If you were marooned on a desert island with a gypsy jazz guitar (think of yourself as Tom Hanks in a jazz manouche version of the movie Castaway) and were only allowed 2 picks, what would they be? Let's try to keep it to 2 (or only 1, if that suits you better). I'll get it started:
For rhythm only--Wegen 5.0 Fatone
For rhythm & soloing--Dunlop Primetone 3.0 (the solid brown ones, not the ones that you can kind of see through--thank you, Buco).
Comments
Well, these days I've been using Killy pick so I suppose that would be it. Next month might be something different. Do we have any tools on this Island? Then I can make a few out of coconut or bone.
I use a Blue Chip TD80. In the past I used the thicker TD100, as well as Wegen, Nonis, and real tortoise shell. I would take the Blue Chips over all other picks; desert island included.
Give me a 2.0 gator and the "safari" material, "manouche" shape 3.5 pick I got from Jokko before he retired (no thumb groove at my request) - best thick plastic pick I've owned, including multiple others from him, many Wegans, etc.
I got from Jokko before he retired
Wait...what??
Yeah, he stopped making picks in December 2024...didn't you even tell me that first, Buco?? That's why I rushed to get one more order in last November haha
But yeah, he's only making his contact mic pickups going forward and there's someone else doing the picks now - it's all on the website.
No, I had no idea...oh man... it's the end of an era. The website doesn't even come up anymore.
Seriously?? Let me look through my emails, could have sworn it was still going...will text you later
Apollo picks took over for Jokko: https://www.apollopicks.com/store2/p/the-django-pick
Yes, that's what came up as one of the search hits. PS I edited my initial post so as to not derail the thread...
@flaco Yup, exactly, thx for posting...unfortunately, Apollo doesn't work with all the same materials or shapes (and as Buco points out, less cost effective than Jokko's). I really wish I had been able to order another pick with the safari material but Jokko was already out of it last fall when I placed my last order, instead got some made with shellrin which is (err, was) my second favorite material from him.