davesmith987 Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 Hey all, this is such a newbie question, but I need as much advice so I'd ask in some forums and stuff. Basically, I am learning to play bass guitar and need to invest in some guitar picks. Now, I must stress this a lot....I have absolutely no idea of the difference between all of them are! I know I know...newbie alert....sorry...but any help would be so appreciated. I have asked some friends and they said these http://www.hifi-tower.co.uk/10-Extra-Hard-Nylon-Guitar-Picks-1mm-thickness-Purple_i4157.htm what do you all think? Are these good quality and a good price? Thanks in advance for any responses... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barkin Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 Personally, I wouldn't spend 15+ quid on a batch of picks that you might not like. Look on ebay/Amazon etc, and get a mixed bag of different sizes, thicknesses etc, and see which ones you feel comfortable with. IMO, YMMV etc... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 They really are very expensive. My advice would be go to your local shop and pick up a few ranging medium to heavy gauge and see which one you get one with. It'll cost you a LOT less and you can work out which thickness suits you (it is down to taste and there is no right or wrong) and then buy some more of those. It'll still work out cheaper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 Yes, as already said, those are well over priced and you may not like them anyway. And at 1mm they are not extra hard, I am sometimes using 2mm and even 3mm. Get a bag of picks of different shapes, thicknesses, materials etc. and find out which works for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingBollock Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 Another good reason for buying a few different types and thickness picks is that you can change the pick depending on what you are doing with it. I currently use 7 different picks depending on what I want it to do. Though I have a favourite for most things (3mm nylon Big Stubby. Though that might change if Strings Direct ever send me the picks I ordered nearly 3 weeks ago...) the others come in handy, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leftybassman392 Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 It's all about feel. Buy, beg, steal, borrow every type you can lay your hands on. They do vary in quality too - try everything. When you find a couple of types that you like, that's the time to buy in quantity (unless they're metal they will wear out over time, and you'll occasionally lose them so it's good to have a few lying around). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 (edited) I did have some for sale but I have a few left me you PM me your details I will send you some picks in varying gauges that I have left for free and if you want to you could make a donation to Basschat Edited November 21, 2013 by Thunderbird Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 [quote name='davesmith987' timestamp='1384873345' post='2281696']...I need as much advice...[/quote] [quote name='Thunderbird' timestamp='1385058804' post='2284030']...you PM me your details I will send you some picks in varying gauges that I have left for free and if you want to you could make a donation to Basschat [/quote] Good evening, Dave, and welcome to the forum... You'll be hard pressed to find a better offer than the above. Thunderbirds are go..! I can't help further with pick choice; I've never been able to use 'em, ever, for guitar nor bass (but then again, I'm a drummer... ). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DorsetBlue Posted November 28, 2013 Share Posted November 28, 2013 [quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1385059339' post='2284039'] Good evening, Dave, and welcome to the forum... You'll be hard pressed to find a better offer than the above. Thunderbirds are go..! I can't help further with pick choice; I've never been able to use 'em, ever, for guitar nor bass (but then again, I'm a drummer... ). [/quote] I must admit, I struggle with them on Bass and Guitar too. However I use the following, when I try and play with them, as I sometimes struggle to keep hold of the damn things: http://www.slickgrip.com/store/en/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted December 1, 2013 Share Posted December 1, 2013 I think I may make myself a couple of picks out of an old thick leather belt I have I know it is not a new idea but I would like to try it I have been told it sounds more like finger playing than pick playing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted December 2, 2013 Share Posted December 2, 2013 For me the whole point of using a pick is that it doesn't sound like finger style. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted December 2, 2013 Share Posted December 2, 2013 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1385991987' post='2294359'] For me the whole point of using a pick is that it doesn't sound like finger style. [/quote] Yep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DorsetBlue Posted December 3, 2013 Share Posted December 3, 2013 [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1385991987' post='2294359'] For me the whole point of using a pick is that it doesn't sound like finger style. [/quote] Indeed, which is why I try and persevere using them but I am not a fan (of the playing, like the sound sometimes dammit). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkHeart Posted December 6, 2013 Share Posted December 6, 2013 I use a pick for bass and im a recent convert to the 3mm gravity picks, they are a bit expensive to buy but as long as you dont lose them they should last absolutely aaaaaggggggeeeeeesssss Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted December 8, 2013 Share Posted December 8, 2013 I can't imagine playing bass with a 1,2 or 3mm pick - no way! I have used 0.5mm Herco Golds for about thirty years to the exclusion of everything else. This is why you must try as many as possible - there is a world of difference between them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingBollock Posted December 8, 2013 Share Posted December 8, 2013 I don't want to start a new thread for this, I thought this might be a good place to ask... Has anyone bought [url="http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/p/919213/jim-dunlop-primetone-picks-3mm-large-pointed-player-pack-pack-of-3/"][size=4]Jim Dunlop Primetone Picks 3mm Large Pointed Player Pack (Pack of 3)[/size][/url] from Strings Direct lately? I ordered some just over 5 weeks ago and they haven't turned up yet. [i]After[/i] I ordered them a notice appeared saying they were out of stock, which stayed up for a few days and then taken down. I gave them a week or so after that and emailed them, they said that there weren't any in the country... Since then a notice saying that they would have stock in 2 days has appeared and disappeared twice, still no picks. The site says they are in stock now but I still haven't received them. My worry is that when I ordered them I ordered them with a pack of strings, the strings came quickly but the order says that both items were dispatched, but there is a hand written note on the invoice saying the picks were to follow. I am worried that because it says they were dispatched they will be forgotten. I shall give them to the end of next week and email them again if they're not here. I just wondered if anyone had ordered and received them in that time? I'm mostly pissed off because, for picks, they are bloody expensive and I agonised over buying them before deciding to treat myself. I know £7 isn't a lot to most people, but it is to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 3mm I find anything over 1mm to thick, even for bass! Myself & both my guitarists found out that we all use the same gauge pics, .73mm. My previous guitarist liked his pics not much thicker than a ciggy paper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingBollock Posted December 9, 2013 Share Posted December 9, 2013 [quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1386590288' post='2301755'] 3mm I find anything over 1mm to thick, even for bass! Myself & both my guitarists found out that we all use the same gauge pics, .73mm. My previous guitarist liked his pics not much thicker than a ciggy paper. [/quote] Those Dunlop Primetones go up to 5mm, which looks incredibly cumbersome. I find 3mm perfect for me. I do use other gauge picks, including some very thin and soft ones, depending on what I am playing, but for the vast majority of stuff I like the 3mm. The thickness along with the tapered point allows for a lot of control, I find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkHeart Posted December 12, 2013 Share Posted December 12, 2013 I find the 3mm perfect for bass as theres no 'lag' when plucking especially if its a quick down and up stroke i feel that using a .7 or .8 pick has a slight bit of give in it before it releases the string, maybe im just weired but i feel like i can pluck quicker using a fat pick, if youve never tried one give one a go, i was skeptical at first but now i wont go back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randythoades Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 [quote name='Thunderbird' timestamp='1385931025' post='2293825'] I think I may make myself a couple of picks out of an old thick leather belt I have I know it is not a new idea but I would like to try it I have been told it sounds more like finger playing than pick playing [/quote] I use heavyish 1.35mm Dunlop Nylon picks for guitar and playing classic rock bass, other styles of bass playing I use felt Ukelele picks which sound remarkably like fingers, especially with flatwound strings, but they do shed small white dust all over the face of your bass... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
operative451 Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 It depends what they're made of too - i hate the tortex ones, they feel weird! Some are bendier than others, so yep, if you can get to a shop and mix and match. Just cos everyone else is: i like ebe glow in the dark alien, thick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingBollock Posted December 20, 2013 Share Posted December 20, 2013 (edited) Took delivery of some [url="http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/Products/Products/quick&q=primetones&type=search&searchclause=all/"]Dunlop Primetones[/url] today, the 3mm sharp ones (well, 2 sharp, 1 rounded, even though I ordered 3 sharps). They're a little larger than the Big Stubbies and while they are smooth feeling, they're not as slippery as the Stubbies. The grip area is also bigger, so they are much easier to hold. One of the problems I had with the Stubbies was that the dimple is too far from the tip of the pick, so I found they stuck out too far and would click against the pick-ups, I don't have that problem with the Primetones as I am able to grip them closer to the tip, which also makes it far easier to do harmonic pinches, which is nice. So, overall, they are expensive at £6.99 (+p&p) for a pack of 3 and I think whether they're worth that will depend on how long they last. They feel like they should be very hard wearing, so they might well turn out to be a very good buy. That picture (taken from the Strings Direct site, where I ordered them from) makes them look sort of rubbery, which is why I decided to go for them, I thought they'd feel good and grip well and have a nice smooth tone, but they're actually very hard and smooth, but they do grip well. And, actually, the rounded tip pick has the tone I was expecting, I'm kind of glad for the mix up. Edited December 20, 2013 by KingBollock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlloyd Posted December 21, 2013 Share Posted December 21, 2013 (edited) I use these: Superb picks, 3.5 mm thick. Expensive though. [url="http://www.wegenpicks.com/#gypsy"]http://www.wegenpicks.com/#gypsy[/url] Edited December 21, 2013 by dlloyd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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