Dunlop Jazz III Picks: Which Material is Best For You?

If you’re picky about your guitar picks, you undoubtedly know about Dunlop’s Jazz III pick. The Jazz III—sometimes called “Jazz 3″—is one of the most well known and widely used guitar picks. Players from all genres appreciate the Jazz III’s compact shape and size. Originally released as a nylon pick, Dunlop has expanded the line to include different pick materials, thicknesses, and another Jazz III pick size, the XL. Not only do the materials feel different, they actually sound different too.

I’ve long been a fan of the Jazz III. To help you decide which material is right for you, I’ll share my impressions of the tone and feel of six versions of the Jazz III pick. Read on for a roundup of Jazz III’s multiple flavors.

Jazz III Pick Family

In addition to the Jazz III, the Dunlop Jazz pick family includes both the Jazz I and the Jazz II. The Jazz I’s point is very rounded off,  while the Jazz II is pointier, though still more rounded than the Fender Classic. We will be discussing the Jazz III because it is by far the most popular shape.

The Jazz III was originally released in 1976. The defining characteristic of the Jazz pick is the shape. When discussing pick shape, it’s helpful to have a benchmark for comparison, and that benchmark is the Fender Classic Celluloid pick. Compared to a Fender Classic, the Jazz III is noticeably smaller. To the eye it appears about 25% smaller, with a more rounded shape at the top, and much smaller shoulders. The Jazz III has a sharper point at the tip than the Fender.

Jazz III Pick Reviews: Tone and Feel

My impressions are based on playing these picks with an assortment of acoustic and electric guitars. For electrics, I used a clean tone only, because I feel the subtle differences between picks is easier to hear.

Dunlop Nylon Jazz III (Model 47P3N)

The red nylon Jazz III is the original Jazz III pick, and the pick material that most people associate with the Jazz III. I tested the 1.38mm gauge, which is the standard Jazz III nylon thickness.

Feel

Nylon is a flexible material. It feels slightly slippery, but in practice provides pretty good grip.

Tone

These picks are known for their warmth, and they don’t disappoint. The attack lacks the “clickiness” that some thinner nylon picks can be known for, which is great for me because personally I don’t like that sound. The volume level is moderate, and overall these have an even sound across the frequency spectrum.

Best For

If you’re looking for a pick that balances well between warmth and volume, this classic Jazz III is a good choice.

Dunlop Gator Grip Jazz III (Model 571P140)

The Gator Grip Jazz IIIs are made from Tortex, which is Dunlop’s name for a plastic called Delrin. There is no raised lettering on the pick, so the surface is very smooth. I played these in a 1.4mm thickness.

Feel

These picks have a matte finish, and a chalky appearance. With use, the chalkiness goes away, and the pick surface becomes smooth, with a polished feel.

Tone

The Gator Grip Jazz III tone is warm like the Nylon Jazz III, but more balanced. The string attack on the Gator Grip is softer than the Nylon, which results in a pick that is mellow and not clicky at all. When playing gently on the higher strings in the upper frets, you can get a balanced silkiness. On the lower strings, the tone is deeper than the Nylon version.

Best For

Players who favor a balanced, mellow tone.

Dunlop Ultex Jazz III (Model 427R138)

The Ultex Jazz III is made of Ultex, which is a modern, lightweight, and durable plastic. The Ultex Jazz III is a semi-transparent cream color. This is great, other than if you have a light-colored rug, in which case they’ll be harder to find if you drop them. Fortunately, the Ultex Jazz III provides good grip. I tested these in the 1.38 thickness.

Feel

The Ultex Jazz III has a light and stiff feel. I don’t know if it actually weighs less than the other picks, but it is definitely stiffer than the Nylon version. To my fingers, it feels a little bit grippier too, and part of that is due to the raised lettering pattern of “Ultex” on one side, and “Jim Dunlop USA” on the other. These letters are bigger than the Nylon Jazz III, and it definitely helps.

Tone

The Ultex picks have a clear tone and sharp attack, and they are louder than Nylon picks. The tone is slightly fuller than the Nylon Jazz IIIs, but not as deep as the Gators. I would not necessarily call this a bright pick, but it does have more presence. Nevertheless, I find that the Ultex picks have an overall sense of balance that works well for many styles of music.

Best For

If you’re looking for a durable, all-around pick, with a clear and present tone, this is a good choice. The lettering on this pick makes the grip level above average for Jazz III designs.

Dunlop Ultex Jazz III XL (Model 427R138XL)

What’s a Jazz pick doing with XL in its name? These Jazz III XLs are the same shape, and are made of the same material as the standard Ultex Jazz III, but in a larger size. The Jazz III XL is bigger than the original Jazz III, but smaller than a Fender Classic. I played these in a 1.38mm gauge.

Feel

I go back and forth as to whether I prefer the XL size or the regular Jazz III size. Though XLs are a scaled-up version of regular Ultex, they have another key difference: The words “XL Series” appear on the top of the pick. Combined with the increased surface area, the Jazz III XL offers more to grab on to, and better grip as a result.

Tone

Before you call me crazy, hear me out. Compared to the tone of the Jazz III Ultex, the XL version sounds slightly brighter, with a more pronounced string attack. Now I know what you’re thinking: If they are made of the same material, how can this be? I won’t say I know the answer for sure, but I can suggest that it has something to do with the overall size of the pick in relation to your fingers. In the original and smaller Jazz III shape, your thumb and finger cover more of the pick’s total surface area. Therefore, my guess is that this results in a slightly warmer sound from the standard-size Ultex Jazz III. Whatever the cause, I can hear the difference between Jazz III and Jazz III XL.

Best For

Players who like the Jazz III shape and the clear, present tone of Ultex, but can’t make the original size work for them.

Dunlop Nylon Max-Grip Jazz III (Model 471R3C)

These Jazz IIIs are called Max Grip because of the pattern on both sides of the pick. It appears that there is some debate as to whether these picks are made of actual Carbon Fiber, or Nylon with a “carbon additive”. I played these in the 1.38mm gauge.

Feel

To say that the Dunlop’s Max Grip texture helps keep the pick from slipping is an understatement. These picks stay glued to your fingers. The texture on the pick is really small, and you wouldn’t think that it would have such a dramatic effect, but it does.

Tone

In trying to figure out whether the Jazz III Max Grip picks are made of Carbon Fiber or Nylon, I did the “drop” test on a hard surface. They sound exactly like the Jazz III Nylon picks. Tonally, however, they are not the same. The Max Grip picks have noticeably more pick attack, and can sound plinky. Of all of the picks in the test, these have the most noticeably different sound, and it was observable on both acoustic and electric guitars.

Best For

This is a pick for those who have the dropsies. What the Max Grips give up in tone, they make up in a pick that is practically glued to your fingers.

Dunlop Primetone Jazz III (Model 518R140)

The Primetone are Dunlop’s higher-end Ultex pick, which includes edges beveled by hand. They have an appealing brown-red color to them, and they say “Sculpted Plectra” on them (did you know that plectra is the plural form of plectrum?). I tested these in a 1.4mm thickness.

Feel

These have the stiff and light Ultex feel, but the nicest thing about them is the circular grip pattern in the middle of the pick (that’s where it says “Sculpted Plectra”). The rounded shape of the pattern fits right into your thumb and sticks it there. Though not as grippy as the Max Grip, the Primetones offer more grip than standard Ultex. As for the hand-beveled edges, I feel that the regular Ultex picks are already pretty good, and I didn’t notice too much of a difference with these. Overall, the Primetone is a good- sounding, grippy plectrum.

Tone

Being Ultex picks, they sound pretty much exactly like the standard Ultex Jazz III. Sometimes I think that they sound slightly more articulate than the standard Ultex, but to be honest I can’t say for sure.

Conclusion

My personal favorite in this Jazz III pick review was the Gator Grip. I like its balanced, mellow tone. It’s not as articulate as an Ultex pick, but it’s a great choice if you prefer a warmer sound. With guitar picks, feel is arguably more important than tone, though this is not to say that tonal differences weren’t detectable.

Can’t decide? Dunlop offers a mixed pack of Jazz IIIs, which is a great way to figure out the best Jazz III picks for you (see link below). Happy Playing!