PICKS

[Rick Schmidlin]

I was useing Fender Heavy but this week I tryed a Extra Heavy and WOW. More playable and a more open sound on my Prucha F.What do you use and prefer?

Rick

[mandoman4807]

Wegen M150. Just bought my first tortoise pick at a festival last weekend. It needs a little work to finish the edges, But it will be a great choice as well. The Wegen gives me the best control at this point.

Darrell

[Jaws]

I use a fender extra heacy. It was the first pick i used when i got my mando, and after trying different types, its still my favorite. I've finally gotten it worn down to how I like it, as well. I find it gives nice volume without quieting down the highs (which was my biggest problem with the golden gate)

[John Flynn]

Jim Dunlop 207. Big and thick. Love 'em.

[pdlstl]

I use a 1.5 mm elephant ivory pic.

Bur I'm experimenting with a Wegan 5 mm. That's thick!

[John Craton]

I'm experimenting with a Wegan 5 mm. That's thick!
A 5 mm pick! That's no typo? I'll confess that's a new one on me. I use a Wolle, which is right at 2 mm. Can't imaging sticking two of those together and still being short a mm. How's it play?

[lambdaman]

Dawg picks rule! My tremelo sucked until a package of rounded wonders showed up on my doorstep. Not going back. Can't make me.

[Unseen122]

1 mm dunlop stubbys for my main style (Irish Traditional) and Dawgs for Jazz but I find they give a weak tremelo volume wise. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[evanreilly]

I regularly used a Clayton 1.90mm white triangular pick. Was given a Wegen 3.5mm. No more of them skinny picks.

[Brian Baker]

My first favorite was the Clayton 1.3 mm, then I switched to the D'Andrea ProPlec...

But a few weeks ago, at a jam session in Ashville NC, Evanreilly gave me one of his 1.9mm Claytons, and I've been using it ever since! What a guy!

Thanks Evanreilly!!!!
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Brian

[mandoJeremy]

Whatever gives you the tone you are looking for. I personally use a Heavy after switching from an Ex. Heavy.

[mandodebbie]

Umm... I've got a hard yellow pick and stiff orange one. I use these mostly for note playing. In addition to those, like the flexable red one for strumming . The print has worn off them, so I'm not sure of the brands.:)

[earthsave]

Dunlop 207.. It's about as thick as it gets... 2mm or is it 2.07mm?

[steve in tampa]

My favorite is the Golden Gate , followed closely by the Dawg. Like the Golden Gates better because of the smaller size, but use both 'cause I got a bunch.

[jcs271]

Dunlop 207's. They are GREAT!

[Ragamuffin Music]

I use a Jim Dunlop X-H (extra heavy) almost all time but also use the Golden Gate tri-rounded but it gives a lighter, crisper tone and the Dunlops give me a nice warm tone. and the Dunlops are highly polished - great control. I had to bevel and polish the edges of the Golden Gates. #I am going to give the Dawg a try though...

[jasona]

Dunlop 207's. They are GREAT!
Your post made me dig out one of mine. You are right, pretty nice! But, my mando has to be really warmed up for them to not dull the tone, for whatever reason.

[John Flynn]

my mando has to be really warmed up for them to not dull the tone
You might try starting out with a Dunlop 208 and then switching to a 207 after a few tunes. The 208 is the same pick, only it is finished with a sharp point, rather than a rounded one.

[PlayerOf8]

Dunlop 1.5mm yesterday-today and tomorrow

George

[John Flynn]

Dunlop 207.. It's about as thick as it gets... 2mm or is it 2.07mm
I just put my micrometer on one, just for fun. It came out to .088" or roughly 2.2mm.

[TeleMark]

Dunlop "Big Stubby," at 2.0 mm

It has a divot on each side to facilitate gripping.

TeleMark

[straight-a]

Fender extra heavy for me!

[Chip Booth]

Oh if only Dunlop made a "107". I love the material they use for the 207 but can't deal with the thickness. Instead I usually use the triangular Fender heavy or ocassionaly a Planet Waves 1.09 purple tortex lookalike (it sounds much better than the tortex), though I just recorded with the PW and found it thinned out the high strings too much and I may not use it again. The hunt is still on.

[KevinM]

D'Andrea ProPlec, and I've got a couple TorTis and some Dawg picks, depending on my mood, but I usually reach for the ProPlec.

[Seth Austen]

I'm either using Wegen M-150 or Dawgs depending on mood or repertoire, also have been trying a Tortis extra heavy triangle for some things.

[TeleMark]

Update:

After my lesson Monday I picked (ha!) up a couple Golden Gate picks. I can't make them work at all! That rounded tip prevents me from getting a clean pick, and I have no volume.

I can see how they would make a tremolo easier, but what about picking single-note lines?

Obviously this can be done, but how?

TeleMark

[bluegrassjack2]

for those of you who use triangular picks, do you use the pointed part of the pick or the rounded shoulder part?
Thanks

[jasona]

for those of you who use triangular picks, do you use the pointed part of the pick or the rounded shoulder part?
Thanks
Both, truth be told.

[Ragamuffin Music]

for those of you who use triangular picks, do you use the pointed part of the pick or the rounded shoulder part?
Thanks
I use the rounded corners almost exclusively because it just works better for my style of playing. I don't need a ton of volume to cut through when playing live as some do. What I get from the rounded corner is better control, speed when I need that and more dynamic range. The point does give a bit more depth of tone and volume while the rounded corner is softer with a bit more treble tone.

Another thing to note is that the tighter I hold the pick the more treble I get while if I let the pick move back and forth I get more depth and mid tone.

[Professor PT]

I use the purple Dunlops--extra heavy something. They sound great--extra volume, clean tone. I tried the Golden Gates, and I hate them. It makes the tone muddy for me. They are easy to hold, but that alone won't get me to switch. Maybe I'll try them on guitar. It's fun to go and buy a bunch of different picks and experiment...and it's a very cheap way to improve your tone and playing.

[Nathan Sanders]

Mostly for mandolin I use a heavy pick, not sure of the size or brand, that I got from a local music store. Originally the picks had the store name on them. Lately, though, I have been going back to Fender medium picks, which I also use for guitar. I find I have better control and playability with the medium picks actually. I keep both picks on hand. I have a Golden Gate but have used it rarely. The thickness just takes some getting used to I guess.