Blue chip picks

**Mike Bunting** · Dec-25-2009, 1:48am

You do know that they are illegal don't you?

**majorbanjo** · Dec-25-2009, 9:25am

I love both my Blue Chips.....but right now I'm playing a Tortex 1.14 until I can find where I put my bluechips in the house.....

**woodwizard** · Dec-25-2009, 9:39am

Guess a pick will or could sound different on any mandolin but I'm amazed at the mellow sweet tone I get with my TPR60 on my 'Rush. Not bright at all. No pick noise. Slides off the strings like butter. I can get a neat control of the sound playing softly or hard better than any pick I've ever owned. It's wonderful! I've had mine for aproximately 2 years and it will diffenently last longer than me ... that is unless I loose it. Better stop... I'm sounding like an advertisement.

**fredfrank** · Dec-25-2009, 10:40am

Of course, you realize, Mike, you're preaching to the choir on this thread.

**fredfrank** · Dec-25-2009, 10:41am

It's hard to not get carried away with praise of these picks. I wasn't all that impressed until I took mine to a jam. The ability to get the upper hand on the volume is amazing. And then there's the ability to play with speed I didn't think I had anymore. These picks are worth what they cost.

**woodwizard** · Dec-25-2009, 11:21am

Originally Posted by fredfrank

Of course, you realize, Mike, you're preaching to the choir on this thread.

Yup!

**Big Joe** · Dec-25-2009, 4:07pm

I've been using them with great joy for a couple years. I lost my favorite about a year ago and replaced it last year at SPBGMA. I found it this morning stuck under an end table. I was happy to find it. I don't know how we have missed it for so long. Must have been stuck to something. Oh well, glad to have it back.

**mandolirius** · Dec-25-2009, 4:50pm

Who's using what, in terms of models? I use the TAD60 with the TP60, for a softer sound.

**buckles** · Dec-25-2009, 4:51pm

TPR50 with no speed bevels

**fredfrank** · Dec-25-2009, 6:08pm

Originally Posted by mandolirius

Who's using what, in terms of models? I use the TAD60 with the TP60, for a softer sound.

I'm using a custom TAD60 with sharper points and a knife-edge bevel. No speed bevel.

**Mike Snyder** · Dec-25-2009, 8:33pm

OK, I'm almost convinced. Help me out. I play a Gibson F5G, and I like a dark sound with a lot of low end thunk. My mando, however, is very mid-rangy, and can get a little shrill on the E string. I'm currently using Sam Bush strings. I,m thinking TP60-1R, as it gives me the option of the round point. I tend to play a slightly modified Wegan 150 (rounded the points a little) for fiddle tunes, or anything with quick leads, and a really fat V-pick for the dark tone and meaty chop. I,ve read the BC threads for soooo long.
You guys have worn down my resistance, but I would really like some more input. To maximize my output, before I put out.

**woodwizard** · Dec-25-2009, 9:02pm

I wouldn't mind having one like you discribed Mike. Just to check out the different points to see how they would make my mando sound. I've always used the more rounded picks like the dawg and wegen M150 or the redbear E. I just like the more mellow sound I get from rounder ones. That's why I prefer the TPR60. Pointed ones have seemed always to somewhat sound a little shrill for me on any mando I've played. Guess it's just what your use too. Take the plunge!

**Mike Snyder** · Dec-25-2009, 9:09pm

Rule of thumb; Thin picks sound thin, thick picks sound thick, rounded picks sound round, and pointy picks sound pointy. A masterpiece of generalization and over-simplification.

**hank** · Dec-25-2009, 9:21pm

I bonded almost immediately with my CT55's. I started off playing with this shape with Dunlop Stubby's but had changed to a Red Bear super thick mondo shape that helped smooth out my tremelo. I was happy with this pick for years until I tried the CT55. The sound was a little brighter but much more clear and crisp sounding. What sold me though was the feel and speed of the pick. It was nothing short of amazing to me how agile this pick was. The pick slides over the strings so easily and doesn't try to rotate so you can hold it very loose making tremelo work with the sharper points.

**buckles** · Dec-25-2009, 9:29pm

Mike, I think if you don't like your choice, for a short period you can trade it for a different BC pick...

Originally Posted by Mike Snyder

OK, I'm almost convinced. Help me out. I play a Gibson F5G, and I like a dark sound with a lot of low end thunk. My mando, however, is very mid-rangy, and can get a little shrill on the E string. I'm currently using Sam Bush strings. I,m thinking TP60-1R, as it gives me the option of the round point. I tend to play a slightly modified Wegan 150 (rounded the points a little) for fiddle tunes, or anything with quick leads, and a really fat V-pick for the dark tone and meaty chop. I,ve read the BC threads for soooo long.
You guys have worn down my resistance, but I would really like some more input. To maximize my output, before I put out.

**fredfrank** · Dec-25-2009, 10:02pm

Originally Posted by buckles

Mike, I think if you don't like your choice, for a short period you can trade it for a different BC pick...

Very true. Matthew is so accommodating to his customers. He wants them to be happy with the product.

**mandolirius** · Dec-27-2009, 3:31am

Originally Posted by Mike Snyder

OK, I'm almost convinced. Help me out. I play a Gibson F5G, and I like a dark sound with a lot of low end thunk. My mando, however, is very mid-rangy, and can get a little shrill on the E string. I'm currently using Sam Bush strings. I,m thinking TP60-1R, as it gives me the option of the round point. I tend to play a slightly modified Wegan 150 (rounded the points a little) for fiddle tunes, or anything with quick leads, and a really fat V-pick for the dark tone and meaty chop. I,ve read the BC threads for soooo long.
You guys have worn down my resistance, but I would really like some more input. To maximize my output, before I put out.

Mike, my guess is that a darker sound would indicate a thicker pick, the 60 or at the very least, the 50 series. I'm also thinking rounded corners, if you can use them (I can't). Maybe the one that has one rounded corner and two regular points. TPR-1r or something like that. You could also Mathew and ask his opinion, just be prepared to talk for a while. I had one question to ask and was on the phone for 40 minutes

**Mike Snyder** · Dec-27-2009, 4:23am

I have to really be in the groove to get through fast passages with a round pick, although the sound is where I want to be. I have a Red Bear with the choice of three points, and use it fairly frequently. I need to find out if the BC is for me or not. I've been on the fence a long time. Thanks, guys, for letting me pick your brains.

**Rob Gerety** · Dec-27-2009, 6:27am

Originally Posted by mandolirius

Maybe the one that has one rounded corner and two regular points. TPR-1r or something like that.

I have this one and I like it a lot for all the reason discussed. Mine is a 50. Perfection.

**Malcolm G.** · Dec-27-2009, 8:10am

Originally Posted by Mike Snyder

Rule of thumb; Thin picks sound thin, thick picks sound thick, rounded picks sound round, and pointy picks sound pointy. A masterpiece of generalization and over-simplification.

I wholeheartedly agree.

That makes my body type thick and round. Just the way I like my music.

Using a BC 50 on just about everything.

**JeffD** · Dec-28-2009, 9:20am

Originally Posted by Mike Snyder

Rule of thumb; Thin picks sound thin, thick picks sound thick, rounded picks sound round, and pointy picks sound pointy. A masterpiece of generalization and over-simplification.

http://jazzmando.com/tips/archives/000718.shtml

**Skip Kelley** · Dec-28-2009, 2:03pm

For anyone that doesn't have a BlueChip pick, you need to try it out! There isn't a better pick on this planet! No pick noise, glides easily off the strings and produces a nice fat tone; can't get any better!!

**Jan Ellefsen** · Dec-28-2009, 2:26pm

After reading this thread I ordered two Blue Chip picks, one TP 50 and one TAD 60. I was used to a Wegen that I liked very much and the TAD had the same shape as the Wegen so my guess was that the TAD would be my preferred Blue Chip pick.
After trying them I found out I did not like the TAD 60 very much, but the TP 50 vas perfect for me. The sound, the feeling, of the TP 50 was just perfect for me, except for one thing; the tremolo was more difficult to get even than with the Wegen, but the sound was better. I liked the feeling and the sound so much that I started to think "what if I loose it?” So I ordered two more TP 50, but with one rounded corner thinking about the tremolo.

Then on a gig a couple of days later, in the middle of a break, my TP 50 disappeared somewhere in front of the stage(yes, it can happen even with a Blue Chip), but luckily somebody found it under one of the nearest tables and I got it back. The next day the two TP 50's arrived, and I was happy, but I did not like the sound of the rounded corner on the tremolo so I just had to work at the tremolo with the more pointed corners, and now I feel comfortable with it.
I have no doubt that the Blue Chip is the best of all the picks I have tried, but I guess everyone has to find their favourite shape and thickness depending on the sound of the mando, your taste in music and your picking technique. In a perfect world you should be able to try them all before you buy one, but as you have to order them online it's a bit of a chance to get the best one just for you.

**sgarrity** · Dec-28-2009, 7:41pm

I just ordered a TAD40 and a TAD60. I've been playing with the TPRs and loving them. We;ll see how this new shape works.....

**mandolirius** · Dec-28-2009, 9:13pm

Originally Posted by sgarrity

I just ordered a TAD40 and a TAD60. I've been playing with the TPRs and loving them. We;ll see how this new shape works.....

TAD60's the one for me. I can get a more rounded, some-might-say prettier sound from the slightly smaller TP60. I might use it in a recording studio, say. But the TAD gives me a big, full sound and I can really hammer the mando with it (when I want to).