Dunlop John Petrucci Jazz III 1.5mm Ultex: the prog-metal precision pick
Dunlop's John Petrucci Signature Ultex Jazz III pick, 1.5mm thickness, polished tip, raised JP grip. The signature SKU built around Petrucci's Dream Theater rhythm + lead playing. With citations from Dunlop's official product page.
Reviewed by the Change Your Strings editorial team ·
Dunlop's John Petrucci Signature Ultex Jazz III pick is the 1.5mm thick Ultex pick built around John Petrucci's exact specification. Standard Jazz III shape with a raised JP logo grip and a slick polished tip. The Ultex material gives a brighter attack and stiffer feel than Jazz III's standard nylon. Designed for the precision required by Dream Theater's prog-metal lead playing across odd time signatures, alternate-picked sixteenth notes at 200+ BPM, and the harmonized rhythm parts that built the band's catalog from Images and Words through Distance Over Time and Parasomnia.
What this pick is
The John Petrucci Signature Ultex Jazz III is Dunlop's collaboration with John Petrucci — Dream Theater's lead guitarist and one of the most-influential prog-metal players of the past 30 years. The pick is the standard Jazz III shape at 1.5mm thickness, molded in Ultex (a polymer material brighter and stiffer than nylon), with a raised JP logo grip and a slick polished tip.
Dunlop produces it in 6-pack, 24-pack, and 36-pack quantities. The Amazon listings track all three. The signature relationship is current and documented on Dunlop's roster page.
Anatomy
Why this fits the prog-metal lane
A 1.5mm Ultex Jazz III is the canonical prog-metal precision pick. The thickness gives controlled attack — the pick doesn't flex under fast alternate picking the way a 0.88mm celluloid would. The Ultex material delivers brighter transients than nylon, which is what makes fast-picked sixteenth notes read as articulate rather than muddy on a high-gain rig. The Jazz III shape is small enough that the picking hand can move with precision; a standard 351 shape would feel oversized.
The polished tip is the differentiator from the standard Jazz III. Petrucci's playing requires fast string skipping and arpeggiated lead figures (the canonical examples are "Erotomania," "The Dance of Eternity," and "Stream of Consciousness" from Dream Theater's catalog). A polished tip reduces the drag those techniques generate; the standard Jazz III's subtler bevel would catch on the windings of heavy-gauge wound strings.
Other players who use it
Beyond Petrucci, the standard Jazz III shape (in non-Petrucci variants) is widely used across metal:
- Eric Johnson — early Jazz III adopter, his fluid alternate picking is partly built around the small precise Jazz III shape
- Joe Bonamassa — Jazz III XL preferred
- Mark Holcomb (Periphery) — Dunlop Jazz III variant for metalcore precision
The Petrucci signature SKU specifically (the 1.5mm Ultex with JP grip) is preferred by working prog-metal guitarists who want the exact Petrucci spec and the longer life Ultex provides over nylon.
Best for
- Prog-metal lead playing with fast alternate-picked passages and string skipping
- Metal rhythm playing where transient attack matters (the Ultex stiffness keeps palm-muted chugs articulated)
- Players who already use a standard Jazz III and want a slightly thicker, brighter, more durable version
Worst for
- Acoustic strumming — too small, too stiff. Use a 351 shape in celluloid or a thinner Tortex
- Jazz — Ultex is too bright. Standard Jazz III in nylon is the jazz lane
- Beginners — a Jazz III is small and unforgiving; learning fundamentals on a larger pick first is easier
Verdict
The John Petrucci Signature Jazz III is the precision pick for prog-metal and metal lead playing. The 1.5mm Ultex material is what separates it from the standard Jazz III lineup; the JP grip and polished tip are quality-of-life upgrades. If you want Petrucci's exact pick spec, this is the only SKU. If you want the same Ultex material in a smaller standard Jazz III shape, step to the standard Ultex Jazz III at 1.38mm.
John Petrucci Signature Ultex Jazz III 1.5mm
Why this one: John Petrucci's signature pick. 1.5mm Ultex with raised JP grip and polished tip. The exact spec across Dream Theater's catalog.
Related
- The player on this pick: John Petrucci, Dream Theater
- Standard Jazz III alternative: see the Dunlop Jazz III XL (1.38mm) review for the larger-shape variant
- For thicker rhythm work: see the Hetfield "White Fang" Tortex Flow (1.14mm) review for the metal-rhythm lane
Frequently asked questions
What thickness is the John Petrucci Jazz III?
1.5mm. Significantly thicker than the standard Jazz III (1.38mm) and the original red Jazz III (1.38mm). The signature SKU exists at this single thickness; if you want a thinner Jazz III, step to the standard Jazz III XL or the original red Jazz III.
Are these the same picks John Petrucci uses?
Yes. Dunlop's signature SKU is built around Petrucci's exact specification, listed on Dunlop's roster as a current production pick. The Ultex material, the 1.5mm thickness, the standard Jazz III shape, and the polished tip are all his preferences.
What's the difference between Ultex and standard nylon Jazz III?
Ultex is stiffer, brighter, and has more attack than nylon. The Ultex material's chemical structure delivers more precise transient definition under fast picking; nylon is warmer and rounder. For prog-metal precision (Petrucci's lane), Ultex wins. For warmer rock or jazz tone, nylon Jazz III is the choice.
How does this compare to standard Jazz III XL?
Same shape, different size. The XL is the larger Jazz III shape (still small by standard pick standards) at 1.38mm in nylon or Ultex. The Petrucci signature is the regular Jazz III shape at 1.5mm in Ultex with the JP grip embossed. Pick by hand size: XL if the standard Jazz III feels small, signature if you want Petrucci's exact spec.
Why a polished tip?
Faster glide across strings. Standard Jazz III tips have a subtle bevel; the polished signature tip is honed smoother, which reduces friction during fast alternate picking and string skipping. Petrucci's faster passages on Dream Theater's catalog (Pull Me Under, Erotomania, The Dance of Eternity) benefit from the reduced drag.
How long do these picks last?
Ultex picks outlast nylon by a factor of 3-5x. A daily player can run a single Ultex Jazz III for 2-6 months before noticeable tip wear; nylon would degrade in weeks. The trade-off: Ultex is also more brittle, so a dropped pick on a hard surface can chip. Worth the trade-off for the longevity and tone consistency..
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