Master 8 Japan is the guitar pick brand of Ikeda Picks (池田工業株式会社), Japan's largest guitar pick manufacturer, based in Gifu Prefecture. All Master 8 picks are molded, polished, and printed in-house at their own factory. The brand launched in 2016 under the tagline "New Standard Guitar & Bass Picks from Japan."
Master 8's product line is built on a system of four proprietary materials, four pick shapes, and three grip treatments. Every combination of material, shape, and grip is assigned a specific model code. This guide covers every current series with exact specs and dimensions.
Master 8 Japan Pick Materials
Master 8 uses four distinct materials across their pick lineup. Each material produces a different tone, feel, and level of durability.
INFINIX (Model Prefix: IF)
INFINIX is Master 8's original proprietary pick material, introduced as their flagship product. It is a specialized plastic compound that had not been used in guitar picks prior to Master 8's development.
Material Properties:
- High flexibility with strong shape memory
- Abrasion-resistant — retains its original shape and edge profile significantly longer than celluloid, nylon, or standard Delrin picks
- Low pick noise against strings compared to conventional pick plastics
- Surface feel comparable to natural tortoiseshell
- Naturally adhesive to skin — provides grip without additional surface treatment
Tonal Character: Bright and articulate with clear note definition. The unpolished surface produces a direct, present attack.
INFINIX Hard Polish (Model Prefix: IFHPR)
INFINIX Hard Polish uses the same base INFINIX material but undergoes an additional edge-grinding and surface-polishing process. The pick edges are rounded and the surface is finished to a smooth matte texture.
Material Properties:
- Same abrasion resistance and shape memory as standard INFINIX
- Rounded, polished edge reduces string friction during attack
- Lower pick noise than standard INFINIX due to smoother string contact
- Paired exclusively with Rubber Grip (see Grip Types section)
Tonal Character: Softer, warmer, and fuller than standard INFINIX. The polished edge produces a rounder attack with more body — less bright bite, more midrange warmth.
INFINIX-U (Model Prefix: IFU)
INFINIX-U is a hybrid material that blends Master 8's proprietary INFINIX resin with ULTEM (polyetherimide/PEI), a high-performance thermoplastic widely used in guitar picks (known commercially as Dunlop Ultex). INFINIX-U is Master 8's current flagship material.
Material Properties:
- Hybrid blend of INFINIX + ULTEM at a proprietary ratio developed through extensive testing with professional musicians
- Retains INFINIX's flexibility, shape memory, and abrasion resistance
- Adds ULTEM's high rigidity, hardness, and tonal clarity
- More rigid than standard INFINIX, less rigid than pure ULTEM
- Paired with Sand Grain Hard Grip as standard
Tonal Character: Strong note projection with high clarity and definition. More articulate and cutting than standard INFINIX, with better string-to-string separation. Favored for lead playing, single-note lines, and situations requiring each note to project clearly.
DURACON / D-801 (Model Prefix: D801)
The D-801 series uses Duracon, a polyoxymethylene (POM) engineering plastic. Duracon is functionally equivalent to Delrin/acetal — the same base material used in Dunlop Delrin 500 picks and many other industry-standard picks.
Material Properties:
- Polyoxymethylene (POM) — high stability, wear resistance, low friction
- Familiar feel for players accustomed to Delrin/acetal picks
- Master 8's polishing process specifically preserves the pick edge geometry rather than rounding it, retaining a sharper edge profile than typical Delrin picks
- Available in both Sand Grip and Glossy (no grip) finishes
Tonal Character: Bright with fast attack response, especially on wound strings. The preserved edge profile facilitates faster string crossing. Popular among soloists and lead players who rely on right-hand speed.
Master 8 Japan Pick Shapes & Dimensions
Master 8 offers four pick shapes. Dimensions are consistent across all material families — a Jazz type in INFINIX is the same size as a Jazz type in INFINIX-U or D-801. All dimensions below are approximate (manually measured by the manufacturer).
Standard Type (Teardrop) — TD
- Width: 27mm
- Height: 31mm
- Available in: IF, IFS, IFHPR, IFU, D801, D801S series
- Description: Classic 351-style teardrop shape. Comfortable and natural for all playing styles. The most versatile shape in the Master 8 lineup.
Jazz Type — JZ
- Width: 26mm
- Height: 28mm
- Available in: IF, IFS, IFHPR, IFU, D801, D801S series
- Description: Compact pointed shape for precision playing. Produces a clear, crisp attack with fast string response. Standard choice for jazz, shredding, and rock soloing. All INFINIX-series Jazz types (IF, IFS, IFHPR, IFU) share these dimensions.
Small Jazz Type — JZ (D-801 Only)
- Width: 21mm
- Height: 25mm
- Available in: D801 and D801S series only
- Description: Exclusive to the Duracon D-801 line. Approximately the same size as a Dunlop Stubby. Delivers clear mid-high frequency response with controlled elasticity. Designed for players who prefer an extremely compact pick.
Triangle Type — TR
- Width: 33mm
- Height: 33mm
- Available in: IF, IFS, IFHPR, IFU, D801, D801S series
- Description: Equilateral triangle with three usable playing tips. One pick effectively serves as three, making it the most cost-effective shape. The large surface provides a secure finger contact area, suited to players with larger hands. Equally suited to guitar and bass.
Master 8 Japan Grip Types
Master 8 offers three grip configurations. Grip type is determined by the model series — you cannot mix and match grip and material independently.
No Grip (Glossy Surface)
- Applied to: INFINIX (IF) and D-801 (D801) base models
- Texture: Smooth, unmodified factory surface
- Description: The pick's natural material surface with no added grip coating. INFINIX has natural skin adhesion due to its tortoiseshell-like properties. D-801 glossy models have a smoother, slicker Delrin-type feel. Choose this if you prefer a clean surface without texture.
Sand Grain Hard Grip
- Applied to: INFINIX + Hard Grip (IFS), INFINIX-U + Hard Grip (IFU), D-801 + Hard Grip (D801S)
- Texture: Fine sand-like granular coating on both sides of the grip area
- Material: Transparent grit coating that does not obscure the pick's printed design
- Description: Master 8's original anti-slip treatment. Provides aggressive, high-friction grip security. The texture is similar to very fine sandpaper. Effective for players who sweat heavily or play with high intensity. The most secure grip option in the lineup, prioritizing hold over comfort during extended sessions.
Rubber Grip
- Applied to: INFINIX Hard Polish + Rubber Grip (IFHPR) exclusively
- Texture: Soft rubber coating on both sides of the grip area
- Description: Master 8's newer grip technology. Provides strong anti-slip hold through rubber friction rather than abrasive texture. More comfortable than the Sand Grain Hard Grip during long playing sessions. Complements the INFINIX Hard Polish series' smooth, polished feel. Not available on any other material series.
Master 8 Japan Model Code Reference
Master 8 uses a systematic model code that identifies the material, grip, and shape of each pick. Understanding the code makes it easy to identify any pick in the lineup.
| Code Prefix | Material | Grip | Example Full Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| IF-TD / IF-TR / IF-JZ | INFINIX | None (glossy) | IF-TD-1.0 |
| IFS-TD / IFS-TR / IFS-JZ | INFINIX | Sand Hard Grip | IFS-JZ-0.88 |
| IFHPR-TD / IFHPR-TR / IFHPR-JZ | INFINIX Hard Polish | Rubber Grip | IFHPR-TR-0.80 |
| IFU-TD / IFU-TR / IFU-JZ | INFINIX-U | Sand Hard Grip | IFU-JZ-1.0 |
| D801-TD / D801-TR / D801-JZ | D-801 Duracon | None (glossy) | D801-TD-0.8 |
| D801S-TD / D801S-TR / D801S-JZ | D-801 Duracon | Sand Hard Grip | D801S-JZ-1.0 |
Shape suffix key: TD = Standard (Teardrop), TR = Triangle, JZ = Jazz
Available Thickness Options
Master 8 picks are available in the following standard gauges across most series:
| Gauge Label | Thickness |
|---|---|
| Thin | 0.6mm – 0.73mm (varies by shape) |
| Medium | 0.8mm – 0.88mm (varies by shape) |
| Heavy | 1.0mm – 1.2mm (varies by shape) |
Jazz type picks typically start at 0.88mm (Thin) and go up to 1.2mm (Heavy). Standard and Triangle types start thinner at 0.6mm. Exact thickness availability varies by series — check individual product listings for the full range.
Quick Comparison: Master 8 Material Properties
| Property | INFINIX | INFINIX Hard Polish | INFINIX-U | D-801 Duracon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base Material | Proprietary INFINIX | Proprietary INFINIX (polished) | INFINIX + ULTEM blend | Duracon (POM/Delrin) |
| Tone | Bright, articulate | Warm, full, rounded | Clear, projecting, defined | Bright, fast attack |
| Pick Noise | Low | Very low | Low | Standard |
| Abrasion Resistance | High | High | High | Moderate-high |
| Flexibility | High | High | Moderate (more rigid) | Moderate |
| Edge Finish | Unpolished | Polished, rounded | Unpolished | Precision-ground |
| Best For | All-around, natural feel | Rhythm, jazz, warm tone | Lead, projection, clarity | Speed, fast picking |
| Default Grip | None or Sand | Rubber | Sand | None or Sand |
About Ikeda Picks
Ikeda Picks (池田工業株式会社) is headquartered in Gifu Prefecture, Japan. They are the largest guitar pick manufacturer in Japan by production volume. In addition to the Master 8 Japan brand, Ikeda manufactures picks for other brands and produces custom OEM picks. The Master 8 brand represents their in-house line of premium picks developed with proprietary materials and manufacturing processes.