Blue Chip - tried to debunk, failed

TimmyO · November 2017

I set out to prove to myself that they were an expensive indulgence that make no difference.

I couldn't.

TD-50 ftw

VimFuego · November 2017

I'm hoping at some point to AB a bluechip and a wegen. However, having tried yours, I am sold on blue chip.

mgaw · November 2017

the best no question, tried the lot and now have 4 bluechips of different sizes for guitar and mandolin,

jellyroll · November 2017

I'm still on the fence. Ordered a TD60 and TD80 as they're the closest in thickness to my Wegens. Turns out they're nothing like Wegens (as you know) and I'm wondering whether a thinner Blue Chip might be better for what Blue Chips are good at. So, thinner ones are on their way. It's amazing how they attract almost universally positive reviews online. I'm hoping I can join that band but so far I don't really "get" them.

Lewy · November 2017

I love them, my main one is a TAD-1R 60. I like the Wegen bluegrass picks too. I find that a BC 50 gauge has roughly the same brightness as a Wegen, even though the Wegen is thicker.

RandallFlagg · November 2017

I've never tried one, where do you get them here in the UK and how long do the last?

Lewy · November 2017

RandallFlagg said:

I've never tried one, where do you get them here in the UK and how long do the last?

Got my first one five or so years ago and it’s still going strong. Uk dealer is JP Guitars, or you can order direct from the US.

Other pricey picks that I think are worthy of consideration are Charmed Life. They do a tortoiseshell-alike pick (“n” series) that is very impressive, and also some in a material they say is the same as BCs but which I’ve never tried.

Pricey picks I haven’t got on with - Red Bear (overly bright) and Wolfram which may work on electric but on acoustic if you don’t hit the string with the bevel at exactly the right angle, the sharp edges of the bevel give you a really waspish scratchy tone.

RandallFlagg · November 2017

Thanks, I might have to try one

Lewy · November 2017

RandallFlagg said:

Thanks, I might have to try one

I recommend the ones that have two pointed corners and one round because there’s a very big difference in sound between the two corner shapes.

jellyroll · November 2017

Also, if you like thicker picks, a shout out for Wegen. Sold by Clifford Essex or email Michel Wegen via the Wegen website (I’ve had picks from him from Netherlands within 48 hours). He has a lot of different models, so some trial and error required.

CloudNine · November 2017

They are great, and I have never seen wear of any sort on them. At the minute, my feeling is that they would go 10yrs plus of daily use with no wear. Maybe more though. When you realise how much the material they are made from (Vespal) costs, then the price does not seen so obscene.

BigLicks67 · November 2017

It would be nice if local music shops stocked them and you could go in and try a few rather than the lottery of an online purchase.
@cloudnine do you mean Vespel?

CloudNine · November 2017

BigLicks67 said:

It would be nice if local music shops stocked them and you could go in and try a few rather than the lottery of an online purchase.
@cloudnine do you mean Vespel?

Thought it was Vespal, will need to check.

TimmyO · November 2017

Just looked it up - to buy 10" x 10" x 60/1000" (a representative bluechip pick thickness) costs $1132 for the material

VimFuego · November 2017

it is made from purest unobtainium. To get even one sheet, you have to sit through all of Avatar.

jellyroll · November 2017

Look what's just arrived at work....

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/aisuqslpgkhqnl6/AADCKxlEKHi8D41AMzHpHsrua?dl=0

jellyroll · November 2017

(Photo links...aaargh!)

TimmyO · November 2017

that's probably a private ink rather than a public one

jellyroll · November 2017

Sorry, I tried to make it public. Anyway, it's a TD35, TD40 and TD50...

CloudNine · November 2017

I use the TD35. But with the round bevel, as not as keen on the speed bevel.

Bridgehouse · November 2017

I've had Wegen picks for a while - their mandolin ones are superb, and I really like dealing with The man himself

TimmyO · November 2017

jellyroll said:

Sorry, I tried to make it public. Anyway, it's a TD35, TD40 and TD50...

you've probably made the image itself public, but need to provide a public link too

TimmyO · November 2017

I really like the TD-50

Thick enough to sound beefy, and a pointed enough tip to sound defined.

I have a TAD-1R 60 too - the non-rounded corners are a bit blunt and remove that definition that I like

I think the thing that really works for me with these is that they are nice and thick and stiff so you can hold them lightly for strumming and still get a full sound, but they aren't anything like as dull sounding as most similarly thick/heavy picks.

jellyroll · November 2017

Bridgehouse said:

I've had Wegen picks for a while - their mandolin ones are superb, and I really like dealing with The man himself

Only dealt with him once but he was super efficient. In fairness, so are Clifford Essex (his UK dealer) but they don't carry (or advertise online) his full range.

Bridgehouse · November 2017

jellyroll said:

Bridgehouse said:

I've had Wegen picks for a while - their mandolin ones are superb, and I really like dealing with The man himself

Only dealt with him once but he was super efficient. In fairness, so are Clifford Essex (his UK dealer) but they don't carry (or advertise online) his full range.

And Michael will custom make to your spec as well

jellyroll · November 2017

Bridgehouse said:

jellyroll said:

Bridgehouse said:

I've had Wegen picks for a while - their mandolin ones are superb, and I really like dealing with The man himself

Only dealt with him once but he was super efficient. In fairness, so are Clifford Essex (his UK dealer) but they don't carry (or advertise online) his full range.

And Michael will custom make to your spec as well

It's Michel actually

jellyroll · November 2017

CloudNine said:

I use the TD35. But with the round bevel, as not as keen on the speed bevel.

These came from JP's website. I didn't specify and they all do have the speed bevel. Looking at the 35, I'm surprised the bevel is so defined - I was thinking that the relative thinness of the 35 would make the bevel inconsequential but it looks like it will have quite an impact. Anyway, I'll find out tonight....

jellyroll · November 2017

TimmyO said:

I think the thing that really works for me with these is that they are nice and thick and stiff so you can hold them lightly for strumming and still get a full sound, but they aren't anything like as dull sounding as most similarly thick/heavy picks.

They're certainly "different" in feel to regular picks. At the moment, I feel as though I'm missing the chunkiness of the Wegen when I use the BC. The Wegen doesn't have that dullness you describe (if anything, it's tending towards overly bright). I'm conscious of the BC's 98% approval rating, so I need to persevere....

CloudNine · November 2017

The round bevel is a special order, so would need to mail him and get it added to the next shipment, so would be a couple of weeks wait. Hopefully you will like the speed bevel. Most people seem to.

I had a few Wegens and A/B'd with the Blue Chips, and wasn't even close for me personally. The Wegens had much more unwanted noise and a bit of a roughness against the strings, whereas the BC's seem to glide across more. Possibly as the material is supposedly self lubricating, not that I know how that really works... I didn't use the Wegens much, so no idea how quickly they wear in comparison to Blue Chips.

jhumber · November 2017

Over the past 5-6 years I've been through them all, and for me Blue Chips are the clear winner in terms of tone, feel and certainly durability. However, I got tired of being hit with import duty and the overall cost, so went looking for alternatives closer to home. Six months ago I tried Hawk Picks, and have settled on the Tonebird 7 as a replacement for the Jazz 50 bluechip (https://hawkpicks.co.uk/product/tonebird7 vs http://shop.bluechippick.net/products/Jazz50.html). The Hawks don't last as long as the BCs, but they sound and feel similar, and are noticably more durable than the other alternatives I've tried; Red Bear, V-pick, Gravity, ChickenPicks). Honourable mention goes to Wolfram too, I really like their picks but they haven't yet released one in jazz-size.

TL;DR: I'm good with Hawk picks for now. No affiliation with the company, but I do dig that they're in the UK.

BigLicks67 · November 2017

I tend to use Jim Dunlop Jazztone 206 picks for single line stuff, how do these compare to stuff like Blue Chip?

Howdy, Stranger!

Categories

In this Discussion

Become a Subscriber!

Blue Chip - tried to debunk, failed

Comments