In order to to get this pick right, we had to build on John’s preferred shape and material. “I’ve always found the original black nylon Dunlop Jazz III size and shape to be perfect for getting the most clarity and articulation out of my playing,” John says. “That’s why it was important to me that we began with that proven design when creating my second signature Dunlop pick. Several years ago, I discovered that picks made from Ultex had a louder sound, a smoother attack, and a greater level of stiffness than a nylon pick, as well as a more precise pick response.”

Armed with John’s preferences, we started out by making him a black version of our Ultex Jazz III pick, but John wanted to check out our newly released Primetone Jazz III. Primetone Sculpted Plectra feature bevels sculpted onto the pick’s tip for increased speed and accuracy when playing fast rhythms and solos. We sent him some samples, and he immediately fell in love. But we wanted to take that a step further for John. We asked him to wear out a pick while on tour so that we could copy that natural bevel onto his new pick.

This unique bevel is a result of my forward and downward angled picking technique and really adds to an effortless picking experience with no drag felt on the strings.

It ain’t easy holding onto one pick through all the moving between hotels and venues and playing onstage for a whole tour, but John pulled it off. He used a single pick for four weeks, providing us with exactly what we needed to make him the perfect customized pick. “This unique bevel,” he says, “is a result of my forward and downward angled picking technique and really adds to an effortless picking experience with no drag felt on the strings.”

The custom bevel is a bit steeper than that of the standard Primetone Jazz III pick, but the result is even greater speed and precision. Shredders usually hold their pick at a steeper angle in order to reduce drag as much as possible—the steeper the angle, the less drag you experience. But too much angle can trip you up, and it takes years of experience to find the right balance. Thankfully, John did all that work for us.

The next issue was the grip. John tried a variety of types, from Max Grip and Primetone to the standard raised lettering found on the Ultex Jazz III picks. After some experimentation, John felt most comfortable with the raised lettering. He feels that it’s the perfect balance between having a solid grip while being able to move the pick around if needed.

John Petrucci Primetone Jazz III Picks are available now. Go get yourself a pack. Shred on.