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lanemb - Posted - 04/16/2026: 19:07:12
I spent a lot of time recently trying different thumb picks. They each have their pluses and minuses.
I like the light weight and feel of the Giepel. I have played the most with it. The sound is a little tinny.
I like the BlueChip but it feels a little heavy to me. It took a lot of refining to get the shape acceptable to my playing. It has a good sound.
I have never liked plastic thumb picks. They break about the time I get one shaped the way I like it.
I really like the sound from the ToneSlab so I’ll be spending more time trying to get comfortable with it. It too took a lot of time to shape for preference.
What I really noticed when reviewing the picks and taking pictures is how much they differ in placement on my thumb. The point of the pick ranges from the front of my fingernail to the back of my fingernail. That is part of why they feel so different. It takes a little bit to get use too each when switching out.
What are your thoughts on the big difference in location in reference to the thumbnail?
Will Frady - Posted - 04/16/2026: 21:46:43
Ordered a tone slab in January and i am yet to receive it. They informed 2 weeks ago it’s was to be delivered the next day but like I said that was over two weeks ago, so that’s all I’ll say about “those” picks. Hard to beat blue chip. The Russ Carson sat too far back on my thumb and the blade was a little long. The Crowe didn’t sit back far enough and the blade was a little too short . I’ll stay with the Clown barf and Dunlop ultex . Tone slab can keep their pick !!
rvrose - Posted - 04/16/2026: 22:30:18
I've been playing with my new Toneslab for about a week. So far I like it better than the bluechip for two reasons. It sets closer to the end of my thumb, and it doesn't slip. I can't tell any difference in the sound. Hopefully it wears well.
Rick
lanemb - Posted - 04/17/2026: 04:40:57
quote:
Originally posted by Will Frady
Ordered a tone slab in January and i am yet to receive it. They informed 2 weeks ago it’s was to be delivered the next day but like I said that was over two weeks ago, so that’s all I’ll say about “those” picks. Hard to beat blue chip. The Russ Carson sat too far back on my thumb and the blade was a little long. The Crowe didn’t sit back far enough and the blade was a little too short . I’ll stay with the Clown barf and Dunlop ultex . Tone slab can keep their pick !!
The ToneSlab is a new product. I only got mine a couple weeks ago. I think they are having trouble getting them produced. They are unique in sound and feel.
Mastertone Banjo - Posted - 04/17/2026: 05:16:12
I typically size mine so they fit about the same. Blue Chip JD-L is my baseline and I just got 2 in the mail yesterday -I go through one or two a year. My only other comparable thumbpick is the Dunlop Ultex large. They are so tight I can only wear them for about one song. I am trying the bake & shape method at 425° but I don’t have them opened up enough yet. I have a plethora of plastic picks but they are not in the same league as BC or Ultex. Have not tried ProPick thumbpicks and am not even curious about the tone slabs…I have 3 of their guitar picks and they are very clicky on the strings. So…to the original question, I like to keep all of these picks in about the same position on my thumb for consistency…if I could not get it to that position it would be a hard pass.
Owen - Posted - 04/17/2026: 06:18:37
Onto a tangent, and not to be a Negative Nellie, but the ^^ pics look like the ^^ picks are all made for people with cylindrical thumbs rather than thumbs with some taper to them. 
lanemb - Posted - 04/17/2026: 10:18:47
quote:
Originally posted by Old Hickory
When I go to the thumbpicks page on the ToneSlabs website, there's only a text box saying "New products are coming soon!"
A couple months ago they had a preorder offer for when the shipment came in. I Just got it a couple weeks ago. I'll play with it a while to see how I really like it. At first glance I like the way it sounds coming off the strings.
Edited by - lanemb on 04/17/2026 10:27:18
lanemb - Posted - 04/17/2026: 10:23:42
quote:
Originally posted by Mastertone Banjo
I typically size mine so they fit about the same. Blue Chip JD-L is my baseline and I just got 2 in the mail yesterday -I go through one or two a year. My only other comparable thumbpick is the Dunlop Ultex large. They are so tight I can only wear them for about one song. I am trying the bake & shape method at 425° but I don’t have them opened up enough yet. I have a plethora of plastic picks but they are not in the same league as BC or Ultex. Have not tried ProPick thumbpicks and am not even curious about the tone slabs…I have 3 of their guitar picks and they are very clicky on the strings. So…to the original question, I like to keep all of these picks in about the same position on my thumb for consistency…if I could not get it to that position it would be a hard pass.
I agree with you on the thumb position. I'm just recently trying new thumb picks. I played years with the Giepel. I'm planning on adjusting the Blue Chip and ToneSlab to fit the thumb more like the Giepel. Then I'll settle into one depending on the results. I like the feel of the Giepel but I'm not as happy with its sound.
sunburst - Posted - 04/18/2026: 07:12:21
I experimented with "exotic" thumb picks for awhile, and once when my thumb pick broke during a jam, I grabbed a regular ol' plastic pick and kept playing. Know what? It sounded just fine. I've use plastic thumb picks ever since.
Plastic picks can be heated and shaped to fit, to adjust the position and angle of the actual 'pick' part, they are inexpensive, and they sound fine.
Right now I'm using a clear pick that is not "dobro" stamped, but National is fine, Golden Gate... anything not too bulky works fine for me.
Dean T - Posted - 04/18/2026: 11:12:42
I’ve been using the 75 cent metal Dunlop thumb pick I bought as a back up, at a festival 23 years ago. Used a needle nose to make it fit perfect, filed the machining lip off the tip, and polished it smooth. I’ve never had a desire to fix what isn’t broke. I’ve since gotten another one, just in case I ever loose the first one. New ones are awefull. The secret is in the tip… round the ridge off it and polish it, an walla.
Culloden - Posted - 04/25/2026: 15:21:37
quote:
Originally posted by Dean T
I’ve been using the 75 cent metal Dunlop thumb pick I bought as a back up, at a festival 23 years ago. Used a needle nose to make it fit perfect, filed the machining lip off the tip, and polished it smooth. I’ve never had a desire to fix what isn’t broke. I’ve since gotten another one, just in case I ever loose the first one. New ones are awefull. The secret is in the tip… round the ridge off it and polish it, an walla.
About 40 years ago, I bought a full set, Dunlop metal thumb pick and two finger picks, for 75 cents. I still use them sometimes. That was a pretty good investment.
chuckv97 - Posted - 04/25/2026: 15:33:54
I use an Ultex these days ,, I file and sand down the point somewhat. No more $35 Blue Chips for me since I lost mine a couple of years ago. The Ultex are (maybe were, before tariffs & wars) $9.99 for a pack of 3 and the sound and fit fine. Gabe Hirschfeld (RIP) liked them also.
Edited by - chuckv97 on 04/25/2026 15:34:48
Ralph Stanley legend - Posted - 04/26/2026: 03:30:32
For me, best tone ( clearly ) are the Dunlop Ultex, super clean. Just a wee bit small for my thumb but workable. Bluechip is a great option and I also use one. lastly the National Tortoise shell is a great option as well. They all work well however you cut the pie.
Regards
RB-1 - Posted - 04/26/2026: 04:03:08
Why is Geipel consistently written as Giepel?
lanemb - Posted - 04/26/2026: 04:30:01
I before E except after C. Makes me forget it every time.
RB-1 - Posted - 04/26/2026: 11:29:29
quote:
Originally posted by lanemb
I before E except after C. Makes me forget it every time.
Could you elaborate on that (I before E except after C)?
All because of me having learned both Engish and German, but not being a native speaker, some rules I still don't know.
I found out Geipels are a German brand (I started out with a similar pick in 1973, but I thought both fit and tone were horrible. I was lucky discovering the plastic picks (National and later Dunlop). Been playing with Dunlop Heavies Calico for ages now and happy. Tried Blue Chip, but found both fit and tone not to my liking (too agressive, similar to metal picks). If Ultex is similar to Blue Chip, there's no need for me to try.
My favorites:
lanemb - Posted - 04/26/2026: 19:43:24
quote:
Originally posted by RB-1
quote:
Originally posted by lanemb
I before E except after C. Makes me forget it every time.
Could you elaborate on that (I before E except after C)?
It was a spelling rule I learned in elementary school. I know Geipel doesn't follow that rule and I still type it incorrectly. There is always a grammar expert around to point out your mistakes!
chuckv97 - Posted - 04/26/2026: 21:12:01
quote:
Originally posted by RB-1
Why is Geipel consistently written as Giepel?
why of course, Bruno,, it's weird/wierd isn't it? lol . Maybe it should be "Gijpel"
Edited by - chuckv97 on 04/26/2026 21:15:51
Doug Knecht - Posted - 04/26/2026: 23:01:10
I still like the cheap Golden Gate Clown barf thumbpick, and oval 8's by Warren Yates for fingerpicks.
Edited by - Doug Knecht on 04/26/2026 23:08:54
slammer - Posted - 04/28/2026: 05:29:40
I’ve tried a bunch and the best tone I get is from a 99 cent Fred Kelly Speed Pick made of Delrin. Last a long time and pretty comfy too.
Slammer!!!
RK-FenderPartsBanjo07 - Posted - 04/28/2026: 10:26:34
I use a Bluechip JD Crowe, pushed as far back on my thumb as possible. I got the standard thickness but Im wondering if I shouldn't have gotten the resonator thickness instead
pmpatrick - Posted - 04/29/2026: 15:41:50
"Blue Chip JD-L is my baseline and I just got 2 in the mail yesterday -I go through one or two a year."
At $40 a pop, I thought Blue Chip thumb picks were suppose to be forever picks. When you say you go through them, what happens. Do they break, get lost, have the blade get buggered up or what?
Mastertone Banjo - Posted - 05/02/2026: 05:14:33
The tip wears off. I re-shape and keep the picks as back-ups, but really like the tone and full length of the original shape. One reason they may wear down faster than normal is that one of my banjos is tuned low with Julia Belle heavy-gauge strings...I'm hitting two large wound strings and it probably is a little rough on thumb picks.
Edited by - Mastertone Banjo on 05/02/2026 05:18:22
Jake1945 - Posted - 05/02/2026: 08:41:36
In the 65 years I've been playing (dear Lord!) I've tried just about every thumb pick under the sun, metal and plastic. A couple of years ago I tried the spring-loaded plastic picks from Black Mountain, and I can't imagine ever going back to anything else. Most comfortable thumb pick I've ever worn, available in different thicknesses, no breakage. I use mine on banjo, 6- and 12-string guitar, mando-guitar, and dobro. Highly recommended.
TimFoster - Posted - 05/02/2026: 14:45:47
Bluechip JD-L for me. I’m probably about two years into my current one, and while the tip has worn down and flattened a bit, it’s still good ‘nuff. Probably had about 2 years on the prior one as well before it got stepped on and badly mis-shapen… I’m so used to it, I have a new one waiting in the wings as a backup just in case.
I found it just worked for me… fit my thumb pretty well out of the box without fussing, stays in place reasonably well (and I’m a pretty hard picker)… sounds good.
I tried the dobro one at one point, but found the tip to be too heavy. Tried the Russ Carson version too, but the tip was too long/beefy for me.
Edited by - TimFoster on 05/02/2026 14:47:34
Paul T R - Posted - 05/02/2026: 15:01:25
I've been using the Ultex thumb picks for years and haven't broken one yet. I reshape the pick part to suit my playing.
The Old Timer - Posted - 05/05/2026: 09:28:24
Re: Geipel/Giepel
Working for a German company in Connecticut, with German executives and having to pronounce lots of German names, I learned that ei and ie are both common in German words, and pronounced differently.
"ei" is pronounced as a long "i". "Weiner" is my cardiologist's name pronounced like "wine". Winer. Wein in fact is German for wine (made from grapes...)
"ie" is pronounced like a long "ee". Wiener, as in an infamous NYC politician is pronounced "ween". Weener. Like a hot dog.
The "i before e" rule doesn't apply to German, I guess.
I've never figured out how to correctly pronounce Epstein with 100% accuracy.
As for thumb picks I like the BIG plastic ones like clown barfs from Golden Gate or Kel Kroyden. I did notice a few pure white ones I bought but can't remember the name of, don't remain slippery as the tip wears -- they have some kind of "grain" or texture under the polished surface that I didn't like. I don't believe in using expensive picks because they get lost.
Edited by - The Old Timer on 05/05/2026 09:34:36
Owen - Posted - 05/05/2026: 09:47:44
Re: The "i before e" rule doesn't apply to German, I guess.
I'm not vouching for its accuracy, but I seem to recall hearing/reading that there are "exceptions" to about 50% of the rules for English spelling/grammar.
[That's ^^ my story and I'm sticking to it ............ for now. 
]
And who needs Epstein/Epsteen/Epstine? 
... There's a guy up here, last name Skibicki who has been in the news because he's a bad dude. For the first couple of years it was Skib-ick-ee. Then a correction [ostensibly with his input] was issued and since then it's been Skib-it-ski.
Edited by - Owen on 05/05/2026 09:48:59
reubenstump - Posted - 05/06/2026: 17:09:17
quote:
Originally posted by Owen
Re: The "i before e" rule doesn't apply to German, I guess.
That's just weird.
Bart Veerman - Posted - 05/09/2026: 21:35:01
Geipel is a German word and therefor it doesn't have to toe the English language spelling rule line.
If you don't like the tone of the Geipel you have now, consider trying one that's 1 size smaller or larger to see if the lower/higher mass of it makes the diff you need.
All in all, them Geipels are my most faved thumb picks. Well, during the very very very few times that I actually wear picks of course cause I like going back and forth between 3-finger and clawhammer while playing.
steve davis - Posted - 05/12/2026: 08:26:03
I can't imagine wearing my picks as tightly as I see in these photos.
I use Dunlop xl thumb and Dunlop .025 finger.
If I don't lick my fingers and thumb my picks are too loose.
They don't change the shape of the sides of my fingers.They just flatten my finger and thumb prints.
Careful shaping of the wraps.
These xl thumbpicks sometimes require a tightening of the back wrap (hot water just at the point of the bend) to fit the exact radius of the thumb.
These picks are cheap and sound full and powerful.Great low end power.
Of course head tension and neck contact also have a huge effect on tone.
Edited by - steve davis on 05/12/2026 08:32:09
