Taylor Thermex Flat Picks.. just came out

[beninma]

This was a really soft launch I guess but Taylor just launched a lot of new accessories.

I'd never have known but they had a recent podcast episode about this stuff..  Picks, straps, etc.. most stuff I don't care about as I'm fine with my straps.

But I am a sucker for picks.  I have hundreds of them as even the expensive ones are cheap experiments so I just bought 3 bags of the new Taylor ones.  Anyway they launched new Celluloid ones they are about what you expect.   The ones that are interesting are "Thermex Pro" and "Thermex Ultra".

The Pro is only 1.5mm and is very very dark, $2 each.   Sticky, stays in place, doesn't snag on the strings.

The Ultra might have gotten described as the "pick of destiny" on the podcast with a laugh... OK, those guys all work at Taylor, but this is a pretty exceptional pick considering the pricing.  The Ultras are available in different thicknesses and are $2.   It's a very balanced sound.

I have mostly been playing Blue Chips which are not cheap, these new Thermex ones give them a run for the money at 1/17th or less of the cost.  Who knows what Thermex is but is very sticky in my fingers like a Blue Chip and has minimal pick noise.   They seem to be stiffer than celluloid & most plastics but not as stiff as something like a Blue Chip.   

I can make my guitar sound metallic with the thicker Blue Chips I have if I strum really hard.. but they are really fast and really help bring out dynamic range.  The Thermex pro picks are not as fast but they have a lot of dynamic range and they don't go metallic if strummed really hard, and they have really minimal pick noise.

Everyone likes different things.. to me these are way better than Tortex, Ultex, the Wegen picks, Dunlop Primetone, etc.. most of those I have issues with them being slippery and they don't sound as good.

$2 is not a throw away pick but also not something I would cry about breaking or losing.

Hehe.. even the Taylor guys on the podcast were saying "It's a lot cheaper to have different picks than different guitars, wait no we didn't say that.."

[splendora]

...

Hehe.. even the Taylor guys on the podcast were saying "It's a lot cheaper to have different picks than different guitars, wait no we didn't say that.."

The truth we all need to know!

Seriously, thanks for the heads up; this sounds like something I'll check out.

[SDTaylorman]

Taylor site shows 'em at $12 not $2 but still a third of the price of a Blue Chip. I'm going to head over to the factory and test drive one before I buy it...even at that "low" price. The $120-$150 straps I can skip. https://www.taylorguitars.com/taylorware

[Earl]

It's $12 for a 6-pack, so $2 each.  For that I will give them a try when I can get some at a store.  I agree on the straps - I've never paid more than $50 and that was for Lakota Leathers buffalo.

[splendora]

I noticed they were selling 6 packs; I rarely need more than, say, 2 of  a pick, so I'm trying to figure out how to "re-market" the rest if I buy a pack or two.   

[beninma]

Yah so I played them some more last night.. played the Thermex Ultra 1.0mm for quite a while on my Tele.

If I did it again I'd just order the Thermex Ultras... the Pro 1.5mm is really dark and the Celluloid is just another celluloid pick, although those are even cheaper.

They are good picks.  Really compatible with my fingers, easy to hold onto/sticky.

We must all be different.. I know lots of people love Tortex, one of the most popular picks of all time but those are super slippery for me.

Who knows how long these Taylor picks last... if they wear out then the 6-pack/12-pack setup makes sense.

It sounds like they're eventually going to have a sampler pack.

I tend not to break picks.. I wear them down but it's not something it's easy for me to discern.

[SDTaylorman]

It's $12 for a 6-pack, so $2 each.  For that I will give them a try when I can get some at a store.  I agree on the straps - I've never paid more than $50 and that was for Lakota Leathers buffalo.

Ah yes, I saw the picture of 1 and didn't read the "pack of 6" description. Even better....thanks! I'll still go over there to check 'em out in person before deciding on which (if any) to get. Yes, I'm lucky enough to live "that close" to the TRUE happiest place on Earth.

[boneuphtoner]

It sounds like that Taylor has these out to try at the mother ship.  Is this true? 

I’m going to SD for a business trip in June and am bringing the family.  If they have picks to try along with everything else they have, I may never leave!

[SDTaylorman]

It sounds like that Taylor has these out to try at the mother ship.  Is this true? 

I’m going to SD for a business trip in June and am bringing the family.  If they have picks to try along with everything else they have, I may never leave!

They sell just about everything in the store at the factory so there will no doubt be some on hand. As to having picks to "try"...well, most of the employees play and are very friendly so while the factory gives you access to guitars to try, a "trial pick" just MIGHT be had if you're pleasant and ask nicely. Barring that I'll pick up a pack of 6 right then and there, try them on the display guitars and, if I don't like them, immediately return them to the place of purchase (some 20 feet away). I'm fairly confident others may have done the same and so there's a small possibility they're using those returns as "tester" models. I will report back (if nobody else has) after I get to the factory/store which should be sometime before June.

[SDTaylorman]

Just as a follow-up...
I stopped by Taylor in EC last week and sure enough there were "test" picks on hand. After playing around with several for about 30-45 minutes I chose one and purchased the 6 pack. It's literally as if I bought a different guitar and I LOVE the new sound (and lack of pick sound). So very warm, less bright but still brings out the mid range. I've already "lost" a few to friends but at the price it was nice to be able to share the love. The one thing that surprised me though is that I'm now using a thicker pick than before as that was the one that felt and sounded the best.

[boneuphtoner]

Just as a follow-up...
I stopped by Taylor in EC last week and sure enough there were "test" picks on hand. After playing around with several for about 30-45 minutes I chose one and purchased the 6 pack. It's literally as if I bought a different guitar and I LOVE the new sound (and lack of pick sound). So very warm, less bright but still brings out the mid range. I've already "lost" a few to friends but at the price it was nice to be able to share the love. The one thing that surprised me though is that I'm now using a thicker pick than before as that was the one that felt and sounded the best.

Thanks for the write up!  Did you try any of their new celluloid picks?  I'm most a fingerstylist and I don't even use a pick very often but I have done a few comparisons with some of Dunlop and Fender's basic options, and I keep coming back to the Fender medium celluloids as my favorites.  If they have test picks available, I'll try them quickly, but based on my history I'll probably gravitate to the medium celluloids.

[beninma]

I noticed they have disappeared from the Taylor website, maybe they're sold out, or something is just wrong with the online store?

You can still find them on Sweetwater and a few other places.

The blue and white Thermex Ultra 1.0mm is my new favorite pick for sure.   Playing it on both my Taylor and my Telecaster.   It is a great "do it all" option.

At least for now it's bumped off my Blue Chip which was my previous favorite.  At $2 vs $35 the Taylor pick is a great value.    The Taylor pick really wins out strumming on acoustic guitars for me.

I haven't really spent much time with the Celluloid picks or the Thermex Pro.  The thermex pro 1.5mm is super dark sounding.

[SDTaylorman]

Thanks for the write up!  Did you try any of their new celluloid picks?  I'm most a fingerstylist and I don't even use a pick very often but I have done a few comparisons with some of Dunlop and Fender's basic options, and I keep coming back to the Fender medium celluloids as my favorites.  If they have test picks available, I'll try them quickly, but based on my history I'll probably gravitate to the medium celluloids.

I did not try anything other than the new Thermex IIRC. There were so many they handed me (they DID count them so they knew how many to expect back) that I cannot guarantee it though. I went in there knowing more or less what I was looking for and they gave me all the time I needed to play and decide. The T.U.'s were the best sounding overall (to be fair I only used it on the demo model of the same guitar I already own) and so I focused on that. I've played plastic and celluloid picks for my entire life and wouldn't really be interested in "new" ones...even from Taylor. 

I noticed they have disappeared from the Taylor website, maybe they're sold out, or something is just wrong with the online store?

You can still find them on Sweetwater and a few other places.

The blue and white Thermex Ultra 1.0mm is my new favorite pick for sure.   Playing it on both my Taylor and my Telecaster.   It is a great "do it all" option.

At least for now it's bumped off my Blue Chip which was my previous favorite.  At $2 vs $35 the Taylor pick is a great value.    The Taylor pick really wins out strumming on acoustic guitars for me.

I haven't really spent much time with the Celluloid picks or the Thermex Pro.  The thermex pro 1.5mm is super dark sounding.

Yes, I confirmed it with Taylor that it is/was(?) as website issue. The retailers have them now but if you insist on getting them from Taylor directly you can use the old school phone call method and they'll hook you up.

LOVING the sound of my new Thermex Ultra!

[beninma]

I did not try anything other than the new Thermex IIRC. There were so many they handed me (they DID count them so they knew how many to expect back) that I cannot guarantee it though. I went in there knowing more or less what I was looking for and they gave me all the time I needed to play and decide. The T.U.'s were the best sounding overall (to be fair I only used it on the demo model of the same guitar I already own) and so I focused on that. I've played plastic and celluloid picks for my entire life and wouldn't really be interested in "new" ones...even from Taylor. 

LOVING the sound of my new Thermex Ultra!

I doubt it has much to do with the specific model of Taylor, these picks are just great.   I'm pretty sure my Telecaster is way out in left field compared to any Taylor and the Thermex Ultra is great there too, it's almost the only pick I've used on electric guitar since I got it.

Glad it's just a website issue, the 6 I got will last me a long time but I will definitely want to order more.

[SDTaylorman]

I doubt it has much to do with the specific model of Taylor, these picks are just great.   

Agreed on both counts. I just wanted to disclose that fact about the one guitar I played with them. Since then I have used it on other guitars and (gasp!) even the Martin loyalists I've lent it to were impressed with the Blue Swirl Thermex Ultra.