Jim Shank - Posted - 05/26/2017:  21:46:01

From the recording I've come to the conclusion that it doesn't matter which pick you choose. If your banjo sounds good and you can pull some decent tone either one will sound great.

It comes down to how it feels on your thumb and how it works for you. The advantage of the Blue Chip is it doesn't break or get "scratchy". But it doesn't always fit a person's thumb or play as well as a plastic pick like the clown barf. Also, clown barf doesn't get scratchy on me like the ivoroid picks do. White Nationals are pretty scratch free too.

banjoman56 - Posted - 05/29/2017:  05:57:47

N0. 1 Bluechip.
No.2 National.

gtani7 - Posted - 05/29/2017:  13:23:45

I can't tell from the recordings but the BC jd Crowe and the KK clownies from American Made sound very different, the blue chip is less volume, warmer, some of that may be due to shorter blade.  I think the BC with bronze fingerpicks is a good match, and the KK clownies w/nickel silver.

Edited by - gtani7 on 05/29/2017 13:25:06

TOMCAT - Posted - 05/29/2017:  13:34:55

Ha. Go figure a guy goes to all the research and development to make a pick from NASA heat shields and it's biggest rival is clown barf😶😫 I think both are great picks

Grayson - Posted - 06/07/2017:  07:29:41

I think both sound great but each a little  different.  To me, the first one sounds a little  "bigger".  My guess is that it's the plastic thumb pick and the second is the Bluechip.  But that's just my opinion.   I think the biggest thing this shows is that you should use what works best for you.  BTW flathead, great playing and tone!

FlyinEagle - Posted - 06/07/2017:  07:59:23

I can definitely hear a difference.

As a blue chip user I would love the 1st to be the bluechip, because I like it more, but I think the 1st one is the national.

drmaguy - Posted - 06/07/2017:  18:17:19

Acri brass picks -feels good- sounds good to me

flatthead - Posted - 06/09/2017:  15:51:46

Sorry for taking so long to respond.   Pick number 1 was the Plastic pick and number 2 was the bluechip. 

banjoez - Posted - 06/09/2017:  17:05:26

quote:

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Originally posted by flatthead

 

Sorry for taking so long to respond.   Pick number 1 was the Plastic pick and number 2 was the bluechip. 

 

 

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Thanks Jim. Good test. The Blue Chip is definitely missing something in comparison. Duller tone.

gospelman97 - Posted - 08/10/2017:  12:24:15

Well, Blue Chip now has a thumbpick with the blade designed like a clown barf thumbpick from the 70's.  Russ Carson has worked with the guys at Blue Chip to make this happen.  And you can order it in MEDIUM!!!

Here is a video of Russ talking about the process:

youtu.be/jDZ41rbI9K0?t=3m42s

Edited by - gospelman97 on 08/10/2017 12:24:48

banjoez - Posted - 08/11/2017:  06:07:46

Thanks for the heads-up Bryan. Looks like a real comfy design. It will be interesting to see if it livens up the tone compared to a normal BC.

gospelman97 - Posted - 08/11/2017:  06:20:50

quote:

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Originally posted by banjoez

 

Thanks for the heads-up Bryan. Looks like a real comfy design. It will be interesting to see if it livens up the tone compared to a normal BC.

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Mine should arrive by Monday.  I will let you know.  Just by looking at the sharper point and less rounding around the tip, one would think that it should be a bit brighter.  

Edited by - gospelman97 on 08/11/2017 06:21:09

FlyinEagle - Posted - 08/11/2017:  07:27:29

quote:

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Originally posted by gospelman97

 

quote:

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Originally posted by banjoez

 

Thanks for the heads-up Bryan. Looks like a real comfy design. It will be interesting to see if it livens up the tone compared to a normal BC.

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Mine should arrive by Monday.  I will let you know.  Just by looking at the sharper point and less rounding around the tip, one would think that it should be a bit brighter.  

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Does that mean we have another "side by side" comparison video to look forward to???

gospelman97 - Posted - 08/11/2017:  07:29:48

quote:

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Originally posted by FlyinEagle

 

quote:

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Originally posted by gospelman97

 

quote:

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Originally posted by banjoez

 

Thanks for the heads-up Bryan. Looks like a real comfy design. It will be interesting to see if it livens up the tone compared to a normal BC.

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Mine should arrive by Monday.  I will let you know.  Just by looking at the sharper point and less rounding around the tip, one would think that it should be a bit brighter.  

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Does that mean we have another "side by side" comparison video to look forward to???

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Well, I can do one.  I highly doubt that you could tell much difference on a recording. Maybe in a studio setup you could.  I will evaluate them and see if a video is warranted.

pickin_fool - Posted - 08/11/2017:  14:29:10

i musta been living in a cave..on mars..i have never heard of clown barf till now

larry214 - Posted - 08/11/2017:  20:09:05

I agree with Joe Z (banjoez) I have a National from the early 70s that just sounds great, I have a J D Crowe BlueChip.. that is for me the most comfortable TP by far. But is simply sounds dead by comparison especially on the 4th string. I just recently had Elderly toss in a couple Clown yaks with my last order. I would say they are definately in the same class as the National for tone.. just thinner by comparison and have a little more give or flex. For now.. the BlueChip just watches me play.

Kenneth Logsdon - Posted - 08/11/2017:  20:32:32

Advantage, cheap (or was) buy a handful, pitch into each case and use interchangeably... And you will never be caught with your pants down when something happens to "that" expensive boutique pick"..

overhere - Posted - 08/12/2017:  06:39:35

I use a simple ol' medium National or Dunlop....not by choice but whats in the store at the time. I make them sound the way I want by sanding the back of the blade to match the texture of my (ol' national) finger picks....I use mediums because they fit extra tight and never come off. downside, I break a lot of thumb picks so like kenneth I buy 'em by the bag full

gtani7 - Posted - 08/12/2017:  08:49:01

quote:

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Originally posted by pickin_fool

 

i musta been living in a cave..on mars..i have never heard of clown barf till now

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Confetti or multicolor patchwork picks is a nicer description