Dunlop Ultex Sharp 1.14mm: the djent precision pick
Dunlop Ultex Sharp 1.14mm guitar pick. Sharper sculpted tip than the standard Ultex, brighter and stiffer than nylon. The djent and extended-range precision pick used widely across modern prog-metal. With citations from Dunlop's official catalog.
Reviewed by the Change Your Strings editorial team ·
Dunlop's Ultex Sharp 1.14mm is the djent and extended-range precision pick. Standard 351 shape with a rigid Ultex body that tapers into a thinner, sculpted, sharpened tip. The sharp tip delivers crystalline transient definition under high-gain amplification, which is what makes seven- and eight-string djent rhythm parts read as articulate rather than wash. Brighter and stiffer than nylon; harder, more durable, and more precise than Tortex. The pick canon for modern prog-metal and djent extended-range guitar.
What this pick is
The Dunlop Ultex Sharp 1.14mm is the precision-tip variant of Dunlop's Ultex pick line. The pick is the standard 351 shape, molded in Ultem polyetherimide (Dunlop calls the line "Ultex"), with a sculpted, sharpened, pointed tip designed to deliver maximum transient articulation under high-gain amplification.
Ultex is brighter, stiffer, and more durable than nylon, Tortex, or celluloid. The sharp-tip variant takes that already-bright pick character and adds a sharpened attack profile; the result is the canonical djent and extended-range pick spec used across modern prog-metal and metalcore.
Anatomy
Why this fits the djent + extended-range lane
Djent and modern extended-range prog-metal demand transient articulation that lighter or warmer pick materials can't deliver. Eight-string and seven-string guitars in drop tunings require fast palm-muted chugged rhythm parts to read clearly through high-gain amp simulation; the pick's transient is what the gate triggers on, and a smeared transient turns the whole rhythm part to mud. The Ultex Sharp's sharpened tip + rigid Ultex polymer delivers exactly the transient definition that lane needs.
The 1.14mm thickness is the gauge sweet spot for the lane. Heavier (1.40mm) gives more body but can feel rigid under fast alternate picking. Lighter (.90mm) flexes too much under hard down-picking and loses pitch stability on dropped tunings. The 1.14mm Ultex Sharp sits at the working-prog-metal default.
Best for
- Djent and extended-range prog-metal with fast palm-muted rhythm parts on 7- and 8-string guitars
- Modern metalcore and prog-metal lead playing where transient articulation matters
- Players who want one pick for both rhythm and lead — the Ultex Sharp covers both lanes
Worst for
- Acoustic strumming — Ultex is too rigid; celluloid or thinner Tortex is the lane
- Vintage rock or jazz tone — Ultex brightness fights the warmer pickup voicings used in those genres
- Beginners — the sharp tip rewards precise picking technique; less-precise attacks generate harsh tone
Verdict
The Ultex Sharp 1.14mm is the djent precision pick. If your rig is a 7- or 8-string guitar in drop tuning through a high-gain amp sim, this is the pick spec the genre is built around. If you want a standard 351 shape with a less-aggressive tip, step to the standard Ultex 1.14mm. If you want the sharper Jazz III shape, step to the Ultex Jazz III XL.
Ultex Sharp 1.14mm
Why this one: The djent precision pick. Standard 351 shape with sculpted sharp tip in rigid Ultex polymer. Maximum transient articulation for fast-picked extended-range rhythm and lead work.
Related
Frequently asked questions
What's different about the Ultex Sharp vs standard Ultex?
Tip geometry. The standard Ultex 1.14mm has a rounded 351 tip; the Ultex Sharp has a sculpted, sharpened, pointed tip that delivers more transient definition under fast picking. Same Ultex polymer body, same 1.14mm thickness, just a sharper attack on every note.
Who plays the Ultex Sharp?
Wide adoption across modern prog-metal and djent guitar. The sharp tip plus rigid Ultex polymer is the canonical pick spec for fast-picked extended-range rhythm and lead work; the brightness and articulation that Ultex delivers is what makes the pick the djent canon.
What's Ultex made from?
Ultem polyetherimide. The polymer's chemical structure delivers more rigid, brighter, and more durable feel than nylon or Tortex. Ultex picks outlast nylon by a factor of 3-5x; the trade-off is they're more brittle, so a dropped pick on a hard surface can chip the tip.
How does this compare to a Jazz III XL Ultex?
Different shape. The Jazz III XL Ultex is the small-but-comfortable Jazz III shape at 1.38mm in Ultex. The Ultex Sharp 1.14mm is the standard 351 shape with a sharpened tip at the thinner 1.14mm gauge. Pick by shape preference: Jazz III XL for small-shape precision, Ultex Sharp for the all-purpose 351 with maximum tip articulation.
Will this work for rhythm guitar?
Yes. The 1.14mm thickness is the metal-rhythm sweet spot, and the Ultex stiffness gives controlled attack on hard down-picking. The sharper tip delivers more articulation than a standard Tortex 1.14mm; some players find that articulation overkill for rhythm-only work and prefer the warmer Tortex feel. Ultex Sharp is the choice when you want the same pick to handle both rhythm and lead work.
What thicknesses does the Ultex Sharp come in?
.60mm, .73mm, .90mm, 1.14mm (this set), 1.40mm, 2.0mm. The 1.14mm is the all-purpose djent gauge most working players use. Heavier (1.40mm or 2.0mm) for drop-tuning rhythm work, lighter (.73mm or .90mm) for indie rock or alt-metal lead work.
Sources
- Dunlop, Ultex Sharp 1.14mm official product page, Dunlop
- Dunlop Ultex Sharp 1.14mm, Amazon listing, Dunlop / Amazon