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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Gear »

Permalink Thick vs Thin picks

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I know it’s recommended to use heavy picks for tremolo picking , but doesn’t that muffle the sound a bit on the strings as opposed to thinner picks which sound snappier?

You are correct that a thinner pick will almost always produce a brighter sound and snappier attack. I'd say that a thick pick doesn't muffle the sound, but it just doesn't produce the higher frequencies in the first place. Thick pick just sort of click and glide over the strings, which, with my rig feels off and sounds less drippy.

I NEED thick picks to get any kind of tremolo pick action going. I thought I straight up couldn't do it until I switched to dramatically thicker picks than I was used to.

For me middle ones (0.88- 1mm) turned out to be perfect, they still have the snap and some flexibility but hard enough for a stable tremolo picking.

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I’ve found that thinner picks help to contribute to reverb drip, but I tend to like thicker picks, overall. If I use Jim Dunlop Gel picks, the L (Light) thickness sounds great for reverb drip, but the pick, for lack of a better word, is so “slappy” that it detracts from my playing. The Dunlop ML is a lot better and perhaps the sweet spot for s full sized pick, if I want to be able to maximize drip, but still maintain at least a degree of RH control. As the thickness increases, I find everything besides drip and the sharpness of the sound improves, dramatically.

But I find smaller picks easier to use, overall, and love the feel of the Dunlop 477-205, which is a slightly oversized take on a teardrop Jazz pick. But it’s thick, and you lose some highs.

Actually, I use a thumb pick a lot, these days. The Fred Kelly Slick Pick is easy to grip like a flat pick and or use it as a thumb pick, which allows alternating between the thumb pick and first finger, which helps out in the speed department.

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

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