The right pick delivers the tone (for me, at least)

I've learned that the pick I use is a major contributor to the tone I get.

I play bluegrass, rock, and jazz, both rhythm and lead.

I've tried every pick in the world, and finally have decided on Dunlop 1.14mm. The material is rather soft, which minimizes noise on the string prior to the attack. It's stiff enough that when I choke up on the point I can get as much stiffness as with a jazz pick, but enough flexibility when I hold it further back to get brush-like strumming action.

I also manipulate the angle of the pick to manipulate the tone. Flush with the string gives a brighter tone, 45 degrees to the string gives a warmer-darker tone.

Check it out.

eh,ive yet to come across any pick that claims different tone yet isn't really just plastic with a fancy name like ultex or something.

Ive always wanted to hear and try truly different materials like glass,different woods,rocks,metals e.c.t.

I agree. I used to use ~.80mm Dunlop Gator's (?), but now I use Clayton "acetal" 1.26mm picks. I defanately noticed a change in my tone. The Dunlops sounded dead and muted, whereas the Claytons have a brighter more lively sound.

[font=trebuchet ms]I usually use Dunlop Tortex orange picks, but when I'm in the mood for something different, I whip on my Mojo Pick, made from a silver 25-cent piece. I have to be careful about how I approach the strings with it (or it 'clacks' on the string), but it really brings out the harmonics! Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top uses a pick made out of a Mexican peso.[/font]

Originally Posted by: Lordathestrings[font=trebuchet ms]Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top uses a pick made out of a Mexican peso.[/font]

Seriously? I used mexican pesos and 5-peso pieces for picks for a while because when I came back from doing some work in Mexico I had about 15 bucks in Mexican change and no real picks.

It works better than most people think, but it's probably better to chop quarters for picks than pesos because quarters aren't magnetic. The silver part of Mexican coins is.