HookedOnBluegrass - Posted - 02/04/2009:  14:42:09

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Just talked with Mathew from Blue Chip and they have just released a new pick shape per JD's style and taste. They worked closely with JD to achieve exactly what he wanted out of the pick. I think I will like the JD model better only because the blade is slightly smaller than the standard Blue Chip that I play now. There's a lot more info on the web site.



http://bluechippick.net/

Practice makes "better".

dpeters - Posted - 02/04/2009:  15:29:19

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I haven't come across these picks before, are they good..?
Dave

lethegoodtimesroll - Posted - 02/04/2009:  15:47:13

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I might ask who would spend $40.00 for a thumbpick?

HookedOnBluegrass - Posted - 02/04/2009:  16:13:02

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They are a very nice pick. They are very smooth off the strings with tone like tourtise without the wear or maintence needed. The band fits the thumb like a ring and it doesn't swell or get slip from heat or bearing down. Some folks have complained about the price of the pick but it is a component that you use every time you play the banjo or guitar. Why not have a pick that you like and have confidence in?

Practice makes "better".

Sheldon - Posted - 02/04/2009:  16:30:32

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I will pony up the cash . . . .The thumb pick will make a nice match for my Shelor finger picks.

Sheldon

banjojason88 - Posted - 02/04/2009:  18:12:44

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Just because there is a signature thumb pick does not mean that JD uses it. Although I know that JD would not put his name on something that wasn't extremely high quality. With this being said, I will probably sink $40 on one of these picks.

arnie fleischer - Posted - 02/04/2009:  19:08:58

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There's a long recent thread in this forum on this topic - "Blue Chip Thumbpicks - Wow." The latest post was just a couple of days ago.

lethegoodtimesroll - Posted - 02/04/2009:  22:13:18

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JD endorses Gibson banjos..........Does he play a new Gibson banjo?..............no.

cardinbanjo - Posted - 02/04/2009:  22:47:20

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Maybe not but he plays a really nice old Gibson, and who cares that is between him and Gibson.

cardinbanjo

PyrPups - Posted - 02/05/2009:  14:10:07

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quote:

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Originally posted by lethegoodtimesroll

I might ask who would spend $40.00 for a thumbpick?

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One who values comfort and quality...

silvioferretti - Posted - 02/05/2009:  14:21:46

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"JD endorses Gibson banjos..........Does he play a new Gibson banjo?..............no."

Well, Chris, matter of fact he does sometimes... If you sift through the bazillion pages of the photo thread that Dean Hoffmeyer started a couple years ago you'll find JD with his personal Crowe Model RB-75. You'll recognize it by the new tuners, Snuffy Smith bridge, immaculate nickel plating, brand new strap etc. I'm not 100% sure it's got the original tone ring though . I don't mean the Gibson Crowe ring is not great, it is, but I heard through the grapevine that JD may have changed it for another ring of his choice...

"Just once I would like to hear you scream in pain" "Play some rap music..." Bruce Willis on The Last Boy Scout.

Silvio Ferretti http://www.scorpionmusic.com

JamesTanglewylde - Posted - 02/05/2009:  14:43:49

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If I played one of these picks and really liked it, I would probably by one. Picks to the banjo are like a bow to the fiddle. And as for the price, if I buy one I'll just cut back on beers for the next couple of weeks!

JamesTanglewylde

renofan52 - Posted - 02/05/2009:  21:25:34

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how long are these thumbpicks supposed to last?


"This is what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object."
-Heath Ledger, "The Dark Knight"

lethegoodtimesroll - Posted - 02/06/2009:  06:03:48

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[quote]Originally posted by renofan52

how long are these thumbpicks supposed to last?


"Well for $40.00 they should last at least 10 years

PyrPups - Posted - 02/06/2009:  14:47:43

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There's probably already a Pac-Rim clone in the works. That way we'll have a $30 pick made with $2 worth of material to compare it with.

eagleisland - Posted - 02/06/2009:  16:43:29

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Just got off the phone with Matthew Goins about a half hour ago. The JD pick is shaped to match the shape of Crowe's favorite thumb pick - it's a little shorter in blade length than the standard Blue Chip thumb pick and has a bit more curve to the leading edge than the standard.

Matthew also gave me some guidance in shaping the prototype I've been playing with. I shall be spending some time with abrasives this weekend - but my guess is that the pick will end up being very much like the JD - and I'll probably order one of those as a spare.

Matthew told me he spent most of the day at Crowe's house last weekend, where and when the pick was created. Crowe gave very specific requests on optimizing the shape - Matthew said he was removing thousandths at a time. And then Crowe reportedly played with it for about five hours and was thrilled. Bottom line is that you shouldn't be surprised to see a metal band on his thumb at his next gig.

I've played with these picks enough to know that they're something special. And I've talked to Matthew enough to know that he's the real deal, too.

eagleisland

"I was halfway to Old Kentucky when the drugs began to kick in." - Hunter S. Monroe

PyrPups - Posted - 02/06/2009:  20:20:57

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They definitely are special Skip! Comfort is unreal!

farley - Posted - 02/07/2009:  02:06:50

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I think if they are charging $40.00 for these picks...J.D. should show up at my house and carry my banjo to my gigs. They're making more than most anyplace wants to pay anymore. Heck, maybe he could play the show for me, and I'd gladly give him the $40.00. Farley

eagleisland - Posted - 02/07/2009:  12:38:35

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Early this afternoon, I did a little 'surgery' on my BlueChip prototype to adjust the blade shape a little. I wanted it a little shorter and with more curvature in the leading edge of the blade (the one closest to the end of the thumb)

Matthew suggested doing the initial shaping with 220 grit, then following up and putting the edge bevel on with 600, then final buffing with 1000.

I'm a short-cut kinda guy. I did the first two steps as stated but did the final polishing with a Dremel tool with polishing pad and Dremel polishing compound.

Got the shape and length exactly where I wanted it.

This is the pick. No, let me take that back - for me, this is THE pick.

eagleisland

"I was halfway to Old Kentucky when the drugs began to kick in." - Hunter S. Monroe

walleye - Posted - 02/07/2009:  13:12:39

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I have been using a medium blue chip since I got it at the Banjothon in January. I never thought I would change the type of pick I used (old nationals, golden gate, dunlop), but these are better, in my humble opinion than anything I've used. As to the price, who would have ever thought that we would be forking out $100 or more bucks for a capo? All I can say is "try it You'll like it". Wall

walleye

Kel Kroydon - Posted - 02/07/2009:  13:20:30

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Well walleye...you sure could use all the help you can get !

jmillsapps - Posted - 02/08/2009:  04:34:21

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Walleye, I would have tried that pick Saturday but I thought you said Buffalo Chip pick! Jim

walleye - Posted - 02/08/2009:  07:41:26

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I dont think anything would help that old junk of yours sound better, Jim. Just let me know when you want me to pick it up and haul it off for you.

walleye

HookedOnBluegrass - Posted - 02/08/2009:  15:54:00

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I have been playing the standard thumbpick but I am going to get one of the Crowe models for sure.

Practice makes "better".

Justaused2b - Posted - 02/09/2009:  06:10:48

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so now we can play our "J.D. Crowe" Gibson 75's OR Blackjacks with our "J.D. Crowe" GHS strings Stage OR studio with our "J.D. Crowe" Thumbpick. Hot daamn! JD is the new Earl, and he lived long enough to see it...lol

now to get that "J.D. Crowe" Strap and head made and I'll sound just like JD did 60 some years ago when he was a baby.

Banjov1 - Posted - 02/09/2009:  09:49:36

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I'm a little hesitant to buy one of these picks sight unseen. I've bought too many expensive fingerpicks that I currently don't use. So the idea of going through $90 on two picks to try both flavors of these Blue Chip thumbpicks is somewhat discouraging.

I love the concept of a pick that lasts for a long time w/o the scratching and seems to glide across the strings well. But I've heard from a couple of folks who have actually played these things and one or two postings on this sight that the original pick was a little "thin" for their tastes'.

Is the new JD Crowe pick any thicker than the original?

Is there any way I could try one of these thumb picks out in the Baltimore area w/o buying first?

Tony

BANJOBOB549 - Posted - 02/09/2009:  11:11:55

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quote:

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Originally posted by banjojason88

Just because there is a signature thumb pick does not mean that JD uses it. Although I know that JD would not put his name on something that wasn't extremely high quality. With this being said, I will probably sink $40 on one of these picks.

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As of last night he was using one, Said it was the slickest, non scratching material he had seen or played. Was very impressed with the sound that came from the pick,,,,,,,,

Bob

Sheldon - Posted - 02/09/2009:  14:09:31

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Tony
Call Matthew at (865) 803-9442 and spend a few minutes on the phone with him.
You won't feel that you are buying a pick "sight-unseen."

I talked to him today about a JD pick. The length of the blade is less than the standard pick.
I came away satisfied that I have enough information to make an intelligent choice now.


Sheldon

davepicks5 - Posted - 02/09/2009:  15:40:38

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All

Just received my JD pick in the mail......Yes, the blade is shorter than I am used to, having used a Large Golden Gate for several years, BUT....feels great, blade angle feels slightly different which, I believe, will cause me to attack the strings with a more parallel approach. I don't have the JD thumb joint, but then again there are lots of things about my playing that do not match JD, like near all things.

Slick, no scratchy tone and I believe an equal if not more balanced tone than from a Tshell style pick.

Unless I lose it.......this one will be with me for a long long time

David

davepicks5 - Posted - 02/09/2009:  15:41:41

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All

Just received my JD pick in the mail......Yes, the blade is shorter than I am used to, having used a Large Golden Gate for several years, BUT....feels great, blade angle feels slightly different which, I believe, will cause me to attack the strings with a more parallel approach. I don't have the JD thumb joint, but then again there are lots of things about my playing that do not match JD, like near all things.

Slick, no scratchy tone and I believe an equal if not more balanced tone than from a Tshell style pick.

Unless I lose it.......this one will be with me for a long long time

David

eagleisland - Posted - 02/09/2009:  16:42:26

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quote:

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Originally posted by Sheldon


Call Matthew at (865) 803-9442 and spend a few minutes on the phone with him.

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Having called Matthew roughly half a dozen times now, I can assure one and all that the above is impossible. It might happen in a parallel universe, but not in this one; Matthew loves to talk (and he's really good at it). He's worth listening to, though. Really nice guy, proud of his product, and darned interesting to boot. But don't call him if you're in a hurry.

quote:

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Originally posted by Sheldon


You won't feel that you are buying a pick "sight-unseen."

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On this we agree!

eagleisland

"I was halfway to Old Kentucky when the drugs began to kick in." - Hunter S. Monroe

banjolina - Posted - 02/09/2009:  18:03:46

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I got my JD Blue Chip thumb pick today and I am very impressed so far. The pick feels slick coming across the strings and is very bright sounding. It took a little while to get used to it but I like it so far. I have played it for about 2 hours tonight and not one bit of pick noise yet. I would highly recommend them to anyone.

Todd

mastertone250 - Posted - 02/10/2009:  03:56:53

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quote:

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Originally posted by Justaused2b

so now we can play our "J.D. Crowe" Gibson 75's OR Blackjacks with our "J.D. Crowe" GHS strings Stage OR studio with our "J.D. Crowe" Thumbpick. Hot daamn! JD is the new Earl, and he lived long enough to see it...lol

now to get that "J.D. Crowe" Strap and head made and I'll sound just like JD did 60 some years ago when he was a baby.

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Now the Only thing we need is our J.D Crowe FingerPicks.

Baby Earl

banjoman69 - Posted - 02/10/2009:  04:43:08

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I was using the slickpick and have used Nationals, Golden Gate, etc.. however, I just tried and bought a Blue Chip pick and while pricey, it will probably be my last as I will search no further. The tone is first and foremost that jumped out at me, and you don't have to worry about "wearing" grooves in it. I don't just buy because that's what a professional uses. It has to please me first, so even though J.D. is in love with it, I had to try it for myself. It is the real deal and the owner, Matthew Goins is a genuine, down to earth guy. No smokescreen there. Not saying that it is for everybody, but you might just want to try one before dismissing because of pricing.
Darrell Atkins


I''d rather be judged by twelve than carried by six. Gun control = perfect aim.

Sheldon - Posted - 02/10/2009:  11:33:02

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My JDL pick is "in the mail" as they say. That is opposed to being "in the mall". . . . .

I'm leaving now

Sheldon

R.T. - Posted - 02/10/2009:  11:43:56

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I believe my JDL pick is is in the mail also. I screwed up my order somehow and Matthew called me to straighten it out. What a pleasure to talk to someone who is actually trying to help.

BANJOS ARE FUN

Ron Terrell

foggycoast - Posted - 02/10/2009:  12:32:25

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Those of you that have one, can you talk about the flexibility of the pick. I use Zookies and they're thinner and more flexible than say a Golden Gate. I've tried Golden Gates and usually go back to the Zookie. I find that they have a little bit of flexibility which, to me, gives them more snap. With a thick pick your thumb is doing ALL the work, with the Zookie the snap does some of it.

Is the Blue Chip completely stiff like a Golden Gate?

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Edited by - foggycoast on 02/10/2009 12:32:47

banjoman69 - Posted - 02/10/2009:  12:55:43

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To me there is really not any "give" to the pick so to me it is as stiff as the golden gate, however, the "slickness" of the pick makes it come off of the string with a clean break which might be the snap you are referring to, or that is best as I can describe it. Again, may not be for everyone, but it was an eye/ear opening experience for me-

I''d rather be judged by twelve than carried by six. Gun control = perfect aim.

eagleisland - Posted - 02/10/2009:  14:01:27

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I would agree with the above. The blades are quite stiff - not much give in them at all - but they're so slippery that they shoot off the string like a rocket. It takes a little getting used to at first, but I've been finding that the pick is almost effortless to use and produces a really strong, clear note.

eagleisland

"I was halfway to Old Kentucky when the drugs began to kick in." - Hunter S. Monroe

banjolina - Posted - 02/10/2009:  17:00:55

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Foggy, I have been using Zookies for several years and really like them. I get a good flat blade across the strings and get good sound with them. I decided to try the blue chip and I don' t think I will go back. The band on the BC is extremely comfortable and gives a similar pick angle as the Zookies. The sound is much brighter and snappier with BC. I would highly recommend them to anyone.

Todd

HookedOnBluegrass - Posted - 02/10/2009:  18:07:17

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After I startd plying the Blue Chip it took me a day or two to get ued to the increased tone and zip off the strings. That being said after those first couple of days I have never lookd back to the plastic pick I used to play. Another thing that I have noticed is the better tone that I get from my fifth string when I'm using my capo. Before the fifth string was slightly dull but with the Blue Chip the fifth string has more volume and tone.

Practice makes "better".

HookedOnBluegrass - Posted - 02/11/2009:  17:44:39

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Well I just received my new JD model in the mail today. I haven't had much time to try it but so far it feels great! Just can't get over these new picks. They are a pick that fit my style and ear perfectly. You can tell that Blue Chip did their homework on these picks.

Practice makes "better".

jbalch - Posted - 02/14/2009:  06:55:12

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I bought a Blue Chip thumbpick at SPBGMA yesterday. I got there early before the crowd and they let me play several different picks for a good long while before buying one.

I bought an original style pick...even though I loved the sound of the JD model. The JD model blade was a little too short for me. I kept hitting the stainless steel band on my 5th string. I would have chosen the JD model if it were not for that. JDs design has a very fat tone. It also feels fast on the strings. He got it right...too bad my pickin' hand is not a little more accurate.

The original style pick sounds great too. It is a little brighter to my ear. The blade is longer and a tiny bit thinner. It feels very fast on the stings. I absolutely love what it does for the 3rd and 4th strings. The sound of my banjo is much more balanced than ever before. My thumb now matches the clarity and brightness of my fingerpicks.

As for the stainless steel band...it is very comfortable. The fit is great! It feels light and secure without being too tight. The blade material slides effortlessly on the strings...no scratching sound or feel at all...I love it!

Some will balk at the $40 price. But It is well worth the cost to me. I've got a whole bowl full of plastic picks on my desk (probably $40 worth or more). I was always polishing them trying to get a decent sound...and never really satisfied. But I'm done with that now...


www.johnbalchmusic.com
www.myspace.com/johnbalch

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Edited by - jbalch on 02/15/2009 13:28:45

pfunk - Posted - 02/14/2009:  08:50:16

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Another JD pick customer here. I really like the shorter length as compared to standard picks. It keeps me from scraping the head. They are extremely comfortable and no slipping issues so far and it seem that because of the way it wraps around your thumb it's nearly impossible to hang a string with it. In my novice opinion they are worth the money so far.

HookedOnBluegrass - Posted - 02/14/2009:  10:41:45

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Well I am set with the JD pick. The standard pick is great but the JD style pick really fits my style perfect. I'm set when it comes to my fingerpicks. Now if I can just learn to pick I will be doing good !

Practice makes "better".

Shimdog - Posted - 02/14/2009:  11:10:03

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I have been using the large Kel Kroydon thumb picks from American Made Banjo (AMB). I know they look just like the Golden Gate picks, but I swear they create a better tone than the Golden Gates...a bigger 4th string. Has anyone found the same or am I imagining things? All I know is that I really like them.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Sheldon - Posted - 02/14/2009:  14:33:49

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I got My JD pick today. I played a little . . . but wait till this evening!!
It is about 1mm shorter than my worn National, 3mm from the outside
of the thumb to the tip of the pick. I think I will be able to adjust to it
without much problem.

Sheldon

Banjov1 - Posted - 02/14/2009:  19:18:51

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quote:

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Originally posted by Shimdog

I have been using the large Kel Kroydon thumb picks from American Made Banjo (AMB). I know they look just like the Golden Gate picks, but I swear they create a better tone than the Golden Gates...a bigger 4th string. Has anyone found the same or am I imagining things? All I know is that I really like them.

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Hey Paul,

I'm really diggin the AMB Kel Kroydons. I probably haven't tried as many thumbpicks as most folks here. But I like the sound I'm gettin a lot more than what I was getting out of my Nationals and Dunlops.

That being said though, I'm really interested in these Blue Chip picks. I wish somebody in the Baltimore area was playin em. I'd love to try them out.

Tony

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Edited by - Banjov1 on 02/14/2009 19:20:52

rickr - Posted - 02/15/2009:  06:02:11

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quote:

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Originally posted by lethegoodtimesroll

I might ask who would spend $40.00 for a thumbpick?

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Easy,, a banjo playing executive at Fanny Mae, or Freddy Mac..

Congressional bailout picks.....

Rick