Old Timers--What Picks?

Ethan Shaw · Post by **Ethan Shaw** » 7 Mar 2011 8:10 pm

For y'all that were playing in the early country pedal steel days (50's and 60's): what brand and gauge picks were being used by everyone back then?

Earnie Sumerall · Post by **Earnie Sumerall** » 8 Mar 2011 6:24 am

Nationals. I even have some from the 40's with no name stamp.

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 8 Mar 2011 6:50 am

Yep. Nationals. Was there anything else in those days? Also, did anybody ask about gauges? I just went down to the music store and bought some finger picks. End of story.

Chris Schlotzhauer · Post by **Chris Schlotzhauer** » 8 Mar 2011 7:00 am

Hey Ethan. I concur about the Nationals.

Ethan Shaw · Post by **Ethan Shaw** » 8 Mar 2011 7:22 am

When I first started playing steel, I watched some of those old Texas Troubadors videos, where it looked like Buddy Charlton had his picks bent back over his fingers really far, so I figured that's how you do it. I couldn't seem to bend Nationals like that, so I started using Dunlops. I was just in a mid-practice mind-break last night, realized I was staring at my picks, and just started wondering about all this. When did players start branching out from Nationals?

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 8 Mar 2011 9:31 am

Well, early 70"s here ('71). Nationals here too. There may have been some cheap knockoff brands around, but Nationals were the "go to" pick at the time. Barry, no gauges at that time (unless Dunlop was around).

Bob Tuttle · Post by **Bob Tuttle** » 8 Mar 2011 7:25 pm

I used National picks starting in 1951. They only came in one gauge.

Jody Sanders · Post by **Jody Sanders** » 8 Mar 2011 9:07 pm

Been playing 65 years. Have alays used Nationals. My idea of next best were the BJ picks from Jeff Newman. Jody.

Benton Allen · Post by **Benton Allen** » 9 Mar 2011 6:45 am

Hi Ethan!

Richard wrote:

Well, early 70"s here ('71). Nationals here too. There may have been some cheap knockoff brands around, but Nationals were the "go to" pick at the time.

Ditto here, and I'm still using only Nationals.

Cheers!
Benton

Ethan Shaw · Post by **Ethan Shaw** » 9 Mar 2011 7:40 am

Thanks for the answers, y'all--everyone seems to be in agreement!

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 9 Mar 2011 7:43 am

I switched to Jeff Newman picks about 11 or so years ago and haven't looked back. The Nationals always used to tear up my fingers right where the cuticle meets the skin (we're talking blood here). Could never get the wrap around part bent right. Also they would need a little squeeze every time I put them on to make them tight enough not to fall off, but of course every pick I have tried, including Newman's, do for me. The Nationals use to break in the little area between the holes and the side of the wrap quite often, at 3 times a year. I just had my first Newman pick break like that a couple of months ago after 11 years or so (original set I bought in 1999).

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 10 Mar 2011 11:05 am

For years, I've been using National .025 gauge finger-picks and occasionally .018 gauge!

robert kramer · Post by **robert kramer** » 10 Mar 2011 11:41 am

To me, NP-2's are too light for steel. The reissued NP-2 SS's (first issued in the 70's) are better for steel.

http://www.janetdavismusic.com/national_np2.html