We played two top tier guitar picks to determine which is best
When discussing premium picks, Blue Chip is usually the first name that jumps to mind. They’re not the only player in the luxury pick game, though: Gravity Picks has entered the arena with their Gold Series line. Both are high end picks that promise high-end sound to match. In this article, we’ll review picks from Blue Chip and Gravity on tone, feel, and price. Expectations are high, so we’ll see if they live up to the hype. We’ll also provide insight on why you may want to consider a premium pick in the first place.
Why Consider An Expensive Guitar Pick?
With many great plectrums out there at incredibly reasonable prices, you might scoff at the idea of a high-buck pick. Many a guitarist has shaken their heads and asked, “Why are blue chip picks so expensive?” I’ll admit that I was skeptical too, until I stepped back and looked at it differently. We guitarists spend a lot on gear to tailor our tone, but historically, picks have been an afterthought much of the time. Yet, picks are one of the most influential ways that you can customize your tone. A good pick helps you in two ways: Tone, and Feel.
Pick Tone
Some picks are bright and present, while others are decidedly mellow. Some picks strike a balance, and are somewhere in the middle. Different pick materials contribute to how a pick sounds when it plucks a string, and the resulting “transient” string attack sound that we hear. This is also referred to generally as “pick noise”. As a rule of thumb, you don’t want to be thinking too much about the sound your pick makes; if you are, it might be time to explore other options.
Pick Feel
In addition to changing your tone, a great guitar pick can make a big difference in your right hand technique. Right-hand technique is composed of very fine, precise hand movements, and having a pick in your preferred size, shape, and grip level is essential. In short, a pick that works well for you can noticeably improve your picking, and your playing overall. Now, on to the review.
Head to Head: Blue Chip vs. Gravity Pick
The two picks we are reviewing are the Blue Chip Pick Jazz60, and the Gravity Picks Gold Series Big Mini 003. Both picks were tested in the 1.5mm thickness. The Blue Chip and Gravity picks come in a variety of sizes and shapes, so I chose picks based on the Jazz III XL shape, which is my currently preferred pick shape and size.
For this review, I used my assortment of test guitars: A Telecaster, a Hamer Hollowbody with a Spruce top, and a Taylor Sapele-bodied acoustic. I primary used a Quilter SuperBlock US for electric playing. My impressions are based on blended observations from all of these guitars.
As we have done in other tests, we selected the famed Fender Celluloid pick for comparison, in the classic 351 shape. When comparing the sometimes subtle differences in the tone of guitar picks, it’s helpful to baseline with a pick that everyone is familiar with, and the Fender Celluloid fits that category. Although not an entirely fair fight due to the price difference, we think that it’s worth including the Fender pick for comparison.
Blue Chip Jazz60 LG
Perhaps the most well-known maker of high-end picks, Blue Chip guitar picks are endorsed by none other than guitarist extraordinaire Julian Lage. Like all Blue Chip picks, the Jazz60 is hand-beveled and laser etched. It is available in multiple shapes, sizes, and gauges. The shape of the Jazz60 is essentially the same shape as Dunlop’s well known Jazz III XL. The color is a warm brown with gold etching, and it comes with a universal rounded bevel. Additionally, for $5 extra, you can get your pick etched with your initials. I don’t know whether this will help you keep track of your pick, but it’s a nice touch nonetheless.
Jazz60 Feel
The Jazz60LG has a smooth surface that provides good grip, and lacks raised texture or lettering. In fact, it feels grippier than a Tortex pick, which was surprising to me. In terms of stiffness, at 1.5mm this is a relatively thick pick, and it feels solid. There is a tiny amount of flex.
According to the Blue Chip FAQ, Blue Chip picks are made of “a specially formulated composite material.” Whatever the material is, there is a “just right” feel to the Jazz60 LG. Blue Chip also states that their picks contain lubricants, which help it glide off the strings. I can attest to the fact that the picking is fluid and fast with this pick.
Jazz60 Tone
The Jazz60 LG immediately impressed me with its warm, articulate tone. Notes have body and evenness. If I had to describe it with one word, it would be balanced. The highs from this Blue Chip Guitar pick are rounded, present and sweet. On the string attack, I didn’t hear any “clicky” transient pick noise. The overall sound was very natural.
In the Drop Test, the Jazz60 exhibited a frequency lower than my other picks, with the exception of D’Addario’s Casein pick. If you are not familiar with this test, it is when you drop a pick on to a hard surface, then listen for which frequencies are most prominent.
Gravity Picks Gold Series Big Mini
Next up is what I consider the challenger from Gravity Picks. The 003 Big Mini is from Gravity’s premium Gold line. Like the Blue Chip, the Gravity guitar pick is modeled after a Jazz II XL shape. The Big Mini is constructed of “high grade thermoplastic”, according to the Gravity Picks website.
Gravity Gold Series Feel
Though the Big Mini is the same physical size as the Blue Chip, it feels slightly different. Upon closer inspection, I believe this is due to the Gravity’s more heavily beveled edges. In the hand, this makes the Gravity pick feel a teeny bit smaller. This is very minimal however, and is in no way a criticism. Anyone who likes the Jazz III size and shape will feel at home with this pick.
There is very slightly raised lettering on the Gravity, including a logo on the reverse side. The logo has a slightly rougher feel to it, which is good for those who enjoy some texture on their picks. Flex is minimal, and feels the slightest bit stiffer than the Blue Chip. As a result, the Big Mini feels ever so slightly more stout when picking.
Gravity Gold Series Tone
The Gravity Gold displayed many of the same tonal characteristics as the Blue Chip, which is to say, a natural, balanced tone. The treble was ever so slightly brighter on the Gravity. Mind you, this is not a bad thing, and the highs were still plenty warm. Depending on how I picked the string, it could be difficult to hear the difference between this pick and the Jazz60. Both lend a solidness to the note that is free of pick noise.
In the Drop Test, the Gravity Gold exhibited a frequency that is higher than the Blue Chip, but still low compared to many other picks.
Comparison with Fender Heavy Classic Celluloid
As I mentioned, this is not exactly a fair comparison, because the Fender 351 Celluloid is an inexpensive pick. And while it’s a perfectly fine pick, it is outclassed by the two premium picks in this review.
In comparison, the Fender sounds brighter and thinner, with less substance to the sound. The point isn’t to bash Fender’s pick, but instead highlight what you can gain with a higher-end pick.
The Verdict
If you’re looking for me to declare a winner, I apologize for disappointing you: I loved both of these picks! Both picks produced a warm, balanced tone, with clarity. Both had good grip and a low friction picking feel.
The biggest difference, and arguably the only significant difference, is in the treble. Both picks are natural sounding, and deliver solid-sounding notes without any pick noise. The Jazz60 had a slightly mellower treble. The Gravity, on the other hand, had 90% of the mellowness, with a very small amount of additional treble firmness.
One factor that I couldn’t test is the long term durability. Both Blue Chip and Gravity assure us that their picks are extremely durable, and time will tell.
Final Thoughts
The Blue Chip and Gravity picks were the first truly “high end” picks that I’ve played. One thing I did not mention previously is that I—perhaps like you—had some initial skepticism as to if a premium pick is worth it. Happily, I can say that, based on these two picks, I’d say it is. I would not feel this way unless I heard a difference between these picks and my “regular” plectrums.
Is this “cork sniffing”? Yes, to a degree. That said, it also does not mean that standard, moderately priced picks are deficient. The way I like to see it is that there is a time and place for maximizing your tone. Each player will ultimately need to decide how important this is to them.
The Blue Chip Jazz60 is a fantastic all-around pick. It’s great for anything from jazz to spirited acoustic picking. It sounded equally good on acoustic guitar as electric. The Jazz60 LG is $35.00, not including engraving.
The Gravity Gold Big Mini is a versatile, high quality pick that gives you full, solid tones. It sounded good on all of the guitars as well. The Gravity Gold series picks sell for around $25.00, depending on which shape you choose.
I encourage you to wade into the high-end pick waters, because you might be surprised, like I was. Given that we invest hundreds, or even thousands, into guitars and amps, $25-$35 for a tone improvement doesn’t seem that outrageous at all.
Note: The link below is an Amazon affiliate link, and if you’d like to try the Gravity Gold Big Mini, Amazon offers a great price and fast delivery. And, it won’t cost you anything extra!
Both Gravity and Blue Chip picks can be purchased directly from their websites.