Pick preference, tips and tricks

[shortymack]

Thanks for the prompt replies everyone! I am going to have to give a Blue Chip a try. I am partial to the the triangular shape...
it's between a TAD-50 3R, or a CT55 for me?

Anyone have any input on differences or preferences between these two similar picks. I am only buying one for now since they are not the cheapest picks.

Thanks

The differences are: 3R = all rounded points, CT has sharper points. Along with being the slightly thicker pick, the CT55 also has a more pronounced bevel that the regular BC speed bevels. So it boils down to point preference, thickness and bevel. FWIW the CT55 is my go to as I prefer a pointier pick and really like the tone from it.

[Cecily_Mandoliner]

After one full year of playing the mandolin (Yay! ), I have found some picks I really enjoy using. My teacher gave me a Wegen (don't know anything about it other than it has beveled edges and equal sides). I'm not used to it, yet. But, I found a Pro Plec and a Golden Gate, and I like them both! they stay put and sound very nice.
I also purchased a pick labeled as "tortisshell," and that has a nice ring like nothing else.
It sure is fun trying new things.

[bigskygirl]

I have a BC TAD50-1R and really like it for the mandolin. I go back and forth with edge preference, some days I like the rounded corner and other times the pointy one. It is pricey but I'd say worth it, I'm not gonna have a bag of them but I'll probably get a few more before I leave this planet.

That said, I absolutely do not like the BC on the guitar, isn't that funny how much difference it makes. For the guitar I use whatever pick doesn't produce pick noise, right now I'm using a Tortex yellow one and I have a few green ones around here somewhere.

I have used the stubbies and really like them too.

[dmcginnis]

Has anyone tried the Chris Thile blue chip pick?

[Mike Crocker]

I've spent the better part of the last year testing a variety of picks, except the Blue Chip. I just haven't got around to ordering one yet. I've tried all the usual suspects mentioned in this thread (V-Picks, Gravity, Wegen, Red Bear, Tusq, D'Andrea), and a few others, and have been very impressed with the John Pearse Studio Flatpicks, which I think were originally recommended by Uwe Kruger (The Kruger Brothers). The same shape is available as their Fast Turtle pick in a different material. I like the asymmetrical shape a lot for both guitar and mandolin.

http://www.jpstrings.com/brpicks.htm

However, my old standby 3 corner 1mm Dunlop Ultex is still in regular use on mandolin. Mine have holes drilled in them (I used a Wegen as a template) to help with grip as I used to have nerve issues with my right hand.

The wild card in all this has been an unlikely one for me and one that may well lead me to the Blue Chip, the Dunlop Americana, the rounder/smaller/thinner one of the 2 that appear to be available. I tried the other Americana and disliked it.

All this has made me pay a lot more attention to my right hand technique.

[AlanN]

Has anyone tried the Chris Thile blue chip pick?

If you mean the CT55, there are post loads about it, just search.

And 3 posts above your question in this very thread mentions it...

[mandocrucian]

[Jim Garber]

Back at ya, Niles...