#16
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So I got a used one. a TAD40. It really was better. How I hear you ask (well I don't actually hear you but I always have voices in my head) - mostly ... speed off he string. I now have a TAD50 for each of my dreads sand my Jumbo (Roy Smeck) and TAD 40s for 000 and other guitars have light gauge strings. That first pick taught me a lot about picks. I learned that: a) 346 triangles were easier to use than the 351 "teardrop" types that I'd been using for years. b) that bevels made a great deal of difference as far as the smoothness of the contact with and release of the string off the pick. c) there is something special about the material that they use - (Coefficient of friction?) that combined with high polishing and flexibility makes for a superior tool. Many say that it becomes "sticky against the fingers but I have dry hands so I can't support or deny that. I have sought to compare other picks against them - and my second favourite pick is the Dutch made Wegen TF120s and TF140s which I also se because of their excellent design,esp.when polished a little more, and I have reworked a number of Dunlop Tortex 1.14 m/m purple 346s attempting to emulate the bevel of my BCs. The Wegens and my modified Tortexes are good ...probably fine for many ,but I always prefer my BCs. I have tried their TAD 60 which is 1.5 m/m but for me (essentially a flatpicker) there is not quite enough initial attack and a "tad" too firm - but this is personal taste. Thickness is relative to material, so saying one thickness s an inadequate descriptor of flex. There is only one way to discover whether BCs suit you and that is to buy one (well you could steal on I suppose). I'd say if you use light gauge strings try a TAD 40 (1 m/m) or if you use mediums - try a TAD50. Note that you can order one and return it for refund or replacement within thirty days. Some say that they don't want to pay $35 for a pick because the lose picks .... I say "value perception" - with a 35 cent pick you buy a few and put them in a pocket or leave them in bars etc. With an item with a more significant value you will tend to be more cautious - put 'em in a pick box or something. The other thing is that practically speaking - with a minimum thickness of 1 m/m they don't break and they don't tend to wear out. Hope that helps.
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Silly Moustache, Just an old Limey acoustic guitarist, Dobrolist, mandolier and singer. I'm here to try to help and advise and I offer one to one lessons/meetings/mentoring via Zoom! |
#17
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Guitars, flutes, pianos, furniture, cars, stereos, jewelry, etc. I pay more and I get a better product. A couple of exceptions: It's not a guarantee. The market place eventually eliminates expensive things that don't deliver, but you might get caught before that. You still have to engage your brain - if it seems too good to be true it probably is. With guitars you can sometimes get really lucky with a particular guitar that plays much better than most other guitars of the same model/price. That's a good day - but not very predictable. The big one - you can easily pay for more quality than you need (and even more quality that you can perceive). I had a wonderful lesson from a saleslady in a jewelry store when I quickly ran out of expertise and couldn't tell the difference between two diamonds that were $400 apart. She recommended I purchase the cheaper one - never buy quality you can't see (hear). There was a considerable difference to her eye, but none to my uneducated eye (and I saved some money). So back to BC: it's mostly the very expensive material they use. For me it is a combination of being able to play very fast passages cleaner and the lack of pick noise. I have some $1 picks, some $25 picks, a $35 pick and 3 BC picks. For me the sound and feel get better as the price increases. If you don't mind a little pick noise do not pay big money for a pick. If you never play music faster than your cheap pick can handle you certainly don't want to spend more money for that, either. Sound is everything here, but we don't all have the same ears or the same desires. Some like mahogany, some like rosewood. And it should be added that some players are simply outraged to pay big money for a pick. I get that and that's certainly fair. My wife is one of the most frugal people I know - and I love her more than the air I breathe. Picks, unfortunately, are like strings - you won't know what you like until you try a bunch.
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Keith Martin 000-42 Marquis Taylor Classical Alvarez 12 String Gibson ES345s Fender P-Bass Gibson tenor banjo |
#18
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Exactly what he said but would add they make a budget guitar sound better and a pricey guitar fantastic
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Martin D-18 Custom Mahogany 🍒 Burst Adirondack (2017) "Buck" Martin Custom J-40 (2023) "Mr. Slick" Santa Cruz OM Adirondack over Wild Grain EIR (2021) "Flaxsie Ranahan" |
#19
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Big fan of the picks and the company. I was also an early adopter. Here's a shot of any early TPR 60 next to a recent one. You can see the difference in the engraving and font. Performance seems the same.
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#20
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Thanks, Scott |
#21
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Scott, I think it was around 2008 or maybe a little earlier. Seems to me I was using Red Bears purchased from First Quality, which would have been late 90's and early 2000's. That was some of the better manmade material I'd found.
Someone introduced me to Blue Chip, maybe at the IBMA? That was IT for me. I still try other things sometimes, but come back to Blue Chip, my old TS picks, or Dunlop 207's. Funny...I like $50 picks and $0.50 picks. |
#22
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Todd, thanks, that sounds about right. Their patent application original filing was 2009. I think Red Bear has been around since about 2002-2003.
take care, scott |
#23
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Besides what has been said about how they stick to your fingers yet slide off the string well and how they don’t show signs of wear, (at least mine don’t yet), I have to say they are the closest sound to tortoise shell picks I have heard. If you never got a chance to play one, the comparison is lost. But that is a very high standard.
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Vancebo Husband of One, Father of Two Worship Leader, Music Teacher Oregon Duck Fan Guitars by: Collings, Bourgeois, Taylor Pickups by: Dazzo Preamps by: Sunnaudio Amps by: Bose (S1) Grateful |
#24
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#25
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And just for good measure, a Blue Chip hat.
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#26
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Are you guys who really, really, really like these picks predominantly bluegrass players? I can see a real advantage to really heavy duty flat pickers, not so much to us guys who kinda do the strumming/fingerpicking deal.
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#27
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Anyway, as a player, this is my opinion. thanks, scott |
#28
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A very nice gesture on their part! So yeah, I'm a fan of BC.
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Merrill | Martin | Collings | Gibson For Sale: 2023 Collings D2H 1 3/4 Nut, Adi Bracing, NTB -- $4100 shipped |
#29
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I just picked up a Bluechip TD40 (pre-owned) to compare with the TD50 and I love it. That TD45 might be ideal! I might have to try one.
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Martin DC-18E (Ambertone) Martin HDC-28E Martin D-18 (2015) Collings D1 Traditional Emerald X20 Fender CS '63 Telecaster Custom Collings I-35LCV Collings I-30LC Collings 290 www.heartsoulaz.com |
#30
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Just try one and you will understand. If you don’t, send it back.
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Regards, Jim Larrivée L-05 Mahogany Gibson Les Paul Traditional Fender Stratocaster Epiphone Les Paul Standard |