NPD - Honk Honk!!!

**Dan in NH** · Feb-02-2023, 7:28pm

New Pick Day!

A while ago I bought a Blue Chip pick, a TAD-60. But lately I've been using Dunlop Primetone 1.5 Large Triangles. and I'm starting to think I like those better than my expensive Blue Chip.

But I ordered some new picks, and they arrived today - Golden Gate X-Stiff Large Triangle Clown Confetti, or as the internet calls them Clown Barf.

They feel really good in the hand, and glide over the strings.

I'll post again when I've had a chance to try them with several different instruments.

**tmsweeney** · Feb-03-2023, 6:04am

I haven't used the clown barf but I actually have been preferring the prime tone over the BC lately, inf fact I kind of forgot about my BC and found it in my octave case at a jam the other night, I am using it again but, can't beat a prime tone sometimes.

**John Soper** · Feb-03-2023, 10:57am

If I'm going to a large jam, especially if it's outdoors, I take my extra stiff Clown Barf large triangles - much easier than a an unmentionable natural product, Blue Chip or ToneSlab to find if they drop, no biggie if they are loaned out and somebody doesn't return them, and they sound pretty good for the $$.

**milli857** · Feb-03-2023, 11:02am

I like the sound of Golden Gate picks but they always slip out of my fingers. I prefer Wegen for that reason, and because they're still not too expense. Maybe i should try drilling a few holes through the middle of some golden gates, Wegen style.

**Dan in NH** · Feb-03-2023, 11:15am

My Blue Chip was $35, closer to $50 after engraving & shipping.

Primetones are $9.00 for 3, or $3.00 each.

The Clown Barf were $18.00 for 12, or $1.50 each, half the cost of the Primetones.

**TarHeelPicker** · Feb-04-2023, 12:29am

I'm on a similar pick comparison kick. Right now my Blue Chip CT55 feels the best, but I ordered some heavier Primatones and some Dunlop Stubbies to compare. I've already compared the Blue Chip against some of my old picks with the caveat that most are standard guitar pick shaped. The CT55 beat out the following:

V-Pick Tradition
Graph-Tech Tusq
Iron Age 3mm
Dunlop Ultex Triangle

**HCooke** · Feb-04-2023, 4:32pm

I have been using the large triangle Primetone picks for several years. Prefer the smooth ones to the sculpted.

**Dave Hanson** · Feb-05-2023, 3:17am

I haven't tried another pick since I discovered Golden Gates, although I have a boxfull.

Dave H

**Eric Platt** · Feb-05-2023, 8:49am

I like the Golden Gate for practicing at home. Am more than slightly surprised at the difference in sound between one of those and a Fender 346 Extra Heavy.

For performances or band practice have fallen back to using a Blue Chip 40.

**Dan in NH** · Feb-11-2023, 11:40am

Man, these Clown Barfs are awesome. They just glide over the strings. No pick click at all.

They have a nice edge to them. I mean "edge" in a "knife" sense, not a "stand up comic who's trying to hard" sense. It feels like a table knife, beveled but not sharpened if that makes sense. That really helps the picks in their clean & tonefull attack.

Is tonefull a word? I guess it is. Now.

My Blue Chip is supposedly "speed beveled." I don't know what that's suppose to mean. I just know that I haven't touched my Primetones or my Blue Chip since I got these Golden Gates.

Does anyone know, the other non-clown-related Golden Gate picks, the white, black, ivoroid, pearloid, and tortoise, do they all have the same feel as the Clown Confetti?

I'll be sticking with my Clown Barf X-Stiff Large Triangle for the foreseeable future.

$18.00 for a bag of 12 on Amazon. Drop shipped form China, I think, so delivery takes FOR EVER (that's what 12 days feels like to a Prime subscriber). And cheaper than Primetones (although Primetones are nice, my second favorite probably, and easier to source).

Highly recommended

EDIT: Well, I just checked Amazon and the Golden Gate picks have SKYROCKETED in price. Now $27 for a bag of 12. That's puts them on par with Primetones, price wise.

Well, I play with them for the tone, not the price. Oh well.

**milli857** · Feb-11-2023, 2:07pm

Originally Posted by Dan in NH

Well, I just checked Amazon and the Golden Gate picks have SKYROCKETED in price. Now $27 for a bag of 12. That's puts them on par with Primetones, price wise.

Well, I play with them for the tone, not the price. Oh well.

Strings by Mail has them cheaper than Amazon with reasonably fast shipping. Not the Clown Barf color though.
https://www.stringsbymail.com/golden...ick-16087.html

**Kenny** · Feb-11-2023, 8:11pm

I bought a few Golden Gate Stiff and X-Stiff clown barf picks a few months ago and I must say that I am pleased with them. I keep my Dawg picks nearby along with my Primetones and I switch around among them but the clown barf has been a pleasant surprise. Take my endorsement at face value: I’ve been playing mandolin a year-and-a-half, now.