Is it me or do Ultex picks sound brighter?

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Speeddemon

Speeddemon

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I already had a set of Ultex Sharp 0.9mm and now added a set of Sharp 0.73mm... I've noticed that switching back between these and regular (yellow) Tortex 0.73mm picks, the Tortex seem to have a slightly rounder, more mellow attack and the Ultex seems to sound punchier and sharper.

Do more of you have this experience as well? And if so, what do you prefer?
 
I started using ultex jazz iii’s like a 15 years ago, used the red or black ones before that, and I noticed that also. Couldn’t go back to the red and black ones, sounded too smooth in comparison.
 
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Nope, not just you. Obviously the material your pick is made from has an effect on the sound, just like if you start playing with your fingers you’ll get a dull sound from your flesh and a bright sound from your nails.

Ultex is brighter but Tortex is not dark and seems to emphasize a midrange frequency that I like to hear and am usually missing otherwise. I do use some of the Prime tone picks sometimes though which are also made from Ultex.
 
From swapping guitars with others you can hear the difference between players. An old band I was in had the bass player (who was primarily a guitar player but VERY blues based) play a few songs on guitar and one of the two guitar players would play bass. It was crazy how much bassier and less bright his hands/technique were. He would pick up my guitar and it would be super bassy/muddy but sounded balanced/tight in my hands.

So the red EJ Jazz IIIs aren't that dull in my hands and Ultex are too thin/bright. My favorite for tone is plain old Fender celluloid but they wear fast and I have to manually score them to keep a grip.
 
I tried to make the switch from Tortex to Ultex years ago, and found that I didn't like that tiny bit of added brightness.

I still keep them around though, occasionally I'll be recording something random & find that quality to be very useful.
 
Carbon Fiber FTW!!! (cf max-grip jazz3)

I also really like the Ultex jp trinity picks. They are three picks in one and the Ultex tips last forever.
The Ultex is certainly brighter and clearer sounding, and probably better for precise technical playing, but overall I slightly prefer the tips on the regular cf max-grip jazz3 because they have a fuller/rounder attack and work well for any style, except for strumming for which I like a basic red .5mm tortex.
 
From swapping guitars with others you can hear the difference between players. An old band I was in had the bass player (who was primarily a guitar player but VERY blues based) play a few songs on guitar and one of the two guitar players would play bass. It was crazy how much bassier and less bright his hands/technique were. He would pick up my guitar and it would be super bassy/muddy but sounded balanced/tight in my hands.

So the red EJ Jazz IIIs aren't that dull in my hands and Ultex are too thin/bright. My favorite for tone is plain old Fender celluloid but they wear fast and I have to manually score them to keep a grip.
There is absolutely huge differences in the sound different people make.
For whatever reason many don't believe this. It is completely obvious to me
 
I have been using Dava picks for years and love them! I wasn't paying attention when. I was ordering one time and got a different material and size. It is crazy how gig of a difference it is but great for different uses.
 
There is absolutely huge differences in the sound different people make.
For whatever reason many don't believe this. It is completely obvious to me
And not only that but people are looking for totally different tones. Some guys often use the rounded corner of the pick for really warm tones, or just adjusting their pick stroke to change the tone. So their pick (or whatever they use to pluck/strum) is a huge part of their tone. I often use the rounded corner on acoustic just because my hands are bright.
 
I have been using Dava picks for years and love them! I wasn't paying attention when. I was ordering one time and got a different material and size. It is crazy how gig of a difference it is but great for different uses.
Yeah, besides the Tortex Jazz III XL and the Ultex Sharp, my 'usual' go-to are the Dava Control picks. Love 'em a lot. And mind you, I like to play a lot of Scott Ian/John Schaeffer/James Hetfield/Mille Petrozza type of tight rhythm stuff, but I've noticed I got more 'tone' and control when I'm not using the thick picks. Anything over 1.14mm I don't care about...the thinner ones -without going below 0.73mm!!!- give me more control.
 
Biggest change for me in resent years is I much prefer the sound of rounded normal pick over pointed tip. It make for such a different attack. It's more raw and fat. I rarely use Jazz III anymore. I'm using Tortex yellow most of the time. Ultex has a aggressive attack but too brittle sounding for my taste.
 
I've been using only Ultex picks for something like 20 years now, I love their attack
I agree. I love their attack too. That is all I use these days, but I only use the rounded tips ones.
 

Yep. I literally only use Nylon jazz III XLs or if i can't get them regular old black dunlop nylons.

At least for me, tortex and ultex are both to "plingy" - where it has this plink plink tone I can't stand

Different strokes and all that
 
Not a fan of Ultex. It has a sharp attack I do not like. You hear a "clack" before the note that is not pleasing to my ears
 
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