Who has thin bluechips?

[MontanaMatt]

I have been using a TAD 45 for a while now, having thinned down from TAD 50. I think I want to go thinner...do any of you use a TAD 40 or thinner? Does it remain stiff at the thinner gauges? I’m playing hard drivin bluegrass with a heavy handed technique.
Thanks for sharing your experiences.

[Jim Bevan]

I use a 40 for most of my electric mando playing, or a 35 if it's a funky, James Brown-ish groove I'm after. (I do prefer a 50 for acoustic, however.)

The thinner the pick, the less stiff it is, but I think my preferences are based on tone rather than how the pick feels.

[Jill McAuley]

I use a TPR35 and don't find that it flexes at all really - the main difference I find between it and heavier Blue Chips is the tone - if I use a TPR40 the tone is a bit warmer and fuller sounding with more volume, but I find that the TPR35 moves across the strings easier for me so I prefer it for that reason. FYI I also play Irish traditional music exclusively.

[Jim Bevan]

Jill was the one who turned me on to 35s in the first place.

[MontanaMatt]

I use a TPR35 and don't find that it flexes at all really - the main difference I find between it and heavier Blue Chips is the tone - if I use a TPR40 the tone is a bit warmer and fuller sounding with more volume, but I find that the TPR35 moves across the strings easier for me so I prefer it for that reason. FYI I also play Irish traditional music exclusively.

Speed is my concern. My band has been together for 15 years and we tend to pick the fast ones at warp speed. I’ve been getting thinner picks as we get faster. My thin Red Bear pick get soft from hand heat, and the synthetic materials (non BC) have the plastic click. I’m hoping that the thin BC will still have the BC properties that I love in the 45TAD...
I’m considering getting a 40 and a 35 then returning the one that doesn’t suit my need. Guess I just gotta take the leap.

[Eric Platt]

Have mainly used the TPD 40 since they were first available. Originally on guitar, then on mandolin when I got serious about it. Still my go to pick. Recently started using a TD 35 on some mandolins. A bit brighter, but don't notice any more flexibility.

Still have a TPD 50 sitting around that occasionally gets used, but it's too thick and dark for my tastes.

FYI, playing Scandinavian, Upper Midwest, and now Quebec music. Not bluegrass or ITM.

[yankees1]

I have a BC 35 as recommended by Jill McCauley ! Love it on some songs but also use a tad 45 and less often a 55. 35 really shines for those triplets and when you want to play faster/quicker.

[pops1]

When I used BC picks I started thicker, then ended up with a 35. I liked the sound way more, especially on the G string. I now use a Wegen 100 that I thinned down even more for better sound. It all depends on the sound of your mandolin how thin/thick your pick needs to be. I never felt using a thinner pick was faster. I play for square dances and some of the tempos are fast, never had a problem with a BC60 or 35 keeping up.

[ToneDeaf]

I switch between a TD35 and TD40 on acoustic guitar depending on my mood and feel at the time. I also use the 40 sometimes on oval hole mandolins. I don't notice any compromise in stiffness compared to the 50 or 60 when playing with the 40 but maybe just a little on the 35, just a difference in tone and picking effort compared to the 50 or 60 I usuallly use on mandolin.

[foldedpath]

I've used a TAD40-1R for several years now on mandolin, octave mandolin, and steel string acoustic guitar. No flex at all. I play Scottish, Irish, and related traditional music, and anything thicker doesn't work for me with treble ornaments. I like the way the same "mandolin" pick can work well on acoustic guitar.

I should probably try a 35 thickness, I've just never gotten around to it.

[Gary Leonard]

Trying to get a 35 in the TPR or TAD shape. I only see a TD 35, and I would like a larger pick than the regular guitar shape.

[MontanaMatt]

Trying to get a 35 in the TPR or TAD shape. I only see a TD 35, and I would like a larger pick than the regular guitar shape.

Recently I inquired at bluechip and was told that they can and will make custom thicknesses in finer than 5mil steps, so not seeing it on their site is not a limitation.

[V70416]

Never used one thinner than a 50.

Will BC make a pick shaped like a Wegen? I need to give them a call.

[T.D.Nydn]

I play hardcore bluegrass on a F5 with med./ hvy. strings,,I've tried everything,have a pick collection going back over 50 years,,,the beSt pick ever is the BC jazz LG 35...thin,very stiff,brings out the best tone..

[Jim Garber]

I use TAD40 for acoustic guitar. This replaced countless numbers of similar shaped and thickness Ultem picks which wore out from my heavy-handed rhythm playing. I used to use small Jazz 35 for mandolin and still lean toward that pointier and lighter for classical playing but generally now use TP50 for most mandolin playing.

[Sperry]

I use the TP40 and like its pointy tip. Soon I'll add a TP45.

[MontanaMatt]

I just ordered the tad 40, I'll report my experience soon. I was going to get thinner, but they won't accept returns on custom, and everything under 40 is custom.

[LadysSolo]

I Like TD 35 or TD 40 for mandolin and guitar, I play folk and classical mostly, but some bluegrass and Celtic music. I prefer the thinner picks in general.

[Jill McAuley]

Trying to get a 35 in the TPR or TAD shape. I only see a TD 35, and I would like a larger pick than the regular guitar shape.

I'm pretty sure when I ordered my TPR35 I emailed them and asked if they could do a 35 in that shape and it was no problem - I think they had me place the order for a TPR40 but put a request for it to be a 35 as a note with the order. I also picked up a couple of second hand TPR35's that were made for Carter Vintage Guitars and are stamped with that on one side.

[John Bertotti]

I went the other direction but most don't like a pointy pick I have a couple TP1R 40 and 60 but I also have the BC Jazz LG 60. I find the pointy fatter pick gives some of the attack and brightness the thinner picks give but still has some of the fullness of the thicker picks. The thing is most people don't like the pointy picks on mandolin becasue if you dig to deep it the tip can get hung up and a lot of people like rounder for how they glide across the strings. All personal preference. I like all my BC for different reasons and for switching up fun.

[mandroid]

My thin picks are Fender heavy 346 shape the blue chips are thicker , Dawg a bit thicker yet.

[Rob Roy]

I'm interested to hear that people are using thinner picks on mandolin. It took me a long time to come around to using big triangle, thicker picks for mandolin, but it improved my playing rapidly. I currently use a CT-55 or smooth Primetone 1.4 pretty much interchangeably. It seems I get a louder sound with less effort with thicker picks. Also, the physics of pushing a pick through doubled courses at high tension dictates that a thicker pick will carry more momentum and require less muscle to get the job done. For me, the speed bevel is also a real benefit for playing fast. Matt, I'm sorry I didn't catch this thread until after you ordered. I have a TAD 3R - 40 I got years ago when I first venture in BC territory, I'd have mailed it to you- haven't touched it in several years.

For guitar, I do use a TAD 40 1R when playing rhythm for jigs and reels. It has just the right amount of give and string noise for fast rhythm (similar to what I was getting from Clayton acetyls) but of course doesn't wear out at all. Ahh picks… the experiment continues.

[lflngpicker]

I have a BC 35 as recommended by Jill McCauley ! Love it on some songs but also use a tad 45 and less often a 55. 35 really shines for those triplets and when you want to play faster/quicker.

yankees1: I would like to ask for the sake of my own consideration: Do you get the speed bevel or the round? I was thinking the rounded may be more usable on all corners, as needed?

[Jill McAuley]

yankees1: I would like to ask for the sake of my own consideration: Do you get the speed bevel or the round? I was thinking the rounded may be more usable on all corners, as needed?

For meself, I always get the speed bevel, I did buy one BlueChip with the rounded bevel and wasn't really happy with it, felt a little clunky and not as fast as the speed bevel to me.

[John Bertotti]

I have never tried a speed bevel but I don’t have any issue with the normal BC edge. I mentioned in another thread I always used thick picks, 2-3 mm or more. But going to BC I didn’t need them that thick. It seems for me it was more
About rigidity, like Jill mentions they just don’t seem to flex and it seems after some consideration and grabbing old picks and trying, it is the flex I don’t like. With the BC I like thicker not so much for the tone but for the feel because I got used to holding a thicker pick the 40 feels insignificant and the 60 more comfortable to grip. So it isn’t all about thickness it is also material flex tip shape and feel that make
These picks so good.

- - - Updated - - -

I have never tried a speed bevel but I don’t have any issue with the normal BC edge. I mentioned in another thread I always used thick picks, 2-3 mm or more. But going to BC I didn’t need them that thick. It seems for me it was more
About rigidity, like Jill mentions they just don’t seem to flex and it seems after some consideration and grabbing old picks and trying, it is the flex I don’t like. With the BC I like thicker not so much for the tone but for the feel because I got used to holding a thicker pick the 40 feels insignificant and the 60 more comfortable to grip. So it isn’t all about thickness it is also material flex tip shape and feel that make
These picks so good.