Bought my first BC

[kurth83]

I have been playing on a primetone 1.4 triangle, love triangles, and love how easily the primetone glides over the strings, but wanted something a little darker.

Actually, it was that John Grisman video a while back that got me dissatisfied with my current tone, his was so dark and wonderful, and mine was bright and tinny by comparison, I had to have it (I wants it, its my birthday, or it will be soon enough)...

I tried the jazz mando proplec for a while, it had the tone, but did not glide over the strings without effort, so I ditched it.

AFAIK the main diff between the proplec and the PT is the bevel and the material. PT is speed bevel and a really smooth material (meaning bright and easy to play), PP is round bevel and a grippier material (meaning darker and more effort to play).

So I figured I would try basically a proplec-shape in a BC, since BC is supposed to be the smoothest material of anything out there.

So I ordered the TP-60 and the TAD-80 in round bevel, figured I could try the different triangle sizes and the different thicknesses without losing too much cash or abusing their return policy.

And, drum roll, the TP-60 is the clear winner, like the slightly smaller size, like the tone, like the glide. I could wish for darker, but it gets me mostly there and plays very smoothly and easily. Basically it feels like the primetone, with darker tone.

The TAD-80, being thicker, had a little too much drag for my taste, the even darker tone was nice, but it made me work too hard for it, so I'll be playing the TP-60 for now.

So should I buy one more as a backup? I still have my first primetone from two years back, all the lettering is worn off, but it still plays fine. But I still remember the week I lost it, and played on its brother in the 3-pack until I found it again...

So now I have two identical feeling picks, one that is brighter, useful in acoustic jams, and one darker, better for the pickup and the mics.

And so ends yet another BC post. :-)

[Ivan Kelsall]

Quote from above - "...but wanted something a little darker." Do you mean 'less bright' ?. If so,almost any thicker pick (2.0mm), with a smooth,rounded bevel will give you that, ie. Golden Gate / Dawg picks - although it usually comes at the expense of volume,
Ivan

[Johnny60]

TP60 has been my pick of choice for the last 8 months or so (normal tips, not rounded) but the Prime Tone 1.5 large brown triangle is a very close second. I used the PT exclusively for around 2 years before trying out a TP60. It's difficult to describe tone in words, but I find that the Prime Tone gives a really punchy and authoritative tone, whereas the TP60 has all that but just adds a fraction more warmth and has a little more musicality going on.

Slightly more pick noise with the Prime Tone, but it's not a problem.

I love how the BC is really grippy in the hand, but just glides through the strings.

They're both great picks - so much so that I'll still use the Prime Tone in circumstances where it's possible to lose the BC (eg a room or stage with gaps in the floorboards).

[CES]

I have a BC in almost all of my acoustic cases. CT 55 for mando, TaD 40 for guitar. If I ever lost one I'd not be happy with that circumstance, but would snag one from another case. I keep a Wegen or Primetone in the cases as backups, or if I want a brighter tone. Been using my Wegen 140 on my MT a lot lately, for some reason.

The Primetones are good picks, but I tried them after I had a BC, and have never bonded with them because of the string drag. The Wegens seem to glide just a bit better, though still not as smoothly as the BC. If BC wasn't an option, I'd play Wegen with Primetone as backup...at least based on my current mood

[Br1ck]

It's hard to evaluate a pick that costs as much as a BC on it's own merits. I have one that lives with my Silverangel but Wegens are in every other case. I really like the Dipper, lighter for guitar, up to 1.8 for mandolin.

The BC is definitely a good pick.

[MediumMando5722]

I flop back and forth between the TAD60 and CT55. I want a TAD50 or 48 for guitar.

If the Primetone 1.4mm triangle with grip was less bright, I could use it exclusively. If the Wegen TF140 was just a little brighter, I could use it exclusively. My mood changes constantly, so I'm glad they all sound like they do. For what it's worth, I'm on vacation and couldn't live without 2 BCs, a Proplec, a Dawg, a V-Pick, Fender Heavy, buffalo horn triangle, Dunlop 207, 208, Gator Grip, Primetone 1.4 & 1.5, Golden Gate, a TJs, and a Red Bear Big Picker.