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Thread: Dunlop Primetone picks

  1. #1
    small instrument, big fun Dan in NH's Avatar
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    Default Dunlop Primetone picks

    The thread on mandolin-centric Christmas gifts got me thinking. Everyone seemed to come out of the woodwork to recommend super premium picks like Blue chip (which are actually orange if you're ever seen one, go figure). Now I'm sorry, but the cheap old SOB in me just can't make myself spend that much on one pick. However, it did make me remember that the guy who recommended Elderly Instruments to me as the place for me to buy my first mandolin, Baron Collins-Hill over at MandoLessons.com, includes Jim Dunlop Prime Tone picks in everyone of his starting mandolin gear packages. And a guitar store a few towns over from me sells 3-packs of Jim Dunlop Prime Tones for just under $10.00. So last week I took a drive up to that store and picked up a pack and have been playing with them

    After playing for a week with this new pick Primetone Triangle 1.4mm Sculpted with Grip (the only triangle picks he had in stock) I can truthfully say that my ears detect no difference in tone at all. I will admit that the triangle shape, compared to the traditional teardrop shape of my usual Jim Dunlop USA Nylon 1.0s, did make my grip in the pick feel like it was more secure, and made me feel like I had better control. So much so that I've ordered a 3-pack of smooth triangle 1.5s from Amazon, with the possibility of a 12-pack to come if I like them.
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  2. #2
    harvester of clams Bill McCall's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dunlop Primetone picks

    Good for you. My Ultex picks came yesterday, 346 shape in 3 thicknesses. So far, so good. The Primetones are on the bench for now.
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    Default Re: Dunlop Primetone picks

    I like the Primetone picks. They are among the 3 picks that seem to rotate as my "favorite": Primetone, Wegen Bluegrass, and Ultex 1.4

  4. #4

    Default Re: Dunlop Primetone picks

    Those smooth large triangle Primetones are good picks, I keep some on hand for backups. I wouldn't rush to buy a dozen though, you're not likely notice much, if any wear on them.

    Those players of super premium picks likely play pricey instruments that are sensitive enough that a premium pick makes a difference. I will say that for advanced players with high quality instruments, Blue Chip picks do make a remarkable difference, both in tone and response. It's not just hype. When you play a $10,000 instrument (or even $5,000), a $40 pick doesn't seem like such an extravagance. Enjoy your new picks and Merry Christmas!

  5. #5
    Worlds ok-ist mando playr Zach Wilson's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dunlop Primetone picks

    Oh, here we go again...

    Short answer: try them both for yourself. I did and found bc's are far superior in every way.
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  6. #6

    Default Re: Dunlop Primetone picks

    Quote Originally Posted by phydaux View Post
    After playing for a week with this new pick Primetone Triangle 1.4mm Sculpted with Grip (the only triangle picks he had in stock) I can truthfully say that my ears detect no difference in tone at all.
    Glad you found something you like at a reasonable price. I'm a Primetone fan too. IMO, the smooth ones have a slightly more Bluechipesque sound than the grippy ones but YMMV. And keep in mind that the number of pick-strokes it takes to burn through a few dozen primetones won't put a scintilla of wear on the B.C.

    Quote Originally Posted by phydaux View Post
    Everyone seemed to come out of the woodwork to recommend super premium picks like Blue chip (which are actually orange if you're ever seen one, go figure).
    I have seen one and I think you might want to adjust the tint on your monitor.
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    Registered User Kevin Briggs's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dunlop Primetone picks

    I like the Primetone picks a lot and was sold on them as my number one choice until I tried the Blue Chip I now have. i will say, I've never been so concerned about where a pick is, haha. The Primetone's are great picks and especially so for the cost. I'll add, the Blue Chip doesn't leave my house. I play Primetones or Clown Barfs when I'm out. The utility of the Clown Barf colors is great for me because I'm especially gifted at losing picks.

    If Dunlop is reading this please hear my plea.... Please, please, please start making a non-beveled Primetone triangular 1.4 pick. My only gripe with Primetones is the bevel. I'll buy lots of them if you make them without the bevellllllll!
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    Registered User nultylynch's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dunlop Primetone picks

    I’ve been A/B-ing a bunch of picks recently. And as much as I used to like Primetone picks, they have a clicky/plinky sound on the strings that I don’t think I noticed until I started using a Bluechip. I’ll keep one in my case as a loaner pick, but I can’t see myself going back.

  9. #9
    Worlds ok-ist mando playr Zach Wilson's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dunlop Primetone picks

    Quote Originally Posted by nultylynch View Post
    I’ve been A/B-ing a bunch of picks recently. And as much as I used to like Primetone picks, they have a clicky/plinky sound on the strings that I don’t think I noticed until I started using a Bluechip. I’ll keep one in my case as a loaner pick, but I can’t see myself going back.
    My experience is similar. The PT's (both types- smooth and grippy) sound shrill and clicky to me. I've given most of mine away and use the remaining ones on electric bass when playing something driving. Also, the PT's tend to spin in my hand when used on mandolin.

    IMHO, you get what you pay for.
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  10. #10

    Default Re: Dunlop Primetone picks

    I've been using the Primetone picks for a few years on my guitar, the 1.5mm smooth, large triangles. The have a slightly darker tone than the "grip" models. Definitely my favorite for that use. (I currently like a bit darker tone on the mandolin than I can draw out with the Primetone, but that's just me.)
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    Default Re: Dunlop Primetone picks

    The mandolin I bought through the classifieds here had a couple Dunlop Prime Tone semiround 1.3 in the gig bag. I’d started out using whatever guitar picks were laying around then bought some Dawg 1.5 mm picks from Acoustic Disk. Being in my first months of playing mandolin I found that controlling the thick Dawg picks was challenging. The Dunlops, being 0.2 mm thinner and being of a different material are a good fit at this stage. I’m happy with them but I’ll try whatever someone hands me.
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  12. #12
    Registered User Jill McAuley's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dunlop Primetone picks

    Like Zach, I too found Primetones to be on the click-y side. I use Bluechip picks for both acoustic guitar and mandolin playing. When you consider that I've had my TPR35 for going on 11 years, with barely any visible wear on it, that's pretty decent value for money in my book. Used ones pop up in the classifieds quite frequently and are easy enough to sell on if they don't work out. On the affordable side of things, my go to cheap picks are Jim Dunlop Delrin 500's - I play with the shoulder end of the teardrop ones and could happily only use them if there weren't any Bluechips in the world!
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    Default Re: Dunlop Primetone picks

    I'm happy for you.

  14. #14
    Registered User Eric Platt's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dunlop Primetone picks

    Primetones are good. Like them with my Strad-O-Lin. That and Blue Chip get the loudest sound. Neither works well on my Coombe. That likes Tortex .73 (yellow) picks best. Gives enough volume to keep up with fiddles and even a full band.

    Have a ton of Blue Chips and am now starting to hear too much click from them. Didn't bother me when I was just playing guitar. Now on mandolin, it's become a distraction. But I'm way too picky and tough to satisfy in trying to create my own sound. Primetones have less of that click for me, when I'm playing and with my style.
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    Registered User Bren's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dunlop Primetone picks

    To me, there's a big tone difference between Primetone 1.4 triangle and the 1.5 smooth.

    I keep 1.5 Primetones handy because they work for me and I like the tone.
    Not as much as I like Wegen TF140, but enough that I'm OK if Primetone's my only choice.
    I bought several , not because they wear out but because I tend to lose picks.

    And the BlueChip CT pick looks kinda brown to me.
    Bren

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    Default Re: Dunlop Primetone picks

    I switched to the Primetone 1.4 picks about a year ago and think they are excellent. I’d be happy to pay $100 for a pick if I thought it noticeably improved my tone or playing. I’ve tried and returned the BC, since I like the Primetone better.

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    Registered User Dave Hicks's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dunlop Primetone picks

    Currently I like these, which are also Dunlop Primetones (3 mm):

    Click image for larger version. 

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    D.H.

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  21. #18
    Registered User Bob Buckingham's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dunlop Primetone picks

    Picks and picking technique have been a focus of mine during the pandemic. I used to be a Wegen user, but find that more mundane picks works just fine for me. I found two Primetone 1.3 round picks that I tried on my Ellis and they sounded every bit as good as the BC I had been using. I think it is more the technique than the pick but then I may not know sh!t from Shinola.
    Last edited by Bob Buckingham; Dec-13-2021 at 11:11am.

  22. #19
    Adrian Minarovic
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    Default Re: Dunlop Primetone picks

    I've played dozens of various picks before I settled on shape I liked most. I intentionally say shape and not brand/material as my experience and tests have shown that the shape is the biggest factor in tone. If the material is similar in density/ surface hardness the sound of pick shaped the same will be indistinguishable. I reshaped rethicknessed or modified many picks I had and also made many new ones from all possible materials from natural horn to plastics or wood.
    I settled on celluloid 1.4-1.5mm thickness of shape almost identical as the medium large triangle from BC as I often strated with the GG picks and shaped them more triangular with hint of points. That was years before the "boutique" picks came. Few years ago I had few new primetones at hand one older BC, Gravity and various other picks so i selected a bunch and shaped them as close as possible to the BC. I shaped all bevels to my liking - meaning very little asymmetry in bevel and recorded couple of tunes with each. the tone was impossible to tell apart.
    Nylon and acrylic were a bit different but PEEK, PI, PEI, Celluloid and Casein (Galalith) were indistinguishable.Long term playing revealed some smaller differences in wear with the first three almost same celluloid and casein wearing faster. Acrylic (at least the variety I had) wears into somewhat rougher texture making scratchy noise after some time. The others remain more smooth.
    Some folks tend to say that BC doesn't wear but they do. My friend who plays 120+ gigs a year buys the larger triangle and rotates the points and visits me every few monts to smooth out and bring back the slight point that he'd worn away. He throws the pick after a year and half or so as it is too small for his hand (just about the size of the smaller triangle that i like) and leaves it to me.
    My RH technique is different from his and I barely wear celluloid pick in a decade so for me tay are lifelong but so are the primetones. I never liked any grip on picks and I believe with good RH you don't need any unless you have some perspiration problem.
    Adrian

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    Registered User Kevin Briggs's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dunlop Primetone picks

    Hi Everyone,

    Thanks to this thread I did something IU've been meaning to do for at least a year: I emailed Dunlop's marketing department to see if they'll make a non-beveled Primetone. Here's what I sent in the online customer form:

    The smooth, triangular, 1.4 Primetone picks... I'm a mandolin player and currently choose Blue Chip picks over Primetones because I don't like the bevel on the Primetones and Blue Chip offers a non-beveled option. However, I feel Primetones would be my preferred pick if they didn't have the bevel. The bevel is conducive to slappy, thin tone. Any chance you would consider making non-beveled Primetone picks?

    I actually sent it to the general inquiries contact, marketing sales. Sending things to sales is often a good idea because if anyone in a company is checking messages regularly, it's sales. In fact, within minutes the sales department responded to my inquiry suggesting I contact the marketing department. Since I already did, I think it's covered. Hope it works!
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  25. #21
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    Default Re: Dunlop Primetone picks

    Primetone picks and OK pick. I played BC for years, and liked the tone except for the G string. The glide thru the strings is what made the BC great for me. Every other pick was sticky in the strings compared to a BC. Then I tried Wegen, I like the tone better, and the glide thru the strings was good too. I use a 1 and was thinning them down, until I decided it was too much work and ordered a couple to the thickness I like. Think I have found my pick of choice. Hmmmm POC wonder if it will catch on?
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  26. #22
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    Default Re: Dunlop Primetone picks

    Prime tone are my choice - I like 1.5, I admit they can be clicky ( but that is probably mostly user error) , but they do produce a nice even and generally loud tone, I have ordered dozens and will order more, I tend to give them away here and there, and every one I have given one to says they love them.
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  27. #23
    small instrument, big fun Dan in NH's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dunlop Primetone picks

    I noticed mine was clicky today, but then I also noticed that I was strumming parallels to the strings. I introduced a little angle and it went away.
    Eastman MD-514 (F body, Sitka & maple, oval hole)
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    And still saving my nickels & dimes & bottle caps & breakfast cereal box tops for my lifetime mandolin.

  28. #24
    small instrument, big fun Dan in NH's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dunlop Primetone picks

    I was prowling YouTube and I came across this video. The guys plays nine different "high end" picks from Blue Chip to Clown Barf.

    I challenge people to watch this video and then tell me you can detect ANY difference in tone, because I couldn't.

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    And still saving my nickels & dimes & bottle caps & breakfast cereal box tops for my lifetime mandolin.

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  30. #25
    Worlds ok-ist mando playr Zach Wilson's Avatar
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    Default Re: Dunlop Primetone picks

    Quote Originally Posted by phydaux View Post
    I was prowling YouTube and I came across this video. The guys plays nine different "high end" picks from Blue Chip to Clown Barf.

    I challenge people to watch this video and then tell me you can detect ANY difference in tone, because I couldn't.

    I can. Good luck on your Mando journey

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