Ernie Ball Prodigy Picks Review

Last Updated on June 18, 2023 by Justin

The Ernie Ball Prodigy series of guitar picks brings a much-needed breath of fresh air to the mass-produced guitar pick market.

Sure, there are tons of boutique picks out there which are/have changed the game.

But, it has been a while since I’ve seen a big manufacturer such as Ernie ball release a range of guitar picks that are so different from what we are used to seeing.

Alas, this is my review of the Ernie Ball Prodigy guitar picks.

Material

The material of this pick is made from Delrin material. This is nothing new as some of the best guitar picks are made from this material.

Whilst it is Delrin, the material looks more reminiscent of the Tortex guitar picks by Jim Dunlop. Anyway, Delrin is a great material for plectrums and is a tried and tested material loved by millions of guitarists.

So, if it is not the material of the pick that makes it so epic, what is it? Read on to see.

Sound

The Ernie Ball prodigy’s sound good. I mean they’re your regular Delrin-sounding pick which we all know.
So when it comes to sound, this is not the area they are trying to shine.

Size & Gauge (Thickness)

When this series was just released, there were only 4 shapes of this pick of which all of which Looked like the JD Jazz III. But. is actually very different.

Whilst there are now plenty of picks in the Prodigy range, there are only two gauges. Of which they are 1.5mm and 2.00mm respectively.

Feel

I love the feel of these picks as they have a chalk-like coated surface which not only enhances grip but feels amazing in my hands.

The regular picks in this series are quite narrow and therefore sometimes feel quite weird especially after I’ve been playing regular picks.

Possibly the best feature about the Prodigy range is the beveled edges all around. This, paired with exceptionally pointed edges makes for a very smooth playing experience.

This also enables guitarists to articulate the notes much better and enhance their control over the strings and pick. There have been some complaints by many that they don’t like the way these feel.

But I must say, I quite do. However, the narrowness of the standard shape does not feel as nice in the hands as say the regular jazz shape.

Price

Compared to other plectrums on the market, these are pretty expensive. And seeing as though they don’t bring anything insanely revolutionary to the table, it is possible to find other alternatives.

For example, a great alternative to this range would be Jim Dunlop’s Gator grip series.

The only area these beat the Gator grips is that they have a much sharper edge which could be preferred by lead guitarists.

Variations

When this range of guitar picks came out, there were only 4 picks in the series. And those were the “Black and White Standards”.

The standard series was the breath of fresh air I spoke about in the beginning. The reason being is that they have a very different profile compared to any other guitar pick I’ve seen.

However, many guitarists were not so happy with this profile, despite the many benefits they are meant to provide. For example, the “Mini” version is VERY small when compared to any of its competitors.

Some may like this, however, it seems most guitarists have complained about its size. I guess myself included as I have struggled to adopt this as part of my regular plectrum lineup.

As a result, Ernie Ball has realized another 8 picks in the prodigy range which cover all bases when it comes to shapes.

However, there are still only two gauges as I mentioned above. Besides the standard shape, Variations include teardrop, jazz, and triangle-shaped picks.

All in all, these are a nice addition to the plectrum market. Whilst at a higher price, I fear Ernie Ball will struggle to sell as many as they possibly should. Despite that, they’ve made it to my list of the best guitar picks so I definitely recommend giving them a go.