Dava picks (my critique)

This topic has 15 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 7 months ago by col hicks.

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- December 12, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Mandz
Member

I think it’s fantastic that they ship them for free (for two packs or more) especially as they are quite expensive. I got 5 different packs, everything but the Delrins.

As picks go, they’re not bad. To me, they’re not exactly revolutionary.

I find that I can get the same kind of multi-gauge effect from a regular pick just by varying my grip as the Dava ones don’t go very flimsy anyway. If the Dava Pick could go a lot more flimsy than they currently do (and if they could make the jazz picks bendy too) then that would definitely make a massive difference.

I like the Jazz III ones. I find that the dimples on them offer no extra grip but the rubber ridges do, however there aren’t enough of them and they don’t cover enough of he surface area of the pick to be of much use. The fact that they are ever-so-slighty wider than the Jazz III’s I use makes them a bit easier to grip.

I think that the rubber on the Jazz and Grip Tip picks isn’t ‘grippy’ or ‘sticky’ enough to aid grip in a gig setting. Just feels too smooth. Needs more texture on the surface. Maybe they could experiment with making holes in them to improve grip further, along with the other stuff they already do. I guess it’s a lot to fit on one pick, but if you don’t ask you’ll never get.

I wish the Metal picks were pointier 🙁 The Precision Points and the Jazz have a great pointy end on them.

Once I’ve lost all of mine I’ll probably just go back to using Jazz III’s. Obviously if I was an endorsee i’d have no criticisms whatsoever 😉

Also, they need to sort their website out. If you mute the annoying guitar solo that starts automatically then you can’t hear the videos which is even more annoying.

Rick, if you read this, any chance you could pass my comments on to Dava?

Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 15 total)

Replies

- December 12, 2008 at 2:05 pm
billmeedog
Member

Hello Mandz, 🙂

Thanks for reviewing these picks! I’ve done a lot of experimenting with picks over the last 8 or 9 months, as I hve completely overhauled/changed my picking grip & technique! I use to use Dunlop Nylons (.88 mm) for a few years, with my “old-technique” so that I wouldn’t break too many strings live (I’m primarily a rock player.) Also, the (.88 mm) guage was thin enough to have a nice “give” to the heavier strings on my acoustic, because I started doing a lot of “acoustic-duo” gigs 4 or 5 years ago. However, once I changed my technique, I tried a bunch of different picks, and I almost settled on the Dunlop Stubbies, (2 or 3 mm) which were good for fast single-note alternate-picking, but terrible for rhythm and acoustic playing in general (also they were useless for my beloved Van Halen-approved “pick-scrapes!” – LOL!) 😮 However, I ended up falling in love with the Ibanez picks! I like how the size is smaller than the typical full-size picks (which helps me with guaging/”choking-down”/using less-of-the-tip.) The Dunlop Jazz picks are just a bit too small for the way I grip while playing rhythm (unfortunately I have two different grips when I play! One for single-notes and I different for strumming! I know, that’s weird! I’d like to have “ONE-GRIP only, but for now, I need two! I also REALLY like Ibanez’s various attempts at grip improvement (which you had cited as important to you in the live setting, and I agree with you!) At first, I liked the “sandpaper” grips, but I eventually tried and loved Ibanez’s “rubber-grip” picks (“Heavy” – I’m estimating they’re about 1.0 mm maybe a bit thicker?) The little “rubber-grip-bubbles” DO wear-out, and they’re NOT the cheapest picks, but I LOVE ‘EM anyways!!! 😉

I am always eager to try new picks, so I had heard of the Dava picks and thought they seemed intriuging! I tried one, (that a student left behind several months back) but it was a bit too thin for my liking (it might’ve been cool for acoustic or “jangly” strumming?) Am I correct in my memory that the Dava picks (or at least certain models) are the ones that are thicker and “textured” (for improved gripping) at the “grip/top” and thinner at the “tip/contact-point???” Are they all like that? I will check their website as soon as I finish this thread/reply. :confused:

Thanks again for your review! 😎

~Bill Meehan~ 😀
- December 13, 2008 at 12:14 pm
BenJS1000
Member

I’ve tried them a few times and they never really struck me as anything special. The best pick I’ve ever used is by far the Jazz III, LOVE THEM! 😀
- December 15, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Rick Graham
Member

@Mandz 5852 wrote:

Once I’ve lost all of mine I’ll probably just go back to using Jazz III’s.

Haha, that could be the finest way to describe changing pick brands I’ve ever heard and it’s so true 😀
Nice review Mandz. I’ll be sure to pass this on to Dava, np.
- December 15, 2008 at 8:11 pm
Richard Lundmark
Member

Let’s make a point out of reviewing each others picks Rick, I’ll give you a review of the Dava’s when I get them, and you of the V-picks when you get them =) Btw, your address bro?
- December 15, 2008 at 8:20 pm
Rick Graham
Member

@Richard Lundmark 5897 wrote:

Let’s make a point out of reviewing each others picks Rick, I’ll give you a review of the Dava’s when I get them, and you of the V-picks when you get them =) Btw, your address bro?

You’re on 😉 I’ll shoot you an email bro 🙂
- December 15, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Sean Conklin
Member

Jazz IIIs own!!! 😀
- December 15, 2008 at 9:46 pm
Richard Lundmark
Member

@Sean Conklin 5900 wrote:

Jazz IIIs own!!! 😀

Then you’ll be a sucker for the new Jazz III XL bro =) 😎
- December 16, 2008 at 5:40 pm
Mandz
Member

@Richard Lundmark 5901 wrote:

Then you’ll be a sucker for the new Jazz III XL bro =) 😎

I still can’t decide which i like better, the XLs or the regular Jazz III. I think the larger ones work better for live gigs, where the adrenaline is rushing through you and you tend to hit harder than necessary. With the smaller ones i tend to end up with bloody fingers from hitting the strings too hard.
- December 17, 2008 at 1:29 am
billmeedog
Member

Hey Guys,

How big are those Jazz III-XL’s?? I like Ibanez picks, and theyr’e smaller than standard but bigger than regular Jazz III’s? Are Jazz III-XL’s smaller or bigger than Ibanez picks’ profile? Does anyone know? :confused:

Thanks in advance! 😉

~Bill Meehan~ 😀
- December 17, 2008 at 8:41 am
Richard Lundmark
Member

Here is a pic I took with some picks for comparison
- December 17, 2008 at 5:50 pm
billmeedog
Member

@Richard Lundmark 5920 wrote:

Here is a pic I took with some picks for comparison

Hey Richard, 🙂

Thanks for the info! I wish you had an Ibanez pick for comparison, but I have all those other picks that you showed so I can do my own comp. 😉 Actually, the Jazz III-XL’s are BIGGER than I thought they’d be! They appear to be just about the typical “full-size standard” profile. I was hoping for something “in between” Jazz III and standard (like my beloved Ibanez :rolleyes:, but with the Jazz III “point,” rigidity, material, and subsequent tone!) I think I’ll try them anyways, because as Chris Rock (comedian) once said:

“Cuz ya’ NEVUH KNOW!” (he-he!) 😀

Peace! 😎

~Bill Meehan~
- September 13, 2009 at 11:33 am
hermanmonker
Member

I’ve recently being experimenting with thick acrylic picks which I’ve fashioned like the Ultex Jazz lll and quite like them .
I’m using 2mm material at the moment but will try some 3mm with a nice bevel on it .
I’ve found the jazz lll red’ s quite dull sounding compared to the acrylic and the ultex I had to rebevel to a point.
i had the idea from watching the V picks videos.
Still tring to source some turtle/tortoise shell for comparing the tone

Steve
- September 17, 2009 at 12:39 pm
Mandz
Member

Did Richard and Rick ever post reviews of their respective Picks?
- September 19, 2009 at 6:10 pm
hermanmonker
Member

I’d be interested to read the reviews as well
- October 4, 2009 at 3:07 pm
col hicks
Member

the coolest pics i have used are the jazziii ultex picks they are awesome , also started to use brossard pics which are made from bone , very nice but takes some time to get used to them