Looking for the perfect guitar pick isn’t as easy as it sounds. To find the right one, guitarists need to strike a balance between feel, tone, durability, and cost. Premium picks are great, but their expense means that they are not necessarily the right choice for every situation. Enter Dunlop Primetone, which offers high-end performance at an extremely reasonable price.
What Is Primetone?
Dunlop Primetone picks are made from Ultex, a material that is stronger and more durable than traditional picks. Ultex picks are known for their balanced response: They are typically neither too bright nor too muted, and offer consistent volume response across the frequency range. In addition, Ultex is one of the more durable pick materials, offering durability and long life.
Primetone picks are available in multiple shapes, gauges, and sizes. These include Standard (Fender Classic 351 size), Jazz III, Jazz III XL, Rounded, Triangle, and Small Triangle. Additionally, Primetone picks are available with a smooth surface, or with raised lettering (Dunlop calls this their “Grip” finish). Ultex is also the material of choice for several of Dunlop’s signature picks, including the John Petrucci collection of signature guitar picks.
Dunlop Primetone Features
Dunlop makes numerous models of Ultex picks. Primetone picks are set apart by the extra attention to detail—in particular, a hand-burnished beveled edge. This feature gives Primetone picks a fast, articulate attack, with lighting-quick string release. In fact, you will see the hand-signed initials of the Dunlop employee who worked on the edge burnishing for your individual package of picks!
Primetone Feel
The feel of Primetone picks are similar to other Ultex picks. Ultex provides nice grip, and are not particularly slippery. Primetone “Grip” models offer raised lettering for increased hold, but I find that the smooth Primetones offer plenty of traction. When dropped on a hard surface, Primetone picks can sound plinky, but fortunately this does not translate into the tone of the pick when playing.
Prime Tone
I really like the sound of a Primetone pick. In fact, I use Primetones as my “reference” pick for testing gear. While they are not the warmest picks—Tortex picks, for example, are warmer—picks made from Ultex are what I consider neutral sounding. They aren’t too bright, but not too dark either. Primetone picks exhibit a clear roundness, and good volume. A friend of mine put it like this:
“When I am testing a new guitar, amp, or other gear, I use a Primetone pick because I always know what kind of tone I’m going to get from them. Their balanced, clear sound helps me zero in on the gear I’m testing.”
The balanced tone of Ultex makes them a great “go-to” pick when you need versatility and good tone, and don’t want to worry about matching a particular pick to a particular guitar. Primetone picks offer the ideal mix of tone and volume, and sound good for both electric and acoustic playing. Pick noise is minimal with Primetone picks.
Primetone vs. Dunlop Ultex Standard Picks
Dunlop makes many different picks from Ultex, including their Ultex Standard picks. The chief differences are the color, and the bevel. The Ultex Standard are typically a clear yellowish color, in contrast to the reddish brown of Primetone picks. More importantly, the Ultex Standards do not have hand finishing for the edge bevel. The purpose of a hand-finished bevel is to increase the smoothness and feel the pick edge.
A visual comparison between Jazz III-sized Ultex Standard and Primetone Jazz III shows that the Primetone picks do have a more substantial bevel. Though it is difficult to see in the photo below, the bevel on the Ultex Standard is both more moderate, and more uniform. The benefit to this is consistency. On the other hand, I feel that the Primetone Jazz III, with its increased bevel, offers a slightly smoother, quicker pick release from the strings.
Types of Dunlop Primetone Picks
Dunlop makes Primetone in a variety of shapes, sizes, and gauges. Thicknesses range from .73mm to 3mm.
Standard
The Primetone Standard pick is the same size as a Fender Classic 351. The Standard is available in Standard Smooth finish, and one with raised lettering, which Dunlop calls the Standard Grip.
Jazz III
Dunlop’s iconic compact shape, the Jazz III is known and loved by many. The Primetone Jazz III is among the best performing Jazz III picks.
Jazz III XL
A larger version of the Jazz III, the Primetone Jazz III XL pick is the same shape but scaled up for players who like the Jazz III shape but want a little more pick real estate in their hands.
Semi Round Smooth
The Primetone Semi Round Smooth pick is for players who prefer rounded off edges, instead of pointed. The hand-burnished beveled edges offer two different playing tips.
Triangle Smooth
A large Triangle shape, the Primetone Triangle Smooth pick is similar to the Semi Round Smooth, but the edges have more point to them.
Small Triangle Smooth
The Primetone Small Triangle Smooth pick offers the benefits of the triangular shape in a more compact design.
How to Choose the Right Dunlop Primetone Pick
The best way to choose a Primetone pick is to experiment with the options available. Many players swear by Jazz III picks for their compact size and shape. If you like the Jazz III shape but feel like you need more pick, the Jazz III XL is a good choice. Triangular picks are something completely different, and you may or may not embrace them. They’re worth trying, though.
Keep in mind that your pick preferences can and will change as your taste and technique evolves. For example, I played Jazz III shapes extensively for a couple years, but have been moving towards Jazz III XL, and standard size picks. To be honest, I’m not exactly sure why, but the larger picks have been feeling better to me lately. I have a substantial collection of Jazz III picks in various materials, so I can and still do play traditional Jazz III picks. This is one reason why it is good to have a wide selection of picks available.
Conclusion
Dunlop Primetone picks are a high-performing choice for guitar players seeking the ideal blend of tone, comfort, and durability. One of the best features of Primetone picks is their value: You get the durability of Ultex with a hand-finished bevel, for a very reasonable price. And, the durability of Ultex is a bonus for Primetone picks, as it ensures that your pick will retain the hand-finished bevel for longer.
Available in a variety of shapes and gauges, Dunlop Primetone picks are the perfect choice for any guitarist. The clear, balanced, tone of Ultex offers consistent performance, regardless of the type of guitar, or gain level. They excel as a versatile option that sounds great for all styles of music. When you consider the price, I believe that Primetone is one of the best guitar pick options available today.