With over 90 percent(!!!) of participants in this month’s MI survey sent out to over 300 MI retailers reporting sales of guitar & bass picks as being either up or level, when compared to 2023, it seems an inarguable conclusion that this is one highly reliable market segment. Each pick sale may not be a big-ticket purchase, but consistency is a value of its own.
As for other trends, a handful of brands certainly dominate and a few materials, shapes, and colors are clear favorites, with players. One shift that’s somewhat different than the last time we explored picks in depth (2019) is that many seem to be gravitating towards thicker plectrums: “Players are gravitating towards heavier picks, and are willing to pay more for something that fits their personality,” observes Dan Patterson of Patterson’s Music In Fort Payne, Alabama.
Sales of guitar & bass picks, when compared to this time last year are…
Up: 22.3%
Down: 9.2%
Level: 68.5%
What specific types (materials) of picks are the hottest sellers for your MI retail business?
Acrylic: .5%
Nylon: 28%
Celluloid: 31.6%
Torte: 28.9%
Ultex: 2.3%
Wood: 2.8%
Delrin: 4.4%
Metal: 1.5%
“As [with] many French dealers, I like to sell Dugain picks. They are made of various woods (ebony, rosewood…).”
Philippe Sergent
Cadenza SARL
Ruel Malmaison (Paris)
France
Which brands are generating the most sales for your store?
Dunlop: 79.3%
Fender: 36.9%
Clayton: 30.6?%
D’Addario: 30.6%
Gravity Picks: 20.9%
Ernie Ball: 20.9%
Cool: 20.9%
Everly Star Picks: 8%
Martin: 8%
D’Andrea: 6,7%
Pick Boy: 6.7%
“Other”: 5.5%
Gibson: 1.9%
Taylor: 1.9%
What shapes are players favoring these days?
Standard: 84.8%
Triangle: 4.5%
Sharp: 4.5%
Thumb: 2.1
Teardrop: 2.1%
Finger: 1.5%
Asymmetrical (Sharkfin, etc.): .5%
Most commonly purchased gauge of pick?
Extra Thin (Under .40mm): 2%
Thin (.40mm – .59mm): 7.5%
Medium (.60mm – .79mm): 24.8%
Heavy (.80mm – 1.49mm): 35.7%
Extra Heavy (1.5mm and above): 30%
What have been 2024’s most sought-after pick colors?
Tortoise:
Black: 44.5%
White: 67.8%
Red: 67.8%
Blue: 44.5%
Orange: 44.5%
Green: 37.1%
Gold/Yellow: 37.1%
“Other”: 27%
What trends have you been noticing with respect to sales of guitar & bass picks?
“351 celluloid has always been our biggest seller, but we stock many other shapes and materials. We encourage beginners to experiment with many, to find ones that are ideal for them. We also offer special dozen pricing on our very popular imprinted picks and offer a free pick pouch ,so they can jokingly ‘lose them all at once.’”
Jerry Vesely
Vesely Music
Parowan, Utah
“Customers seem to find one style of a guitar pick and that becomes their pick of choice. Sure, from time to time they experiment looking for the next best thing, but always return to the one they call ‘my pick.’ As a retailer, with regular customers, you better have the ‘my pick’ when they come knocking at your door!”
Steve Patterson
Full Score Music
Toledo, Ohio
“Serving the Hispanic community, their ‘Go-to’ picks are thin Claytons and Dunlop thumb picks.”
Ed Intagliata
Cassel’s Music
San Fernando, California
“More players going for the Dunlop MaxGrip guitar picks and picks of that shape.”
Spidey Mulrooney
The Music Shop
Southington, Connecticut
“People appreciate a nice variety and a way to try something new, like a shape or material they have never seen before.”
Karen Janiszewski
Music Room
Buffalo, New York
“Everything is down… Including margins!!!”
Eric Hanson
Hanson Pro Music, LLC
Port Huron, Michigan
“Players are gravitating towards heavier picks, and are willing to pay more for something that fits their personality.”
Dan Patterson
Patterson’s Music
Fort Payne, Alabama
