The guitar pick has certainly changed over the years but what about durability? Plus can certain plectrum materials last longer than others?
Well In this post, I will answer if guitar picks can wear out and if other guitar picks are more resilient than others.
Also what you should look for choosing your ideal guitar pick. So here’s what you need to know.
The Short Answer…
Conventional guitar picks are made from strong plastics but will wear out over time depending on usage. Playing techniques such as ‘pick slides’ can wear away the edges promoting sharper edges causing the strings to catch. Over time the tip of the plectrum can also become more rounded affecting picking accuracy.
The Long Answer
Most standard plectrums can withstand heavy picking and strumming for a long time without much wear.
However, depending on usage and how hard you are on your plectrums, over time you may notice the tip is not as pointy and has taken on a rounder shape which is to be expected.
The tip end will start good and pointy but after time the ends can become rounded which can affect the way your plectrum plucks the strings.
Not as effective and accurate with a pointy tip. But just like strings, guitar picks will wear out over time it’s just the norm of playing guitar.
Standard Plectrum Materials
- Nylon
- Delrin
- Celluloid
- Tortex
- Ultex
Let’s look at these individually….but before we do. Because guitar picks are so inexpensive. It’s a good idea to experiment with as many different picks as you can. So you can find your ideal pick to suit your playing style, feel and tone.
Tortex
Tortex is the desired material for Dunlop’s popular Tortex range of plectrums and a very popular choice for all types of players. Tortex can be very tough especially the higher you climb the up the gauges.
These plectrums can perform well in both thin and thick versions and known for a ‘snappy‘ tone. Tortex also feels ‘grainy’ between your fingertips allowing for a good amount of grip for sustained plucking.
Tortex is a good all-rounder available in many different shapes for strumming or shredding depending on your preference. These picks are the staple plectrum of choice for all types of players.
Delrin
Delrin is are slightly more resistant to wear than Tortex and are very popular material for plectrums.
The only problem is that these picks can sometimes come with a smooth surface compared to the usual grippy Tortex.
Meaning it can affect your grip if you are used to textured surfaces. Delrin is also known to produce a warmer tone and is a popular choice sold under many trade names and manufacturers.
Nylon
Nylon is another popular choice but can wear very easily around the edges especially using a thinner gauge and not the most durable choice when it comes to plectrums.
However, the pros of Nylon is that is is very flexible resulting in an effective choice for strumming and they produce a thin and bright tone.
Nylon plectrums usually include textured grooves to prevent slippage as the Nylon is naturally slippery surface.
Ultex
Ultex plectrums are another type of synthetic plastic which are very resistant to wear and tear, and a great option for all players.
Ultex is a very strong plectrum and durable but also known to produce a nice mellow tone that will balance out nuances on string contact.
Ultex picks can come in many shapes, sizes thickness and a and cheap viable option for experimenting.
Celluloid
Celluloid is a synthetic plastic that aims to replicate the material of tortoiseshell. Celluloid is not the most durable when it comes to wear and tear.
Often you can see the signs of misshaping and edges depending on how hard you play and angle of pick attack.
This material is the vintage choice and the usual guitar pick of choice before other new materials was introduced.
What Damages Plectrums the Most
If I could pick one way of altering and degrading your plectrums performance it would have to be performing ‘pick slides.‘ Pick sides are the main technique that will wear away the edges of your plectrum.
As cool and as fun as they are to do on an electric guitar. I have noticed my picks that once had smooth edges will be rough affecting performance.
How to Pick Slide (Watch Below)
Performing a pick slide if you didn’t know already is basically as it sounds. Sliding the plectrum using the edge of the pick down the string for a cool sound effect and making you look sweet on guitar.
Pick slides are usually performed on the electric guitar with some dirty distortion usually in the rock and metal genres.
What Pick Slides Can Do to Your Pick
Here’s a Jim Dunlop Nylon pick I have had for a while (image below.) Notice the ragged edges on the right side. This pick has probably endured a few pick slides during its time in use.
With a ragged edge plectrum, I have noticed that the pick is more likely to catch a string when playing. This can be slightly annoying ruining the fluidity of your playing.
Pick slides are basically like sanding the plastic guitar pick using the metal of the string into a different shape if you do it with enough force.
I’m not saying don’t do pick slides because they are a fun way of adding flair and spice to your playing.
Just keep in mind the wear they can do to your picks if done frequently enough and if you happen to be a heavy-handed player.
Check Your Picks Condition Before a Gig
A little tip is to double check the condition of your gigging picks before going out on stage. If you are like me, I always have a few favorites that are my go-to weapon of choice.
it is important just to quickly visually check your pics and make sure you are used to new types you may have been experimenting with. During a gig, you may notice that your pick does not feel quite right when playing.
Considering plectrums are not exactly the most expensive purchase when it comes to other parts of your gear. Constant wear and tear issues are little to be worried about.
Choose Your Ideal Plectrum
With the many options for plectrum material, do not base your choice of pick on how tough the material is.
The most important factors when choosing the right plectrum for you hinges on….
- Your playing style – Thicker gauge and pointier tips = better for fast single note playing. Fatter and thin picks = better for strumming focused playing.
- Shape (teardrop, oval, triangle, large)
- Thickness – thicker picks translate more vibration to your hand but better for picking
- Thin picks – better for strumming and beginners as they are flexible
- How it grips between your fingers
- The tone it produces
- Your personal preference
Picks that won’t wear out
There are many exotic plectrum materials that are incredibly tough. However, some are very unconventional such as stone, ivory, bone, tortoiseshell, wood, and coconut for example.
They are so unconventional I’m not going to mention them below. However, some plectrums that are super resistant are.
Metal Plectrums
Although not the most conventional material for a guitar pick. Metal plectrums exist for the player and are usually made from steel or aluminum. Obviously metal is one of the strongest material creating an indestructible plectrum.
A metal plectrum also produces a brighter and metallic tone compared to the duller tone of plastic due to the metal plectrum making contact with standard steel coated strings.
I must admit, it is not the most common material for a plectrum but players have known to experiment with this material for a different tone and feel.
The downside, however, is that metal picks can be tough on strings wearing away the steel coating meaning string changes are going to be more frequent. There’s also the fact that there will be no ‘flex’ in the pick and be completely rigid.
This can be great for solos, riffs and picking patterns but for strumming it won’t be ideal. It may also take some getting used to but plectrum choice all comes down to personal preference.
Fun Fact Before you Go
An iconic guitar player who uses a metal plectrum in the form of an old British coin is legendary Queen guitarist Brain May.
Brain May famously uses a sixpence coin which was a coin used back in circulation in Britain from 1920-1980.
Why Use a Coin?
The reason Brain uses a coin as his plectrum is because it promotes a brighter and metallic tone which contributes to his unique guitar sound.
The coin also promotes harmonics with more attack and squeal and makes his cleans which are usually soaked in chorus sound more sparkly and jangly.
However, there are cons with using a sixth pence coin, such as plucking is harder on the strings which Brian May has known to have problems with breaking strings in the past.
But for helping him create his identity as a guitar player. The sixpence contributed to his unique individual sound.
Thanks For Reading
Thanks for reading this quick guide to plectrum durability. If you found this article interesting I suggest you read “11 Tips For Increasing Strumming on Acoustic.” Learn how to improve your strumming speed and accuracy by reading this post.