Acrylic Guitar Picks: What’s The Deal?

With the many types and materials available for guitar picks today, acrylic tends to get overlooked. As a material for making guitar picks, acrylic has properties that make it a good choice. Acrylic is relatively inexpensive, durable, and scratch resistant. Yet, acrylic picks are still relatively unknown. To get an idea of how acrylic works as a guitar pick, I checked out a guitar pick made from acrylic: The Gravity Picks 003 J3 XL. Gravity Picks produces a number of acrylic guitar pick models. In this article we review the Gravity Picks 003 J3 XL.

What is Acrylic?

First off, let’s define the material we’re talking about. Acrylic is a  thermoplastic polymer. In other words, a plastic. It is also known by the trade name “Plexiglass”. I have no doubt that you’ve heard the term Plexiglass. Acrylic is also commonly used in paint and furniture. Because of its clarity, it is also used for lenses. And of course, guitar picks!

Gravity Picks 003 J3 XL

To test the musical merits of acrylic, we’re testing the Gravity Picks Gravity Picks 003 J3 XL. This pick is available in a 1.5mm thickness, with a polished or unpolished bevel. The name of this pick is long, but straightforward:

• “003” is the model of the pick.
• “J3” stands for the Jazz III, which is the Dunlop pick that the 003 J3 is modeled after.
• “XL” is the size.

As you may know, Dunlop’s Jazz III picks come in two sizes, Standard and XL. The Gravity 003 XL is the XL size. Gravity also makes a 003 that is the same size as the original Jazz III pick.

003 J3 XL Size

The 003 J3 XL measures the exact same size as an actual Dunlop Jazz III XL.

003 J3 XL Shape

Like the size, the shape of the 003 J3 XL is an exact match to Dunlop’s Jazz III XL.

003 J3 XL Feel

The 003 J3 XL comes in a 1.5mm thickness. This is the gauge that I typically use, though I have been moving heavier lately with my newly discovered favorite pick, the Dunlop Jazztone 208. The J3 XL has semi-transparent writing on one side. While it offers a pleasing texture, the acrylic material is grippy as is. I like the texture of the lettering, but it is not necessary for great grip with this pick. The polished bevel makes for smooth string release.

003 J3 XL Tone

I hadn’t much of an idea of what to expect with the tone of acrylic. I’m happy to say that I was pleasantly surprised. Tested through my trusty Quilter SuperBlock US, the sound of acrylic is warm. This was equally the case with a Hamer Spruce-topped hollowbody and a Telecaster. The note attack was particularly interesting: It had a supple, soft sound that I found very likable. The 003 J3 XL is a fast pick with good string release, and I found myself playing fast passages. The Jazz III XL shape contributed to this as well.

Volume wise, the 003 J3 XL was good, but not among the louder picks. Loudness alone does not make a great guitar plectrum!

Acrylic vs. Other Materials

When reviewing guitar picks, it is important to do direct A-B comparisons with other picks. The differences are often subtle, and can be better heard in head-to-head comparisons.

003 J3 XL Acrylic vs. Ultex

If you’ve read our article on Jazz III picks, you know that we like Ultex as a pick material. It is economical, durable, and offers good tone. The Jazz III XL Ultex is a versatile, all around guitar pick that works for many musical styles. In comparison, the J3 XL Acrylic is warmer and darker, while still retaining good clarity. The Ultex pick offers a brighter, more immediate sound.

003 J3 XL Acrylic vs. Tortex Flex

The J3 XL Acrylic was warm, but not quite as warm as Dunlop’s Tortex Flex pick. That’s not saying a lot: The Tortex Flex is among the warmest picks we’ve tested. The flip side is that the J3 XL had increased volume and articulation in comparison to the Tortex Flex.

003 J3 XL Acrylic vs. Gravity Picks Big Mini

I thought it would be interesting to compare the 003 J3 Acrylic with another of Gravity’s own picks, the Big Mini. We’ve reviewed the Big Mini, and found a lot to like. Like the J3 XL, it shares the Jazz III XL shape and size. Compared to the Big Mini, the J3 XL Acrylic is not as loud or articulate. Keep in mind that the Big Mini costs 3x as much, and competes with Blue Chip picks in the premium pick segment. Considering the price difference, the 003 J3 XL compares very favorably to its more expensive sibling.

Conclusion

The Gravity 003 J3 pick stands out as an excellent choice. In fact, I was surprised how much I liked it, and its similarities to other picks that I play regularly. Although you may not have heard of acrylic as a pick material, it’s got a lot going for it: Warm sound, good grip, and a reasonable price. I recommend giving the Gravity 003 J3 a spin if you’re looking for a new type of pick, especially if you already prefer the Jazz III size and shape. Happy Playing!