End of Life for a pick?

[roadbiker]

Besides breaking it, how do you determine when it's time to retire a pick? I am noticing that after a while the point of my favorite (= most used: Dunlop 71mm purple Gator) pick starts to get a little flat - without that nice, new round tip. I can see that it is wearing out some, but I don't knowtice any change in sound or playability.

What do you think?

Jim

[e8n]

Never had one make it that far

About the closest I get is that they start to warp and feel weird in my hand.  At that point they are tossed.  I do use thin's so that has a lot to do with it.

-Dave

[MTLeonard]

I use medium's when the tip gets worn off I chuck it and get another one.

[Edward]

Picks are like tires, wiper blades, and guitar strings: consumables, but exactly when "it's done" is pretty dang personal. 
For me, I like my picks fairly close to their new shape, so when they get rounded, they are done for me.  And for electric, even sooner than with my acoustic picks.   It's a "feel" thing.   At least they are cheap ...and cheaper still if ya get em by the bucket load.

Edward

[Captain Jim]

I didn't realize what a difference a pick make.  Yes, seriously.  I busted my favorite Gravity pick and switched to an old "stand-by", a tortoise shell I've had for at least 15 years.  I have a bunch of picks in my gig bag (didn't bring it with us in the boat on this trip).  We came by a neat, small guitar shop in downtown Victoria (one of my favorite places in the Pacific Northwest) and picked up a couple Dunlop Tortex picks.

Strum the guitar with each of those picks... and there IS a difference.  I used to think a pick was a disposable item, like matches - I went through a couple of them a night when I was playing for a living.  I've discovered I like the XL size on the Gravity, with a .75 thickness.  A nice beveled tip.  I play 'em until they break or I lose 'em.  I'll have to pay closer attention to the wear on the tip, I guess.   

Best wishes,
Captain Jim

[Steve]

Any pick used at a gig gets tossed after said gig...

[lmacmil]

When my picks get a little dull I file a point back on them.  After a couple times doing this, they get too short and I toss them.

[jrporter]

I use thin picks so they have a way of letting me know when they're finished playing....

[kschaible]

When they melt in the dryer because I often forget to take them out of my jeans pocket

[Gutch]

On the Celluloid and Tortex picks, they atart breaking down and getting more flexible after a while.  That's when they get tossed.  I don't use them much anymore except for 12 string work.  I've been transitioning over to the "Traditional Lite" model acrylic V-Pick for my six string playing and doubt there will be a need to replace it other than losing it. 

[dcarey]

I, too, notice that the end starts to flatten out a bit or the pick will start to cup.
Still, I can't bring myself to throw them away...I have a cup of dirty old picks on my computer desk