Cutting Picks

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Fri Sep 14, 2012 5:08 pm

I found this trick whilst on a jazz guitar forum. Basically if you cut a third of the pick off it leaves you with a similar size to a Jazz III. It's cool because I can use my favourite Fender Extra heavy celluloid picks which sound and feel so much better than any of the jazz III picks dunlop make (also fender picks are super cheap).

Crappy phone picture:

theshadowofseattle · Post by **theshadowofseattle** » Fri Sep 14, 2012 5:42 pm

Why would you want to do this?

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Fri Sep 14, 2012 5:44 pm

I thought the same until I tried it. If you like smaller picks you might dig it.

theshadowofseattle · Post by **theshadowofseattle** » Fri Sep 14, 2012 5:45 pm

I mean, what's the benefit of smaller picks? You'd have less surface area for grip and be more likely to lose them.

George · Post by **George** » Fri Sep 14, 2012 5:47 pm

theshadowofseattle wrote:I mean, what's the benefit of smaller picks? You'd have less surface area for grip and be more likely to lose them.

You really need to try it to understand, takes a bit of getting used to but you get more precision and dig into notes better and stuff.

I might try this. Thanks for the tip. I also think Jazz IIIs are dull sounding and am using Fenders for the volume and brightness, but I think part of that brightness comes from holding them a bit further away from the tip. Will experiment

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Fri Sep 14, 2012 6:04 pm

It is definitely a bit brighter, I much prefer how they sound. It is worth a try.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Fri Sep 14, 2012 6:44 pm

I do this myself. Small plecs fit my small fingers better.

robroe · Post by **robroe** » Fri Sep 14, 2012 9:25 pm

what the fuck you guys don't have 60 or so do an riff picks left like me?

do we need to order more?

Mages · Post by **Mages** » Fri Sep 14, 2012 9:36 pm

I had a bunch but I gave them away to people because I don't really like the tortex.

the pick cutting look like a cool idea though.

George · Post by **George** » Fri Sep 14, 2012 9:50 pm

Tortex pick grind away to nothing too quickly and are dull sounding in my opinion. Every guitarist I know has used them but there are better materials out there.

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Fri Sep 14, 2012 10:05 pm

The whole pick thing came before I signed up here. I'd definitely be interested though were we to order some. Celluloid is my personal favourite but utlex and delrin are cool too. Although I'd be happy with tortex too as long as they weren't too heavy.

Progrockabuse · Post by **Progrockabuse** » Fri Sep 14, 2012 10:10 pm

I've green using jazz III recent when I've needed a pick. Though I tend to pick with fingers more often than not, mainly cross inspiration from too many years watch beck, knopfler and pro guitar shop's andy.

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Fri Sep 14, 2012 10:17 pm

I love playing with fingers, but I've not quite got the ability to go into full time yet. I study with one of the top fingerstyle jazz tutors (reading his articles online is how I came across him) but we haven't really started working on fingerstyle as I can't ditch using a pick just before uni auditions. But come the new year and I'll be diving headfirst into some Joe Pass and Lenny Breau pieces.

In regards to picks I change my mind all the time, but these cut down picks are a nice middle ground I think I've found.

rps-10 · Post by **rps-10** » Fri Sep 14, 2012 10:54 pm

Once you have become addicted to Jazz IIIs you can never really go back. You either cut down standard picks to shape or just hold whatever pick you have to hand right at the bottom.

You can now get those pickmaster things in Jazz III template shape so you can make your own out of random "plastics"

Mattsican · Post by **Mattsican** » Sat Sep 15, 2012 1:47 am

I used to play with the fender picks and i noticed that i'd always break them. I did use them for bass mostly though. I switched to the neon green tortex and those held up great. I forgot a pick once and band practice and one of my guitar players let me use one of his dunlop jazz blackouts and it was amazing. i use them for everything now. i just seem to have more precise control over everything with it. anytime i use a full size pick, it feels awkward. I did just get some "Cool" thin picks with some grippy shit on them, kinda like skateboard grip tape. theyre like oversized jazz III picks. i'm digging them so far. i've tried cutting picks before and it just feels weird to use them.

robroe · Post by **robroe** » Sat Sep 15, 2012 3:25 am

George wrote:Tortex are dull sounding in my opinion.

more dull than Flatwound .13 strings thru a 15" speaker ? lulzzzzz

my setup is one way ticket to DUUUULLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLTOWN

mixtape · Post by **mixtape** » Sat Sep 15, 2012 4:41 am

My fave picks EVAH. Nice and small too. Drunken pick posts. Yeeeah. It's Friday night, kids.

robroe · Post by **robroe** » Sat Sep 15, 2012 4:46 am

you get 10 picks for 10 dollars ????

hahahaha you better be drunk.

28 bucks. 144 picks.

i ordered these like 8 or 9 years ago. i still got like 30 or 40 left.

those who have seen all the black shit all over all my guitars, its from these.

http://www.allparts.com/Black-Allparts- ... 00-023.htm

paul_ · Post by **paul_** » Sat Sep 15, 2012 5:01 am

robroe wrote:you get 10 picks for 10 dollars ????

hahahaha you better be drunk.

I don't mean to join in on boisterous gibes at another man's personal preference but

Tortex .60mm ftw. I buy these Jackson ones with the bomb on them to reduce the possibility of dull attack.

mixtape · Post by **mixtape** » Sat Sep 15, 2012 5:36 am

paul_ wrote:
robroe wrote:you get 10 picks for 10 dollars ????

hahahaha you better be drunk.
I don't mean to join in on boisterous gibes at another man's personal preference but

Shit. Those were way cheaper the last time I bought them. Oh well. They were worth it.