Blue chip picks

[Kip Carter]

[mandopixie]

I got tiny tonegards custom made to place on each side of my blue chip. Keeps my thumb and index finger from muting the pick. I think it would help even more for those who use a three finger grip. What's another $150, if you can pull better tone?

Now THIS I gotta see!

[JeffD]

Now THIS I gotta see!

But if it worked, do you think I wouldn't do it?

[Loretta Callahan]

I agree. My luthier gave me one of these ... next thing I knew I spent triple digits for picks the next year. When all is said and done, I sometimes just grab the Fender Medium and am as happy as a clam.

I think ProPlecs are a gateway pick....

[JeffD]

I prefer the Fender/Gibson Heavy on my bowlbacks sometimes. Brings out the brightness of the instrument.

[Loretta Callahan]

These threads seem like a kind of support group. "My name is .... and I use a Fender pick" ....

I prefer the Fender/Gibson Heavy on my bowlbacks sometimes. Brings out the brightness of the instrument.

[mandopixie]

@JeffD:

As an extension of (and a tip of the hat to) your signature, it's also easier to get a really good pick than it is to get really good playing with it!

[Jeff May]

Sorry. Self-edited for content. Just too silly. Apparently I can't remove the image.

I think the Blue Chip pick material has changed a little over the years. Here's a photo of my 4 early BCs and one that I bought in the past year. The feel and tone is quite different, even between the two TPR 50s. Anybody else noticed this?

[norm351]

Dawg, Goldengate, and D'andrea play just as well, sound just as good, and for a lot less, but if a 35 dollar pick is what you like and you can afford it, go for it , it all comes down to what you like, and are comfortable with...I found some Dunlop 207 picks today 60 cents each had never tried them before but I am liking them I am told they are a jazz guitar pick...but they seem to work well on mandolin also....but what ever you like...go for it....wonder how Mr. Monroe made it all those years without 35 dollar picks...

[Ben Milne]

Here's a photo of my 4 early BCs and one that I bought in the past year. The feel and tone is quite different, even between the two TPR 50s. Anybody else noticed this?

As if there wasn't enough conjecture regardingnthe bluechip already, we're going to see vintage bluechip v new discussions and inflated prices for the golden era of bluechips?
Thanks Jeff.

[Ben Milne]

wonder how Mr. Monroe made it all those years without 35 dollar picks...

Keep in mind that Mr Monroe made it all those years playing a mandolin purchased for just $150.

[Kevin K]

Yeah but it really wasn't a $150 mandolin even though purchased for that much.

My older bluechips do look and sound different than the new ones. Whether is sun, heat, wear or different material composition.

[Jim Garber]

I hear that Tonerite is now producing a version that can be applied to your Bluechip pick to simulate that vintage Bluechip tone.

[Ben Milne]

Yeah but it really wasn't a $150 mandolin even though purchased for that much.

True, he probably paid too much, considering the original list price was $250 and it was 22 years old, but hey they're worth what people will pay, and we you find The one we're likely happy paying a little more.

[Jeff May]

As if there wasn't enough conjecture regardingnthe bluechip already, we're going to see vintage bluechip v new discussions and inflated prices for the golden era of bluechips?
Thanks Jeff.

My pleasure.

[RootsMusicVirginia]

Okay, be nice!

[RootsMusicVirginia]

Interesting, they call them "Blue Chip" picks but their proprietary material is brown. Very nice if you don't mind the price. (So, gonna take your $ with you when you go?)

[Mike Bunting]

Interesting, they call them "Blue Chip" picks but their proprietary material is brown. Very nice if you don't mind the price. (So, gonna take your $ with you when you go?)

They were invented/discovered/developed at Matt Goins place of business, the Blue Chip Machine shop in Knoxville. The Blue in the name of the pick has nothing to do with the colour. By the way, google the phrase blue chip.

[Jeff May]

Okay, be nice!

I'm just horsin' around. I don't think there's any worry about creating controversy/conjecture over "vintage" BC picks.

[Brutus1999]

A guy I know claims that he has a Blue Chip pick with a scroll and he wants to charge an extra 40% for that pick. My question is: Would the scroll affect the sound in any way?

[mandopete]

I hear on the street they are comming out with a new pick called "The Blue Chip". I want to try one on my The Loar!

The I can say something like..."I'm using my The Blue Chip on my The Loar". English language be damned!

[mandroid]

might as well bring this up to go with the other BC threads ,
in case people want to just cut and paste their previous stuff

[JeffD]

Dawg, Goldengate, and D'andrea play just as well, sound just as good, ...

After over 1500 posts it should be obvious to the casual observer that this is not universally agreed upon.

but if a 35 dollar pick is what you like and you can afford it,

If a one time purchase of $35 is onerous, I have to wonder how the mandolin purchase was justified.

go for it , it all comes down to what you like, and are comfortable with...

Liking the sound and being comfortable with the pick is well worth $35.00. One time.

wonder how Mr. Monroe made it all those years without 35 dollar picks...

Avoiding things that Bill avoided is as ridiculous as blindly emulating him.

[JeffD]

A guy I know claims that he has a Blue Chip pick with a scroll and he wants to charge an extra 40% for that pick. My question is: Would the scroll affect the sound in any way?

Someone should do this, its a fantastic idea.

[Bill Baldridge]

Originally Posted by Brutus1999
A guy I know claims that he has a Blue Chip pick with a scroll and he wants to charge an extra 40% for that pick. My question is: Would the scroll affect the sound in any way?

No, but you could hang a strap on it.