!#5: Dunlop Tortex, Fender Picks, and Others - A Closer Look at 4 Common Guitar Picks

!±8± Dunlop Tortex, Fender Picks, and Others - A Closer Look at 4 Common Guitar Picks

1. Dunlop Tortex: The best feature of the Dunlop Tortex is its high gripping, non slipping surface. The material that the pick is made out of (Tortex) feels great, and the pick has just the right shape for comfortable playing. Also, I don't know if this really matters, but people say that these picks are indestructible. I cannot think of a situation where I would snap a pick while playing, but with these you can have confidence that your picks won't break. You may think that a pick does not affect your sound in any significant way, but that is absolutely incorrect. Try playing with a nylon Jazz III and compare it to the Dunlop Tortex. The difference is highly noticeable, and the tone from the Tortex is much more round and warmer that any other pick I have used. Dunlop Tortex picks are used by many famous artists, one of them being John Frusciante. They are a classic, and if you haven't tried one, you definitely should.

2. Fender 351 Premium Celluloid: The Fender 351 Premium Celluloid picks are made out of "Celluloid", which gives the pick a cool look, so if you want some eye candy and a solid pick, then you might like these. The heavy and medium versions of these picks are great, except the the tips will wear down after a few weeks of heavy playing. The thin versions of these picks are like usual thin picks: they lose their shape and are unplayable after a while. The sound quality of these picks is somewhere between a Dunlop Jazz III and a Dunlop Tortex. These picks are also a classic in the guitar books, and if you play a Fender guitar, it is always a good feeling to be using a Fender pick also.

3. Dunlop 475 Big Stubby: If your playing style consists of shredding, heavy metal, or even bebop/jazz then the Dunlop 475 Big Stubby will give you the ability to do so. One problem with this pick is that the surface is pretty slippery. As soon as your fingers get a little sweaty, the pick will occasionally slip around. This can be a problem for some players, and if you are looking for a pick with a solid grip then this may not be the pick for you. If you are looking for a sturdy pick that won't budge, then the Dunlop Big Stubby will do the job. You have the option of 1.0 mm, 2.0 mm, or 3.0 mm thickness. The sound quality from the Big Stubby is good, but not great. It has a similar sound to the Jazz III's when plucking the strings. The Dunlop Big Stubby offers smooth agility with major slippage. Bottom line: If you don't have sweaty hands, then try this one out.

4. Dava Grip Tips: The feel of the Dava Grip Tip has the shape and grip of a Dunlop Tortex plus the agility of a Dunlop Jazz III. This pick is a crossover of the two. The pick is stable, and has the attack of a Jazz III. Making this pick stand out from others is the thin rubber coating that prevents slippage when playing. These Grip Tips are long lasting, smooth playing, and gripping. The sound that comes out of these picks is very smooth, and playing fast lines comes with ease because these picks glide over the strings with minimum resistance. The Dava Grip Tips are very comfortable picks to use, and when playing these you do not have to worry about your pick slipping in your fingers.