pickingnms - Posted - 07/21/2014:  18:00:02

Ok everyone. Im new at the mandolin. I play banjo and guitar and always wanted a mandolin. So i found one for great price. The Loar LM-600-VS. Seems to be pretty good. No buzzing, low action. I bought a bluechip pick for it but it seems to make it sound more muted. Is it supposed to be like this? I thought they were supposed to be bright and crisp. With a standard guitar pick it is. The pick i bought is a ct-55. Any advice for a newbie would be appreciated. Also using j-74 strings. Looking for the bluegrass sound. 

Susanne - Posted - 07/21/2014:  23:57:02

I think it takes a long time to learn to play with a very thick pick such as the blue chip. I usually play the heavy ultex or similar but I'm looking into other options. I've never liked those super heavy picks because of the muted sound as you say but since so many people use them it should be a matter of using the right technique. I hope someone else will add a comment, I'm curious too...

UsuallyPickin - Posted - 07/22/2014:  05:50:53

A mandolin has a shorter string than a guitar, obvious I know, and as such needs to be played further from the bridge to get the string moving than does a guitar. Play as close to the end of the fingerboard as you can manage, even over it some. The short string is why you need the heavier pick also. It takes awhile to grow into the differences between a mandolin and a guitar . I went through the same stuff when I moved from one to the other. You have picked, ha-ha, good tools to start out with . Be patient. A slightly higher action may help with some volume. Also try out a set of J75's as they are slightly heavier. A brighter string may also be what you need. Check out some DR brand strings. Loose wrist loose grip, if you don't drop that BC every once in awhile you are gripping it too hard. Luck... R/

pickingnms - Posted - 07/22/2014:  07:01:38

Thank you both for the responses. Usually picking, what you said makes a lot of sense. And i was picking way too close to the bridge. Lol. I will try some different strings and play with the action some too. I already see patience is definitely the key for mandolins. I'll keep at it though. Love the sound of a mandolin!

Rob Beck - Posted - 07/23/2014:  03:25:30

Not disputing anything that UsuallyPickin has said, but I too found the tone of the Blue Chip plectrum too "flat" (for want of a better term).  I have read similar things from others regarding the newer batch of Blue Chip plectra over on Mandolin Cafe too.  I have been using Jim Dunlop Primetone Sculpted 1.5s recently, and am much happier with them.

pickingnms - Posted - 07/23/2014:  07:40:08

Ive ordered several picks in different styles. Guess its just a matter of finding one that sounds good to the ear. I'll post what i decide on when i try a few and find one i like. Right now im using a heavy gibson.

Muscle Tone - Posted - 07/23/2014:  08:58:23

I would personally recommend Golden Gate picks. They're similar to Blue Chip on terms of thickness, but are rounder picks which ultimately allows for more volume from your instrument. They sound good on just about every mandolin I've owned. I only have one currently, but I plan on buying a whole set eventually. A Golden Gate 12-pack is so much cheaper than just a single Blue Chip pick. I highly recommend them!

Steevarino - Posted - 07/23/2014:  12:58:32

Hi Darrell  --

Don't overlook the bridge!  The Loar LM-600 is a fine instrument, especially for the money, BUT it is severely lacking in the bridge department.  It is likely that I have sold hundreds of our Cumberland Acoustic Mandolin Bridges for "The Loar" family of instruments alone.  I put one on every "The Loar" mandolin we sell, and it always offers positive results.  Sometimes phenomenal, sometimes a bit south of phenomenal, but always an improvement.  You get the added bonus of more accurate intonation as well.  If you are so inclined, you can get more info here . . .

cumberlandacoustic.com/id2.html

Steve

TSSN - Posted - 07/23/2014:  19:51:38

Gravity Picks and Wegens.  Good luck!

winterstom - Posted - 07/24/2014:  12:42:13

I come from the days of tortoise shell picks when they were fairly cheap and not banned for ecological reasons.  Since then I tried using copper picks which I really loved the sound of but I broke a lot of strings.  Now I settled on the tortex picks (now made and sold by dunlap).  I buy the standard guitar pick shape but I use the rounded back corner instead of the pointed end.  It produces a nice clean "click", doesn't overly wear the strings, are fairly cheap, come in a variety of thicknesses (I like the .72) and, using the back edge, produce a good strong sound.

pickingnms - Posted - 07/25/2014:  06:06:00

Thanks for all the advice everyone. Its really appreciated. Steevarino, im for sure gonna be replacing the bridge soon, i will check the cumberland bridges out. If its anything like a banjo, and im sure it is when it comes to bridges and tone, i have about 20 banjo bridges and only 1 that ive settled on. Lol

pickingnms - Posted - 08/05/2014:  16:31:10

Well, recieved my mandolin back from Steve at cumberland accoustics today. I gotta say with his bridge and a great set up, i now have the sound i was looking for. Thanks a bunch Steve! You did an awesome job!

SteveZ - Posted - 08/06/2014:  05:33:39

Steve's work is fabulous.  I've got one of his RedLine Traveler mandolins and it's the forever-keeper within the stable.