I just got my 1.4mm Chris Thile signature pick from D’Addario, and I’m very disappointed. The sound is dead, and it doesn’t bring out the tone of the strings at all. Has anyone else had this experience?
I’m new to thick picks over 1mm, but I recently got a thick Bolo pick, and it’s amazing.
I was considering buying or making a vintage tortoiseshell pick, but if it sounds anything like the Chris Thile, I don’t want one. Has anyone tried both side by side?
Juan Solo
I recently got to try a friend’s Thile casein pick, and I was surprised at how “matte” the finish was. Kind of dead, like you mentioned. I wasn’t the hugest fan, but I was on guitar and perhaps it responds more favorably on mandolin. I think it felt more similar to tortoise than a BlueChip does, but it’s kind of hard to compare them exactly because each tortoise pick I’ve tried has felt decently different. Some tortoise shells sound pretty “clicky” to my ear (think Tony Rice - Church Street Blues album).
BlueChip is without a doubt slicker off the strings, tackier, livelier. I’ve been wanting to buy a real tortoise shell sometime, but haven’t researched a reliable place to buy a good one (re. consistency issues).
Tortoise is very nice, but there are variations between materials and cuts, that’s just part of the deal. Also a big part of the deal with tortoise is that they wear significantly but the bluechip simply do not wear at all (that I have seen). For those 2 reasons (consistency and durability) I have come to the conclusion that for me that bluechip is actually my top choice. 
Heresy, I know.
Plus, it doesn’t hurt that I dig tortoises wearing there own shells around.
I have never tried a blue chip but I’ve watched a lot of youtube videos and read a lot of forums, and they seem to be the best out there, but I can’t justify spending $40 on one. Do they ever hit the market used for $15-$20?
Used they seem to be 10 or 15 under what they sell for new. They used to come up often on the UMGF, but I haven’t been looking for a while.
Is that the unofficial martin guitar forum(UMGF)
Yes it is. It used to be a great market, but again, I haven’t been perusing it for a few years.
Are you looking for a specific one or just any BlueChip? I find they usually sell used for $25
I think a TP48 but I am not set on one yet.