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Post by gsans on Feb 24, 2024 12:54:22 GMT
Thanks for all the interesting and informative replies. I currently use Dunlop 500 1.2mm and 1.5mm most of the time which are very cheap but sound reasonable I think. I've also tried a Hawk pick and a Primetone but neither suit me well. I think I will start with a Blue Chip at some point in the next month or so and if that's not the bees knees then at least I know I've tried one and work my way down the list you all have provided. £40 + £2.25 postage here from JP Guitars. linkIf it helps, it seems like the most similar Blue Chips to your Dunlop 500 picks are the TD60 (1.524mm), and then either the TD50 (1.27mm) or TD45 (1.143mm). I found that even though I changed to a Blue Chip of the exact same size/thickness/shape as my cheap picks, I still ended up getting a tone I'm happier with. So those might be a good starting point. Hope you find something that works for you Phil! You do sound great on those Dunlops in your videos! |
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Post by curmudgeon on Feb 24, 2024 13:03:58 GMT
BUM ! I just wrote a LOOONG answer to Forest dweller, about how to choose a BC pick and was researching my facts -and lost it!
Deep breath -start again !
Almost all picks have thickness measured in millimetres. BC measure in decimals of inches. As the BC market is usuall more experienced players the thinnest they offer is 1 m/m (40/1000" - eg "40").
They do 40 =1 m/m 50 1.25 m/m, 60 1.5m/m, 80 - 2m/m etc.
They do various shapes - my first was my first large triangle - known internationally as 346 - BC call it TAD.
346/TAD shapes have definite advantages over 351/teardrop/ shapes :
1. they are easier to hold
2. there is more mass
3. the "points are more like 60 degrees that 351s - more acute
4. you get three points instead of one!!!
You need to specify the speed bevel (which is a very important aspect) - as long ago implemented by Wegen, and since copied by Dunlop on their "Primetone" copies of Blue Chips. I play right handed and order RH speed
bevel.
BCs are made of a composite material by Dupont called Vespal designed for low/no maintenance, minimal wear/ self lubricating applications, thus ideal for picks as - they NEVER wear out.
Hope that helps.
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Phil Taylor
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Post by Phil Taylor on Feb 24, 2024 22:21:15 GMT
BUM ! I just wrote a LOOONG answer to Forest dweller, about how to choose a BC pick and was researching my facts -and lost it! Deep breath -start again ! Almost all picks have thickness measured in millimetres. BC measure in decimals of inches. As the BC market is usuall more experienced players the thinnest they offer is 1 m/m (40/1000" - eg "40"). They do 40 =1 m/m 50 1.25 m/m, 60 1.5m/m, 80 - 2m/m etc. They do various shapes - my first was my first large triangle - known internationally as 346 - BC call it TAD. 346/TAD shapes have definite advantages over 351/teardrop/ shapes : 1. they are easier to hold 2. there is more mass 3. the "points are more like 60 degrees that 351s - more acute 4. you get three points instead of one!!! You need to specify the speed bevel (which is a very important aspect) - as long ago implemented by Wegen, and since copied by Dunlop on their "Primetone" copies of Blue Chips. I play right handed and order RH speed bevel. BCs are made of a composite material by Dupont called Vespal designed for low/no maintenance, minimal wear/ self lubricating applications, thus ideal for picks as - they NEVER wear out. Hope that helps. Thanks for the info. The JP Guitars website for BC picks gives the thickness is mm as well. |
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Post by jonte on Feb 25, 2024 8:45:46 GMT
Thanks for the info. The JP Guitars website for BC picks gives the thickness is mm as well.[/quote]
JP Guitars are great, no problems with sending anything back, for the cost of postage. I ordered a Blue Chip thumb pick and couldn't return it fast enough tbh. The length of the blade was too long (I ordered the shortest blade) and I couldn't lose the scraping sound on the strings.
I sent it back for a refund and went straight back to my trustee Dunlop tortoiseshell or Black Mountain.
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Post by forestdweller on Feb 25, 2024 10:47:08 GMT
BUM ! I just wrote a LOOONG answer to Forest dweller, about how to choose a BC pick and was researching my facts -and lost it! Deep breath -start again ! Almost all picks have thickness measured in millimetres. BC measure in decimals of inches. As the BC market is usuall more experienced players the thinnest they offer is 1 m/m (40/1000" - eg "40"). They do 40 =1 m/m 50 1.25 m/m, 60 1.5m/m, 80 - 2m/m etc. They do various shapes - my first was my first large triangle - known internationally as 346 - BC call it TAD. 346/TAD shapes have definite advantages over 351/teardrop/ shapes : 1. they are easier to hold 2. there is more mass 3. the "points are more like 60 degrees that 351s - more acute 4. you get three points instead of one!!! You need to specify the speed bevel (which is a very important aspect) - as long ago implemented by Wegen, and since copied by Dunlop on their "Primetone" copies of Blue Chips. I play right handed and order RH speed bevel. BCs are made of a composite material by Dupont called Vespal designed for low/no maintenance, minimal wear/ self lubricating applications, thus ideal for picks as - they NEVER wear out. Hope that helps. Wow, thank you, that's very informative. Looking at JP's website I think the TAD 50 with the one rounded point and a speed bevel looks about the most flexible for me. I like a more rounded point (like on my Red Bear) as I say for slow tunes to create a more darker sound: www.jp-guitars.co.uk/sales/strings_and_picks/blue_chip/tad50-1r.htmRobbie |
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Phil Taylor
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Post by Phil Taylor on Apr 26, 2024 12:20:20 GMT
Just ordered a Blue Chip TP50 - £42.55 Inc postage  It's got a RH speed bevel so I'll probably be able to play faster as well  Phil |
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Post by martinrowe on Apr 26, 2024 13:01:16 GMT
How much!  pwh, should've bought a Wegen. |
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Post by robmc on Apr 26, 2024 13:22:02 GMT
Just ordered a Blue Chip TP50 - £42.55 Inc postage It's got a RH speed bevel so I'll probably be able to play faster as well Phil yes, but has it got satnav? |
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Post by Onechordtrick on Apr 26, 2024 13:44:54 GMT
Just ordered a Blue Chip TP50 - £42.55 Inc postage It's got a RH speed bevel so I'll probably be able to play faster as well Phil yes, but has it got satnav? Wouldn’t concern me if it didn’t. At that price I’d expect it to drive me home whilst I snoozed in the back. It can navigate however it likes. |
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Phil Taylor
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Post by Phil Taylor on Apr 26, 2024 14:53:45 GMT
How much! pwh, should've bought a Wegen. I know. I must be mad but it's FOMO innit. Fear of missing out. I wonder if I can bring myself to admit it if I think its a con  Phil |
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Post by curmudgeon on May 2, 2024 21:36:34 GMT
I'd recommend that you buy a couple of Wegens too. Great picks. I prefer my Bluechips for my 6 string flat tops but my Wegens (TF120/140) for 12 strings and archtops.
With my CMC joint issues, I've found that thicker picks hurt my picking thumb less - so perhaps a couple more TAD60s and maybe a couple of TAD 40s for sale.
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Post by malcolm on May 3, 2024 14:29:59 GMT
I'd recommend that you buy a couple of Wegens too. Great picks. I prefer my Bluechips for my 6 string flat tops but my Wegens (TF120/140) for 12 strings and archtops. With my CMC joint issues, I've found that thicker picks hurt my picking thumb less - so perhaps a couple more TAD60s and maybe a couple of TAD 40s for sale. I agree, Wegens are excellent picks. |
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Phil Taylor
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Post by Phil Taylor on May 3, 2024 19:22:47 GMT
Well it came. I ordered the TP50 which is 1.25mm thick. The first thing I noticed was this type of plastic felt a lot better to hold and not at all slippy like my Dunlops and others I've used. I don't feel as though I'm going to drop it like I usually do plus the larger size probably helps slightly.
So far so good I thought then I realised the sound was too thin for my taste so I sent it back (1st class signed for £3.05) for the next thickness up which is the TP60. I received it back quickly at no cost to me and it's a lot better.
I've used it a bit now and I can honestly say that I really like it and it will (hopefully) be the only one I use from now on. Is it worth the money? Well only time will tell but at this moment I still feel like it's too much money but I had to find out. I currently play more with a pick than finger style so it made sense to try one.
Cheers
Phil
Ps Jon at JP Guitars gives a good service.
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Post by stuart on May 9, 2024 22:16:26 GMT
Blue Chips are made of unobtanium. They add that extra 73% to your sound.
If the expense is a problem then consider the plight of a violinist pondering a 10k bow.
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Post by Mike Fowler on May 10, 2024 8:28:47 GMT
Wow. The last time I bought a plectrum was well over 20 years ago. I think it was about 50 pence. I have developed a trapped nerve, I think in my neck, from too intensive playing whilst recording over the last few months, which has rendered the ring finger and little finger in my right hand which is my picking hand, totally numb.
However my thumb index and middle fingers work fine. So I've been thinking about playing with the plectrum again. Had no idea they were so expensive, or that there was such a difference between them. I think I've got some, somewhere, been in a bag for years at the back of a drawer. I remember back in the 80s I used to go mental over these little black ones, Eros I think they're called, that allowed me to play electric faster than any other plectrums.
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