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glassjaw7 « Fell in love with the Jazz III shape! »
Published on 03/21/11 at 23:50Up until about a year and a half ago, I was using a plethora of picks, never being quite satisfied with any of them enough to settle down with one and use it on a regular basis. I guess the closest I had come to being happy with the feel and sound of a pick prior to the Jazz III was with the regular sized Tortex .88 picks. They always had a clumsy feel though and weren't substantial enough. Also, I couldn't tightly control my lead playing with regular sized picks.
Back in '09, my buddy handed me his red Jazz III and said "here, try this". I can't believe I never tried one until then, but once I did, it was love at first strum! Sure it took a couple days for my playing to really adjust to the pick, but I can honestly say that I've become a much more efficient player since switching to the smaller Jazz III. The smaller size and pointed end have allowed me to do things with my playing that I couldn't quite do before. Sweep picking is now much less difficult and sounds smoother. The annoying "clicking sound that was always present with the regular picks isn't as noticeable with the Jazz III.
All in all, there is just more control and efficiency with this pick, and it allows me to be a better player and enjoy the guitar more. Another cool thing about the Jazz III is how natural it feels, no matter what side of the pick I'm using. For example, for intricate runs and scalar patterns where I pick every note cleanly and quickly, I can use the hard pointed tip of the Jazz for very precise and clean sounding results. When I switch to legato mode and throw in sweeps I can rotate the pick, using the slightly harder, smoother and more "glassy" rounded edge for smooth runs that blur together and play effortlessly. Regular picks allow you do use their different edges as well, but there is much more resistance.
Dunlop has several picks available in the Jazz range, including Jazz I, II, and III picks, which have the same size and shape, but differ in gauge. They also offer Ultex Jazz III picks, which are made from a very durable material that resists wear and has a smooth release on the strings giving the pick a very glassy sound and feel. Dunlop have recently added Tortex picks to the Jazz III line as well. I haven't played one yet as they've only just been released, but I'm looking forward to grabbing some so I can compare them to the rest of the line!
The standard Jazz III shape comes in red and black, and you'll hear many guitarists argue that one or the other has a better or somehow different tone, despite the fact that they're both crafted from the same materials and are the same thickness and weight. I honestly did hear and feel a slight difference between the red and black IIIs. The red seemed to be a bit darker, while the black one resembled the Ultex Jazz with a more glassy and slippery feel and tone; ha ha, guitarists are an obsessive bunch!
If you have been living under a rock forever (like I apparently was for years) and are finding that your standard size picks are feeling clumsy and holding you back as a player, give the Jazz III a shot, and give it a couple days to settle into your picking style. I doubt you'll be disappointed.
Back in '09, my buddy handed me his red Jazz III and said "here, try this". I can't believe I never tried one until then, but once I did, it was love at first strum! Sure it took a couple days for my playing to really adjust to the pick, but I can honestly say that I've become a much more efficient player since switching to the smaller Jazz III. The smaller size and pointed end have allowed me to do things with my playing that I couldn't quite do before. Sweep picking is now much less difficult and sounds smoother. The annoying "clicking sound that was always present with the regular picks isn't as noticeable with the Jazz III.
All in all, there is just more control and efficiency with this pick, and it allows me to be a better player and enjoy the guitar more. Another cool thing about the Jazz III is how natural it feels, no matter what side of the pick I'm using. For example, for intricate runs and scalar patterns where I pick every note cleanly and quickly, I can use the hard pointed tip of the Jazz for very precise and clean sounding results. When I switch to legato mode and throw in sweeps I can rotate the pick, using the slightly harder, smoother and more "glassy" rounded edge for smooth runs that blur together and play effortlessly. Regular picks allow you do use their different edges as well, but there is much more resistance.
Dunlop has several picks available in the Jazz range, including Jazz I, II, and III picks, which have the same size and shape, but differ in gauge. They also offer Ultex Jazz III picks, which are made from a very durable material that resists wear and has a smooth release on the strings giving the pick a very glassy sound and feel. Dunlop have recently added Tortex picks to the Jazz III line as well. I haven't played one yet as they've only just been released, but I'm looking forward to grabbing some so I can compare them to the rest of the line!
The standard Jazz III shape comes in red and black, and you'll hear many guitarists argue that one or the other has a better or somehow different tone, despite the fact that they're both crafted from the same materials and are the same thickness and weight. I honestly did hear and feel a slight difference between the red and black IIIs. The red seemed to be a bit darker, while the black one resembled the Ultex Jazz with a more glassy and slippery feel and tone; ha ha, guitarists are an obsessive bunch!
If you have been living under a rock forever (like I apparently was for years) and are finding that your standard size picks are feeling clumsy and holding you back as a player, give the Jazz III a shot, and give it a couple days to settle into your picking style. I doubt you'll be disappointed.