Dunlop Plectrums Ultex 427 Jazz III

Dunlop Ultex series became my primary pick choice. I've started using them 2 years ago. The series provides flexibility across most of the musical genres, proper articulation and grip stability.

My main genres are blues, jazz and fusion. The soft edge of this ultres series makes the pick 'dissapear' in the mix, producing raw string action. The pick does not produce any extraneous noises, characteristic for the picks with sharp edges. This is my preference, given the softer properties of recorded notes and riffs, independent of the amount of attack that one uses.

The downside of this specific pick contour is the fact that for speed picking it may jeopartize accuracy and rapidity of the repeated attack on the strings. Therefore it's more suitable for slower, expressive styles. If you need the attack noise, you may look at the non-Ultex Jazz III series or the Ultex Sharp series, which I also occasionally use.

I have tested the picks across most of the string gauges (from 09 to 13). For all of them the spectrum of attack dynamics is more than sufficient.

The pick is not perfect for quick funk, where picks of 1mm and less would be more suitable. However, it works well for heavier funky slant riffs. Pick grip is sufficient for most genres, however it has some tendency to rotate while playing faster funky chords. Players with larger fingers who dislike small size picks may look at larger Ultex (and Ultex Sharp) series.

If you are further into emulating softness of the thumb, you can go further with the 207 or 208 series:


Those provide harder attach but smoother contact with the string and can do well as bass picks as well.

In summary, it is worth having a set of those picks for recording purposes. In general, it is always worth increasing awarness of various pick materials, shapes, contours, grips and sizes and their impact on your playing.

Very good hard picks, which are excellent for soloing.
This is the small version. I ordered the wrong one and prefer to play with the XL version.
They wear out less quickly than Stubby's, but they don't last forever either. If played every day, the handy sharp point disappears after a month or 2, which makes them less useful to me. To use as a practice pick, one can easily make a point with sandpaper, but that reduces the grip.
All in all, that's the pick (the XL version that is), which I always play with (electrically, that is, because for acoustic guitar they lack a bit of clarity).