Chris Thile using BlueChips exclusively

**Skittle** · Apr-05-2009, 1:34pm

Hey all......just talked with Matthew and said he got up with Chris Thile and the Punch Brothers last week when they came to Knoxville for a show. Matthew had let Chris try a few sizes and thicknesses and came to absolutely loving the TAD60....he will soon be on the BlueChip pick website with his own quote. Noam Pikelny is exclusively using the new JD Crowe Bluechip thumbpick and is loving it. Chris Eldridge is using the TAD60 on guitar and all the guys think these picks are absolutely incredible.........which they are!!

**mandolirius** · Apr-05-2009, 1:55pm

Originally Posted by Skittle

Hey all......just talked with Matthew and said he got up with Chris Thile and the Punch Brothers last week when they came to Knoxville for a show. Matthew had let Chris try a few sizes and thicknesses and came to absolutely loving the TAD60....he will soon be on the BlueChip pick website with his own quote. Noam Pikelny is exclusively using the new JD Crowe Bluechip thumbpick and is loving it. Chris Eldridge is using the TAD60 on guitar and all the guys think these picks are absolutely incredible.........which they are!!

About a month ago, I took a lesson with Andrew Collins (Foggy Hogtown Boys, Creaking Tree String Quartet). I showed him my Blue Chip and he used it for a bit. Last night he was in town with the Foggies and had a Blue Chip. He says it's now the only pick he uses. Score another one for B.C. (the pick-makers, not the province)

**Miked** · Apr-05-2009, 1:56pm

Oh no, not another BlueChip Pick thread!

Just kidding.

That's great. I'm glad for Matthew and hope his business continues to do well.

**Chris Biorkman** · Apr-05-2009, 2:28pm

Cool. I always thought the Wegen TF-140 sounded too bright and tinny. The pointed Blue Chip sounds much better, IMO.

**Joe Parker** · Apr-05-2009, 2:38pm

With Thile on board can a $1000.00 pick with a 2 year wait be far behind?

JPP

btw,I use the BC,too.Can't wait to cash in on the resale market when the price goes thru the roof!

**mandroid** · Apr-05-2009, 4:05pm

**Tim2723** · Apr-05-2009, 4:12pm

###### ## # ######! So a famous player endorses it? What does it matter? If you like them, play them. If you don't, save your bleedin' money. I for one won't sound like Thile no matter what bit of plastic is in my hand. And I really don't care anyway.

**Chris Biorkman** · Apr-05-2009, 4:26pm

Originally Posted by Tim2723

###### ## # ######. So a famous player endorses it? What does it matter? If you like them, play them. If you don't, save your bleedin' money. I for one won't sound like Thile no matter what bit of plastic is in my hand. And I really don't care anyway.

What's the point of buying a pick anyways? We're all going to die eventually.

**Chris Biorkman** · Apr-05-2009, 4:30pm

Also, I hate puppies and rainbows.

**man dough nollij** · Apr-05-2009, 4:32pm

Originally Posted by Chris Biorkman

Also, I hate puppies and rainbows.

Music is overrated, too.

**Tim2723** · Apr-05-2009, 5:15pm

Ba-dum-bum!

Glad you got it fellas.

But seriously, I've seen the error of my ways. May the glory of the BlueChip improve your playing all the days of your life, and may you dwell in the shadow of Thile forever.

Your affectionate, daisy-picking love bunny,

Tim

**Mike Bunting** · Apr-05-2009, 7:41pm

I wish everyone would slavishly follow Thile in his use of the metronome.

**gregjones** · Apr-05-2009, 9:25pm

I bought a Punch Bros CD based on artist reputation.

I hope all those Blue Chips help.

**Patrick Gunning** · Apr-05-2009, 9:42pm

Originally Posted by Mike Bunting

I wish everyone would slavishly follow Thile in his use of the metronome.

Preach it, brother!

Originally Posted by gregjones

I bought a Punch Bros CD based on artist reputation.

I hope all those Blue Chips help.

All the way through the Blind Leaving the Blind and nothing to enjoy? You need a couple more listens...

**gregjones** · Apr-05-2009, 10:01pm

Originally Posted by Patrick Gunning

All the way through the Blind Leaving the Blind and nothing to enjoy? You need a couple more listens...

Can't. It's in the Missouri River on the eastbound side of I90 at the Chamberlain, SD bridge.

I think Jorma Kaukonen's "Stars In My Crown" is in the westbound side.

I'm looking for somewhere to leave John McEuen's "Acoustic Traveller". I'm thinking the Snake River on I84 at the Idaho/Oregon line.

**Patrick Gunning** · Apr-05-2009, 10:03pm

While normally I would bemoan the destruction of music I consider good, that's just awesome...

LOL...

**Chris Biorkman** · Apr-05-2009, 10:52pm

Originally Posted by gregjones

Can't. It's in the Missouri River on the eastbound side of I90 at the Chamberlain, SD bridge.

I think Jorma Kaukonen's "Stars In My Crown" is in the westbound side.

I'm looking for somewhere to leave John McEuen's "Acoustic Traveller". I'm thinking the Snake River on I84 at the Idaho/Oregon line.

Haha. I remember doing that one time back when I was a freshman in college, much to the dismay of my friend who was enjoying the cd in the passenger seat. I think it was Alanis Morrisette, but I may be wrong.

**man dough nollij** · Apr-05-2009, 11:06pm

Yep, Alanis would make a fine little Frisbee...

**Ivan Kelsall** · Apr-06-2009, 12:01am

I thought that i was the ONLY one that ditched c****y CD's (c****y to me,that is) - nice to know i'm not alone. I don't usually junk 'em,i give them to folk i don't like, (only joking - really !),
Saska

**Chris Keth** · Apr-06-2009, 12:01am

Originally Posted by man dough nollij

Yep, Alanis would make a fine little Frisbee...

Yup. I bet the CD would fly OK, too.

**Youda** · Apr-06-2009, 8:39am

Originally Posted by Mike Bunting

I wish everyone would slavishly follow Thile in his use of the metronome.

Love it! Now, you all are just going to have to forgive me...but, I can't resist: do you know what kind of shoes Thile wears? Better go git 'sum!

**Tobin** · Apr-06-2009, 9:48am

Y'all are too funny!

In all seriousness, though, there's something to be said for product endorsements from professionals. Even if you don't like Thile's musical style (and hey, that's cool if you don't), you gotta admit the dude can wail on the mandolin like nobody's business. If he chooses a product like a certain pick or certain strings because he thinks it gives him better sound and playability, I think it says a lot. He's not just full of fluff. He knows what he's talking about.

And for folks like me who will never be half the player he is, I think it's a good thing to know what the pros recommend and what they use themselves. It's no different than a dentist recommending a certain brand of toothbrush and saying that's what he uses.

That's obviously different from what shoes he wears, which has nothing to do with how well his mandolin plays or sounds. I know what you're saying; some people will buy a certain product just to be "cool" like their musical icon. And that's silly. But when it comes to performance products, I don't see why there's so much sarcasm.

Heck, I bought a Wegen pick a while back based on the fact that Thile recommended it. And it did work out for me better than what I was using. His endorsement helped my playing, and that's a good thing. I later upgraded to a Blue Chip (it's good to know I was ahead of Thile on that one!

), and now it's nice to see that he likes it as well. I'm under no illusion that it will make me an instant Thilesque player, but hey, some of us need all the help we can get in our playing! So I for one am not ashamed to take his recommendations. If you guys think you can play better than him, then prove it to the rest of us and we'll be happy to give your recommendations a shot too!

I would think it's dumb to use a product JUST because a pro uses it. But listening to pro recommendations/endorsements as an avenue to trying new products to see if they work better than what one currently uses is a useful tool.

**chip** · Apr-06-2009, 9:55am

I wouldn't wear Hanes just because Michael Jordan endorses them, so why the Thile endorsement matters is beyond my thinking. These guys get paid, get free merchandise for these types of endorsements. That's why Gibson, Collings, etc. give free instruments to the high profile pro's so us in the trenches follow like lemmings. It would be a different if the high profile pro's actually went and bought something because they actually liked it and used it. IMO

**G. Fisher** · Apr-06-2009, 9:58am

Remember when Thile was playing Flat-top strings for awhile?

I got sucked in on that one.

Tried a friends Blue Chip. I don't get it.

**Tobin** · Apr-06-2009, 9:59am

It would be a different if the high profile pro's actually went and bought something because they actually liked it and used it.

But if Thile is using BC picks before offering his endorsement, doesn't that fit your criteria? I don't see why it matters if he paid for it or was given it for free. If he likes the darn thing and plays with it and considers it superior, what's the difference?