The B.B. King's Red Heavy Plectrum is a pick. Close alternatives include the Sixpence Coin and the Ritchie Blackmore Custom Square Picks. It pairs well with the Friedman BE-Mini Head and the Synergy SL2 Module.
B.B. King's Red Heavy Plectrum
Unknown brand · pick
A heavy-gauge red guitar pick associated with B.B. King, whose thumb-and-pick attack on Lucille produced the singing, vibrato-heavy lead tone that defined electric blues guitar. Heavier picks generally give a fuller, less trebly attack than thin picks, suited to Kings style of bending single notes with wide, vocal-like vibrato rather than fast alternate picking. Specific documentation of this exact pick beyond its association with King in this catalogue is not something independent sources confirm in detail.
- pick attack
- vocal
- blues
- vibrato
- lead
- response
- articulation
- singing
Genres the B.B. King's Red Heavy Plectrum is commonly used in
- Blues
- Blues Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Soul
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Jazz Fusion
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Classic Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the B.B. King's Red Heavy Plectrum
Friedman BE-Mini Head
Friedman
tonal matchInto a transparent tone, Friedman BE-Mini Head brings the high gain it's missing
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — Synergy SL2 Module gives it high gain to fill it with
Hughes & Kettner Warp 7
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — Hughes & Kettner Warp 7 gives it high gain to fill it with
Ceriatone 2202H
Ceriatone
tonal matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — Ceriatone 2202H gives it high gain to fill it with
Hiwatt Hi-Gain 100W Head
Hiwatt
tonal matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — Hiwatt Hi-Gain 100W Head gives it high gain to fill it with
Friedman Jose LTD
Friedman
tonal matchInto a transparent tone, Friedman Jose LTD brings the high gain it's missing
Hughes & Kettner Coreblade
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchHughes & Kettner Coreblade's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Friedman Phil X Signature
Friedman
tonal matchFriedman Phil X Signature's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Pedals that stack with the B.B. King's Red Heavy Plectrum
Black Arts Toneworks LSTR Fuzz
Black Arts Toneworks
tonal matchInto B.B. King's Red Heavy Plectrum, Black Arts Toneworks LSTR Fuzz is right at home: it's built around a clean amp's front end
Electro-Harmonix EH-1335/EH-3075 Hot Tubes
Electro-Harmonix
tonal matchElectro-Harmonix EH-1335/EH-3075 Hot Tubes is voiced for a clean amp's front end — B.B. King's Red Heavy Plectrum gives it exactly that
Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2
Dr Scientist
tonal matchInto a transparent tone, Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2 brings the fuzzy it's missing
MXR M249 Super Badass Dynamic O.D.
MXR
tonal matchMXR M249 Super Badass Dynamic O.D. is voiced for a clean amp's front end — B.B. King's Red Heavy Plectrum gives it exactly that
Catalinbread MontaVillian
Catalinbread
tonal matchInto B.B. King's Red Heavy Plectrum, Catalinbread MontaVillian is right at home: it's built around a clean amp's front end — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Ashdown Geezer Butler Signature
Ashdown
tonal matchAshdown Geezer Butler Signature's own voicing points at a clean amp's front end, and B.B. King's Red Heavy Plectrum delivers it
Warm Audio Jet Phaser
Warm Audio
tonal matchRun Warm Audio Jet Phaser into that transparent platform and it finally gets some high gain
Crazy Tube Circuits Heatseeker Pre-Amp
Crazy Tube Circuits
tonal matchCrazy Tube Circuits Heatseeker Pre-Amp is voiced for a clean amp's front end — B.B. King's Red Heavy Plectrum gives it exactly that
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
See all alternatives to the B.B. King's Red Heavy Plectrum (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the B.B. King's Red Heavy Plectrum?+
The closest matches in character are the Sixpence Coin, the Ritchie Blackmore Custom Square Picks, the Dunlop Carlos Santana Triangle Pick.
What pairs well with the B.B. King's Red Heavy Plectrum?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Friedman BE-Mini Head, Synergy SL2 Module, Hughes & Kettner Warp 7 — Into a transparent tone, Friedman BE-Mini Head brings the high gain it's missing.