If you’re in the market for a Jazz-shaped pick, you must have tried Dunlop’s Jazz III or a couple of its alternatives. But if you haven’t quite found what you’re looking for yet, you should give D’Addario Nylpro or Nylpro Plus a shot, and in this post, I’ll tell you why.
It’s no secret I love D’Addario as a company. I prefer the Duralin line over Dunlop’s Tortex, and their Black Ice picks are pretty cool, too. Not to mention the O-Port, one of my favorite ways to make your acoustic guitar sound better. They are innovating guitar playing in a way many companies can, and to my opinion co company do.
Anyway, we went off track for a bit, so let’s get back to the picks we’re here to talk about today. There are a couple of things about them that I really want to highlight, including the material, shape, gauge, and grip. These are, obviously, controlling their playability, release, and tone. Let’s start.
Table of Contents
Nylpro and Nylpro Plus Overview
These are 1.4mm thick, grip-surfaced Jazz-shaped picks made in the US by D’Addario. They’re made from Nylon or a combination of Nylon and Fiberglass (in the plus version).
What are They Made of
The blue version is made from Nylon, but it doesn’t feel as cheap as other Nylon picks. I’m pretty impressed with the quality of it, actually. The green version (Nylpro Plus) is, too, made from Nylon, but with added Fiberglass for some extra strength.
Strengthening Nylon with Fiberglass is not a new concept, and it is not exclusive to D’Addario when it comes to guitar picks. In fact, Bog Street uses a mixture of Nylon and Glass in their Mini Beast, one of my favorite picks of theirs.
The Gripping Surface
If you recognize this grip pattern from somewhere, or if it looks familiar, you’re not alone. There’s not a big difference between the gripping surface of the Nylpro picks and Dunlop’s Max Grip, at least in appearance.
I prefer Nylpro’s grip over the Max Grip because it’s less aggressive. It gives me all the control I want but doesn’t kill my articulation. I just wish they would’ve made it look as different as it feels.
The Difference Between Nylpro and Nylpro Plus
As I mentioned earlier, the only difference between them is the material. Nylpro is made of Nylon, and Nylpro Plus from a mixture of Nylon and Fiberglass.
This difference is reflected in the Plus version being more durable and slightly brighter in tone. It’s somewhat noticable, but I’d really doubt anyone would hear the difference in the context of a song.
The Obvious Competitor: Jazz III vs Nylpro
The first and most apparent difference between Nylpro and Jazz III is the size. Nylpro is bigger than Jazz III, and is about the size of the Black Ice pick. When we look a little closer, we can see that their finish looks very different.
The residue of injection molding is something you can’t really eliminate, especially not at the scale these picks are manufactured at, but I can’t help but notice that there’s much less of the on Nylpro than on Jazz III.
This suggests that the quality of Nylon used for Nylpro is superior to the one used in Jazz III, or that the process of injection is slower, resulting in a tougher and more durable material. Their rate of wear supports that, by the way.
Pricing and Where to Buy Them From
Both Nylpro and the Plus version cost $.5 each ($4.99 for a pack of 10) from D’Addario’s webstore. On Amazon, they cost a bit more, close to $8.5 for a pack of 10. Either way, it’s a great deal, in my opinion.
Finishing Thoughts
It’s tough beating the Jazz III in its own game, and I feel that Nylpro did it. Of course, it is a matter of preference, and it’s not the perfect pick, but one you should definitely try. I wish they came in a pack that contains 5 of each type, but at the end of the day, I’m pretty happy having 10 of each.
D'Addario Nylpro and Nylpro Plus Review
Great and consistent sounding picks, that feel great to hold. The grip is just enough to help without being overwhelming. They are as durable as Nylon can relistically be, and the Plus version will last even longer.
-
Sound
-
Feel
-
Durability
-
Grip
-
Price