I'm a Primetone user now. I like that I can have a thin 1mm, a thick 2mm and a mix of thicknesses in-between in a couple of different shapes. Lets me get a mixture of tones from the guitar.
Totally agree! I switched between 1.3 and 1.5 standard for a week, finally settling on the 1.3mm. I love the tone it gets out of my mandolin, and it doesn't cost an arm and a leg... 🙂
Also not the end of the world when you lose it I pictured it cost $30 that’s ridiculous bluegrass musicians are supposed to be blue collar we can’t afford that I know we can’t
I have 4 different Blue Chips and have settled on the TP40 and 48 as my favorites. Never go back to standard picks. They glide across the strings and seem to show zero signs of wear. They also grip extremely well. I never drop them.
Y'all sounded good with all three picks. The differences were subtle, but I thought the Blue Chip sounded the best. You were pulling a lot of tone out of the guitar and mandolin with the Blue Chips.
I use Primetone due to the price. Sent Bluechip back. Thought Primetone was very similar for fraction of the cost. I also like the texture so it doesn’t slip as much. What are your thoughts considering the price
@@banjo1434 I like the shiny with the raised logo due to better grip. I read it’s the same material even though they look different. I like the 1.4 triangle
We are definitely fans of the Primetones, especially for the money, but we feel the tone isn't quite the same as the BlueChip. We actually compared them in this Blind Pick Challenge: ruclips.net/video/y5cvblZo4Sg/видео.html
@@martind-1876 I have the Matt one. I think I'd prefer yours. Mine has a clammy finish. Btw, I switched to tortex flex .88s big triangles and like them a lot.
To me, the ToneSlab and the BlueChip sounded very similar. So, as a novice player, I would go with the less maintenance of the BlueChip. Thanks for posting this!
Tortoise shell was outlawed in 1977 from the international CITES agreement. The Tone Slab 1.3mm which measures .053" is actually a 1.35 mm. A 1.4mm measures exactly .055" such as the CT55 and the TAD-3R-55. The Tone Slab 1.3mm in pointed or rounded corners naturally sounds brighter than the B.C. 55 either the pointed corners (CT55) or the rounded corners (TAD-3R-55) mostly due to the fact that the material is thinner (.053" vs .055"). For my ear, the B.C. has a more natural (non plastic) organic tone more pleasing to listen to..The Tone Slab also has more of the annoying pick attack hitting the strings sound than the B.C. A better comparison for tone would have been to have B.C. make a TAD53 (.053" thick) and a TAD-3R-53 (.053" thick) which I believe would have the similar clarity and brightness to the 1.3mm Tone Slabs but with the B.C. material (Vespel) more natural organic sounding tone with minimal pick attack sound.
I have V-Picks (clangy on the strings) Primetone (I like they go thinner for faster strumming) Bluechip TP35 (Great for picking or slower strums, but I find it’s not for heavy handed strumming) My go to lately has been Dunlop Flex Orange (It’s that cross between Tortex and nylon, sounds good to me, but I always struggle strumming with thick picks so that’s why I tend to like the dunlops
I prefer the Blue Chip pick. As you guys stated, real TS is just too much maintenance. I do like the Tone Slab picks but they do require some maintenance, not as much as TS, but I hear a little too much pick clack when I play mine. The Blue Chip, to my ear, just sounds more balanced and doesn’t wear down much. Thank you John and Jeremy for another fun video!
I have 2 blue chip and the FS tone slab I play an Eastman E20 TC and Martin 000-28 EC and for me the tone slab produces the best tones on both my guitars. I haven’t had the tone slab long enough to have wear . The blue chips I have had over 15 years so they hold up very good .
I've got both...each has their place according to the tone you want and the instrument you are playing. For me...the Blue Chip is the winner for my instruments.
I've never seriously considered coughing up $45ish for a pick, but y'all have me really thinking about it. For whatever it's worth, .053" = 1.3462mm. I think that's close enough to 1.3, considering how small 0.0462mm is.
Hi brother, iin 50 years of buying or making picks, there is an empty cocoa can full of everything imaginable. For the last eight or so years my only pick choices to buy are Blue Chip and turtle shell .
After a couple of years on primetones I settled on Dunlop tortex flex.88. Big white triangles. Best I've found for me so far. I used to use the big purple tortex 1.14 triangles and put on my own bevels with sandpaper, but I've become a fan of the Flex 88s. I'd need a steep payrise to justify these things.
The primetones and the tortex are some of the best picks I've found. I can't decide which is better. The tortex brings some things out I like that the primetone doesn't but the primetones feel better to me and feel better against the strings.
@stuco which primetone? The ones I have are quite sticky and very grippy, but to be honest I don't think it's necessary. If I've warmed up, the pick won't slip. I have heard the glossy version is much better.
@@banjo1434 I have been using the .73 that have the built in grip texture and the .88 in the primetones. The best tortex I've found for me is the yellow one. I need to try the flex, didn't know about those.
@stuco for me the big triangle is the main thing. I've used nothing else for many years now. The .88 ,flex suits me well. Shame the turtle picture wears off so fast. I do the Warming Up routine by Brandon Acker here on RUclips . Five Mins every day and no pick slips anymore. It wasn't the picks that were slippery it was my fingers. 😅
yeah, the price tag seems extravagant BUT consider the lifespan AND the QUALITY of the sound along with performance level compared to plastic or casein.
I have both the BlueChip and ToneSlab. I prefer to using Blue Chip with some guitars and the ToneSlab with some guitars. I do prefer PrimeTone grip pick on mandolin. It does subdue my mandolins just enough that I prefer it. I have one pick that sounds perfect on one of my guitars and I have no idea what it is. I've worn the details off of it. I've spent some money trying to find one that will match it. It just sounds perfect with one of instruments. You can taylor you pick to your guitar. Different guitars need different picks. At least that is my penny. Thanks for sharing! Sounds great and I definitely agree with you.
I really like my Blue Chip pick. I like the Red Bear but have to get used to the stiffness. It is very different in tone and feel. Have you tried Charmed Life Picks? Very very similar to Blue Chip with a couple slightly different pick shapes. I really like them too. Right there with BC. I try to stick to .90-1.20 mm thickness. I'm not a virtuoso, lol. Plunk plunk plunk....
I like buffalo horn picks. I hsve one old tortise pick left. It is one of my favorites ,but nuances of sound changes with all of the varying factors involved. Bridge and saddle material,bridge pins and guage,and materials used in strings. Set up and action. Tone woods ,and even torrifaction. I have found out what works for me by trial and error.
If ToneSlab or Acoustic Shoppe happens to read this. I have like 4 different BlueChips. Love them. I couldn't take not trying a ToneSlab. I bought a tweener, same shape and size as my TP1R BlueChip. There is a little difference between the tone of the two. I was having a little issue with my attack on the strings with the TS. I noticed looking at them both close that the BC had more bevel angle than the TS. So I worked one of the three corners down and tried to match the BC bevel. After I did It worked so much better for me and still sounded great. So, maybe they need to think about putting more bevel on their picks. I have a Thile 55, which has a little different bevel also I think. So I guess it depends on what pick your used to playing. Just a thought, and info for others. When I starting filing I was surprised to find it was a little tougher than I expected it to be.
Pick sound basically comes down to physics: stiffness, sharp vs rounded edge, etc. The stiffer and rounder the pick, the more fundamental of the string you're going to hear and less of the pick sound. I've always been a player who wants as much individual note clarity as possible. This comes down to the quality of the guitar, the string model and gauge (mediums emphasize fundamentals more than lighter gauge), the pick, where on the strings one picks, and the angle of attack. Honestly, if you have a crap guitar and are just an amateur strummer, a $40 pick isn't worth your investment unless you really plan on using it to replace all the other picks you'd ever buy (and are careful not to ever lose it!). If you want to try a stiff pick on the cheap, try the Dunlop Prime Tone. HISTORY: I've been playing a Blue Chip for a few years now (TD45; just happened to be what was available; I'd really like to try more models and thicknesses). Prior to that, I used standard picks, mostly Dunlop Tortex, and always the rounded edge. WHAT'S GOOD: As mentioned: more fundamental, less pick sound. And zero wear and tear (maybe over a LONG period of time). Not mentioned: these grip MUCH better than a cheap pick when sweaty. As long as the pick and fingers are clean and free of oil, they won't slip out of your hand if you get sweaty. WHAT'S BAD: the shit brown color. Good luck finding it if you drop one. If these had any kind of bright color, they'd be much easier to spot. The only time I generally don't want a stiff pick is playing my 12-string, where I usually want to hear more overtones and more pick sound.
In my opinion just as important as the guitar. I own both but prefer my blue chip. Tone slab is great but a tad bright. But my main guitar is a maple back and sides.
I just bought today prior this episode a few picks from The Acoustic Shoppe online LOL. As still a beginner I went for the BlueChip TD35 and the Primetone 510P (both standard teardrops). I find picks very fun to experiment with since you can get very noticeable different tones without having to change strings or the whole guitar. After the program definitely I'll be considering trying a ToneSlab : )
I have a few gift cards from my local music shop. By rights I should cash one or two in and get a Blue Chip CT55. I am a hobby mando picker, but it might sound better than the cheap plastic Dunlop I use now, huh??
Robert, it will make you play and sound better. I gave one to a mandolin player I knew from Tennessee. Lot of talent in this guy. He took it and thanked me and ran like a bandit before I would change my mind !!!
I've been using a Blue Chip CT 55 for years now. At a venue another guitar player used it and asked me about it, he felt it was of a superior quality. I offered him the pick and ordered a new one ASAP. I have now the TAD60 and the CT55, somehow still prefer the latter. With the shipping they're expensive, but worth every penny! I keep an eye on them and somehow never lose them! (unlike other picks 😀)
Have you tried the I-Tone pick from Shawn Lane? It has a real nice feel against the strings. I think I hear a bit more pick noise vs. the blue chip but it doesn't come out in a recording so maybe it is all in my mind, hahaha. Still using the BC but this is a nice backup pick
I've played Blue Chip (TAD 40), Charmed Life (casein), Primetone, Dunlop Tortex, Gravity (nylon), and Wegen (Trimus 250) picks. I actually prefer the Wegen picks. Their textured dimples provide a great grip and the beveling retains the low tones but brightens up the trebles. Blue Chip's are great picks, but to me, they take away some of the overtones. Not such a sacrifice for bluegrass, but a detriment if you want the richness of the overtones. An interesting note is the material that Blue Chip uses is also used in the aerospace industry. I will say that picks do make a difference in the tone you get while playing. It's a good thing to experiment and discover which sound you prefer. Also, what's good for bluegrass may not be good for jazz or folk or contemporary music styles. Heck, what's good for your Taylor may not work for your Martin or Gibson either.
Hi I probably missed it but what model guitar was featured in this video, great content as always and I’m trying to figure out how many tone slabs I’m putting on my order.
Coming back to pick playing after a few years. I'm up for the blue chip. I used to play a .8 Jim Dunlop, the grey ones. What blue chip would correspond in terms of flex ? Not many music stores where I live...
I bought both the Blue Chip and the Tone Slab from Chapman's right after I saw the video. I had known about Blue Chips but always balked at the price. However, I realized that I spend thousands on pedals, amps, guitars, etc, chasing tone, and that $40 is pretty cheap by comparison. Now the verdict... well its a work in progress. At first I was underwhelmed by both picks, and still preferred my go to pick which is a 2.8mm DawMan Shredline pick. At about $5, they are a bargain and have great tone. Unfortunately, I don't see them available on their website and the owner hasn't responded to my inquiries. The other picks I like are Wegen picks, both the 3.5 Gypsy and the Bluegrass pick, both considerably cheaper than these premium picks are. After I played them a little more, I definitely prefer the Tone Slab over the Blue Chip for bluegrass. It has a brighter maybe more fuller tone. Not quite as bright as my Dawman, but pretty close. I need to play it more to see which I might prefer. I thought the Blue Chip was less bright, with maybe a bit warmer tone. I'm thinking I might like it more for playing blues, sort of like people who prefer Humbuckers over single coils for a fatter tone. I also haven't tried either one for electric guitar and look forward to that, also. Anyway, great video and thanks for the picks!
$45 bucks....at least you can make 4 easy payments on them on your site, ha ha. I get it's only 45 bucks, and they are indeed better, but for the worlds smallest piece of plastic, we can all agree there's some silly marketing and price gouging. Nice work Dunlop for offering a reasonable price option...
I’m really surprised that no one is mentioning Clayton picks in these comments. In my experience the 1.26 white triangles, 1.20 Ultem triangles and 1.26 Black Raven triangles(which I think now are no longer in production)are superior in tone compared to the Dunlop Tortex Flex 1.14 triangle that Carl Miner uses and at $35 for a 72-pack are bargain. They remind me of Toneslabs in that they have more sizzle than a Bluechip and I also prefer them to Dunlop Primetone.
I'm considering a TS after seeing this, but I measured my CT-55 at 1.4mm. Is that what you're using on mando, Jem? They're out of the 1.3mm at the store, in any case!
I'd be happy to sound as good as you guys with the Duralin. I couldn't hear much of a diff(Laptop speakers) but I do like my bluechip. I think I'll stay with that, (and my golden Gate clown barf) FYI, I only see tear drop (and a rounded corner jazz pick) in the toneslabs. are you not carrying that anymore?
We are keeping all of their options in stock, some just run out of stock quicker than we can get them in! 😅We actually just got in a shipment from them this week and they should be on our website soon, if you're looking for a specific size, give us a call and we can check if it was on this order over the phone!
We all want high definition tone, do you ever think like taking movies from 1080p to 8K that in all that high definition we loose the magic of what made movies and music? I can only imagine back in the day when a band recorded with one mic vs today an arsenal of mics, did the one mic band care about picks, strings? Drum heads? Etc….
Otis Gibbs has a RUclips channel where he talks talks to different musicians, turns out that some didn't care, but guitar players were ways tinkering with their gear.
We're all going high def with video but low def listening through just the TV speakers or tablet speakers I'm listening through now. Quite the juxtaposition amongst so called audiophiles.
I've used V picks for a long time, love the clarity of the tone from the V picks and they last forever too,, I have a blue chip but it sounds dull compared to the v pick
I got a BlueChip when I bought my Boucher and have been amazed by both. Besides the fact that they will last longer than 40 $1 chips, the tone and feel is great. As far as the cost is concerned, my thinking is I could pay $6001 for a guitar and pick, or I could pay $6040 dollars for a guitar and pick.
My favorite is what’s wrong with 40$? Oh probably spent it all on that 7000$ Bourgeois. Lol. No kidding the 1.2 toneslab I think gives you everything like the warmth of a Bluechip but still gives the attack to. I love the tick attack cause you only hear that on a really good responsive guitar.
I really like my yellow Tone Slab, also have a couple of Blue Chips which I also like. I prefer the feel and sound. Of the Tone Slab so what do you guys use to polish and maintain your TS picks?
Soooo with the discussion of Picks ,,, Let me ask this question ! If a Acoustic Guitar is made with AAA+ Rosewood,, AA Anarondack spruce top , Bracing from Sitka Spruce, 4" sound hole , Mahogany Neck , Ebony Fret board and Bridge , 1" 11/16th nut width , Bone Nut and saddle ,,, and the Craftmanship and joints are flawless ,,, Why is one $1000.00 and one is $ 10,000.00 ? Is it simply that $.50 cent Label on the Headstock ?
I love blue chips but I do kill them in like 4 months TD 40 speed bevel, even after like 2 months that tip is getting a little rounded. I like the primetones too, but I kill those in a few days... So the blue chips might actually be cheaper for me in the long run
They’d cut picture frames, mirrors, whatever for tortoise shell picks OR get them from China and pretend they were recycled. Blue Chip made tortoise shell obsolete. I have a bunch of tortoise and BC and I play primetone most of the time. Anxious to try the TS.
I don't know what the guys at the Acoustic Shop use, but I've used one of those triangular nail boards for manicuring fingernails. There are 3 different grits, which makes it pretty easy to remove the scratches, and then progress to buffing a smooth finish on the pick. And they're a very inexpensive way to maintain your pick.
I have a nice collection of shell picks, I love them! But! I’m a Blue Chip believer, yes they are expensive, so are divorces, but they are both worth the money!😂
If you really want to hear the difference between these picks you will have to get yourself a McIntosh tube amplifier ($10k) and I'll have to source you some quality vacuum tubes, a PS Audio preamp (for $8k); a Mark Levinson turntable (10k) with a Graham Phantom tone arm ($7k), which matches nicely with this turntable; a Clearaudio Stradivaria cartridge ($4k); a pair of German Physiks loudspeakers ($20k +). And don't skimp on speaker wire, your audio is only as good as it's weakest link... you'll need Mercury liquid metal squirrel-cage coaxial speaker cable ($50/ft) and some interconnects - I recommend the Cardis Beyond Clear ($4k). Oh, sorry... but I forgot you will need a separate electrical line and filter for the cleanest electrical signal that won't degrade or limit your whole system! I'll have my team come and assess your audio room, by doing an acoustic audio sweep, to make sure there are no sonic abnormalities (every room has them). Ha, Ha, Ha... I used to sell high-end audio in Cambridge - it's a never ending search for the best. What headphones were you using to critique these picks? Can I sell you some Stax electrostatic headphones ($6k) - they have been considered the standard for decades.
And just me personally ! After picking all my life ,,, I bet there's probably 300 picks in my house ! One thing , no one mentioned ,,,, every song ,,, every mood or every setting does not call for the same pick ! If I'm at a outdoor session , playing Bluegrass , I want a textured sorta thin , but stiff pick , but if I'm at a Funeral , or Wedding , or Church , i'll go with a thicker , softer material to get that muffled , soft , lonesome sound ! I Play a lot ,,, and different settings require different sounds ,,, so I'll just throw a half dozen down for the whole set ! Picks to a Guitar player are sorta like , Nails to a Carpenter ,,,, One nail for framing aint gonna get it to do the trim work !
Ok,,, Here's a different Look at the question ! I Been Picking for 45+ yrs ,, every string instrument in Bluegrass ! And I'm a big advocate for American Made , which " Blue Chips are made in Tenn. ! But just for conversation & with Inflation,, a descent D'Addario Pick will cost you $1.00 ? ,,, That's 1 dollar ! Or a Blue Chip will cost $45.00 ? Does that Blue chip make you Play at Least 450 % Better ? Faster, Clearer , Longer ? And isn't that the bottom Line ? Can your Listener's hear and Know , what kind of pick your Using , whether it's a dollar or $45.00 ? And are they Listening to the Pick or performer ? Is Joe Bonamassa lesser of a Performer , Does the Advertisement for that Showing say ,,, Coming Live Friday night ,,, Joe Bonamassa and his guitar shredding " Blue Chip" Pick ? Or Have we Gone sooo far out of reality , trying to Keep up and be " The Jones' " That we've Lost sight in the Race ? And we'll advertise and brag and spend trying our absolute hardest to get that " 1937 HISTORIC MARTIN D-28" sound and then , throw that in the toilet for the " Newest, Most expensive , space age , CNC milled, Proprietary,,,,,,, BS" ! It's sorta Like a " Yeti " Cooler Costing $ 649.00 or a " Igloo" Cooler costing $ 64.00 ,,,and their selling point is , it will keep Ice for 4 weeks " ? Soooo unless you live 400 miles into The Sahara Desert ,, Do I need a Blue Chip , Guitar Pick , to keep my Drink Cold ? And if I do ,,, Should I start selling , Capo's for $ 3800.00 & Strings for $4150.00 , Because " IF" you really really listen ,,, Is it Live or is it Memorex ?
Excellent comment!! Too many gear snobs. A great player will sound good on any well set up and strung instrument! Who in the audience can hear a difference between a 1959 Les Paul and a new Epiphone? Everything is processed through pedals, effects anyway. Picks do help a cheap mandolin sound better. But,$35 for a pick is crazy for the hobbiest .
Another way to look at it: the Blue Chip is about 1 percent or even less the price of a great acoustic guitar. If one spends all that money on said guitar what is another 40 bucks?
Lmao, this really needed to be said. If I hadn’t watched the video, I’d still be perfectly happy with my box of cheap pics. Uhhhmmmm, I still am. There are videos out there of people with tons of viewers who are manipulating markets, because THEY say it’s the best or a really good buy. Can you play some music with it, are you happy with it? Why pay more!
@@kevintaylor5079 Gear snobs or tone aficianados? It's one thing to be a mediocre player with a lower end guitar and spent the extra money believing it's going to help. It's another thing to want the best tone you can achieve. I hear the 450% argument all the time applied to cars, watches, tools, etc. Sometimes getting 25% better performance is going to cost a lot more than 25% compared to your baseline. For me, I can hear the difference, and the el cheapo freebie picks at Guitar Center just don't cut it. YMMV.
@@markinmemphis That comparison is like saying, it's ok ,,that toilet paper , in your $250,000.00 , should be $25.00 a roll , just because your house cost that much ! or that it's ok for gas in your car to be $30.00 a gal.
I once cut a pick shape out of a red solo cup to play a guitar with 5 rusty strings and no high E string at a bon fire. So I may be the wrong person to ask about bougie picks. Lol.
I’m thinking the only way I could keep from losing a $40 pick is to drop it down the sound hole and dump it out every practice session. Labor intensive.
You guys are scaring me! I used to pay less than a dollar for a cup coffee (now $5) and $3 for a beer (now $10). Because the specialty coffee and microbrew industries created these new upscale niches - even the cheap drinks are expensive now! We have been conditioned to spend a lot more for things that were considered cheap. Well, I think I'll just have a water, thank you.... oh that will be $5 sir.
I'm a Primetone user now. I like that I can have a thin 1mm, a thick 2mm and a mix of thicknesses in-between in a couple of different shapes. Lets me get a mixture of tones from the guitar.
Totally agree! I switched between 1.3 and 1.5 standard for a week, finally settling on the 1.3mm. I love the tone it gets out of my mandolin, and it doesn't cost an arm and a leg... 🙂
Also not the end of the world when you lose it I pictured it cost $30 that’s ridiculous bluegrass musicians are supposed to be blue collar we can’t afford that I know we can’t
I think Primetones are the closest thing to the BlueChips. I have several of those also and like them.
I have 4 different Blue Chips and have settled on the TP40 and 48 as my favorites. Never go back to standard picks. They glide across the strings and seem to show zero signs of wear. They also grip extremely well. I never drop them.
My Blue Chip TP 48 is my go to pick. I have a couple of them.
I honestly could hear the ToneSlab hitting the strings more than the BlueChip, so for me, I think I'm going to go with the BlueChip. Thanks guys!
I think that “pick tic” sounds good and percussive. More like a shell and not plastic sounding
I'm team Blue-chip, love the longevity of the pick and the tone is far superior than the toneslab.
Y'all sounded good with all three picks. The differences were subtle, but I thought the Blue Chip sounded the best. You were pulling a lot of tone out of the guitar and mandolin with the Blue Chips.
I’ve been using the same bluechip pick for four years. It’s one of the rare hyped gear things that isn’t snake oil.
I use Primetone due to the price. Sent Bluechip back. Thought Primetone was very similar for fraction of the cost. I also like the texture so it doesn’t slip as much. What are your thoughts considering the price
Are you using the shiny finish or the Matt?
@@banjo1434 I like the shiny with the raised logo due to better grip. I read it’s the same material even though they look different. I like the 1.4 triangle
We are definitely fans of the Primetones, especially for the money, but we feel the tone isn't quite the same as the BlueChip. We actually compared them in this Blind Pick Challenge: ruclips.net/video/y5cvblZo4Sg/видео.html
@@martind-1876 I have the Matt one. I think I'd prefer yours. Mine has a clammy finish.
Btw, I switched to tortex flex .88s big triangles and like them a lot.
One of the best things about the blue chip for me is it doesn’t get slick and slippery even you play for extended periods… it’s magical
Blue Chip for me. I’ve had one for several years now and it never wears out…..and it’s the only one I’ve been able to hang onto while playing.
I have a TAD 1R I have used for 10 years and I love it, no wear at all. I also have a TAD 60 Ilike for heavy picking. George in Montana
To me, the ToneSlab and the BlueChip sounded very similar. So, as a novice player, I would go with the less maintenance of the BlueChip. Thanks for posting this!
Tortoise shell was outlawed in 1977 from the international CITES agreement. The Tone Slab 1.3mm which measures .053" is actually a 1.35 mm. A 1.4mm measures exactly .055" such as the CT55 and the TAD-3R-55. The Tone Slab 1.3mm in pointed or rounded corners naturally sounds brighter than the B.C. 55 either the pointed corners (CT55) or the rounded corners (TAD-3R-55) mostly due to the fact that the material is thinner (.053" vs .055"). For my ear, the B.C. has a more natural (non plastic) organic tone more pleasing to listen to..The Tone Slab also has more of the annoying pick attack hitting the strings sound than the B.C. A better comparison for tone would have been to have B.C. make a TAD53 (.053" thick) and a TAD-3R-53 (.053" thick) which I believe would have the similar clarity and brightness to the 1.3mm Tone Slabs but with the B.C. material (Vespel) more natural organic sounding tone with minimal pick attack sound.
I have V-Picks (clangy on the strings) Primetone (I like they go thinner for faster strumming) Bluechip TP35 (Great for picking or slower strums, but I find it’s not for heavy handed strumming)
My go to lately has been Dunlop Flex Orange (It’s that cross between Tortex and nylon, sounds good to me, but I always struggle strumming with thick picks so that’s why I tend to like the dunlops
I use the V pick freakishly large Pearly gates on my mandolin. Love it.
I prefer the Blue Chip pick. As you guys stated, real TS is just too much maintenance. I do like the Tone Slab picks but they do require some maintenance, not as much as TS, but I hear a little too much pick clack when I play mine. The Blue Chip, to my ear, just sounds more balanced and doesn’t wear down much. Thank you John and Jeremy for another fun video!
Nothing but blue chip for me.
I have 2 blue chip and the FS tone slab I play an Eastman E20 TC and Martin 000-28 EC and for me the tone slab produces the best tones on both my guitars. I haven’t had the tone slab long enough to have wear . The blue chips I have had over 15 years so they hold up very good .
I just got a CT 55 for my Mandolin and it is worth every penny. Thank you so much for the recommendation guys.
Nice, glad you're liking it!
I've got both...each has their place according to the tone you want and the instrument you are playing. For me...the Blue Chip is the winner for my instruments.
Great pick demo!!
I'm Team TS. FS13 is my new go-to pick for flatpicking.
This video came at a great time haha. I've seriously been considering getting a ToneSlab pick to use along with my Blue Chip. Thanks for the review!
Do it!
I've never seriously considered coughing up $45ish for a pick, but y'all have me really thinking about it.
For whatever it's worth, .053" = 1.3462mm. I think that's close enough to 1.3, considering how small 0.0462mm is.
Just got a blue chip and it’s great. Wasn’t expecting it to be so good. Actually hoping it was no big deal but it is better.
Hi brother, iin 50 years of buying or making picks, there is an empty cocoa can full of everything imaginable. For the last eight or so years my only pick choices to buy are Blue Chip and turtle shell .
After a couple of years on primetones I settled on Dunlop tortex flex.88. Big white triangles.
Best I've found for me so far.
I used to use the big purple tortex 1.14 triangles and put on my own bevels with sandpaper, but I've become a fan of the Flex 88s.
I'd need a steep payrise to justify these things.
The primetones and the tortex are some of the best picks I've found. I can't decide which is better. The tortex brings some things out I like that the primetone doesn't but the primetones feel better to me and feel better against the strings.
@stuco which primetone? The ones I have are quite sticky and very grippy, but to be honest I don't think it's necessary. If I've warmed up, the pick won't slip. I have heard the glossy version is much better.
@@banjo1434 I have been using the .73 that have the built in grip texture and the .88 in the primetones. The best tortex I've found for me is the yellow one. I need to try the flex, didn't know about those.
@stuco for me the big triangle is the main thing. I've used nothing else for many years now. The .88 ,flex suits me well. Shame the turtle picture wears off so fast.
I do the Warming Up routine by Brandon Acker here on RUclips . Five Mins every day and no pick slips anymore.
It wasn't the picks that were slippery it was my fingers. 😅
yeah, the price tag seems extravagant BUT consider the lifespan AND the QUALITY of the sound along with performance level compared to plastic or casein.
I have both the BlueChip and ToneSlab. I prefer to using Blue Chip with some guitars and the ToneSlab with some guitars. I do prefer PrimeTone grip pick on mandolin. It does subdue my mandolins just enough that I prefer it. I have one pick that sounds perfect on one of my guitars and I have no idea what it is. I've worn the details off of it. I've spent some money trying to find one that will match it. It just sounds perfect with one of instruments. You can taylor you pick to your guitar. Different guitars need different picks. At least that is my penny. Thanks for sharing! Sounds great and I definitely agree with you.
I own both toneslab and blue chip picks. I like both, but the toneslab has a sticker feel that is easier to hold on to
I really like my Blue Chip pick. I like the Red Bear but have to get used to the stiffness. It is very different in tone and feel. Have you tried Charmed Life Picks? Very very similar to Blue Chip with a couple slightly different pick shapes. I really like them too. Right there with BC. I try to stick to .90-1.20 mm thickness. I'm not a virtuoso, lol. Plunk plunk plunk....
The material and beveled edges on the Blue Chip pick produces a wonderful acoustic tone that I haven't found with any other pick.
I like buffalo horn picks. I hsve one old tortise pick left. It is one of my favorites ,but nuances of sound changes with all of the varying factors involved. Bridge and saddle material,bridge pins and guage,and materials used in strings. Set up and action. Tone woods ,and even torrifaction. I have found out what works for me by trial and error.
If ToneSlab or Acoustic Shoppe happens to read this. I have like 4 different BlueChips. Love them. I couldn't take not trying a ToneSlab. I bought a tweener, same shape and size as my TP1R BlueChip. There is a little difference between the tone of the two. I was having a little issue with my attack on the strings with the TS. I noticed looking at them both close that the BC had more bevel angle than the TS. So I worked one of the three corners down and tried to match the BC bevel. After I did It worked so much better for me and still sounded great. So, maybe they need to think about putting more bevel on their picks. I have a Thile 55, which has a little different bevel also I think. So I guess it depends on what pick your used to playing. Just a thought, and info for others. When I starting filing I was surprised to find it was a little tougher than I expected it to be.
Pick sound basically comes down to physics: stiffness, sharp vs rounded edge, etc. The stiffer and rounder the pick, the more fundamental of the string you're going to hear and less of the pick sound. I've always been a player who wants as much individual note clarity as possible. This comes down to the quality of the guitar, the string model and gauge (mediums emphasize fundamentals more than lighter gauge), the pick, where on the strings one picks, and the angle of attack. Honestly, if you have a crap guitar and are just an amateur strummer, a $40 pick isn't worth your investment unless you really plan on using it to replace all the other picks you'd ever buy (and are careful not to ever lose it!).
If you want to try a stiff pick on the cheap, try the Dunlop Prime Tone.
HISTORY: I've been playing a Blue Chip for a few years now (TD45; just happened to be what was available; I'd really like to try more models and thicknesses). Prior to that, I used standard picks, mostly Dunlop Tortex, and always the rounded edge.
WHAT'S GOOD:
As mentioned: more fundamental, less pick sound. And zero wear and tear (maybe over a LONG period of time).
Not mentioned: these grip MUCH better than a cheap pick when sweaty. As long as the pick and fingers are clean and free of oil, they won't slip out of your hand if you get sweaty.
WHAT'S BAD: the shit brown color. Good luck finding it if you drop one. If these had any kind of bright color, they'd be much easier to spot.
The only time I generally don't want a stiff pick is playing my 12-string, where I usually want to hear more overtones and more pick sound.
We agree with a lot of what you said! The Prime Tones are a great pick just to try on a budget, they are definitely our number one in that category!
In my opinion just as important as the guitar. I own both but prefer my blue chip. Tone slab is great but a tad bright. But my main guitar is a maple back and sides.
I make my picks from the toenails of Chuck Norris, superior tone.
I just bought today prior this episode a few picks from The Acoustic Shoppe online LOL. As still a beginner I went for the BlueChip TD35 and the Primetone 510P (both standard teardrops). I find picks very fun to experiment with since you can get very noticeable different tones without having to change strings or the whole guitar. After the program definitely I'll be considering trying a ToneSlab : )
Thanks so much for shopping with us, what a coincidence!
Getting a variety of, or a few quality picks is worth the investment imho. Great topic for a video. Liked and subscribed. Thanks guys!
Very informative. I learned a lot here. 👍
The thing that I like abut the Blue chip is does not move around in my fingers, wants to stay where I put it!
Yep…same here!
That's a good point!
What about the D'Addario casein pick in comparison to these?
We did use that pick in our Blind Pick Challenge: ruclips.net/video/y5cvblZo4Sg/видео.html
I tried em all and stick with the Blue Chip. Pro tip: Have your phone number printed on it. Mine has been returned twice because of this.
I have a few gift cards from my local music shop. By rights I should cash one or two in and get a Blue Chip CT55. I am a hobby mando picker, but it might sound better than the cheap plastic Dunlop I use now, huh??
Robert, it will make you play and sound better. I gave one to a mandolin player I knew from Tennessee. Lot of talent in this guy. He took it and thanked me and ran like a bandit before I would change my mind !!!
Get one you won’t regret it.
Blue chip for mandolin all the way!
Wish I had the ears to tell the difference 30 years of artillery ears the bugles still ring keep up the great work
Charmed Life Picks offers Vespel, Casein, and a few other materials.
I prefer the punch of the Blue Chip on the mandolin and the guitar. Just a matter of subjective preference.
You two are both wonderful players!
I’m using Gravity Gold standard and Wegan Bluegrass for dreadnaughts- dark and bright
Dunlop primetone and ultex.
Ultex is indeed superior to any other "disposable" pick!
I've been using a Blue Chip CT 55 for years now. At a venue another guitar player used it and asked me about it, he felt it was of a superior quality. I offered him the pick and ordered a new one ASAP. I have now the TAD60 and the CT55, somehow still prefer the latter. With the shipping they're expensive, but worth every penny!
I keep an eye on them and somehow never lose them! (unlike other picks 😀)
Have you tried the I-Tone pick from Shawn Lane? It has a real nice feel against the strings. I think I hear a bit more pick noise vs. the blue chip but it doesn't come out in a recording so maybe it is all in my mind, hahaha. Still using the BC but this is a nice backup pick
We have tried it, it's actually in our Blind Pick Challenge: ruclips.net/video/y5cvblZo4Sg/видео.html&lc=UgyGxIF4JWmdkTjMJ-p4AaABAg
I've played Blue Chip (TAD 40), Charmed Life (casein), Primetone, Dunlop Tortex, Gravity (nylon), and Wegen (Trimus 250) picks. I actually prefer the Wegen picks. Their textured dimples provide a great grip and the beveling retains the low tones but brightens up the trebles. Blue Chip's are great picks, but to me, they take away some of the overtones. Not such a sacrifice for bluegrass, but a detriment if you want the richness of the overtones. An interesting note is the material that Blue Chip uses is also used in the aerospace industry. I will say that picks do make a difference in the tone you get while playing. It's a good thing to experiment and discover which sound you prefer. Also, what's good for bluegrass may not be good for jazz or folk or contemporary music styles. Heck, what's good for your Taylor may not work for your Martin or Gibson either.
Hi I probably missed it but what model guitar was featured in this video, great content as always and I’m trying to figure out how many tone slabs I’m putting on my order.
John is featuring his Bourgeois LS Dread with Madagascar Rosewood, thanks for watching and for the feedback!
Coming back to pick playing after a few years. I'm up for the blue chip. I used to play a .8 Jim Dunlop, the grey ones. What blue chip would correspond in terms of flex ? Not many music stores where I live...
I bought both the Blue Chip and the Tone Slab from Chapman's right after I saw the video. I had known about Blue Chips but always balked at the price. However, I realized that I spend thousands on pedals, amps, guitars, etc, chasing tone, and that $40 is pretty cheap by comparison. Now the verdict... well its a work in progress. At first I was underwhelmed by both picks, and still preferred my go to pick which is a 2.8mm DawMan Shredline pick. At about $5, they are a bargain and have great tone. Unfortunately, I don't see them available on their website and the owner hasn't responded to my inquiries. The other picks I like are Wegen picks, both the 3.5 Gypsy and the Bluegrass pick, both considerably cheaper than these premium picks are. After I played them a little more, I definitely prefer the Tone Slab over the Blue Chip for bluegrass. It has a brighter maybe more fuller tone. Not quite as bright as my Dawman, but pretty close. I need to play it more to see which I might prefer. I thought the Blue Chip was less bright, with maybe a bit warmer tone. I'm thinking I might like it more for playing blues, sort of like people who prefer Humbuckers over single coils for a fatter tone. I also haven't tried either one for electric guitar and look forward to that, also. Anyway, great video and thanks for the picks!
Thanks so much for sharing & supporting us, it's great to have multiple opinions for buyers!
$45 bucks....at least you can make 4 easy payments on them on your site, ha ha. I get it's only 45 bucks, and they are indeed better, but for the worlds smallest piece of plastic, we can all agree there's some silly marketing and price gouging. Nice work Dunlop for offering a reasonable price option...
I’m really surprised that no one is mentioning Clayton picks in these comments. In my experience the 1.26 white triangles, 1.20 Ultem triangles and 1.26 Black Raven triangles(which I think now are no longer in production)are superior in tone compared to the Dunlop Tortex Flex 1.14 triangle that Carl Miner uses and at $35 for a 72-pack are bargain. They remind me of Toneslabs in that they have more sizzle than a Bluechip and I also prefer them to Dunlop Primetone.
I was thinking the same ! I remember when a lot of great bluegrassers were using the claytons
What do you buff the pick with to get the scratches off? I really thought that ToneSlab sounded great.
Typically we use a finger nail filer, we're going to have John make a tutorial very soon!
I'm considering a TS after seeing this, but I measured my CT-55 at 1.4mm. Is that what you're using on mando, Jem? They're out of the 1.3mm at the store, in any case!
We have them in stock
@@johnchapman4232 Thanks, John. I just ordered the 1.3 from you.
I'd be happy to sound as good as you guys with the Duralin. I couldn't hear much of a diff(Laptop speakers) but I do like my bluechip. I think I'll stay with that, (and my golden Gate clown barf) FYI, I only see tear drop (and a rounded corner jazz pick) in the toneslabs. are you not carrying that anymore?
We are keeping all of their options in stock, some just run out of stock quicker than we can get them in! 😅We actually just got in a shipment from them this week and they should be on our website soon, if you're looking for a specific size, give us a call and we can check if it was on this order over the phone!
We all want high definition tone, do you ever think like taking movies from 1080p to 8K that in all that high definition we loose the magic of what made movies and music?
I can only imagine back in the day when a band recorded with one mic vs today an arsenal of mics, did the one mic band care about picks, strings? Drum heads? Etc….
Otis Gibbs has a RUclips channel where he talks talks to different musicians, turns out that some didn't care, but guitar players were ways tinkering with their gear.
We're all going high def with video but low def listening through just the TV speakers or tablet speakers I'm listening through now. Quite the juxtaposition amongst so called audiophiles.
Primetone, Ultex if I can't find the first. I play Bluegrass but I don't like thick picks. .73 or .88 for me.
I've used V picks for a long time, love the clarity of the tone from the V picks and they last forever too,, I have a blue chip but it sounds dull compared to the v pick
This may be to late to get an answer. Is there a difference in the type of pick you prefer between the guitar and the mandolin?
Both John & Jeremy tend to use the same for both!
What’s the no brand dread you’re playing?
That would be a Bourgeois Large Soundhole Madagascar Dread!
Also casein is amazing to. But you have realize that not all casein is created equal so good luck.
I got a BlueChip when I bought my Boucher and have been amazed by both. Besides the fact that they will last longer than 40 $1 chips, the tone and feel is great. As far as the cost is concerned, my thinking is I could pay $6001 for a guitar and pick, or I could pay $6040 dollars for a guitar and pick.
How much are the Tone Slab picks?
About the same as BlueChips, $45.
My favorite is what’s wrong with 40$? Oh probably spent it all on that 7000$ Bourgeois. Lol. No kidding the 1.2 toneslab I think gives you everything like the warmth of a Bluechip but still gives the attack to. I love the tick attack cause you only hear that on a really good responsive guitar.
I Love my BCP TAD100-1R & CT55
I lost my BCP TAD100 T_T I finally found it under Aquarium Canister Filter a year later :)
Say Hi to Jerry Rosa :)
Something about that bluechip tone … I’m drawn to it . Maybe I’ll invest one day
I really like my yellow Tone Slab, also have a couple of Blue Chips which I also like. I prefer the feel and sound. Of the Tone Slab so what do you guys use to polish and maintain your TS picks?
George: Try using a 3 or 4 sided nail buffer. I used them on all my BC picks until I got a CT-55, which doesn't need buffing at all!
@@f5mando thanks for the info it is greatly appreciated.
toneslab all the way.
Soooo with the discussion of Picks ,,, Let me ask this question ! If a Acoustic Guitar is made with AAA+ Rosewood,, AA Anarondack spruce top , Bracing from Sitka Spruce, 4" sound hole , Mahogany Neck , Ebony Fret board and Bridge , 1" 11/16th nut width , Bone Nut and saddle ,,, and the Craftmanship and joints are flawless ,,, Why is one $1000.00 and one is $ 10,000.00 ? Is it simply that $.50 cent Label on the Headstock ?
Boy, I like the sound of that dreadnaught. What model is that?
It's a Bourgeois Large Sound hole D Madi back and sides
@@johnchapman4232 Thank you!
I love blue chips but I do kill them in like 4 months TD 40 speed bevel, even after like 2 months that tip is getting a little rounded. I like the primetones too, but I kill those in a few days... So the blue chips might actually be cheaper for me in the long run
I enjoyed this "Top Pick" topic.
They’d cut picture frames, mirrors, whatever for tortoise shell picks OR get them from China and pretend they were recycled. Blue Chip made tortoise shell obsolete. I have a bunch of tortoise and BC and I play primetone most of the time. Anxious to try the TS.
Do it!
I’m a bluechip man
What do use to buff a chip?
I don't know what the guys at the Acoustic Shop use, but I've used one of those triangular nail boards for manicuring fingernails. There are 3 different grits, which makes it pretty easy to remove the scratches, and then progress to buffing a smooth finish on the pick. And they're a very inexpensive way to maintain your pick.
We use a nail filer, we're going to have John do a tutorial soon!
@@AcousticShoppe Awesome, thanks!
ToneSlabs will have buffers available soon
I have a nice collection of shell picks, I love them! But! I’m a Blue Chip believer, yes they are expensive, so are divorces, but they are both worth the money!😂
Blue chip for my Collings rosewood D2H-SB
Casein D ‘Addario for my Collings hog D1 Baked top.
If you know, you know why.
What kind of dread is that?
It is a Bourgeois large soundhole with Madagascar Rosewood
Thank you!@@AcousticShoppe
If you really want to hear the difference between these picks you will have to get yourself a McIntosh tube amplifier ($10k) and I'll have to source you some quality vacuum tubes, a PS Audio preamp (for $8k); a Mark Levinson turntable (10k) with a Graham Phantom tone arm ($7k), which matches nicely with this turntable; a Clearaudio Stradivaria cartridge ($4k); a pair of German Physiks loudspeakers ($20k +). And don't skimp on speaker wire, your audio is only as good as it's weakest link... you'll need Mercury liquid metal squirrel-cage coaxial speaker cable ($50/ft) and some interconnects - I recommend the Cardis Beyond Clear ($4k). Oh, sorry... but I forgot you will need a separate electrical line and filter for the cleanest electrical signal that won't degrade or limit your whole system! I'll have my team come and assess your audio room, by doing an acoustic audio sweep, to make sure there are no sonic abnormalities (every room has them). Ha, Ha, Ha... I used to sell high-end audio in Cambridge - it's a never ending search for the best.
What headphones were you using to critique these picks? Can I sell you some Stax electrostatic headphones ($6k) - they have been considered the standard for decades.
Is there no limit to the gullibility of people 🙃
I prefer the Blue Chip. I don’t like hearing a pick hit the string. With the blue chip I never hear that. I just hear the tone of the string.
Funny. I file the tip off my Dunlop Gator Grips - thought it was just me.
And just me personally ! After picking all my life ,,, I bet there's probably 300 picks in my house ! One thing , no one mentioned ,,,, every song ,,, every mood or every setting does not call for the same pick ! If I'm at a outdoor session , playing Bluegrass , I want a textured sorta thin , but stiff pick , but if I'm at a Funeral , or Wedding , or Church , i'll go with a thicker , softer material to get that muffled , soft , lonesome sound ! I Play a lot ,,, and different settings require different sounds ,,, so I'll just throw a half dozen down for the whole set ! Picks to a Guitar player are sorta like , Nails to a Carpenter ,,,, One nail for framing aint gonna get it to do the trim work !
Ok,,, Here's a different Look at the question ! I Been Picking for 45+ yrs ,, every string instrument in Bluegrass ! And I'm a big advocate for American Made , which " Blue Chips are made in Tenn. ! But just for conversation & with Inflation,, a descent D'Addario Pick will cost you $1.00 ? ,,, That's 1 dollar ! Or a Blue Chip will cost $45.00 ? Does that Blue chip make you Play at Least 450 % Better ? Faster, Clearer , Longer ? And isn't that the bottom Line ? Can your Listener's hear and Know , what kind of pick your Using , whether it's a dollar or $45.00 ? And are they Listening to the Pick or performer ? Is Joe Bonamassa lesser of a Performer , Does the Advertisement for that Showing say ,,, Coming Live Friday night ,,, Joe Bonamassa and his guitar shredding " Blue Chip" Pick ? Or Have we Gone sooo far out of reality , trying to Keep up and be " The Jones' " That we've Lost sight in the Race ? And we'll advertise and brag and spend trying our absolute hardest to get that " 1937 HISTORIC MARTIN D-28" sound and then , throw that in the toilet for the " Newest, Most expensive , space age , CNC milled, Proprietary,,,,,,, BS" ! It's sorta Like a " Yeti " Cooler Costing $ 649.00 or a " Igloo" Cooler costing $ 64.00 ,,,and their selling point is , it will keep Ice for 4 weeks " ? Soooo unless you live 400 miles into The Sahara Desert ,, Do I need a Blue Chip , Guitar Pick , to keep my Drink Cold ? And if I do ,,, Should I start selling , Capo's for $ 3800.00 & Strings for $4150.00 , Because " IF" you really really listen ,,, Is it Live or is it Memorex ?
Excellent comment!! Too many gear snobs. A great player will sound good on any well set up and strung instrument! Who in the audience can hear a difference between a 1959 Les Paul and a new Epiphone? Everything is processed through pedals, effects anyway. Picks do help a cheap mandolin sound better. But,$35 for a pick is crazy for the hobbiest .
Another way to look at it: the Blue Chip is about 1 percent or even less the price of a great acoustic guitar. If one spends all that money on said guitar what is another 40 bucks?
Lmao, this really needed to be said. If I hadn’t watched the video, I’d still be perfectly happy with my box of cheap pics. Uhhhmmmm, I still am. There are videos out there of people with tons of viewers who are manipulating markets, because THEY say it’s the best or a really good buy. Can you play some music with it, are you happy with it? Why pay more!
@@kevintaylor5079 Gear snobs or tone aficianados? It's one thing to be a mediocre player with a lower end guitar and spent the extra money believing it's going to help. It's another thing to want the best tone you can achieve. I hear the 450% argument all the time applied to cars, watches, tools, etc. Sometimes getting 25% better performance is going to cost a lot more than 25% compared to your baseline. For me, I can hear the difference, and the el cheapo freebie picks at Guitar Center just don't cut it. YMMV.
@@markinmemphis That comparison is like saying, it's ok ,,that toilet paper , in your $250,000.00 , should be $25.00 a roll , just because your house cost that much ! or that it's ok for gas in your car to be $30.00 a gal.
In the UK Blue Chip picks are not easy to get hold of and are quite a bit more expensive than in the US.
Pretty fancy editing during the sound check. Dude.
Bluechip for me.
I like my Charmed Life picks.
I once cut a pick shape out of a red solo cup to play a guitar with 5 rusty strings and no high E string at a bon fire. So I may be the wrong person to ask about bougie picks. Lol.
But how was the tone??
@@jmaxgeorge good enough that 12 drunk people thought it was great. Lol. I carry a Dunlop tortex in my phone case now.
I like the Blue Chip first, Toneslab second, Duralin third
Buying $40 guitar picks is the reason nothing works out for you, in a nutshell.
I reach for the Blue Chip and Primetone over the Toneslabs. I bought them all because I’m a lunatic.
I’m thinking the only way I could keep from losing a $40 pick is to drop it down the sound hole and dump it out every practice session. Labor intensive.
Have you ever checked out one of these?: www.theacousticshoppe.com/shop/c/p/Dr-Herringbone-Pikini-Pick-Holder-x66546594.htm
Team TS as in tortoise shell!
You guys are scaring me! I used to pay less than a dollar for a cup coffee (now $5) and $3 for a beer (now $10). Because the specialty coffee and microbrew industries created these new upscale niches - even the cheap drinks are expensive now! We have been conditioned to spend a lot more for things that were considered cheap. Well, I think I'll just have a water, thank you.... oh that will be $5 sir.
Blue is such a bad color. When you drop them, it's like looking for a piece of clear glass.