mhackney - Posted - 05/01/2021:  05:36:58

I've used stringsbymail.com for years for my guitar strings. I went to the site to see what they offer for resophonic strings and discovered they sell picks too - lots of them. And you can purchase just one. They offer a variety of thumbpicks and since you can buy a single pick, it makes it convenient and affordable to try a few different styles, weights, sizes. I didn't see this posted here anywhere and thought it might be of interest - especially to beginners like me.

cheers,
Michael

badger - Posted - 05/01/2021:  06:34:00

The thumbpick quest seems to be something we all need to go through before buying a Blue Chip and being done with it. Yeah, they're $40, but you're gonna spend at least that much anyhow on trial picks that'll ultimately just fill up a drawer. Enjoy the journey. PM me, and I'll send you a several-lifetime supply of hardly-used picks - I could really use the space!

There's just no comparison - Blue Chips are slick as all get-out, last forever (unless you're Jerry), and fit right, with awesome customer support. It's the only design that won't rotate on your thumb, and seems to grip tighter as you dig in harder.

As a beginner, it might be more sensible to choose one pick and develop technique with it than to keep adjusting your technique to accommodate different blades, angles, etc. Once you've found a picking technique that's comfortable and gives you great tone, you can try other picks to fine-tune. Develop your fundamentals first.

Just my $.02 - YMMV

Oboe Cadobro - Posted - 05/05/2021:  22:32:33

quote:

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Originally posted by badger

There's just no comparison - Blue Chips are slick as all get-out, last forever (unless you're Jerry), and fit right, with awesome customer support. It's the only design that won't rotate on your thumb, and seems to grip tighter as you dig in harder.

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Save your money...buy a Blue Chip right away rather than farting away your cash on cheaper picks. My BC thumb pick typically lasts at least 5 years before I wear it out...I used to burn out Dunlops, etc in a couple hours.

mhackney - Posted - 05/06/2021:  05:20:16

I'm not adverse to spending money, heck I have more Apollo casein and Blue Chip guitar picks than any 4 of my friends combined. For me it is more a matter of fit. I did get a Pro-Pik thumbpick and it just doesn't stay on my thumb even after multiple attempts to shape. Yet a Dunlop pick fits and stays on even while I'm learning to strum.

JC Dobro - Posted - 05/06/2021:  05:55:04

For the price of a sandwich, I think it’s worth experimenting. I’m one of those oddballs who prefers the fit of a Fred Kelly Slick Pick over any others in my collection (including the Blue Chip). Clearly I’m in the minority.

BTW if you wet your thumb with saliva, apply pick, then quickly blow dry, the tension Delrin type picks won’t budge on your thumb. I’ve never lost one in combat. YMMV.

They do wear out more quickly, obviously.

That site is a good find for singles. Usually they come in bulk.

badger - Posted - 05/06/2021:  06:24:36

A little bit of powdered rosin works great to keep picks in place. Nice idea for fingerpicks as well - avoids the nightmare of losing one just as your break is coming up!

Hat tip to Billy Cardine for this...

P2gee - Posted - 05/06/2021:  07:35:21

Since I am the owner of some rather portly thumbs, my field of thumbpick choices is pretty much narrowed to picks in the XL size range. Currently am using a Recording King brand pearloid pick that fits and works well for me. Been looking at the Blue Chip with interest. After reading above responses will probably throw a forty and try them. Heck wont be the first time I have thrown that much money at a musical item that did or did not work.

Iceman6937 - Posted - 05/06/2021:  07:46:29

I just bit the bullet on one, moving up from Zookies. I understand Blue Chip has the best return/exchange policy in the business. When I contacted them, I got an immediate and positive response.

mhackney - Posted - 05/06/2021:  08:07:03

I just ordered one too. Certainly worth trying given the large following and positive feedback.

badger - Posted - 05/06/2021:  11:38:42

My work here is complete...

resotom - Posted - 05/06/2021:  13:14:31

I alternate between the Blue Chip and the Zookies . I have noticed a more bass tone using the BC's on the two top strings ( B and D ) . these are unwound strings. Have any of you noticed this?

MikeS - Posted - 05/06/2021:  17:35:17

the question is, is a Blue Chip worth it? Ive been using Zookies for a while and they work great. I use Blue Chips on my mandolin, but like the Zookies on the Dobro. So???

daver - Posted - 05/07/2021:  06:30:11

quote:

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Originally posted by MikeS

the question is, is a Blue Chip worth it?

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I can only speak for myself.  I went through quite a number of plastic thumb picks.  Some broke, some slipped, some wore out, some just got lost.

I bought a BC thumb pick.  It doesn't break.  It doesn't slip and maintains its shape.  It doesn't wear out (at least not for me).  And I found that it's really easy not to lose a $40 thumb pick!

So I can say the BC thumb pick is "worth it" for me.  It has more than paid for itself over time, I like the tone, and I don't have to keep buying thumbpicks.

Is it "worth it" for you?  That would be your call...