Picks(plectrums) + String gauges

[HungPhat]

hey all just wondering what everyones uses and their views./experiences on pick thickness in relation to string gauge and overall tone (for live and recording)

 

[metalhead28]

I never really thought about how they relate before. I use extremely thick picks (1.5mm) all the time. I use 10 to 52 strings. I think thick strings definitely have better tone to a point, bass strings primarily. I don't think it's a trade-off I would make if I wasn't comfortable playing on them though. Personally, I don't like anything thicker than standard 10's on the treble side because I still like the guitar to have a slightly spongey feel to it so I can wiggle those strings around and do really wide bends, that's why I play a hybrid set. I think being comfortable playing the guitar is much more important than worrying about string gauges, playing with ease will do more for your tone.
That said....fat bass strings and heavy picks definitely play and record better in my opinion. But it all depends on your playing style.

 

[mharr552000]

I use GHS Boomer .008 strings and Dunlop JazzIII picks. My strings are light and my picks are heavy.

 

[aaroncomp]

I use GHS Boomer .008 strings and Dunlop JazzIII picks. My strings are light and my picks are heavy.

Wow, 8's? Didn't know they still made those.


About a year ago, I switched from 9s to 10s on my electric. I was hesitant at first, thinking it would slow my shredding down . However, that has not been the case at all, and I have loved the tone improvement. Currently I am considering another increase to 11s. Not sure if I'll commit. As always, if you change string guage, you need to properly adjust your intonation, etc. on you axe. As far as picks go - as my skill increased over the years, I've found that I kept getting thicker and thicker picks. I eventually backed down and stuck with 1.14mm. However, recently a friend has got me into using thinner picks (.60mm). With the thinner picks, I'm still getting the attack I thought I would lose, but adding the sweeter sounding strum to chords - more dynamic. I've always been happy with the Dunlop Tortex picks.

 

[Gorty]

My picks are around .50mm thick and my strings are D'Addario 9-42's.

I used to use very heavy picks but have slowly changed for some reason!

 

[magic man]

if you play tuned down a step or lower consider higher gauge strings to keep from losing tension and having them be too loose for playing...

i play a full step down (DGCFAD) and use 11-52. Ernie Ball makes a Hybrid Slinky set i have been using, and GHS has TNT (i think) that are similar. if they don't make a set with the gauges you want buy some individual strings and build your own

picks? um...the orange ones.

 

[sweetpeee]

I usually go for .009's or 10's as far as strings go. For pics I use Fender mediums (or something similar) for strumming acoustic, and RED Jim Dunlop Jazz III's. I like the red better because they are easier to see if you drop them. I use thick picks because the attack is instant...there is no lag of time between when the pick attcks the string and the string makes the sound. I find with lighter picks, they bend for an instant every time you pluck a string with them.

J.P.

 

[gbdweller]

Tortex purple or blue depending on my anger level, and GHS Boomers exclusively. 9-46 on all except my strat which is tuned to dropped B and is strung with 11-52. GHS phosphor bronze lights on my acoustics.

 

[F_cksia]

I use 10 to 52 strings.

Do you play harp with a pick too?


I use those sharp thick jazzpicks that come in red and black and should have a name on it let´s check uhm oh it´s just from dunlop

amen

 

[jpw23]

I use a dunlop .60 mm and elixer custom lights

 

[metalhead28]

Do you play harp with a pick too?

well...if I played harp I guess I would go with...I dunno...fingerstyle?


How the hell do you play a harp anyway? haha

 

[IronFlippy]

I use .010 - .046 GHS Boomers (might upgrade to 11s and see how they sound/feel) and DunlopNylon .73mm picks. Those picks don't dissolve in your hand like the colored Dunlops. I got a set of 12 a couple years ago and i still use them, with very little wear.

I like the medium gauge picks because they don't flop around, but they'll bend if I accidentally hit a string too hard. Haven't broken a string that way in over a year (knock on wood). As for strings, it's the same thing everyone else has said. I like to be able to really dig into my strings, for that extra bite. I don't play live much, but I keep my gauge the same as for recording. The thicker strings don't break as easy, plus they sound good. It's just a matter of getting used to them being thicker. That said, I wouldn't play on 13s or 14s like my uncle, but then again, he's a blues guitarist and I'm a rock guitarist. It depends on the sound you want. The thicker you go, the less the pitch fluctuates when you strike the string. You need that little bit of waiver on string contact in rock in order to get that aggressive sound.

I've found that lighter picks mixed with heavy strings sound very dull, and then heavy picks with light strings break way too easily. So I found a middle ground between the two that I like.

 

[Henry Mars]

I use very heavey picks .... someimes I use stone picks when I practice. I find that heavy picks give me better control and better tone and aid in technique development. On most of my axes I use heavy guage strings, except my LP where I use lighter strings for jazz fusion I still use xx heavy picks though.

 

[Mindcore]

I use XL 9's with Yellow Tortex pics .73. Anything else just feels weird.

 

[HungPhat]

wow i didnt think id get this much response but cool

my band tunes to drop b (other guitarist has a baritone dammit) so my PRS has a set of .058-.014

i normally use 1.76mm but i ran out of picks the other day and only had a 0.77 and i found that strumed out open chords sounded clearer ...however there was a lag in the chugging department. and squeals arent as in your face compared to a brick pick.

guess im gonna have to go pick shopping

i guess its all to do with style...