me.

Lmao no wonder. Who would like playing with a Bingo marker?! I've tried various things over the years. Circular objects are horrible in general for me, I can play far better fingerstyle.(Coins, etc have their own thing for a specific sound but I mean in general)
Click to expand...
pointless picks worked great for me, the center raised circle kept it from slipping and even if the pick turned, you have the same surface area.

nothing like a coin except being round.

then again, I don't expect many guitarists to try new things. :D (I'm guilty of that myself, but I do try guitar gear that I think is new/different, sometimes it works for me, sometimes it doesn't.
 
rsm said:
pointless picks worked great for me, the center raised circle kept it from slipping and even if the pick turned, you have the same surface area.

nothing like a coin except being round.

then again, I don't expect many guitarists to try new things. :D (I'm guilty of that myself, but I do try guitar gear that I think is new/different, sometimes it works for me, sometimes it doesn't.
Click to expand...
I have tried a lot of things. I had a bunch of odd/gimmick picks that would come up at the shop that I would try. Never as good as a normal pick for speed and accuracy but fun for a goof or maybe if you only strum a lot instead of intense lead work I'd guess.
 
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7704A said:
The grip on the 420 Flow is quite nice I think, surprisingly grippy. The do lose their tip pretty fast in my experience though. I think it was less than a few months, two or less maybe, before the point was gone and I was playing with a blunt-tipped pick.
Click to expand...
I give picks absolute hell and have not had that issue with the 2mm that I use
 
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GuitarGuy08 said:
I have tried a lot of things. I had a bunch of odd/gimmick picks that would come up at the shop that I would try. Never as good as a normal pick for speed and accuracy but fun for a goof or maybe if you only strum a lot instead of intense lead work I'd guess.
Click to expand...
Plenty accurate for any type of playing; as I said, the same amount of pick surface area all around and a good grip.

but don't believe me, or bother trying it for yourself. it's just another gimmick, right? :rolleyes:
 
rsm said:
Plenty accurate for any type of playing; as I said, the same amount of pick surface area all around and a good grip.

but don't believe me, or bother trying it for yourself. it's just another gimmick, right? :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
Are you reading into my messages more than I am meaning? I'm definitely not trying to be a dick to you man, relax.
 
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