Great video - nice to see a comparison of various types of picks. I was especially interested in hearing the tortoise shell. Oh the time I have spent comparing picks. It always comes back to the Blue Chip for me.
Hmm... I can't tell the difference but I'm listening to this on a Smartphone. To me I FEEL the difference in picks when I USE them... Thanks for sharing.
Great video. After several weeks of research on pick tone i took ur lead n beveled n polished all my picks of various tonal qualities. The result was that, once beveled n polished, they all sounded the same except one was warm n another may be brighter. Some of that had to do with material but also thickness. But that was the only difference. The bevel n polish made them all sound better, clearer n smoother as to sound n usability. So the decision for tone in a pick is simple. Use a warmer pick for bright guitars n a bright pick for warmer guitars. The thicker the pick the warmer it will be. Tortex is warmer than ultex. Once beveled n polished they both sound good. The only pick i have been blown away by for its increased harmonics musical quality is a casein. Ty u for the most informative video.
I've come to really enjoy beveled picks. I've used the Dunlop Primetone picks, Blue Chip, and the D'Addario Casein Chris Thiele pick, and they're all amazing to play. Never liked the feel of thick picks, until I got these beveled ones.
Hi, I was surprised how quickly Dunlop came out wuth the dirty brown primetones to emulate Blue Chips but tey feel dead to me, and, of course aren't made with vespal, but they're an OK pick. I got the Chris Thile Casein pick, it's OK (ish) but way over priced for the material used which distorts with hand heat. Also a bit sneaky as ChrisThile worked with Blue Chip to develop the CT series.
@@SillyMoustache I feel like the Primetones are a budget version of the Blue Chip picks. Sure they're not as refined sounding, but also they cost a fraction of the price, and on stage I'd much rather have something I wouldn't mind losing as much, which also does the job to a degree. Yea, the casein pick distorts really badly, and for that it is overpriced. The tone is definitely nice though, I think.
Interesting as always Andy, may have to try this - I usually use Ultex (.6) though I would happily transfer my allegiance to any pick that avoids the dreaded rotating pick syndrome!
Thanks for the insight on the topic. On my speakers, I had a hard time hearing a difference. As you say, if it has a difference in the feel as you play the guitar, that is definitely a difference worth considering.
I could hear a distinct different tone with the BlueChip. Never used or saw one before this video but definatlely a difference. The others sounded like normal guitar picks nothing more. Thanks for uploading. Apparently tortois shell picks are now illigal. Wonder how many died for the pleasure of playing a guitar with a pick, or plectrum.
Hi Edmund, i think that the "magic" of he Blue Chips are two fold - they seem to have a very slow material resistance so slide off the strings very easily, and also that, maybe because of that, you hear the sound of the strings, and not the sound of the pick. Thanks for watching.
@@SillyMoustache Absolutely. I play electric and when using the dirty or crunch sound all you can hear is the noise of the pick. So irritating. I watched a few good players on TH-cam and they seem to have the same problem. "That damn pick click". I have a few 3mm which I'm busy putting a bevel on, so yeah let's see if I can downscale that click noise somewhat. Thanks again.
What do you use to polish and bevel them? An easy way to sharpen the tip is to swipe the pick across carpet like you're writing a j except instead of going left you go vertical if that makes since, do it 3 or 4 times per side for 30 seconds switching back and forth and you'll have a nice sharp tip. But id you could tell me how you bevel yours thsts be great because I love bevels
Can you give any tips on how to maintain the speed bevels using a polishing pick block or similar ? I buy Hawk picks from the UK at $12-$15 euro and they are to me the best material and bevel for playing my Greek bouzouki which requires a lot of picking and chords/arpeggios as well. I have a guitar pick polishing block I bought from Red Bear picks I believe but I just don’t want to ruin the bevel if you know what I mean. Thank you for any advice Tim USA
I can hear the differences especially in the bevels on the first guitar. I'm going to have to try the bevels. Question: you say you feel the difference playing but do you hear the differences while playing? Have you tried any of the Taylor beveled picks? That Blue Chip sings differently and nicely. Better to hesr with headphones. Thanks good comparison.
Hi Tex, Yes I do Hear the difference inasmuch as I hear the rasping of the unfinished picks mostly on the Tortex ones, but I feel it at the same time, and so the more smothly the pick pases over the string, the faster/easier it feels to pay cleanly. No, I haven't seen or tried the Taylor picks. I haven't tried Taylor picks but thanks to you, I have looked at them. I see that they are available in 346 triangles but are not bevelled so, as I've done my expermimnting and settled on my "lifetime" investment of Bluechips, I don't really appeal. This is my video on how I bevelled picks some time ago : th-cam.com/video/OM4rnxziq_c/w-d-xo.html Thanks for watching.
@@SillyMoustache thanks for the demo. I wonder if one of those knife sharpeners would help shape or start the bevel. I have a number of grits for the polishing. My son likes the shape of pick you use but I use the tear drop shape like Molly Tuttle. Thanks. Gives me something new to try during COVID restrictions.
I've been bevelling the big purple triangle to good effect. Is it worth adding the ultex to my collection? I'm not sure about my primetones, and can't afford the bluechip.
Hi Banjo, well done. I did also try my process on the ultex, and yes it worked but took abut twice as much work, as they really are made of tougher stuff.
Hi Joel, Yes, I meant to say that, and did in an earlier take, but forgot in this one. TS is / was good, but there are simply better materials now as in the Blue Chips. I should be paid for endorsing them but they are truly the best I've found. Keep safe. A
I love all your videos about picks!
Really? thanks!
@@SillyMoustache Haha ye, quite geeky about picks myself ;)
Great video - nice to see a comparison of various types of picks. I was especially interested in hearing the tortoise shell. Oh the time I have spent comparing picks. It always comes back to the Blue Chip for me.
Absolutely - apart from my 12 strings - I prefer the Wegens for them - subtlety not required! Thanks for watching.
I don't use a pick, but your video was interesting to listen to, just the same. Thank you for sharing.
Hi Angie, thanks as always.
Thanks for taking the time to make this. Always brilliant!
Wow thanks Tom. Any other ideas as to what you'd like to see from me?
Hmm... I can't tell the difference but I'm listening to this on a Smartphone. To me I FEEL the difference in picks when I USE them... Thanks for sharing.
I totally agree! The Blue chips actually feel easier to play wit - less resistance and cleaner off the string. Thanks for watching.
Great video. After several weeks of research on pick tone i took ur lead n beveled n polished all my picks of various tonal qualities. The result was that, once beveled n polished, they all sounded the same except one was warm n another may be brighter. Some of that had to do with material but also thickness. But that was the only difference. The bevel n polish made them all sound better, clearer n smoother as to sound n usability. So the decision for tone in a pick is simple. Use a warmer pick for bright guitars n a bright pick for warmer guitars. The thicker the pick the warmer it will be. Tortex is warmer than ultex. Once beveled n polished they both sound good. The only pick i have been blown away by for its increased harmonics musical quality is a casein. Ty u for the most informative video.
Hi, It's great to hear/read that someone has benefitted from my video! Thanks for letting me know!
I've come to really enjoy beveled picks. I've used the Dunlop Primetone picks, Blue Chip, and the D'Addario Casein Chris Thiele pick, and they're all amazing to play. Never liked the feel of thick picks, until I got these beveled ones.
Hi, I was surprised how quickly Dunlop came out wuth the dirty brown primetones to emulate Blue Chips but tey feel dead to me, and, of course aren't made with vespal, but they're an OK pick. I got the Chris Thile Casein pick, it's OK (ish) but way over priced for the material used which distorts with hand heat. Also a bit sneaky as ChrisThile worked with Blue Chip to develop the CT series.
@@SillyMoustache I feel like the Primetones are a budget version of the Blue Chip picks. Sure they're not as refined sounding, but also they cost a fraction of the price, and on stage I'd much rather have something I wouldn't mind losing as much, which also does the job to a degree. Yea, the casein pick distorts really badly, and for that it is overpriced. The tone is definitely nice though, I think.
Interesting as always Andy, may have to try this - I usually use Ultex (.6) though I would happily transfer my allegiance to any pick that avoids the dreaded rotating pick syndrome!
Go for it! the Dunlop large triangles aren't expensive so worth a try before you invest in Blue Chip picks! Take care, Trouble Joe (love that handle!)
Thanks for the insight on the topic. On my speakers, I had a hard time hearing a difference. As you say, if it has a difference in the feel as you play the guitar, that is definitely a difference worth considering.
The bevel allows the pick to "slide" for gently across the strings enabling faster, smoother and more precise picking.
@@SillyMoustache Thanks. I'll look for your video about doing that bevel.
@@MountainHomeJerrel th-cam.com/video/OM4rnxziq_c/w-d-xo.html
I could hear a distinct different tone with the BlueChip. Never used or saw one before this video but definatlely a difference. The others sounded like normal guitar picks nothing more. Thanks for uploading. Apparently tortois shell picks are now illigal. Wonder how many died for the pleasure of playing a guitar with a pick, or plectrum.
Hi Edmund, i think that the "magic" of he Blue Chips are two fold - they seem to have a very slow material resistance so slide off the strings very easily, and also that, maybe because of that, you hear the sound of the strings, and not the sound of the pick. Thanks for watching.
@@SillyMoustache Absolutely. I play electric and when using the dirty or crunch sound all you can hear is the noise of the pick. So irritating. I watched a few good players on TH-cam and they seem to have the same problem. "That damn pick click". I have a few 3mm which I'm busy putting a bevel on, so yeah let's see if I can downscale that click noise somewhat. Thanks again.
I had the same revelation, but with a large triangle vpick :) Now I polish and bevel every pick I use.
Hi, good idea, thks for watching.
What do you use to polish and bevel them? An easy way to sharpen the tip is to swipe the pick across carpet like you're writing a j except instead of going left you go vertical if that makes since, do it 3 or 4 times per side for 30 seconds switching back and forth and you'll have a nice sharp tip. But id you could tell me how you bevel yours thsts be great because I love bevels
have you tried dunlop primetone? they are hand beveled i love them
Hi Yes I have. I'm afraid I find them ... "dead" - and scratchy -no good for me.
Can you give any tips on how to maintain the speed bevels using a polishing pick block or similar ? I buy Hawk picks from the UK at $12-$15 euro and they are to me the best material and bevel for playing my Greek bouzouki which requires a lot of picking and chords/arpeggios as well. I have a guitar pick polishing block I bought from Red Bear picks I believe but I just don’t want to ruin the bevel if you know what I mean. Thank you for any advice
Tim
USA
Hi Tim, this video may help : th-cam.com/video/OM4rnxziq_c/w-d-xo.html
@@SillyMoustache thank you
The beveled picks had more overall tone and much less of a plastic scraping sound on the strings.
Absolutely!
I can hear the differences especially in the bevels on the first guitar. I'm going to have to try the bevels. Question: you say you feel the difference playing but do you hear the differences while playing? Have you tried any of the Taylor beveled picks? That Blue Chip sings differently and nicely. Better to hesr with headphones. Thanks good comparison.
Hi Tex, Yes I do Hear the difference inasmuch as I hear the rasping of the unfinished picks mostly on the Tortex ones, but I feel it at the same time, and so the more smothly the pick pases over the string, the faster/easier it feels to pay cleanly. No, I haven't seen or tried the Taylor picks. I haven't tried Taylor picks but thanks to you, I have looked at them. I see that they are available in 346 triangles but are not bevelled so, as I've done my expermimnting and settled on my "lifetime" investment of Bluechips, I don't really appeal. This is my video on how I bevelled picks some time ago : th-cam.com/video/OM4rnxziq_c/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for watching.
@@SillyMoustache thanks for the demo. I wonder if one of those knife sharpeners would help shape or start the bevel. I have a number of grits for the polishing. My son likes the shape of pick you use but I use the tear drop shape like Molly Tuttle. Thanks. Gives me something new to try during COVID restrictions.
I've been bevelling the big purple triangle to good effect. Is it worth adding the ultex to my collection? I'm not sure about my primetones, and can't afford the bluechip.
Hi Banjo, well done. I did also try my process on the ultex, and yes it worked but took abut twice as much work, as they really are made of tougher stuff.
God Bless you!!
Thank you,
Blue chip sound gorgeous
I think so too. Thanks for watching!
Normal play will provide some bevel when wearing in. I have done this as well. Nothing beats real tortise shell IMHO. Of course, I am no flatpicker...
Hi Joel, Yes, I meant to say that, and did in an earlier take, but forgot in this one. TS is / was good, but there are simply better materials now as in the Blue Chips. I should be paid for endorsing them but they are truly the best I've found. Keep safe. A
Do you have the same preference for mandolin? Thanks for the video!
Hi, Yes, after years using one TS pick, I replaced it with a BC TAD50 -3r, and it islouider cleaner and faster. Thanks for watching me ramble on.
Bevel does sound less harsh here and nicer
Yes, I regards mouldedpicks without bevels and highly polished all over as unfinished products
Does the ultex picks not come bevelled?
Nope - slightly better than just stamped - but not bevelled.
More power to the nerdy. George in Montana
All hail the needs! Thanks for watching.
bluechip blew them all away.
I think so too.
@@SillyMoustache interesting if bluechip made nuts and saddles.
@@anthonykelly5 Interesting thought - but cutting and polishing the grooves would be a challenge for some techs, and the colour ??
dunlop primetone is as good as bluechip to me, they have the hand bevels on them
tortoise shell is very bright
Depending on thickness and bevelling, yes.