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After trying everything Dunlop makes in that shape over the years I settled on Ultex Jazz IIIs - both the 1.14mm (amber) and 2.0mm (black) versions. I've tried D'Andrea Pro-Plecs (1.5mm), but they're not for me. I'm not interested in V-Picks or Red Bears - don't really know why - and I don't want wood, stone, or metal picks. I've tried Wegens - GP250 (2.5mm), Twins (2.5mm), Big City Jazz (1.8mm); I liked the Twins the best (makes sense because they're most similar in size & shape to the Dunlops), but I didn't really like them any better than the Ultex Jazz IIIs and I can get 50 Dunlops (which are very durable in their own right) for the same price as 2 Wegens. So, that leaves me with BlueChip Jazz60's (1.5mm) at $35 each plus shipping. Am I crazy for considering purchasing such a thing? (It certainly can be rationalized, and apparently they do have a return policy.) Maybe I should just put it on my holiday gift wish list for next year. If I got one I could either return it if it didn't impress me, keep it but not get more if I wasn't sure, or if it really was magical I could get 2 more - one for my rehearsal space, one for my pocket, and one to keep in a zipper compartment in my wallet. $105 isn't really that much if they play and sound better (to me) than anything else, last for a few years without wear, and I don't lose them. Thoughts? I'll probably end up ordering one anyway - I don't think I can stop myself!
Last edited by Tom Karol; 03-01-2012 at 11:13 AM.
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03-01-2012 10:36 AM
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I bought a Red Bear Lil Jazzer for $20 2-3 years ago.
Still have it, keep it in my keyring. If I lose it, I have bigger problems than a lost jazz guitar pick.
I've managed to drop it several times and somehow also managed to retrieve it each time. Once, from a dumpster. Another time, outside a cafe, I spent the better part of 20 minutes crawling on all fours near the sewer, outside the establishment.
Most cost effective purchase I've ever made, despite the apparent hype ("made from a petri-dish from a protein, to simulate the old tortoise shells").
Great sound, wonderful touch.
No regrets.
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wow
Last edited by stevedenver; 03-01-2012 at 11:59 AM.
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I see the Blue Chip Jazz 80 (2 mm) is $50. Glad I'm spending more time improving my fingerpicking
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Wow. I would guess that the cost to make these $35 picks is about 5-10 cents each. My take is that the $35 price tag is designed to appeal to those who think that price always correlates to relative quality and that more expensive equipment will always make (let) you play better. But whatever . . . it’s a free country. More power to them.
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You have to decide
35 shouldn't break you if its not what you want
picks are both universal, and personal
its great to have just what you like, especially thickness and shape-after all it is a connection to the guitar-
im particular about finger picks and thumb picks
I like nice picks, but the best ive had to date were proplecs, for my mando, and now i use them for guitar too, the most I've spent-i think the mando picks were like $1 or $1.50 each some years ago when i first found them through a mando site
now like 10 for $7 at MF
And...they were worth it, to me!!!LOL
i think you should give it a go and give us a review
with a return policy you cant really go too wrong
and it may be a revelation
i dont lose things often but with a pricey pick im sure it would be the ONE to lose or forgetLast edited by stevedenver; 03-01-2012 at 11:58 AM.
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Originally Posted by JohnW400
. So insane, that kind of money for a pic. So unnecessary too.
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Ok.. so is this compulsive behavior or do you REALLY not like any of these picks?
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Don't know if this is the place to add this, but - if you like a certain kind of pick and it makes you feel better about your playing, why not? Even if it is mostly a decision on your part to do that.
I fell in love with Dunlop Bakersfield picks. They aren't made any more, and several websitres refer to them as "vintage" guitar picks. I worked at a music store that carried them some years ago, and I liked them well enough to pay a hundred and fifty dollars for the store's remaining stock - around 300 of the picks - and then I found out Dunlop stopped making them about that time! I consider myself really lucky - the Bakersfield picks have the snappiest sound on both electric and acoustic guitar. That is, it's a very well defined and clear attack which helps quite a bit in knocking out the "mud" in my playing.
If it gets you where you want to go, then do it!
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Red Bear is a rip off. No good from my experience. Broke easily & I never liked the feel. That one I bought. Blue Chip was given to me as a present. Not worth the $, IMHO. Don't care for the tone. Dunlop Ultex much better for pennies, by comparison. If you're going to buy an expensive pick go for real tortoise shell (legal). For $40 you can get them via antique hair brushes, etc. There is a guy out there making 'em if you Google...
Last edited by whatswisdom; 03-01-2012 at 01:58 PM.
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Don't know if this is the place to add this, but - if you like a certain kind of pick and it makes you feel better about your playing, why not?
I fell in love with Dunlop Bakersfield picks. They aren't made any more and several websites call them "vintage" guitar picks. I worked at a music store that carried them some years ago. I liked them well enough to pay $150 for the store's remaining stock, 300 of the picks - and I found out Dunlop stopped making them around that time! The Bakersfield picks have the snappiest sound on both electric and acoustic guitar. It's a well defined and clear attack which eliminates a lot of "mud" in my playing.
If it gets you where you want to go, then do it!
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I play with the F1 pick: F-1 Guitar Picks
It is not so expensive, even if I have to order them from US
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I bought a half gross of Dunlop Tortex 1.14mm picks about 25 years ago, and I'm still using them. I rarely lose one, and they wear nicely and get slinky feeling as they polish against the strings. I've tried copper picks, super-thick plastic picks, and extra thick mandolin picks, and the Dunlops are what I always go back to. If I had it all to do over, I'd play with my fingers (which is how I play bass).
$35 for a pick? Nah, but it's your money. If it makes you happier with your playing, it's worth it.
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I tried a blue chip...nice, but to get one in the thickness I like i'd have to spend $100. Silly.
I really like the dunlop jazztones, and the john pearse fast turtles, the latter of which are about 10 bucks a piece. Very worth it, and I haven't lost a single one, even though I bought a few once I figured I liked them.
I do use @$30 picks for gypsy jazz, but the pick is so important to that style...once I tried a wegen and a moustache, I knew there was no going back.
Even a 30 dollar pick is a pretty cheap tone mod.
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I bought a couple Blue Chip picks, used, from a seller on another list, not sure what model except they are jaz something. They're about the same size as the Dunlop Jazz III, I do like them better, but not enough so I'd replace them if I lost one, at least not at full price.
Lately I've been using a John Pearse pick made from water buffalo horn that I like a lot.
BradLast edited by brad4d8; 03-01-2012 at 01:13 PM.
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Wow $35 for a pick!
Does it come with an mp3 player built in or something?
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OK, I have to throw my 2 cents in.
First, full disclosure: I use a Blue Chip KS 60. In fact, I've used the same one since 2009. Cost $35 or approximately $0.00035 per day of use.
One could debate the merits of a Buscarino Virtuoso vs. a Benedetto Cremona endlessly...which has better tone, which sounds 'woodier' through an amp, which is louder, etc...
Or one can try a pick with a money back guarantee (it works, I didn't like the "Jazz model and eventually settled on the KS) for $35. They are expensive relative to most picks, but I find they produce considerably more volume on acoustic instruments, and they never wear out.
I also think it's funny that some of those who posted above thinking people are crazy to spend $35 or thereabouts on a pick are of the view that Ken Parker's archtops are worth the money. Hmmm.... I'm not saying they're not, but it's odd to support a $30,000 guitar and yet look down one's nose at a $30 pick.
Besides, I can throw my Blue Chip into a fire and it will emerge unscathed. Try that with a Monteleone!!!
Anyways, I don't care if someone thinks I'm crazy for spending $35 on a pick. Who cares what others think, right? But in my experience Blue Chip is a good company and I think people should give them a try if they are looking for affordable tone mods.Last edited by coolvinny; 03-01-2012 at 01:59 PM. Reason: typos
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I use Blue Chip too. Switched from wegen but have tried everything. I don't mind spending the money for something that works for me.
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I play primarily fingerstyle, but I've had a Red Bear--a large one with three different bevel corners--for years. I like it on acoustic flattops. It picks with better tone, and more cleanly, and with less clickback. I tend not to use it on electrics for some reason. It's got a nice feel. Guys go crazy for them on acoustic guitar forums. Funny beasts, guitar players.
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I don't think you're crazy; to each his own. My words above were "tongue-in-cheek" so I hope no one takes offense. I just don't see it. Originally Posted by coolvinny
To me there is much more validity in spending big bucks on a custom guitar by a genius builder, which Parker is, then there is in throwing down 35 bucks for some plastic. I'm sure they're great but the price is largely inflated. With guitars it is too, but I can justify the value more, you know, time and knowledge, esthetic, better materials than a mass produced instrument, etc.
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I bought a few of the Red Bear. I wore one of the beveled edge ones down already.
I would consider one of the Blue Chips but I have about 500 or so JAZZ 205 picks left from the 1000 that I bought when I thought that Dunlop might discontinue them.
I used them before Dunlop started making them. (I believe Herco made them before Dunlop)
My problem isn't the price so much as it is , "what If I like 'em?"
I mean I did buy 1000 Dunlop's when I thought they wouldn't be available any more....
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The suspense was killing me! I just ordered one: BlueChip Picks 'Jazz60' model. It's shaped like a Jazz III and 1.5mm thick. $35.00 + $4.45 shipping. Worst case scenario (because I doubt I'll send it back regardless): it won't be the first or the last time I blow $40 on something I don't need. I'll let you guys know what I think when I get it.
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I've read that the price of the raw material is very high ($4800 for 10"x10" sheet) and the price of the end product (pick) just reflects that. The information came from someone who decide they'd save some money and buy a sheet of the plastic that is used. They found that they wouldn't be saveing any money by making the picks themselves. Originally Posted by paynow
Everyone should spend what they feel is right for their equipment but if they think the blue chip prices are inflated they should price the raw material first.
On the other hand, just because they're expensive doesn't mean they'll be everything to everyone. You may like them and you may not.
Here is a link discussing the cost of the material. http://bluechippick.net/index.php?op...=22&Itemid=109Last edited by Gramps; 03-01-2012 at 05:27 PM.
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