Jim Dunlop 9073P Thumbpicks, Large, 4/Player's Pack

Update 7/4/24: I've been learning how to do a Tommy Emmanuel/ Chet Atkins style thumb pick technique but part of the challenge is finding a pick that works. I've tried Nationals, Dunlop celluloid, Fred Kelly Slick and Bumblebee picks, John Pearse, and D'addario but all of them seem to have some issue if not several. Rather than speaking on what I don't like about the other picks, I'll just say that finding a pick that has a reasonable life, good tone, and can be shaped/manipulated has been a challenge. The most challenging is finding a pick that is comfortable, and that is largely what this review will be based upon. Just read reviews on all the different thumb picks and you will quickly learn (if you haven't from firsthand experience) that the main issue with them is COMFORT. Basically you will find they are mostly too tight- even the large sizes, and that reshaping can be hit and miss. I've since discovered Black Mountain picks and they are also outstanding, but my issue with them is that they don't have as strong a tone for what I'm after.These Dunlop pics are tight (I'm using the Large size), a little more tight than some of the above mentioned. However, I liked the feel, rigidity and tone enough to see if I can shape them and give them a chance. That is where I discovered my first issue- shaping this plastic. Ultex is VERY hard but I may have found my solution:**Ultex must be heated to 425 degrees before it will give up its properties and soften. A microwave is too inconsistent to achieve this and boiling water won't get hot enough. You need an oven, and a small toaster oven even better. Preheat your oven to 425 and thread the picks onto a dowel that is rougly the size of your thumb, facing the picks the same direction I happen to have a steel chisel that is just slightly larger than my thumb. . If you have a shallow, oven safe tray or cookware, cut the dowel just long enough to allow the picks to "float" above the tray and not touch the flat hot surface of anything (the same concept of roasting meat over an open campfire). Do this for at least two minutes, take out and run picks under iced or very cold water. If you find that once the material has cooled and still doesn't fit your thumb, you can do it again for longer, but 2 minutes is really all it took for me.**Shaping the paddle; the paddle is a little too long for my liking, but if you shorten them, make sure you don't go too short. If you do you risk catching the thumb wrap portion on your strings. Take a black Sharpie and draw a profile the same shape as the paddle edge however many mm you want to take off. I took off about 5-6 mm. You can use files to remove material until your Sharpie marks are gone, but I use a Dremel. File down any burrs with a micro-file, and finally smooth and bevel with my crystal Wolfram Crystal file, and finally micro mesh (which is the best nail file I've ever had, still have it after 8 years!).I think my search for the ultimate thumbpick that has good tone, solid feel, a controlled shaping ability, and also very economical is complete. Great product Dunlop!!

These are very good and produce a good sound. They stay on the thumb nicely. They are a bit pricey.

They're nice. Pretty small. I was able to soften them up with steam and make them larger. The tone is good, brighter than the white and the black plastic Nationals.

The media could not be loaded. I've just started exploring fingerstyle guitar after about 22 years of playing.I like these picks a lot and have ordered more. They are a lot cheaper than some other brands. I tried some others, but often they were too loose or I didn't like the nylon material they were made out of. I'm a fan of tortex/ultex picks. I like how they feel and the tone they make when they grip the strings.I'm 5'10 and have average size hands. After reading some reviews, people who gave similar sizes said the mediums were too small so I ordered the large. And people who said they had really large hands said they were too small. They feel like they were made for my thumb. I've added a video of it and putting it on so you can see how I wear it (Not sure if it's the 'right' way, but it feels good to me.)Some other things if you are on the fence: the slightly tacky texture helps it stay on your thumb, even when hot or sweaty. I was hoping for a thumb pick I could flat pick with too. Down picks are easy with these, but alternate picking feels a bit awkward. These are very stiff (a pro for me) but if you need to adjust them, other reviewers say the hot water trick doesn't work. That would be a major con if it doesn't fit and might be worth a return.

There sound was warm, the fit was good, and they remained secure while speeding up.

I was looking for an Ultex version of a thumbpick. This is it, but it's shaped like traditional thumbpicks and I find the length and angle uncomfortable. I may just cut off the pick and superglue their Ultex flatpick to it. I like the Herco hybrid pick but I'd prefer Ultex as a material. It will probably last forever.

My first Dunlop “plastic” basic thumb pick worked fine, but I kept seeing and reading about people using the Ultex option for banjo playing. They are not cost prohibitive so I bought some. I like them better because they are thinner and have more shape definition vs my first Dunlops. I am sure they can be shaped as well if that is a need. I am a less than 1 yr banjo player so I still don’t know what I don’t know, but I know I like the Ultex thumb picks better.

I've used these for a few years. The material is tough and wears really well. The density of the material also makes for a good clean attack on the strings. The downside is the material is so stiff it's hard to re-shape. Also, the fit is small. I buy the large size and I'm about a size 8 ring size. Price here is fair.