XR50

I play several instruments and am accustomed to using a wide variety of picks. After taking the plunge with my first "expensive" pick, this one is my fourth and most recent. They are all great. Pay attention and just don't lose it and the pick will pay for itself just as it almost seems to "play" for itself.

I know the raw material these picks are made from is expensive--it's like $5000 wholesale for a 12-inch square block one inch thick. But I chose this shape because it has such nice tone against the string (not as bright as a more sharply pointed pick). It gives a more rounded tone. It also looks like the same shape Pat Metheny plays, and that influenced me a bit. It is essentially the exact same size and shape as the "Dawg" picks you can buy for a dollar made of plastic. Great tone, great for guitar or mandolin, fantastic tone, super long lasting. The folks at Blue Chip are very easy to deal with. Quick delivery too (about 5 business days to come, non expedited, in the mail). Totally worth it because it lasts way longer than 50 plastic picks.

After faithfully using Dawg picks for over a decade, I bought an XR50, because among the Blue Chip offerings, it most closely resembled the Dawg in feel and shape. At first I was skeptical of any pick commanding a $35 price tag, but after a few minutes of playing, found myself really warming up to it. There's a very organic feel to whatever material (unicorn horn?) these picks are made of that make them very easy to grip lightly, and they feel more natural than the Dawg, with more ring and warmth to the tone. I was hooked. I bought my XR50 in September of 2010 and have used this same pick almost exclusively since. After four years of heavy use, it still plays and sounds great. The most compelling quality about Blue Chip picks (aside from the superior tone and feel) is their longevity. I originally tried the XR60 but found it a bit too tubby sounding for my taste, but later had a special XR55 made, which also sounds great. As long as you don't lose your Blue Chip, it'll last forever.