Lions and Tiger and Bears, oh MY, no Rhinos, oh WHY? Can a Rhino survive a cyclone? I almost found out, sort of, with the Jim Dunlop Ultex Sharp .73 Pick.
You see, here in New England we were on alert a week ago when Hurricane Lee made its way straight up North. For a while I really expected it to hit us, but it stayed out at sea and ran parallel with Massachusetts. I could have, just for fun, taken the Rhino pick outside and taken a photo claiming Rhinos are tougher than cyclones.
The Jim Dunlop Ultex Sharp .73 is a tough customer. Many serious performers prefer Ultex, something I talk about here on the site in this section.
It does not have a matte finish surface, but more of an eggshell surface (compared to paint), so it isn’t made for helping grip in too astounding a manner, but the Jim Dunlop Ultex Sharp .73 WILL grip well with nonslippery moisture like a lick on your fingers before gripping it in the traditional manner.
Speaking of that manner of holding picks, I need to update the home page with new stuff about pick gripping, I’ll do that soon!
So, what about Ultex?
Ultex is a brand name for the other brand name Ultem, and as seen here, it was many qualities, including durability and hardness.
The Jim Dunlop Ultex Sharp .73 is a medium-thin pick made with Ultem, or rather, polyetherimide. This is a high-temperature low flammability plastic with a characteristic yellow appearance. It exhibits low “creep” and can be formed in good distinct shapes with a more precise conformity. Called “PEI” it is a little inferior in some ways to PEEK that is used in some other picks, but is a little more cost-effective.
Here is a forum that discusses the merits of the material.
Nevertheless, this is NOT a cheap pick, nor a low-cost plastic. It always appears as a nearly clear, translucent Jello Yellow (well, not quite so bright).
So, that’s fine and all, but what does this Sharp Pick sound like?
With a firm touch, you can achieve bright, staccato, almost bell-like tones. There is still a touch of warmth and a determined strike for that definition you need in leads, while still being able to step back on stage and comp rhythm.
It’s a stiff plastic, and yet, @ 0.73mm, it cooperatively flexes and bends when alternate picking and firm strumming. It’s a pick that can almost do it all, but it’s not a softie or a mellow Irish coffee, it’s more of an in-your-face Italian double Espresso replete with Crema (you coffee fans know what that means, sorry to the rest of you!
The Jim Dunlop Ultex Sharp .73 is a pick of choice for pros and intermediates will swear by it, but still, it’s not for everyone. It might not impart the tone you are seeking, or you might need a better grip from, say, the Gator Grip Dunlops as seen here and here.
This will fit in my current top 10 most useful picks at my personal stage in playing. It is versatile, but to a small extent, enough so that I can Fusion on it (though I’m no Mahavishnu or Devadip. Still, if I were good enough, I’d seek out Narada and ask to jam on my Hagstrom, what a trip that would be!!!
Let’s look at the specs for this beautiful thing (OK, so it’s not pretty, but it’s not ugly either, it’s the girl next door that can climb trees better than you!)
| Material | Attack Tone | Decay Tone |
Ultem called Ultex brand name w/Dunlop | Full and Bright | smooth and strong |
| Durability/ Wear | Comments/ Dimensions | Shape |
Very durable | Durameter 78H Shore D | Sharp 351 Style |
| Grip and Feel | Flexibility | Likely Use |
Grip only good with moisture not sweat | Just the right amount of flex for strum and lead | Moderate shredding a real rocker |
| Thickness | Width and Height | Resonance |
| 0.73mm | 25.75 x 30.2mm | Unique resonance Deep ring |
| Tip Style | Bevel? | Approx. Cost |
Sharpened 351 shape but rounded | No bevel rounded | 6 pack US $ 6.00 |
- Holds/Grips ***
- Plays (action) *****
- Sounds/Tones ****
- Looks/Appearance ***
- Collect-ability **
- Difficulty ***
- Durability ****
- Cost ***
- Availability ****
- Like-ability *****
- Over-All Rating ~ 72%
- Novices: A surprising Yes, buy! Some Learning Curve
- Performers: Well-liked, needless to say
- Intermediates: A great pick to learn on, docile and firm
So, here is the final word on this for now: This will be my go-to pick for a lot but not my only pick, you know me by now, THERE IS NO ULTIMATE PICK OR PERFECT PICK only picks that are near perfect for a given task.
Buy this if you can, look for it here and here and here.
So, how do we follow this great act? What about something brighter green than a Rhino that is versatile? Stay tuned for our upcoming review on another special pick. Have a great Fall, USA. Thanks to all of you who visit is regularly and tell your friends and fellow artists. Spread the word!
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