Alternative for Blue Chip TP50 Pick

**ginod** · 04-23-2018, 04:27 PM

Hello,

3 Years ago i bought an Blue Chip Tp50 Pick. I really liked the pick. It was thin but strong, nicely curved and a wonderful tone - but very ver expensive. I really tried to take care for the pick. Like i said i played it for 3 years. Some weeks ago i lost it. I don't know how could it happen, i can't find it anymore.

So i decided to try some other picks to find a cheaper alternative.

The first pick i bought online was a Wegen TRimus 350. The shape was triangle like the Blue chip Tp50 and i thought it would be simliar. But i have to say its a little bit too thick and to warm with not much "sparkle".

So i search recommendation for triangle picks (i really like this shape), which sounds really good. I prefer warm sound, but not too muddy - i think the Bluechip was the perfect combination.
Furthermore i don't like woodpicks. I don't know but i never have played an wood pick which sounds nice to my ear. I have played D'Andrea picks for a long time - really nice material but not really strong. Unfortunately, i liked the Bluechip much more, and i don't want to make a compromise. MY dreams would be a pick which is much cheaper than the bluechip, but i love the same way.

Please let show your favorite picks

**Klatu** · 04-23-2018, 06:41 PM

This is what I use:

It's called a Dragon's Heart Guitar Pick. It's made of a similar material to the Blue Chip's Dupont material and its shape is a very comfortable middle ground between a triangle and a Fender 351. Its thickness is a bit more than you might be accustomed to at 2.5mm, but it doesn't feel thick at all since it tapers to a fine point all the way around the pick.

The material it's made of is a high grade industrial plastic that is virtually indestructible. In fact, I've been using the same pick for well over a year and can't find any wear on it to speak of. Best of all, the sound is bright without being clicky.

**Spook410** · 04-23-2018, 07:02 PM

I use a blue chip pick regularly. The pick I find closest to it in overall tone is a Dunlop Jazztone.

**ptchristopher3** · 04-23-2018, 07:26 PM

Originally Posted by Klatu

This is what I use:

It's called a Dragon's Heart Guitar Pick. It's made of a similar material to the Blue Chip's Dupont material and its shape is a very comfortable middle ground between a triangle and a Fender 351. Its thickness is a bit more than you might be accustomed to at 2.5mm, but it doesn't feel thick at all since it tapers to a fine point all the way around the pick.

The material it's made of is a high grade industrial plastic that is virtually indestructible. In fact, I've been using the same pick for well over a year and can't find any wear on it to speak of. Best of all, the sound is bright without being clicky.

”When you can snatch the pick from my hand grasshopper, it will be time for you to play”

I need to look into this one.

**sgosnell** · 04-23-2018, 07:47 PM

About the closest I've seen to the Blue Chip picks (and I have 3 different ones) is the John Petrucci pick. Not the same shape as the BC TP, but it sounds as close to it as I've tried. I never heard of John Petrucci, but the picks are very good. It's described as Ultex, but it seems to me to be very different from the clearer type Ultex picks. I'm not aware of any other company that uses the same material as Blue Chip. That's a very expensive material just to buy blocks of, so they're not really overpriced, just expensive.

**Klatu** · 04-23-2018, 08:45 PM

Originally Posted by ptchristopher3

”When you can snatch the pick from my hand grasshopper, it will be time for you to play”

I need to look into this one.

Keep in mind that there are three versions of the pick. The one I use is the "pure" version that is made entirely of pure polyamide-imide, whereas the other two versions contain either fiberglass or graphite.

Of the three, the fiberglass infused version called the "hardened" is the only one that I wouldn't recommend because it imparts some noise that the others don't.

**ptchristopher3** · 04-23-2018, 08:49 PM

Originally Posted by Klatu

Keep in mind that there are three versions of the pick. The one I use is the "pure" version that is made entirely of pure polyamide-imide, whereas the other two versions contain either fiberglass or graphite.

Of the three, the fiberglass infused version called the "hardened" is the only one that I wouldn't recommend because it imparts some noise that the others don't.

Thanks. Yes I looked at the site and was wondering about the variety. I’ll try the “pure”.

**sgosnell** · 04-23-2018, 11:14 PM

I might like the shape, but 2.5mm is double the thickness i prefer. I guess I'll keep my Blue Chip 50s.

**Papawooly** · 04-24-2018, 01:52 PM

Originally Posted by sgosnell

About the closest I've seen to the Blue Chip picks (and I have 3 different ones) is the John Petrucci pick. Not the same shape as the BC TP, but it sounds as close to it as I've tried. I never heard of John Petrucci, but the picks are very good. It's described as Ultex, but it seems to me to be very different from the clearer type Ultex picks. I'm not aware of any other company that uses the same material as Blue Chip. That's a very expensive material just to buy blocks of, so they're not really overpriced, just expensive.

The JP pick was my goto before I discovered Blue Chip.

Losing my BC is always in my mind, where is it ??? Oh No??? Ohhh it's in my pocket..Whew!!

Of course I keep it in the little $10 box I got with it... and I keep a spare one stashed!

Check your dryer, that is where most of my previous lost picks went to die...

**kevmoga** · 04-24-2018, 02:25 PM

I just can't wrap my head around paying what a Blue Chip costs - I know, I know, it's insignificant compared to all the other parts of the signal chain, but......

Anyway, I've been enjoying the Dunlop Primetones of late, currently wavering between the 1.5 triangle and the 2.0 traditional shape.

**campusfive** · 04-24-2018, 05:12 PM

+1 that Primetone would be the closest thing, and I'm also a Blue Chip player. TD40 for me, though I occasionally change to a TD60 when I need a bit more heft.

**Simon1234** · 04-27-2018, 03:41 AM

I use a BlueChip Jazz 50 and sometimes the Jazz 60 - so I feel your pain!

Check out the Dunlop Ultex Jazzlll (urine yellow colour). They don’t look like they’ll work, but they have clarity and mellowness. Good tone for jazz. There are two sizes - small is the “jazzlll” and regular pick size is the “jazzlll XL”. Same material, but double check if ordering online, because not all descriptions are clear about the difference.

I also like the Dunlop Primetones, bevelled edge so feel really fast. Little bit brighter in tone than BC or Ultex, but sound good.

Tried a new Fender Trushell jazzlll size too - moderately expensive - but good tone. Might be worth a try.

Let us know how you get on.

**dnauhei** · 05-02-2018, 01:24 PM

What kind of D'Andrea do you use? I use a proplec 351 with my archtop. It's the best tone I've found so far. I've compared it to Bluechip and the attack was too clicky. I have also compared to Gravity, V-picks, and a dozen others. I also have a triangle proplec that does not work as well. So if you can get down with a teardrop, tried the round edge of a 351.

**Tom Karol** · 05-02-2018, 01:47 PM

I like Blue Chip picks alot - Jazz 60's for guitars strung with 12's and Jazz 50's for guitars strung with 11's - I don't want to use anything else. But they are expensive. I own 10 Blue Chips - a lifetime supply based on their resistance to wear (and if I don't lose them, of course) - but I only bought 2 of them myself. I put them on my holiday gift wish list every year, and people really seem enjoy giving them to me. Sometimes, they even pay an extra $5 to have my initials engraved on them! Much better than some random article of clothing I don't want or need!

**rio** · 05-03-2018, 10:22 AM

I have converted to 100% fingerstyle recently but when I was using picks there was no substitute for Blue Chip. I used both a large triangle (the one Julian Lage uses, I forget the name) and a Jazz III size one for different purposes. The thing is that no other pick maker uses this material so there is no substitute. For me it was a combo of great tone and the pick gripping my fingers extremely well and not rotating since I had a light grip on the pick. They also last forever if you are good about not losing them.

My other favorite was Red Bear but they are hard to find now. D’Andrea Pro Pleks were also good for a dark sound but their quality control went in the toilet as every order I got from them had the picks warping on their own in not too long of a period of time.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

**GNAPPI** · 05-03-2018, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by sgosnell

>>SNIP<< I never heard of John Petrucci, but the picks are very good. >>SNIP<<

He's a very tasty rocker

Also

**sgosnell** · 05-03-2018, 02:31 PM

Great idea, Tom. I'm always being asked what I want for various gifts, and now I have something to request. I'm still missing a few sizes and thicknesses!

**Mike Anderson** · 05-04-2018, 08:14 AM

I've been trying a lot of picks since coming back to guitar after a long Irish bouzouki hiatus using nylon Dunlops. Various thick Wegens first, then after reading Jonathan's blog some JBs and Pearse Fast Turtles, but am loving my 1.5mm Primetones a LOT. Just found out after checking this thread that there are thicker Primetones now too, and I'm eager to give them a try. At the price point an absolute no-brainer, but am hanging onto the JB and Turtle picks - the range of tones I'm getting out of the three brands is pretty incredible.

**Jonah** · 01-06-2020, 02:56 PM

I came across this thread occasionally.

Dunlop Primetone are very close to the feel of Blue Chip.

I never owned Blue Chip - oly tried one my friend has. it is too crazy expensive for my situation.

At least those are the only two picks that I really can say they make much dfference.

Before I did not care much - I just used Jazz III, or D'Andrea 1,5mm, or another Dunlope 2.0 with crocodile... whatever that was similar in characteristic.

But Primetone really makes it different - especially if you fine the way... and Blue Chip too.. on acoustics first of all.

**Brion** · 01-06-2020, 09:58 PM

I have a few Blue Chip picks and enjoy them, but I tried the Primetone triangle picks and like them in 1.4 and 1.5 mm thicknesses. I do not like the grip styled ones, just the smooth ones. I buy them in packs of 12 from Strings and beyond when they have a 15% off coupon and it ends up about a buck a pick. They do wear unlike the BC picks which don’t seem to wear at all, but for the price difference I don’t see it as an issue.

**Jonah** · 01-07-2020, 04:07 AM

Originally Posted by Brion

I have a few Blue Chip picks and enjoy them, but I tried the Primetone triangle picks and like them in 1.4 and 1.5 mm thicknesses. I do not like the grip styled ones, just the smooth ones. I buy them in packs of 12 from Strings and beyond when they have a 15% off coupon and it ends up about a buck a pick. They do wear unlike the BC picks which don’t seem to wear at all, but for the price difference I don’t see it as an issue.

With Primetone it is a bit annoying for me that at least local dealers sell it only in pack of 3pcs minimum and there is no mixed pack - so to try another gauge you have to buy 3 picks which are not cheap too.

I first had the one with a grip but I also like the smooth once bette, paradoxally it is easier for me to hold them and they do not slip out as the grippy ones in active strummimg))

**guga7** · 01-07-2020, 05:39 AM

Dunlop Primetone 1.3 or 1.5? What do you prefer?
I'm in the quest for the perfect pick and haven't found that yet

I use the Graphtech Tusq TD 1.40 but because I use it sideways, the letters relief get in the way

Even though, it's still better than my other picks.

EDIT: I've tried the ultex jazz iii 2.0 (black version) and I like the feel of it but they're too bright for me...

**Jonah** · 01-07-2020, 07:27 AM

Originally Posted by guga7

Dunlop Primetone 1.3 or 1.5? What do you prefer?
I'm in the quest for the perfect pick and haven't found that yet

I use the Graphtech Tusq TD 1.40 but because I use it sideways, the letters relief get in the way

Even though, it's still better than my other picks.

EDIT: I've tried the ultex jazz iii 2.0 (black version) and I like the feel of it but they're too bright for me...

I tried only 1.5 and 2.0 Primetone.
I can use both - I like that 2.0 feels a bit heavier. Also for heavy strumming or flatpicking on acoustics I would use big triangle one without (!) grippy surface - it holds better.

I do not know why and how but Primetones let sone harmonics come out that make the tone more complex and livlier.

Note that at least those that I own - have sort of slant edges - you may need to get used to it and fing proper angle especially on wound string.