TD40

When I begain taking mandolin lessons 18 months ago one of the hardest things for me was finding the right pick. None I tried sounded good to me - let alone feeling right in my hand. I tried so many different ones even the tortoise shell pick my instructor uses and has had for decades. It sounded good but didn't feel right and of course you can't get them but, the bluechip pick TD - 40 was right - sounded great and feels really comfortable in the hand. Beside a great pick this place if full of great people as well. I have had nothing but great experiences in all my dealings with them.

I'm on my third TD40 pick only because I lost the first two. I'm a luthier by trade and have played guitar for 45 years. All other picks "fray" on the edges at a micro level This causes drag and notching very quickly. Even a great guitars tone and playability are adversely effected by a worn pick. Blue Chip picks don't fray - they stay as smooth as glass regardless of how much they are played. The Blue chip pick is worth every penny and I would gladly pay double if they came with a micro chip to help me find the ones that run away on me!

I've been a serious musician for over 40 years on multiple stringed instruments, and have tried just about every pick known to man. Loved the real TS one I had in the '70s (but lost); apparently now they'll lock you up if you even dream of having one. It wore terribly, and I was constantly sanding and polishing the edges. Plastics never sounded right. I used Tortex for years, and eventually acrylic, buffalo horn, and several other materials... always looking for the "perfect" pick. I had almost given up when I found the Blue Chip. I started out with a TD-80 for my mando (I had been using a 2.5 mm buffalo horn that I made, which brought out great tone, but wore really bad). So I thought the 2 mm BC might be a good match. Boy, was I right! I couldn't believe the sound I got out of the old girl!! Silky-smooth, extremely fast, and NO wear!! I thought to myself "could this be true? Have I actually found the PERFECT pick"? I was skeptical, so I really played a lot with this little beauty, trying to "abuse" it. NO wear! In my "testing phase," I would have re-polished the horn pick 3 or 4 times. Wow. OK, so how will it hold up to the old Martin bone? This particular gauge sounded awful! How could this be? It brought out such stellar tones on the mando, how could it make the D'Addarios on the bone sound like they were dead out of the package?? This is when I realized why BC offers so many gauge options! I have always used a "board" because I play bluegrass, and love to flat-pick fast; a thick pick works well for my style. I took a shot and ordered a TD-40 (1mm thick). Again, I was right on the money! I anxiously ripped the pick out of the packaging (which is well-done), and almost pulled something trying to get my guitar out so fast - couldn't wait to hear this pick. First strum... wow! The more I played, the more I absolutely fell in love with this pick! My HD-28 is an '89 model (still a toddler in Martin years), but has always been a cannon. Now it's a 16" deck gun off the Missouri battleship!! I am blown-away by the difference in volume and tone! The sustain is incredible! I know this is a long review, but it's been a long time since I've been so thoroughly satisfied with a product! I've spent so much money on instruments and accessories over the years, I don't regret spending $85 for two of the best picks on the planet! Remember - the pick you use is a VERY integral part of the sound that comes out of your instrument, just as much as string brand & gauge, instrument quality, and playing style. Do yourself a favor, if your ear is trained enough to know the difference in pick sounds, get yourself a Blue Chip; you will NOT regret it!

My luthier here in GA recommended this pick for both recording and live performance and I was skeptical until I tried it - my luthier is a believer in Blue Chip and uses them on his gigs and now both my wife and I have become Blue Chip players ... in the past I have used everything from a 5p British coin to a standard nylon plectrum to a smooth stone for a pick but nothing comes close! Try one and you will see - there is nothing like it!

The combination of material and Blue Chip's attention to detail is what makes this pick worth the money. I have used hundreds of different picks, inlcuding 2 old TS picks, and this one tops them all.

This pick is worth the money. I love the smooth action across the strings.

The feel and sound are better by far than any other pick I've used.

I will not need another pick.. This is the one for me.

Everything that I look for in a pick is right here with the BlueChip. I use the TD40 for my flatpicking and a TD50 for the mandolin. No string flap, the pick glides off the attack perfectly for great speed and the tone produced has the perfect amount of high end. The only problem I have had is keeping track of them! As far as I can tell, they may be indestructible as I have the very first one I ever bought over 2 years ago!