• macg1
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Topic: The Great Jazz III Dilema

So I finally A/B two different picks of about similar shape and size, but the effects are so different (to be expected). Up for sonic self debate was the red Dunlop Jazz III and a similarly small 1.14 mm tortex.  Hands down I love the Jazz III's tone much beter; more articulation, more top end, all around a better pick to my ears.  However there is a slippery feeling that develops after playing for a bit and the tortex has a great grip, but sound dull to me.  Anyone else have that slippery feeling with the Jazz III's or am I just a greasy sweaty Brazilian?  big_smile

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  • Registered: 2011-05-19
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Re: The Great Jazz III Dilema

I have used the red Jazz III, the bigger version of the jazz III, and the max grip jazz III and the same tortex you used.

IMO, they all sound unique. The small red jazz III has that tone I like. The bigger one has a bit less top end, the max grip is a different sounding animal altogether and the tortex is just like how you described it.

maybe you should try double-sided tape? lol. i don't know. but if you like the tone of those little things, you have to learn to use them. i have a difficult time myself.

  • macg1
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Re: The Great Jazz III Dilema

yeah I am thinking that may be the case  smile  oh the things we will do for tone...

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  • From: Rainy Wiltshire, UK
  • Registered: 2011-10-12
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Re: The Great Jazz III Dilema

I also found that problem with the standard red Jazz III, they provide a nice thick pick attack but are very slippery.....I use the max grip Jazz III now, slightly lighter thinner plastic so it gives a slightly different tone, lighter subtler pick attack....but I can live with that if it means I'm not slip-sliding or worse, dropping the pick all the time big_smile the max grip really does work!

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  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
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Re: The Great Jazz III Dilema

James Davis wrote:

I also found that problem with the standard red Jazz III, they provide a nice thick pick attack but are very slippery.

I took a knife and etched a bunch of crosshatching into mine. The Joe Bonamassa ones doesn rotate on me as much, but I might etch some of those up and see if I like them more.

I go between the JazzIII and the blue Gator picks with the powder on them for grip. I like to keep my picking hand guessing so I go back and forth quite often. Sometimes my hands feel too FAT to hold the tiny jazz3 pick.  lol

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
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  • macg1
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Re: The Great Jazz III Dilema

Yeah I have heard of people cutting into picks to improve grip... call me lazy, but there is a HUGE energy of activation for me to modify a product I feel should already fit my needs.  For example, I would never customize a a car or anything for that matter.  maybe I will just powder my hands before picking up a pick.  Winter time this should not be a problem but i can see where in the hot texas summer... slip city USA!

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  • From: York, PA
  • Registered: 2010-08-27
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Re: The Great Jazz III Dilema

I bought a pack of eric Johnson jazz 3s a while back to see what all the fuss was about   And also like you, I had a lot of trouble gripping them but loved their sound. I stopped using them but then tried again. They rotated away from my fingers too like npb mentioned... To be honest, I think just after some time using them at home I got used to them and now have no issues. Maybe give it some time and you'll develop a grip for them.

  • Registered: 2008-10-02
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Re: The Great Jazz III Dilema

I have been trying to use the red Jazz III Bonamassa picks but they keep flying out of my hand or turning on me. So I have been going back and forth.

  • macg1
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Re: The Great Jazz III Dilema

I used to use the black ones.  the guit store by my house was out of those so I got the red ones this time.  never remembered the black ones being that slippery, OR in the past 3 years I just got more slippery big_smile which is also a possibility!

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  • Registered: 2011-05-19
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Re: The Great Jazz III Dilema

the black ones sound different. *cork sniffing alert*

but hey, i guess it's just about getting used to them. i still drop them from time to time. i compensate by learning to use my fingers until i can pick it up again.

  • macg1
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Re: The Great Jazz III Dilema

Well I discovered THE secret, or at least a way for it to be less problematic.  First start with very dry hands. Second, watch EJ's instructional video.  He explains how he holds and uses the jazz III in good detail.  I am finding its use less problematic at least at home.  It's a good thing, because the black ones do sound a bit different, and I am preferring the tone of the red ones for sure.  Now comes rehearsal tomorrow and  show friday night, lets see if my dry hand trick, combined with EJ's tips on how to hold it and pluck will work with a bunch of booze in me  cool

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  • From: Orlando, FL
  • Registered: 2010-04-15
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Re: The Great Jazz III Dilema

I like the red Jazz IIIs, too.  It took me a little while to get used to them (I spent almost 20 years playing standard Fender 0.73mm picks), but now I love them.  I've gone back and spent time A/B'ing tone and feel of the red Jazz IIIs with a bunch of other picks, and those are the ones I come back to.  They are a little bit slippery, but the red ones are better than other jazz IIIs, imho.  Over time I guess I just got used to them because now I don't have a lot of problems with them slipping.

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  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
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Re: The Great Jazz III Dilema

macg1 wrote:

Well I discovered THE secret, or at least a way for it to be less problematic.  First start with very dry hands. Second, watch EJ's instructional video.  He explains how he holds and uses the jazz III in good detail.

1. I have very sweaty hands.
2. is there a link to this video?

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  • macg1
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Re: The Great Jazz III Dilema

Here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACH5Z_YPmVg

it really worked well for me last night at practice.  I did have to dry my fingers a couple of times through the set but no big deal.

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Re: The Great Jazz III Dilema

macg1 wrote:

Here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACH5Z_YPmVg

it really worked well for me last night at practice.  I did have to dry my fingers a couple of times through the set but no big deal.

I used to have the slippery finger grip problem as well, but that seemed to happen more earlier on when I first started playing live and would get a
little nervous.  I don't get nervous anymore and I also probably have improved my grip from how ever I used to hold it.  (based on vid's ive seen close up of Joe playing, I think I hold it pretty much like he does)
I used to use the black picks, because they have a little bit better grip, but 2 problems with those:
1) dark slightly muffled tone compared to red ones
2) Drop a black pick on a dark stage and you'll never find it
I have tried the EJ signature pics and they seemed to have a better grip, but I can't always be assured the music store will have them in stock so I always default to the regular red ones.

P.S. Little hint to make them sound and fell better......Go to any auto part store and pick some Extra-Fine Automotive Sandpaper 2000 Grit.  Its very very fine.  I use it on new picks to get rid of the excess plastic seam that sometimes is left on the outer edge.  You can barely see it, but with just a few wipes of the sand paper it comes right off and you'll notice the pick feeling smoother and sounding better. 
I used to use them to fix nicks and scratches on my pics that develop as I play at my gigs, but then I get to a gig and I can't keep track of what picks have been fixed and which ones are all nicked up.  So now I just always use new picks and toss out what ever I use at the end of the gig

  • From: North Carolina
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Re: The Great Jazz III Dilema

If you like the shape of the Jazz III but like the feel of a Torex then I have good news Dunlop make that.  Jazz III comes in Torex and Ultex here is their link.  http://www.jimdunlop.com/products/guita … jazz-picks I like Jazz III but I have to get them in the XL because I dropped the normal picks all over the place.  I just wasn't used to the small size.

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  • From: Harrison, Arkansas
  • Registered: 2006-04-21
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Re: The Great Jazz III Dilema

I go between blacks and reds, depending on which ones my local guitar shop have in the extra grip. There's not that much of a difference to my ears. Oh well.

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  • From: Scotland
  • Registered: 2009-02-11
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Re: The Great Jazz III Dilema

I tried the jazz IIIs and found them slippy, I tried the eric johnson's and they grip much better. Took a little getting used to but i think my picking hand is much more accurate since switching. I've been stocking up on eric johnsons and probably have about 60. Everytime I see them in the local shop I buy about 10.

The dunlop rep was in the store one day and said they would not be discountinuing them anytime soon as jazz IIIs are dunlops most popular pick at the minute.