Dunlop Tortex Standard 1.14mm Purple: the metalcore rhythm workhorse
Dunlop Tortex Standard 1.14mm Purple guitar pick. The original Tortex pick at the 1.14mm metalcore-rhythm gauge. Used widely across thrash, metalcore, and modern metal rhythm guitar since 1981. With citations from Dunlop's official catalog.
Reviewed by the Change Your Strings editorial team ·
Dunlop's Tortex Standard 1.14mm Purple is the canonical metalcore and thrash rhythm pick. The original Tortex pick (introduced in 1981 as the answer to dwindling tortoise-shell pick supply) at the 1.14mm purple gauge that working metal rhythm guitarists default to. Standard 351 shape, Delrin polymer, durable enough to survive long tracking sessions and tour cycles. The pick that defines the modern metal rhythm-guitar sound across thousands of working players.
What this pick is
The Dunlop Tortex Standard 1.14mm Purple is the original Tortex pick at the canonical metal-rhythm gauge. The pick is the standard 351 shape, molded in Delrin (Dunlop calls their proprietary Delrin formulation "Tortex"), in purple to color-code the 1.14mm thickness for at-a-glance gauge identification.
Dunlop introduced Tortex in 1981 as the production answer to the 1973 CITES ban on new tortoise-shell pick imports. Within five years, Tortex became the industry-standard pick material; the 1.14mm purple specifically became the canonical metal-rhythm gauge over the next four decades.
Anatomy
Why this fits the metal-rhythm lane
A 1.14mm Tortex is the canonical metal-rhythm pick. The thickness gives controlled attack: the pick doesn't flex into pitch-bend under hard down-picking. The Tortex material has consistent grip across long tracking sessions; celluloid and nylon both lose grip when the picking hand sweats. The standard 351 shape is the all-purpose pick footprint; bigger than a Jazz III, smaller than a triangle, comfortable for most picking-hand sizes.
The 1.14mm gauge specifically sits at the sweet spot for modern metal rhythm work. A 1.0mm Tortex (blue) is slightly more flexible — better for indie / alt-rock strumming. A 1.5mm (white) is harder, more aggressive — overkill for most rhythm work and uncomfortable for long sessions. The 1.14mm purple is the gauge most working metal rhythm guitarists default to before reaching for a signature variant.
Best for
- Metalcore, thrash, and modern metal rhythm guitar with hard down-picking and palm-muted chugged passages
- Hard-rock rhythm work that needs more body than a 1.0mm and less aggression than a 1.5mm
- Players who want the Hetfield White Fang feel without the signature SKU price premium
Worst for
- Acoustic strumming — too thick, too rigid; use a 0.60mm or 0.73mm Tortex for acoustic
- Fast Jazz III-style lead playing — too large; use a Jazz III or Jazz III XL
- Beginners learning alternate picking — the 1.14mm thickness is unforgiving; start with 0.73mm yellow
Verdict
The Tortex Standard 1.14mm purple is the foundational metal-rhythm pick. If you've ever picked up a metalcore or thrash guitarist's spare picks, you've probably held this one. The Hetfield White Fang is the Flow-shape variant of the same gauge with a custom bevel; the Tortex Standard purple is the original. Pick the Standard for the broader feel and the cheaper price; pick the Hetfield for the sharper Flow shape and the signature provenance.
Tortex Standard 1.14mm Purple
Why this one: The canonical metal-rhythm pick. 1.14mm Delrin in the standard 351 shape and color-coded purple. The gauge most working metal rhythm guitarists default to.
Related
Frequently asked questions
What thickness is the purple Tortex?
.114mm. The 1.14mm gauge is one of seven thicknesses Dunlop ships in the Tortex Standard family: yellow .73mm, green .88mm, blue 1.0mm, purple 1.14mm (this set), red .50mm, orange .60mm, white 1.50mm. The purple 1.14mm is the working metal-rhythm default.
Why purple specifically?
Color identification. Dunlop color-codes Tortex picks by thickness so players can identify gauge at a glance from across a stage or in a dim studio. Purple = 1.14mm, which became the canonical metal-rhythm gauge over the past four decades.
What's Tortex made from?
Delrin (acetal homopolymer). Dunlop developed Tortex in 1981 as a replacement for tortoise-shell picks — tortoise shell was the gold-standard pick material from the 1930s through the early-1970s, but the 1973 CITES treaty banned the import of new tortoise shell into the US. Tortex was developed to match the feel and durability of vintage tortoise picks; it became the industry standard pick material within five years of release.
Who plays the 1.14mm Tortex?
Wide canon across modern metal rhythm guitar. The 1.14mm thickness is the all-purpose metalcore + thrash + modern metal rhythm gauge most working players default to. The signature variants (Hetfield's White Fang Tortex Flow, etc.) are derivatives of the standard 1.14mm spec; the Tortex Standard purple is the unbranded original.
How does this compare to the Hetfield White Fang?
Same material, same gauge, different shape and bevel. The Hetfield White Fang is the Tortex Flow shape (sharper) at 1.14mm with a custom Hetfield bevel and a white finish. The Tortex Standard purple is the classic 351 shape at 1.14mm with the stock bevel and the canonical purple color. Pick by shape preference: Flow for sharper attack, Standard for the all-purpose feel.
How long do these last?
Tortex picks are among the most-durable production picks. A daily player can run a single 1.14mm Tortex for 4-12 weeks before noticeable tip wear; tour-rig players cycle through more pikcs but the material itself outlasts celluloid, nylon, and acetal-copolymer alternatives. The Delrin material's chemical resistance means sweat doesn't degrade the grip the way it does with celluloid.
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