A Story About Guitar Picks
Some might call it a crutch for those who aren't good, or a story about people who rely on gear instead of honing their skills, lol
Details unknown
When I first started playing guitar, I used a teardrop-shaped pick, about medium thickness that came in a starter set, though I have no idea what brand it was. But, as I wrote in my self-introduction, I wasn't exactly taking it seriously, so honestly, I don't remember much about it.
Jim Dunlop Stubby® / Nylon Jazz III
Once I got to college and started playing more seriously, I tried out the 2.0mm Stubby from Jim Dunlop, and from there, I switched to the red Jazz III which has a similar shape, and used that for a long time. The reason I switched to the red Jazz was that the Stubby wore down quickly and the 2.0mm was too thick. I bought the Stubby back then without knowing anything, but according to the Jim Dunlop product page, its selling point is that it's made of a strong and durable material, so I feel like it should have had high wear resistance. On the other hand, the red Jazz wasn't as rock-hard as the Stubby, which leads me to think that's why it didn't wear down as easily (maybe it gives way when it hits the strings?).
Jim Dunlop Max-Grip™ Jazz III
After that, I liked the Jazz III shape and was used to it, but since I would occasionally slip or drop it due to its size, I bought a red Jazz with Max-Grip anti-slip texture. However, after using it, I realized for the first time that I actually make micro-adjustments to the pick's position while playing, and I didn't like that the grip prevented me from doing that, so it didn't become my regular pick.
Jim Dunlop Ultex® Jazz III
As time went on and a material called Ultex (the name itself seems to be polyetherimide?) came out, I was interested in its characteristics (some say it's like tortoiseshell, others say it's like human fingernails), and since it came in a Jazz III shape, I gave it a try. It was harder than the red Jazz, but it didn't have that feeling of being scraped away like the Stubby, so I felt it would be fine to switch from the red Jazz, and I used it for quite a long time as well. However, there were times when I kind of missed the feel of the red Jazz, so I ended up using both, with a ratio of about 80% Ultex to 20% red Jazz.
Jim Dunlop Delrin 500 / Tortex® Standard / Ultex® Standard / Ultex® Sharp
After that, I blamed my lack of improvement on my picks (...(^^;), and since Takka-chan from Kinniku Shojo Tai plays like that with a medium teardrop pick, I thought I'd try the same thing, and I switched from the small, thick Jazz III I had been using to thin (0.71mm and 0.73mm) teardrop picks. However, I was afraid of such a drastic change all at once, and I thought the opposite direction might suit me better, so I also bought a thick 2.0mm one to try out. As a result, the 0.71mm Delrin suited me best and I used it for a while, but because of its thinness and the material's characteristics, I was concerned about how fast it wore down, so I looked for Ultex teardrops. Since they didn't have 0.71mm in the lineup, I compromised and bought a 0.73mm one. Naturally, it felt harder than the 0.71mm, but the rounded tip bothered me more than that, so I switched to the Ultex Sharp which has a sharper tip. Eventually, I realized that picks with sharp tips are what I prefer, so I thought about going back to the Jazz III shape, but since I had been playing with teardrops for a while, the Jazz III felt too small and awkward. Just as I was feeling stuck, I found a pick from a manufacturer called MASTER 8 JAPAN called INFINIX Hard Polish - JAZZ type.
MASTER 8 JAPAN INFINIX Hard Polish - JAZZ type
This pick is a Jazz III type in shape, but it's one size larger. It has a pattern printed on the surface, and that pattern is made of a rubber-like material that provides a good grip, which is convenient for me. I also like that the material of the pick itself has excellent wear resistance and lasts a long time. The thinnest one available was 0.88mm, so I had no choice but to choose that, but when I used it, it felt right, so I switched over without any trouble. Even so, there are times when I miss the thickness of a Jazz III, so I sometimes cheat with a 1.2mm one.
Non-intended use
By the way, the 2.0mm teardrop pick I bought aiming for the "opposite direction" didn't suit me at all, so it has become a measuring tool where I insert it between the frets and the strings, and if it doesn't fit, I judge the string height to be 2.0mm or more, lol