OK I pulled the rigger on a Blue Chip

**jim_n_virginia** · Jun-11-2009, 5:02pm

I sat long and thought hard looking at the web site before I put in my order for a Blue Chip pick via PayPal.

I can hear sgarrity and Bucket snickering already!

It was surprisingly easy once I decided to do it. One click and it was done! $35.00 plus $3.00 for shipping. Funny thing is it only cost 88 cents to send it.

Anyways I forgot I ordered it until I got it today. It came very quickly, just a day or two. As soon as I pulled it out of the package I wished I had gotten one a little bit thinner but oh well.

I went upstairs and pulled my mandolin out and first I played a few minutes with my old picks I use (cheapo's) and got the feel and sound firmly in my head.

THEN ... the moment of truth came. As I picked up the pick it felt strangely cool to the touch like some exotic alien material. LOL!

I don't know what I was expecting ... maybe to tremelo like the Dawg? Blaze on the strings like Thile?

Well I started slowly with scales and exercises and played a good selection of tunes that use all the sounds a mandolin canb make. Tremelo, chop, doublestops, fast riffs.

My conclusion? This is a nice pick ... the bevels make it a tiny bit easier to play. Just enough to be noticable. Also for such a slick and polished pick it is not slipperly at all.

Is it worth $38.00 dollars? I don't know yet but I will say that this is without a doubt THE most expensive pick I have ever bought and that is including two TS picks I bought years ago.

For the first time in my life I am seriously contemplating a little pick holder to put it in. Because I KNOW if I just stick it in between the strings and leave it in the case I might have it a week or two.

We have two gigs this weekend. An indoors gig at a church and then another at a big picnic outdoors.

Supposed to be hot this weekend too so I'll see how this pick holds up.

**Link** · Jun-11-2009, 5:08pm

When I read the title I was hoping you conducted an experiment to see how Blue Chips hold up to gunshots.

**jim_n_virginia** · Jun-11-2009, 5:10pm

Originally Posted by link

when i read the title i was hoping you conducted an experiment to see how blue chips hold up to gunshots.

heck no! Too expensive!!! Lol!

**Jeff May** · Jun-11-2009, 5:21pm

I had much the same experience. They're nice picks, and I like the tone I get with them, but I'm still not convinced I won't end up back with a regular old golden gate, or a wegen. I wish they made one a little more "roundish"; even the radiused one is a little pointy for me.

I'm sure you already know this, but they'll take it back and send you a different thickness, no questions. I sent one back to get a thicker one and it took less than a week to get from me to them and back again. Probably only take a couple of days from VA.

**gibson mandoman** · Jun-11-2009, 5:47pm

I bought a Blue Chip pick, and decided it was not for me. I was getting better tone from Dawg picks, Pro-Plec, etc. It was not worth the $38 I spent. So I contacted Matthew at Blue Chip and he refunded my $38 after I mailed the pick back to him. I was glad that he stood behind his product.

**Shawn Gambrel** · Jun-11-2009, 6:21pm

I have always been scared to buy a real expensive pick. I bought some golden gates and that was the most i was willing to pay for a pick. I used them for a while but tried a Dunlop tortex Triangle 1.0 mm and i pick faster and cleaner with it i just get a better tone with the Golden Gate.

**Mike Romkey** · Jun-11-2009, 7:23pm

I can say that I lose a lot fewer picks since I started using expensive ones. (G) When I bought my latest mandolin, the dealer was nice enough to throw in a few Blue Chips gratis. I started using one finally the other day. Not sure if I like it better than my Taterbug Special from Red Bear (that the right name?) but it's a mighty find plectrum.

**Mike Bromley** · Jun-11-2009, 7:52pm

A mighty fine plectrum indeed. Easy to hold on to. So far, Easy to keep too....

**sgarrity** · Jun-11-2009, 8:42pm

Hahahahaha.....I told you so!!

Which one did ya get? I've got a 50 I'll trade ya if you got the 60!

**jim_n_virginia** · Jun-11-2009, 8:48pm

Originally Posted by sgarrity

Hahahahaha.....I told you so!!

Which one did ya get? I've got a 50 I'll trade ya if you got the 60!

Naw thats what I have a 50 and it feels just a tiny bit stiff but I won't send it back I can play it. Even if I end up not liking it I'll still keep it and put it in my pick collection just to have one.

If I keep getting influenced by you Shaun next I'll be trading in my F style and getting an A style ... NOT! LOL!

**sgarrity** · Jun-11-2009, 8:49pm

Before ya know it Jim's gonna be pickin' on an A5 and riding a Harley!!

**300win** · Jun-11-2009, 9:04pm

To me they {Blue Chip} are the best pick I've ever had period. No way will I go back to turtle, or anything else I've used.

**WJF** · Jun-11-2009, 9:17pm

Finding the perfect pick is such a subjective, individual thing ... just like finding the one instrument that really 'speaks' to you. I just got my BlueChip picks today and they are hands down, far and away the best pick I've ever used or am likely to find in this lifetime! Yup ... they're expensive but for everything they've proven to be in just the short time I've had 'em, I pay twice the cost for them ... My search for the perfect pick is over and I'm a very happy camper!

**journeybear** · Jun-11-2009, 9:26pm

Originally Posted by jim_n_virginia

If I keep getting influenced by you Shaun next I'll be trading in my F style and getting an A style ... NOT! LOL!

Hey! You got a problem with A styles?

While I'm at it - don't be pulling on them riggers. That just ain't right. What'd they ever do to you?

...

Hey - Never mind all that. Good luck with it, and I hope it makes all the difference you'r hoping it will!

**Jim Kirkland** · Jun-11-2009, 11:59pm

Originally Posted by sgarrity

Before ya know it Jim's gonna be pickin' on an A5 and riding a Harley!!

What's wrong with a Harley and a nice A mando? My oval hole A fits in the hard saddle bag on the Harley.

**man dough nollij** · Jun-12-2009, 1:23am

Two-pointer on an Aprilia Falco for me.

**Rick Cadger** · Jun-12-2009, 9:18am

I was one of the early skeptics re. Blue Chip picks. When I heard the price I nearly split my sides.

I was wrong. I have had two Blue Chip picks and they are superb. To me they do feel quite different to anything else I've played (and I've gone through the same ridiculously large and varied inventory as most mando players, including Wegens etc), and as good as the best, if not better.

I am a very firmly convinced and converted Blue Chip supporter, and Matthew is a stand up fellow to do business with. Great service and customer care.

My Blue Chip experience has been overwhelmingly positive.

NFI.

**JeffD** · Jun-12-2009, 10:26am

I have a favorite diner here in NY. I have been going there for years and years. Like most eateries in NY they have Lotto, which, for those of you not from here, is a video instant lottery game.

I was in my favorite booth, with my TEOPTC (two eggs over potatoes toast and coffee), reading my Fretboard Journal, and there, two booths down were two little old ladies.

One of the women was constantly playing the lotto. I would say conservatively that she lost $30 or $40 dollars in the time it takes to eat lunch, and who knows how much before I got there. OK fine, I have no problem with that.

What got to me was when, after getting the check, she started a rant with her friend and the waitress on how exensive the cottaged cheese was.

Mandolin content: I really like my BC picks.

**Glassweb** · Jun-12-2009, 11:06am

Yup ... they're expensive but for everything they've proven to be in just the short time I've had 'em, I'd pay twice the cost for them...[/QUOTE]

YO! Hush up boy! Aren't they expensive enough for you already???

**sgarrity** · Jun-12-2009, 11:23am

Originally Posted by Jim Kirkland

What's wrong with a Harley and a nice A mando? My oval hole A fits in the hard saddle bag on the Harley.

Not a darn thing! That's why I have both.

**Steve G** · Jun-12-2009, 11:40am

I've still got my finger "on" the trigger. And even though I have a custom F5 I still love and play my A5 all the time.

**billkilpatrick** · Jun-12-2009, 12:06pm

Originally Posted by gibson mandoman

I bought a Blue Chip pick, and decided it was not for me. I was getting better tone from Dawg picks, Pro-Plec, etc. It was not worth the $38 I spent. So I contacted Matthew at Blue Chip and he refunded my $38 after I mailed the pick back to him. I was glad that he stood behind his product.

wow! ... matthew is a gentleman.

i'll have to wait till i get back to the states to buy one of these picks - i ordered a cafe cap in march ... still waiting.

**jim_n_virginia** · Jun-13-2009, 6:16am

Well went to a BG parking lot jam last night and then to a friends house for a jam session after everyone packed up because a lightning storm moved in and we jammed until almost midnight and I gotta say I like this pick.

I don't know if I like it $38 dollars worth ... yet. LOL!

I am amazed at how hard and polished this pick is and yet it seems to stick in your fingers pretty good.

The speed bevel DOES make a difference but I am still wondering if I coulda just filed speed bevels on my usual picks and got the same results. Maybe I will do it when I have some time.

Well the rest of the weekend will be the test for me. We have two gigs one indoors and one outdoors. It will be quite humid and warm Sunday at the outdoor event so I will probably be able to experience all types of picking in different environments.

One thing is for sure. Usually I just tuck a pick away anywhere when I am done, last night I was VERY, VERY conscience WHERE I put that high falooting pick! LOL!

I even opened up my case this morning to make sure I didn't leave it last night! LOL!

Oh yeah saw sgarrity's new Harley last night WOW! what a nice bike makes me want one BAD!!! LOL!

But you should have seen him scoot just as SOON as the first lightning flash was in the sky! LOL! YEAH most DEF don't wanna be caught oiut in a rainstorm with a mandolin in a gig bag on your back! LOL!

Shaun I thought you were coming back in your truck? What happened!

**300win** · Jun-13-2009, 6:26am

Jim, I'll say you find there is no differance in the stellar performance of the BC no matter the weather. I've had mine for my mando over a year now, and have played in climate controled pplaces, and in the humididty we always have this time of year, it still acts the same, good feel, great tone. As far as putting speed bevels on, I've got 2 very good tortise picks that I did that to, and since getting the Bc they just sit in the little ring box I have in my case where all the rest of my obsolete picks are, they were not as fast as the Bc, not to me anyways.