I’ve used Jazz III’s almost exclusively for about fifteen years and I consider myself a capable crosspicker.
That pattern is essentially effortless for me. I see no reason whatsoever why you cannot achieve good results with a Jazz III.
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I’ve been use Jazz 3s for crosspicking. I find that since it is lighter is gives me to be less tense, more loose, and helps me to think about the MP Extension for crosspicking that I’ve been incorporating.
That said I also use Dragon Heart Picks which are quite big, thick and solid. These work great for picking also.
I don’t really think pick size matters, but more the hardness of it. Both of these are solid picks that are not thin/floppy.
Yeah, but chicks like big picks. :)
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Thanks guys!
I’ll probably stick with the jazz iiis for now.
Appreciate all the input 
I used to use Jazz III’s for everything, but have been experimenting lately with slightly larger picks and having good luck, especially with the cross picking. The point reaches out just a bit further and feels like it gives me just the room I need. It’s probably going to depend on a lot of subtleties in a person’s picking motion, though.
From my first guitar lessons I was drawn instinctively toward small picks. I used to pick out the teardrop-shaped Fender picks from the bucket on the counter at the music store. I’ve tried dozens and dozens of different picks and keep coming back to the Jazz III or something approaching the Jazz III size. Anything larger doesn’t feel right in my hands and tends to move out of a secure position. My absolute favorites are the Ibanez Paul Gilbert Picks, particularly the purple and white. They are celluloid and 1.00 mm in thickness, but are surprisingly stiff. They are the same shape as the Jazz III, but flat, giving you the best of a conventional pick and the smaller ones.
As a longtime jazz-sized pick user, I tried to get used to Fender standard Heavy picks early last year. I’ve gone full circle and am mostly back on jazz-sized (or nearly so - lately, the Dunlop Flow picks) but I’m still glad I did it since now I’m pretty comfortable going back and forth with anything.
The only thing that really throws me, is my one TOM-equipped guitar - fast picking with ANYTHING is awkward for me on that.
I’ve been playing around with the Dunlop Flow picks, too. Jury’s still out. Great on wound strings; not so much so on plain strings. Favorites are in a loose order of preference:
Ibanez Paul Gilbert
Dunlop JP Jazz III
Dunlop JP Primetone
Dunlop Jazz III
Dunlop JP Flow
I’ve found 1.5mm Ernie Ball Prodigy picks to be best for me. The pick is made from a very hard material with a non slip Delrin pick surface and the edges are all evenly beveled into a perfect little very sharp point. The point takes a little bit getting used to but I can see more precision the more I use it. With the guitar not plugged in you can zero in on the little precise scratches of the pick that you are aiming for.
Guessing: A bigger plectrum gives more area to grip and is likely better for more violent impact with the strings. A smaller plectrum is probably easier to align.
It is also noteworthy that the smaller plecrum forces people to “choke up” on the pick, reducing the torque when the pick hits the string, giving more control than a more distant grip.
Master of crosspicking, Martin Miller, uses Jazz III
I found some old Jazz III picks from long long ago…
I used to use them when I a young whippersnapper.
I’m 62 years old playing since I was 13…
So I bought some more thinking maybe I’ll using them again.
I tell you, the old picks were different feeling, much better.
I wonder if anyone has a stash of NOS?
Try the Eric Johnson ones. They’re supposed to be a bit different.
The EJ Jazz is nearly identical to the Jazz III although it has a more matte finish. It plays like a more worn in Jazz III. Size wise they are identical.
I’ve found that the Flow is weird it’s really best at smaller gauges. The .73 and .88 are great once you get into the sizes with the bevel they have a crazy amount of chirp on the unwounds.
What. Coincidence! Exact the same scenario here!
I still have a few of the old ones, they feel so much better then all the newer ones.
No the EJ model is very different in feel and sound, and a bit bigger.
The old ones rule!
Jazz lll ultex 2mm is my pick of choice at the moment. The normal Jazz lll material feels to soft to me.
I prefer the dunlop flow now (1.5mm), especially for cross picking.
I’m surprised nobody has mentioned John Petrucci’s Jazz III picks. They seem the same as the Jazz III tip-wise, but have a much larger “body”. I like to experiment with tons of different picks, but I always keep going back to the JP Jazz III, it’s difficult to use anything else after I’ve been picking with it. I also give props to the Ibanez PG picks, they’re a good “Goldilocks” pick, not too sharp, not too round, with just a little bit of give.
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