Fender’s White 346 Tri-Tip Heavy Celluloid Pick as reviewed by pickfetishx351…
This ain’t the great white north, but CT still gets snow. With our last days of snow likely ensuing, how fitting to have the Fender’s White 346 Tri-Tip Heavy Celluloid Pick, a snow-white plectrum for a new review!
This pick is one of a few that I would call Old Faithfuls. It just works. Celluloid has been with us for many long decades, predating rock and even most jazz, so why would one want something from an aging technology?
Well, Fender’s White Tri Tip Heavy Celluloid fits in that sweet spot for most players.
Not too tart, not too sweet.
It plays much like a Medum-Heavy, and is not as thick as some Heavy picks.
Fender’s White 346 Tri-Tip Heavy Celluloid Pick is thick enough for some pros, it offers 3 equal tips for longevity. It has a good but basic feel. The grip is standard, but for less experienced players, the larger profile of the 346 pick as I discuss here leads to better handling for less frequent or less practiced players.
The shape of this pick is discussed here.
Fender’s White 346 Tri-Tip Heavy Celluloid Pick is also very visible. Heck–it’s white, on a dark stage that can be a huge help.
Put a small row of these on a mic stand pick holder on a dark stage and you will feel secure knowing you can see it.
Fender’s White Tri Tip Heavy Celluloid has that standard medium tone, not bright, thick, shrill, or too dark. A decent amount of attack. Perhaps not a shredder’s pick with its slightly more rounded tips, but mandolin and other players would chime in about this: it’s versatile and an industry standard.
One important thing about this pick, you have three identical tips, as you wear one down or break it, you’ve got others, and you could modify 2 of the tips, to boot.
On Fender’s site, they appear to only sell in large quantity bulk packages, but you can go to eBay.com and elsewhere and get a smaller count of them if you don’t want to commit to it.
The content suggests that among many complicated and potentially overwhelming options, the described item offers a straightforward, affordable, and effective solution that is readily available in stores and online.
After all, we have an entire website dedicated to the hundreds of different plectra out there, but this one suits most needs and if one were to live in a dystopian after-the-boom world with only one pick, perhaps this would be the one.
I would recommend everyone give it a try, as it is one of the standards.
Being familiar with a pick like this one can help you better define what will work for you. I wouldn’t buy the bulk of these until you know they are the right thing.
Celluloid picks wear down, so get a half dozen or so to start with. If the 346 shape isn’t for you, get these in a 351 standard shape as discussed here.
There is no need to rewrite the books on this pick, it’s about as mainline as they come and if you don’t already know it, you should know this one.
The grip is middle of the road, tone is middle of the road, and performance and lifetime are a little less than the middle of the road.
Also, be aware that celluloid and some other plastics break down over time in sunlight or other conditions, I’ve recently seen photos of some Dunlop Tortexes breaking down also. Those picks are discussed here as well. After weeks playing this pick it is showing some wear along the playing edge of one tip. And the Ink is wearing off. Mind you, I do not have acidic or sweaty hands (Lucky me!)
My final take on this is, these are easy to see on a dark stage or carpet, so on to the specs and ratings doo dads…
| Material | Attack Tone | Decay Tone |
Celluloid | Medium Standard | Standard |
| Durability/ Wear | Comments/ Dimensions | Shape |
| Will Wear with less than heavy use | Shore D Durometer 75.5H | Classic 346 mold shape |
| Grip and Feel | Flexibility | Likely Use |
| A little slipper fair feel | a touch of Flex | Bluegrass Hard Blues Americana |
| Thickness | Width and Height | Resonance |
0.88mm | 30.85 Tri | Jaw-bone Gutterral |
| Tip Style | Bevel? | Approx. Cost |
Rounded V | Rounded | Varies, Generally Just a few $ |
- Holds/Grips ***
- Plays (action) ****
- Sounds/Tones ***
- Looks/Appearance **
- Collect-ability *
- Difficulty ****
- Durability ***
- Cost ****
- Availability *****
- Like-ability ***
- Over-All Rating 64%
- Novices: Recommended for certain uses
- Performers: Good, but there is plenty of better stuff
- Intermediates: Standard part of your arsenal