A $50 Guitar Pick? Can you hear the difference? Guitar Lesson Tutorial Gear Review Blue Chip

[@justinguitar]

If you wanna go right to the test bit it starts at 09:39 :) Hope you dig this and please subscribe if you dig what I do!

[@jamescahalin9096]

Definitely hearing tones I like to play with on the thicker picks with exception to the dragon heart(I can hear the scrape more). Thanks for the video

[@MarkusvanAardtBusinessComm]

Justin. If you want I will send you a selection of VPicks. Just shout. Great clarity, grippy, and they don"t wear

[@rockista4195]

Very instructive video! I wasn't aware of how much a pick can change your sound. Some picks seem to highlight high frequencies, a few others suppress them instead, and others are more balanced. Thank you for the great video!

[@pothos9913]

I have a bluechip too that my friend bought for me. I love it but I've found that the Dunlop Primetone Smooth feels extremely similar. It's expensive for a Dunlop pick but far cheaper than bluechip. link to the pick: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JB4WCTS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[@justinguitar]

@@GodInTheMachine yes they are - click the 'click to see the order text'!!

[@roostershooter76]

I've been an acoustic guitar player for 30 years, and when I bought my Taylor Custom 414 CE-R, around two months ago, I splurged and went out to find the best pick for my applications. I play Bluegrass Rhythm, Blues, Country Flatpicking, Classic Country, and Classic Rock (Led Zeppelin, America, Bread, etc .... ). I spent over $200 on single picks and set out to find the best pick for me. When I say I bought single picks of every make and model available, I mean it. I had everything to try from Fender Tru-Shell, Authentic Rosewood Picks, Coconut Shell, Buffalo Horn, metal, carbon fiber, all of the 'plastic' picks, Tusq, Red Bear Trading Company, and BlueChip with everything in between. You'd be surprised what I ended up settling on. I decided that for Flatpicking and Solo work the Dunlop Flow .73 worked best, and for strumming and rhythm the Dunlop Ultex .60 works best. I spent all of that money and time to find that two of the most affordable picks on the market are already there and readily available.

[@gges1605]

Thanks for posting that is great info

[@Andrew-cu9lf]

I envy your subsequent wisdom.

[@BioTheocentrist]

Flow Picks is a form, they made them from ultex, but from the tortex too. so maybe these .60 and .73 ultex picks are the best?) love my .73 and i'll necessarily buy .60 and they delrin 500 series picks, they sound good from the reviews. i tested all thicknesses from .73 to 3mm for my accoustic, and understand that i'll need to go down to .50 .60 and maybe to .38 .46

[@jonathoncliffbailey]

I've got a 416CE. Really missed out on the 416CE-R because it sounded just gorgeous. Should have waited.

[@ShamanicSavant]

I keep going back to the ol' .73 Tortex no matter what else I try :)

[@ACDC.ScottYoung]

Years ago I dropped my guitar on to my big toe, weeks later the toe nail fell off, I used the my toe nail as a guitar pick.

[@cyb3r3vil30]

Baaaaahahaha that's freaking funny!

[@samuelhorner6200]

You will go on to be the best guitar player to ever live

[@sullym1867]

And here I was thinking they were only useful as toothpicks. Smh. Sometimes saving money hurts. I’m going to go lift a stone.

[@davedavid7061]

That took a lot of pluck

[@johnkennedy6690]

Best comment I’ve ever read.

[@toddgolden4578]

With the gear that you’ve got you might as well have a $50 pick.

[@bsforge]

My top 3: 1. #3 2. #8 3. #10 #3 presents brighter, warmer, and clearer without any abundance of noticeable plasticity. I kinda dig the format for the video. Not many product “reviews” offer side-by-side comparisons like this. Thanks!

[@TheBamaKid1962]

I picked 3 and 8 as well, glad someone else hears what I heard!

[@FeelItRising]

different strokes. I though 8 and 10 were the worst. :) all ears are different.

[@andrewpaton6075]

my guitar cost 40 Dollars !!

[@Fedbo]

Hahah I made me laugh .. actually I got a pretty good solid wood lag acoustic guitar for 50€(second hand)

[@Fedbo]

@@burgerplanet4490 Is this referred to me ? LOL :D

[@shaunw9270]

I own a Squier Strat , I paid £30 for !

[@Fedbo]

@@shaunw9270 ahah if we're gonna make this a competition I actually got a squier telecaster for free, from a friend who had it in his garage and didn't use it, I also have one or 2 vids with it on my chanel 😂 the cream colored one

[@RenaudAlly]

Bruh. My guitar is $24

[@RobinsJunk]

For some reason 3 sounds great to my ears..50 quid, I was looking at a few pics my mate showed me that were around five to ten quid, I said he was nuts lol

[@juzzie]

Rob Dee .. I’m halfway through the video and yep agree the only one that stands out is number 3. What’s the answer ?!? What is it.. I’ll find out soon

[@juzzie]

Rob Dee wow.. a big stubby

[@mickkeim4142]

Rob Dee...that’s what I thought too. But 6 and 10 are there too.

[@RobinsJunk]

@@mickkeim4142 yea I thought that the about 6 too..

[@RobinsJunk]

@@juzzie it's a beast but I might give one a try..

[@kingrobert1st]

I'm in the wrong business! Should be selling bits of plastic for $50!

[@stevewelsh8560]

only to Sandecoe though, hes nuts enough to buy them obviously,

[@BrianOates]

The sheets these picks are cut from are very expensive, the material is usually used in semiconductors. It is very durable and not traditional pick material at all.

[@samuelhorner6200]

A roughly five pound block of the material cost around $5000

[@procrastinator6902]

Yeah, that's not plastic. The material those things are made of is a crazy expensive material.

[@AndrewReynolds1]

I liked #3 in the strumming. I think your expensive pick sounds better when picking rather than strumming.

[@hideyoshi7]

I thought exactly the same. Strumming was No.3 and 8 but the last picking I liked No. 4

[@JPM-NM]

I use Blue Chip picks for my acoustic and I absolutely love them. I use the TP 48 and TAD-1R 50 and they feel great, and give the big, dark, punchy tone that I'm looking for. I've tried others--Dunlop Tortex and Gator Grip, Chicken Picks, Wegen picks, etc-- and keep going back to the Blue Chips.

[@redduketeleman]

I got one from a mate for Christmas with my initials on. I think it's going to change my playing style for the better. After just 30 mins ready finding single note playing has increased in speed and accuracy.

[@lancecass8997]

Hey Justin. 50 is 1.25m in Bluechips. I'm a pick collector, simply because of the massive amount of tone difference you can get with just a pick. It's amazing. Have someone buy a pack of 20 different picks, sit down with them, and play them. It's hard to even choose a favorite. Blue Chips are expensive because the material they're made from isn't cheap, but yes, they feel and sound amazing. Not too round, or sharp, dull or bright, just amazing. I didn't believe it at first either, but gave it a try, and after many hours of comparison, I can't find a pick with such a well rounded tone. You get what you pay for, and if you're picky about tone, a $30+$50 pick is a lot cheaper than other tone toys, such as pedals. Thanks for doing the videos you do, and for doing it for so long. You're an inspiration to many, and an excellent teacher!

[@JordanCrowderFilms]

You should check out the new Taylor Termex Ultra (1.25mm). A lot of people have compared the sound and feel to the Blue Chip, but you can get 6 for $12.

[@jeffreyo]

You are exactly right. I just discovered the new Taylor picks and they feel very much like the blue chips, and they look better as well!

[@onixtheone]

It's made from a material called "Vespel"; a self lubricating material usually used to make ball bearings and things lie that. you can buy it in bulk and it is very expensive, hence the price for labor and material.

[@fuelityourself]

TOTALLY AGREE ABOUT 3. HEARD CLOSE TO 3 WAS 5 IN THE 2nd strum, pick test

[@dreaminglifepodcast]

I have two brass picks made out of old drum cymbals, been using them for over 5 years, also never lose them. They cost about $25 each. They also don't wear out and have a good weight in the hand.

[@michaelfajardo7225]

Looks like you play Metal Bro.

[@cathalwhelehan]

the best sounding one to me in the first two rounds was #3 (#2 was really nice too), in the final round #2 slightly edged it over #3 and #4. Overall, I'm guessing #3 is the blue chip. I have a BC pick too but it's specifically cut for mandolin (equilateral triangle-shaped with three identical rounded playing edges) so I know how great these things are. They also last for years and years (assuming you don't lose one) - I think I've had my mandolin one for about 10 or maybe 11 years now and it's lasted through probably a couple of hundred string-changes in that time without any noticeable change in tone or in the shapes of the edges. Best $35 (back then) I ever spent.

[@juzzie]

Cathal Whelehan wow.. BIG STUBBY

[@rmay55]

I liked the sound of #3, #7 and #9, with #7 being my favorite. And I thought I spent too much when I bought a pick for $4. ;-)

[@Bullittbl]

Unless it gives you a happy ending I can’t imagine buying that one.

[@Fedbo]

My favourites were nr 5,1 and 4 in this particular order. With the nr 5 being a big step ahead in term of my preference. However I do I agree with you, I think the feel is overall more important than the sound. A great feel will hive you a positive loop, the better you feel the better you play

[@s2s_parrotfan236]

I find it extremely difficult to chose one out of ten. By the time you get to #4 I've lost sense of what #2 smells/sound like. Perhaps a more revealing approach would be to do a 1.2.3 comparison, similar to how an ophthalmologist does an eye examination for creating an eyeglass prescription. My eye doc starts by narrowing decisions to three choices, the by gradient, 1 v. 2, 1 v. 3, 2 v. 3, 2 v. 1, 3 v. 1. Then the 'winner' moves on to a comparison with a 4th choice. Yes, it would take longer, but you could edit out the first 9 minutes of blather :-). I think using the expensive plastic as one of the three in each round would provide a more distinct (if there is/was one) stand out, if in fact it does.

[@HallwayMusic91]

I too own several Blue Chip Picks. All of them Jazz versions big and small. Two small 60s (1.5mm), one large 60, and one large 80 (2mm). They sound bright, and I don't consider them as my main pick because I too have a habit of switching to various other picks from time to time. They are something that I occasionally go back to whenever I'm in the mood for them.

[@monsterram6617]

I bought a Blue Chip pick in 2013 and have used it nearly every day since. There is virtually no wear on this pick after at least several thousand hours of playing. Btw, I do not play lightly and use a lot of alternate picking, both lead and rhythm. All that aside, it sounds great and feels just as good in the hand. It seems like it sticks a little to the skin but glides through the strings with less resistance than any other pick I've used in the past 27 years of playing. Yes, it's $35 for one pick (BC Jazz 60). But I can tell you, after I paid that much for a guitar pick... I stop losing them. People will pay thousands for a guitar, an amp, pedal board/processor to get the best sound yet use a cheap plastic pick, which is the first thing to strike the strings and create your tone. Seems only logical to invest a little bit into a pick that has superior qualities across the board, and will last years, if not longer.

[@motioninmind6015]

Color me sceptical. 1000s of hours of playing and "virtually no wear"?

[@monsterram6617]

@@motioninmind6015 See for yourself: drive.google.com/file/d/1nVk_dwb5P07d7bhHx0pWIIAgWh1MVfwN/view?usp=sharing drive.google.com/file/d/1Sm1dRvvOmCWJ2S4ZAS1s6nxYobIoL1-n/view?usp=sharing

[@JohnnyArtPavlou]

The most Impressive part of the video for me was your counting.

[@nyacoustics8373]

i wonder if the tip chips off after use like on the plastic ones. if it does its like throwing money out the window.

[@UmVtCg]

I've got a million picks in my home and yet I can never seem to find any of them. A 50€ pick would be a little costly.

[@localneo-graphic4647]

Same, but a 50$ pick would solve all my problems. I'd treat it so preciously I'd never lose it. I like the Heavy and even X-Heavy Dunlop Celulouids. Unfortunately no local retailer sells them by the pack, and I don't want to buy the variety pack, and I keep misplacing the two I have.

[@stuarthartley6824]

Number 3 for me, it had a touch more clarity to it but $50 (if that is the one), the only place you may get your moneys worth is in the recording studio Otherwise put your money into a better guitar, some lessons or doing something you can then write a song about.

[@hans-joachimbierwirth4727]

This: "or doing something you can then write a song about"!

[@exF3-86]

If it feels better to the touch- use it. But If you have to run a A/B(/C/D...) test on something to be able to hear if there's a difference- there's not enough difference to worry about. You are either chasing .01% that no one else cares about, or you've forgotten what's important. Unless the uneducated listener, not the player, can actually hear the difference (Hey, Justin sounds totally different? Did he just change something?) you're better off spending the time practicing/playing/writing instead. In over 30 years playing music for a living I've never had anyone in the audience walk out because I used my alder '85 and a TS9 when I used my ash '62 and an 808 on the original recording.

[@lancecass8997]

Don't forget, it's not for the audience, at the end of the day, it's for you, and what you like and inspires what you write.

[@InstruMentalCase]

Troy Grady just did this type of materials test and found there wasn’t really a difference there in terms of tone from the material itself if all else was equal. However, the material that Bluechip uses doesn’t wear nearly as quickly as something like a Dunlop Jazz 3. I think these picks feel better and last longer, but the main selling point for me is the customization aspect: finding the perfect gauge, point sharpness, overall size, bevel, etc for your tastes. But that can be a very expensive exploration, and you tend to ultimately want different options for different applications. For instance, I like the Blue Chip jazz 3 60 style for most electric playing. But when I need to play metal or something with a sharper attack, I use a slightly thinner Blue Chip with a sharper point. And for acoustic flatpicking, I use a completely different larger but thinner (48 gauge) model they make.

[@skip777]

I never would have believed it...but...I purchased a blue chip 60..... I did a session with it and immediately felt the tone and feel......it is real So real I purchased another...

[@shawnsnow6413]

Most of those picks were half the thickness of a Blue Chip 50. That's 99% of the difference in sound. Get a comparably thick Dunlop Primetime or Jazz III XL, plenty of grip and marginally different performance at a fraction of the cost.

[@flybynight1929]

Justin, you still have some of the best videos on the 'Tube. Thanks for the great work.

[@PhilMoseleyMusic]

Oh man I'm still sour about the fact that you can't get 3 for £1 anymore! Haha! $50 is very steep for a plectrum BUT that's just me. I believe that musicians should not have to justify their choice in gear to others. Whatever feels right to the player, is right.

[@lonnyhandwork422]

Phil Moseley Music Right on dude.

[@davidflaa2730]

Great video. I have tried many many picks, including genuine tortoise shell picks, and none have the feel of a Blue Chip. They have a great feel I have never felt in any other pick material. They are $35.00 USD but, like you I DO NOT LOSE THEM.

[@ivanmaskov]

3 and 4 sound great .the most balanced of all for struming

[@quigley4440]

Blue Chip picks have been used for a few years now for the mandolin. Why - because they work well in the hand, give a different tone, won't wear out, and once you understand this after playing it awhile - it's hard to put down. Crazy, maybe but consider that your mandolin or guitar can cost thousands, so what's crazy about "fiddy" bucks for a pick? The Wegan picks are great and priced reasonably and come close to the BC in my opinion.

[@adamjosey1543]

"The Original Dragon's Heart: Made from a carefully selected polyamide-imide, the original dragon's heart has 12% graphite content, making it extremely fast. Its speed is surpassed only slightly by it's durability. One of these can endure over 1000 hours play before the edges become less than ideal. This is the best selection for speed shredding players. Thickness: 2.5mm" That said, it seems that I liked the Nylon 1mm best.

[@longtalljay]

The 50 stands for 50% of an inch, I guess. It is 1.25 mm. (The 100 is 2.5 mm or an inch). Now, the price on their website for every pick up to a 60 (1.5 mm) thickness has been $35 from the start. For $50, you can get the three models that have an 80 (2 mm) version, which includes the jazz model.

[@Caravaggio44]

Blue Chip picks are absolutely worth! They give the most consistent, fullest, guitar tone I have ever heard. They grip well and they feel self-lubricating on the strings, which makes playing much easier, especially at fast tempos. IMO, getting all of that for $30 is a bargain:)

[@FlaxeMusic]

I'm with ya man. I play a BluechipJazz LG 60, which is the 1.5mm. Been with me over two years now and I can't go for anything else. It's not the sound, though that's nice, it's the immaculate feel and the absolutely zero wear, the pick is now a constant rather than a constant variable.

[@everythingbobbywolfe]

Had a bluechip as a birthday present in 2017. Returned it 1 week later. My friend who gifted to me chose that pick as number 8 in my blind fold 10 pick challenge. They charged $5 to send it back. Not great people to deal with, btw. It Justin's test i actually picked the dragon heart, gun to my head. I ruled out 1,2,9 and 10. And to was 5,8,4,3,6,7. I guess blue chip has moved up a notch 😂😂 I do admit, Justin is right about feel. In my top 10 test (at the time i was testing out over 25 picks) but it was in the top 10 for feel. He's right, surely about that. I found the material they use. It's on McMaster Carr (American company). Expensive!!! Used to be about $300 for something the size of a piece of paper.

[@MindsetMastery75]

Yes. It is called a Dragonheart pick. And that is a 10 dollar pick in case you didn't know. You really got to try the Dunlop 1 mill Ultex pick. They feel really good, like butter is best way i can describe it. So instead of Tortex, go buy an Ultex. You will like it.

[@cy8919]

Justin, I too recently got a Blue Chip. I was hoping I wouldn't like it...I love it. It glides off the strings better than any pick I have ever used. That is just about everything. They have a self lubricating property to them. I plan to get more. Mine is a Jazz LG 60 (1.50 mm). Your pick is a 50 which is, (1.25 mm). Mine do get a bit slippery when you sweat. They are starting to offer them with grip holes. I may have the grip holes drilled into my next pick I order from them.

[@GeorgeCKerr]

I use a blue chip too.The .35. Have for many years. I also bought the case. Love mine too

[@simonsays4177]

Pick 3 , pick 6 , pick 7 and pick 10 although it’s hard to tell the difference because emotion in yourself while playing must make a difference

[@soundofbeers]

10 years of playing and never thought one second about the effects of a plectrum. Thanks for the video Justin!

[@I.M.Guitar-Nerd]

The real difference, to my ears, is in the attack and the subsequent way in which the note blooms. I found this to in evidence far less with the strumming vs the picking. Even though I routinly practice with Dunlop .46 nylons I like the feel of a heavier pick, my favorite right now is a Harley Benton branded bone pick that is 1.8mm and ~.9 at the very tip. I think I prefere it due to the "groove" milled into one side that positions it on your index finger, the flipside has a typical oval indentaion for your thumb and it really gives it a locked in place feeling. I have the same style in buffalo horn and ebony also and they were only around $2.50 each Canadian.

[@ajm6409]

Justin, check out the Jim Dunlop Ultex line. More slippery than the Tortex and available in greater thicknesses. Available in the Jazz III size and larger. About $3-$5 each. Excellent compromise I think.

[@tcoudi]

btw, amateur tip, purple tortex sounds great ( i should point out i play exclusively acoustic - acoustically) if sand down the straight edge to the triangular one other heavy picks have and then polish it really nice.

[@soulspirit86]

listening on my phone I liked 2 and 4 the most, with 4 being the winner. wouldnt spent 50 on a pick though...

[@Aeronaut1975]

"listening on my phone" *facepalm...

[@soulspirit86]

@@Aeronaut1975 dont hurt yourself mate

[@prs22gt10]

Cool demonstration! One of the picks that surprised me (I won't give away the order) was the Fender thin. Over the years I've gone from Fender medium to Fender heavy to the Jazz III and recently discovered "V" picks. I'm using them on acoustic and electric guitar and also on mandolin. Really liking them but will have to give the Blue Chip a try (although I didn't pick it as a favorite tone in the demonstration...go figure...). Thanks Justin!

[@JohnnyArtPavlou]

The real question is how different hats affect your tone.

[@bombercountyblues]

I like a beanie for playing slide but I heard a fez is great for drop tunings.

[@draxlerchronicles5851]

For me a pick isn't about how it sounds, but about how great it feels to use. When I use a pick with a rounded end and that's about 1.3mm thick it just feels so right that I just play better. 50 bucks is extreme though.

[@venom663]

Can you get a pick case key ring holder ?

[@bobprice4725]

Big fan of Blue Chip picks. I routinely use the BC Jazz LG 40 for strumming, and the Kenny Smith signature BC 40 for flatpicking. The Kenny Smith is "squattier" than the BC Jazz, letting you work the strings more closely. Bought both online at the Blue Chip website for $35 (plus shipping) each a year or so ago. I'm with you... while many picks "sound" good, I just like the feel of the BC picks, and they last.

[@geraldinesheltonfrisbie8120]

I love my BlueChip, costs $35 in USA

[@sugarlife485]

thanks this guy paid 50 sucker

[@bubbajordan5479]

Number 1 seemed to project louder than the others. My favorite was 6 and 8. I think I leaned more towards number 8 though. Really enjoyed the video

[@Tyler_Wilson]

The real winner is that Froggy Bottom. Holy moly that sounds good.

[@raffyzoo2130]

dunlop primetone picks with 'grip' are as good & cost a couple of bucks. 'grip' is a fantastic laser etch, you can get 'smooth' also

[@laurensedenburg8144]

Totally agree. I use the 2.5mm cause it has a great grip and boy is it SMOOOOOTHE

[@PreacherAtArrakeen]

I prefer either 1 or 2. Justin, do you use coated strings or regular ones?

[@AxelAlexK]

I've always used Dunlop Max Grip picks and have never even thought about changing. Wouldn't mind trying something more expensive but I can't imagine seeing an improvement in terms of feel. Scratchiness maybe.

[@toddgolden4578]

That guitar sounds incredibly beautiful. #9 for me.

[@ditchgator1]

Yep...Guilty as well😎👍 Bluechip 😎👍 One for my acoustics and one for my electrics. TD35 = Acoustic TAD-1R 40 = Electrics All 3 corners work for different dynamics. Great picks and haven't lost one...yet.

[@simonnaji]

I'm amazed by the fact that I actually correctly identified the $50 pick. I couldn't say with any confidence why, but it seemed very apparent. Not sure I could repeat it though.

[@ajborowski]

2, 4, 6 & 7 were nice. What this video illustrates that is more important than an expensive pick, is to go experiment with different picks! You can't get a truck load for that price!

[@simmonphoenix3206]

Number 6 sounded best imo. It was full sounding but you could still hear it has some action.

[@liammcevoy3212]

Number 4 was my favourite, but number 6 was a close second. 🙂

[@lancecass8997]

Also guys, the Bluechips are shaped by hand, not mass produced. So gotta add that into the cost. Many things would cost more, like they used to, if we weren't mass producing in 3rd world sweatshops

[@suziofftheplanet977]

I like 2 and 9. I use a bone pick usually. sounds very nice

[@jennygw1883]

Nice .. I also liked 2. Sounded nice a full and warm. Did you think so too?

[@suziofftheplanet977]

@@jennygw1883 yes I did. More clarity too on picked notes

[@jennygw1883]

@@suziofftheplanet977 thanks Suzi, I ordered a mix pack. Can't wait to try them out :)

[@Bettys_Eldest]

I liked the sound of the 1mm Dunlop Nylon best, but least liked the two thinner nylons. Your $50 pick sounded almost as good, but your playing sounded better? freer? more fluid? with the $50 pick, which is what it is all about. Myself I prefer Gator grip picks because I don't drop them, which makes all the difference to my playing.

[@nathanmantle377]

I'm just making my analysis here as the video starts. Ok, pick 1 - not sure how to describe it because I haven't used a reference. Pick 2 - more "body" than pick 1. A little meatier. #3 has these harmonics added in, not sure how to describe them. #4 is even brighter. #5 sounds a bit thin, kinda scratchy. Sounds like there is a large area of the pick surface making contact with the strings. I'll bet anything that's the wooden-looking dragon pick. #6, 7, 8 didn't stand out to me. Not much I can say to describe them. #9 sounded like it had body, like pick #2. #10 sounded like there was a massive EQ put on it lol. All of a sudden the guitar sounded like it was being played through a radio (in comparison to number 9, of course. I don't mean 10 actually sounded like through a radio). All of these could be interesting on recordings though. It's all about how you want it to sound on its own, OR how you want it to sound in a mix. The brightest picks are probably the best for a band situation. Pick 2 and pick 9 would be my choices for solo guitar.

[@billyellow4849]

So where in the UK can I try out posh pluctrums before buying? On my high-end acoustic i use a Dunlop tortoiseshell medium for strumming and a Tortex triangle purple 1.14 for medodic picking. On most other 6-sring acoustics I find a nylon .73 covers all the bases.

[@archtopp1]

While I did hear very slight differences in a few of the picks, but I can't hear a $49 difference against my Golden Gate round triangle. Thank you for the excellent video.

[@craigb.5902]

For the amount of money we spend otherwise on hobbies etc $50 is okay if it enhances your experience for you. Personally I really like the dragon heart pick and they’re anywhere from $3 to $18 a pop depending on the hardness you get (basically comes down to wear time. 300-1500 hours respectively). Used to use either a Dunlop Tortex medium or a Fender medium-heavy. But to me the feel both in hand and over string of the dragon heart is just fan fricin tastic. Some do say they get a little “scrape” from them and I do hear it when they play but I think it really comes down to your style because I don’t get any scrape at all from them. I still use the other picks sometimes because the DH pick is so smooth it feels like it glides by the strings instead of hitting them. Sometimes I wanna feel a grab and slap you get with a normal pick but 95% of the time I go for the DH pick.

[@ashandesilvaguitarist]

Hi Justin is there a possibility of doing this same review with a raw electric guitar signal (guitar to daw) and hopefully add an EQ graphic of each pick? I know it's a lot of work. Hopefully you might have the time. Thank you for the lessons.

[@yuppysoul]

As Justin talked about, the feel for me is what it's all about. Keep trying until you find something you like. For me I love the feel of a Dunlop Flow 2.0mm. The Big Stubby just feels awful to me.

[@vinced5741]

did you record this at Andertons'?

[@andresdavid]

I liked the sound of 4, 6, 7 , 10. I felt like you could hear the bass string much more without too much clackity-clack from the picks. Ultimately my favorite was #6 which is apparently the Dunlop Nylon .60. It seems I really like nylon because of the lack of the plasticky scrape sound of the picks (6 and 10). I liked 4 and 6 most for their sound, though I thought 8 was an interesting brighter sound for a different kind of music. Maybe bluegrass. This was a great video, I always thought I couldn't hear the difference between picks.

[@pastorkev777]

I use the original version on the Dunlop Primetone wide 3mm sharp. This is my main pick, then a soft buffalo horn 1.5m pick is my second and a Delrin .73 pick is for stummier tones.

[@jbilly24]

If you’re just a strummer, don’t waste your money on expensive picks. If you play a lot of bluegrass, a quality thicker pick can make a big difference in speed and tone.

[@nightshiftblues]

Nylons for strumming, one of the jazz picks for picking. That’s how I felt listening to the video.

[@pilgrimMj]

I can't hear the pick over the sound of the guitar's finish.

[@candydormizzi2500]

Nothing feels like the Blue chip picks you have to try it

[@musicletters7214]

I did not think I would hear a difference, but when strumming nr 2 has a warmer sound to all the others. Also 9 sounds a little more pleasant - what saucery is this? :-)

[@lancecass8997]

Get one of those Dunlop variety packs of picks, take em home and jam for a bit. It's quite amazing how much different the tone can be. I usually waste a lot of time before playing picking what tine I want, with amps, pedals, guitars, etc. And now also picks. It seems crazy, but it is cool that something so cheap can change tone so drastically

[@BrianBadonde299]

You've been absolutely conned mate 😂

[@MrGalben2000]

I bought some picks that was around 1€ a piece. And I thought that was expensive.... Pick 1 and 3 for strumming sounded best for me. And 6 for picking

[@davedavem]

Can hear a difference in the second and third tests. Some have hardly any pick sound, so you hear the note more and some are tappy or scratchy. I guess there are situations for all. My favourite pick was around £10, but I've had it for 2 years. It's acrylic. I also use the orange tortex picks 😊

[@eternalmiasma5586]

I found the blue chip SR 50 on the ground at my work when I was sweeping, had no idea it was so expensive. Lucky find I guess

[@rich5354]

3 and 8 sounded best to me. I never really knew that a pick could make that much difference, but my eyes have been opened, or should I say ears. Keep up the great work Justin. You are one helluva a teacher bud 👍

[@blueshoddan]

I switched over to the chickenpick (its not that fance but still about 8 euros) and Im never going back. Its like a clean boost! It also gives me more precision and attack and better timing yet still a smooth sound considering its a hard and thick pick, its just awesome!

[@Sportingalagrieska]

50 bucks sounds crazy, but I understand that you're a professional. Those 150 bucks are almost what I spent on a Yamaha Pacífica a couple of years ago. That's the difference between a hobby and something serious :)

[@GuitaristInProgress]

Confirms what I've always thought: you can get better picks than Tortex Purple, and you can get cheaper picks than Tortex Purple, but you can't get a better bang for your guitar pick dollar than Tortex Purple. The next level up from those is slightly better sound and playability at many times the price. In terms of sound my favorite did turn out to be the Blue Chip, but 75x the price, no thanks. I abused many a Tortex Purple during hazy nights in college, I buried a Tortex Purple at Jimi Hendrix's gravestone 30 years ago, and I reckon when they fly my remains into space in 235 years, somewhere on my person will be my last Tortex Purple. Unless I can find a reasonable price on some old Bakersfield picks. Now, those, I would have stocked up on for the next few centuries, if I had known they were going to suddenly disappear.

[@darrylbrooks3361]

Got one and really liked it, but then I tried one from Apollo. Very similar, but sounds warmer on the high strings. (I think the 50 is 1.5)

[@keithbrown1240]

I have a Blue Chip. It's nice but it's very slippery and I am constantly scared I am going to lose it.

[@52Tele]

I can't seem to use any pick other than the Jazz III and I liked the #2 sound on all of the playing which turned out to be the Jazz III.

[@christopherslagle8812]

In the olden days when everyone smoked I would use folded match books. They were always around and cheap.

[@laurensedenburg8144]

$50!!! The perceived benefit is psychological. Disappointed that you didn't test the Dunlop Primetone with it's superior grip and SMOOOOOTHE tone.

[@HAIRYBIKER777]

Well, that surprised me... I chose my favourite, checked out the list on your website and it turns out I like the Blue Chip best.

[@resslerartstudios]

I found a favorite pick-feeling wise. The USA204 and 207, the proplec d'andrea1.5mm. And is it so true, it's the feeling. Always worth paying more for that.

[@jamesmilton-willmott7593]

Same pick in different orders right?

[@ldhelmshrh]

hard to believe, but # 4 was my 1st choice. I couldn't believe it when I checked the list.

[@deewaddellinstudio_1886]

My first pick was a Jazz III; I was trying it on bass (not my cup of tea; I like the galloping finger technic). I play electric, semi hollow now and I find nothing to beat the Dunlop Gatorgrip 1.14 mm. I’ve tried many different types, materials and such, even different mm’s; .58, .60, .71, .93; only the 1.14 gets me the tone I desire.

[@lancecass8997]

Funny. I love the Gators too. Many people don't like them. They do have a darker tone acoustically, but they're just a bit smaller than the average pick, and when they're new, they feel the best for sure. I have hundreds of pick, but if I'm heading out and can maybe only take one, the blue 1.14 gator is in my top 3, right behind my Ernie ball prodigy's and then my blue chips

[@procrastinator6902]

Same for me, 1.14mm Gators. I don't use different picks for different styles either, like I see alot of ppl saying they do. I use my Gator for just about everything.