The CT55 is a pick custom designed by Chris Thile for his personal use. It is very similar in size and shape to our TAD line of picks. However it is only manufactured in 55/1000 of an inch(1.4mm) thickness and has a custom bevel per his specifications. This is the exact pick that Chris Thile is currently using. See his thoughts on this pick on our users page.
Quarters, Nickels and Dimes, if included in the pictures, are for size reference only. They are not etched on the picks or included with the sale. To use this reference, please place a coin on your current non-Bluechip pick and then compare to the pictures of our picks with coins on top of them. This will help you choose the pick that is closest to your current favorite size and shape.
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Posted by Glenn Cushman on 11th Jul 2016
I have 9 of the CT (Chris Thile) 55 picks. Only pick I use now.
Posted by T Huff on 11th Jul 2016
I am an average guitar player who gigs out once or twice every couple months if I'm lucky. Having said that, I go through picks like nobody's business. What I lack in skill I more than make up for in zeal. I really chew picks up in no time flat, and I've tried nearly everything. As a player, I thought I was going to have to sacrifice tone in order to find a pick that could resist my heavy hand for more than a couple weeks. I've had my CT55 for nearly 3 months now, and there are only a couple of scratches on it. It feels great in the hand, produces excellent tone and projection from my instrument, and has changed the minds of the local guitar grunts at the music store who teased me about buying a $35 pick. The quality and craftsmanship is evident as soon as you hold it for the first time, and your greatest fear will soon becoming careless and losing it. The customer service at Blue Chip is excellent. Very polite, knowledgeable of their products, and patient every time I called. It makes a huge difference when you have the right tools for the right job. I am supremely pleased with my experience as a Blue Chip customer.
Posted by Jack Crowley on 6th Jul 2016
You can tell these guys run a machine shop and are accustomed to tolerances measured in ten thousandths of an inch. The speed bevels are just right and uniform on all three sides.
It's a stiff pick with a fairly bright tone. The triangle points are just round enough to catch both strings of a mandolin evenly, even when cross picking at speed.
The pick material has a good finger grip, allowing a fairly relaxed hold.
Posted by Alan Wilson on 30th Jun 2016
The CT 55 is a great sounding fast pick but a liittle large in size for me...The TP 50 is my pick of choice. I play a '73 Martin D35 and the tone is xllnt with TP 50...A very versatile pick...Thnx for all you do. Alan Wilson...NE Alabama
Posted by Douglas on 27th Jun 2016
I previously used a Golden Gate mandolin pick, a thick, rounded three sided pick and used it for years, always pleased with tone and speed. I noticed an immediate improvement switching to the CT 55, both in terms of speed and in being able to relax my grip more because the Blue Chip is stickier, as advertised. Also the tone wasn't sacrificed in the change over to a sharper point. I got better articulation without undue harshness, which I'd experienced in other picks I've used from Red Bear. It's smooth playing and smooth on the ears.
Posted by Jeff Brown on 25th Jun 2016
I own three of the CT55s, I am amazed at the clear and glassy tones that come from it, I can't compare it to any other mandolin pick out there! Jeff Brown, The Paces Mountain Band
Posted by david gerthung on 21st Jun 2016
This is the second pick i bought. The first pick was bought 6 years ago and has very little wear and tear on it. I needed another one for my other mandolin. They bring alot of tone out of your instrument and slide on the strings easily.
Posted by Gene Siler on 15th Jun 2016
I have been playing mostly acoustic lately, and someone that I play bluegrass with introduced me to the pick. He will not play with any other pick. I thought that it was nice and made playing easier. However, when I was just playing alone, playing what I wanted, I started playing blues on acoustic. The pick can drive the acoustic like no other and make hammer ons and pull offs loud and easy. I use it daily, and I carry it in my pocket daily everywhere I go. I did not have that habit until introduced to BlueChip. Its worth every penny.
Posted by Jim on 10th Jun 2016
Well worth the cost. Took some time to get used to the larger size of my CT 55 but now I find it more comfortable than smaller picks and the tone it produces is noticeably better. Best pick i have ever used.
Posted by Mike Fox on 7th Jun 2016
At first I said "$35 for a pick? That's crazy!". Then I got one for my birthday, and I played it. It is a unique and wonderful experience. The tone is bright but full. They seem to hold up nicely. The bevel is just the right angle. I bought two more.
Don't think of the $35 in relation to other picks. Think of it in relation to the price of your instrument. If you have a nice instrument, and you want it to sound better than it ever has before, $35 is not too much to pay.