First up I have the Jazz III size pick with classic grip in an awesome turquoise/blue colour. The classic Howling Monkeys grip features the logo engraved on one side and two diagonal lines on the other. This pick isn't overly thick, coming in at around 1.8mm, so works great as a Jazz III upgrade. When compared side by side with the aforementioned Dunlop plectrum, the Howling Monkey pick is louder and brighter with less pick noise - why wouldn't you want those upgrades! I also have the Jazz III pick which has the 'pistol grip', a rounded diamond with a grid etched inside which genuinely really helps with grip (although the tagua material is naturally matte finished and has a nice feel without the pistol grip) and is finished in a nice rusty red colour. The third Jazz III mutation which is available is the Fat Jazz - a pick which features the pistol grip, and slightly wider shoulders than the other Jazz III models. The model I have is finished in a sickly green which I'm not as keen on as I am the others, but the extra size suits me a lot better than the smaller models, and I find this one easier to use when playing rhythm parts.
The standard size Howling Monkey pick exhibits the same tonal qualities as many larger picks which don't flex, being tonally quite balanced but with more attack noise than the smaller Jazz III. The pistol grip feels more necessary on the larger picks and works great to stop the pick slipping around, meaning your playing is a lot more consistent. Also available is the Fatty pick, which is a slightly larger standard, which is tonally similar to the standard.
The Primate Howling Monkey pick is the most basic tagua pick which Howling Monkey makes. With no fancy colouring and the only extra grip coming from the Howling Monkey logo engraving, it may seem a surprise that I really enjoyed using this plectrum, even compared to it's big brother the standard Howling Monkey pick. The bevels on this particular plectrum are great, and it has very little pick noise. The tone of this pick does that great thing where it changes based on your playing - digging in allows you to access just enough brightness and backing off a bit gives you warmth whilst retaining precision. The Primate is definitely one to try!
The Triforce pick is a three cornered plectrum, each corner being the same. It is the thickest of the selection I have - on the Howling Monkeys website it says the pick thickness varies between 1.8mm and 2mm and this particular pick is definitely at the thicker end. This pick has the same clarity and precision as the other Howling Monkey picks but is more warm, probably due to the extra thickness. Whilst this particular model isn't for me, I can see many players really loving this pick.
The Saucer pick is a pick with three very rounded edges, meaning there is very little friction or drag between the pick and the string. This pick is slightly quieter than the others, but works great for strumming open chords. Lead playing is a bit more scratchy but I don't think that's the kind of playing this pick was designed for. This pick also works great on acoustic guitar or mandolin, and has a very balanced, even sound across all the strings.
After trying out this selection, I would highly recommend the Jazz III models, particularly the Fat Jazz. I love the tone of these picks, generally well balanced with a lightly boosted brightness, the material feels great between your fingers as well as being environmentally sustainable, and the picks all look great. They also offer custom pick designs on their website, which I would love to try - you definitely need to check out Howling Monkey picks! #GetNuts
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