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Topic: Old Timers--What Picks? |
Ethan Shaw
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 7 Mar 2011 8:10 pm |
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| 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? |
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Earnie Sumerall
From:
Oklahoma
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Posted 8 Mar 2011 6:24 am
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| Nationals. I even have some from the 40's with no name stamp. |
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Barry Blackwood
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Posted 8 Mar 2011 6:50 am
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| 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. |
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Chris Schlotzhauer
From:
Colleyville, Tx. USA
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Posted 8 Mar 2011 7:00 am
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| Hey Ethan. I concur about the Nationals. |
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Ethan Shaw
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 8 Mar 2011 7:22 am
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| 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? |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 8 Mar 2011 9:31 am
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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).
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 55 years and still counting. |
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Bob Tuttle
From:
Republic, MO 65738
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Posted 8 Mar 2011 7:25 pm
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| I used National picks starting in 1951. They only came in one gauge. |
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Jody Sanders
From:
Magnolia,Texas, R.I.P.
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Posted 8 Mar 2011 9:07 pm
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| Been playing 65 years. Have alays used Nationals. My idea of next best were the BJ picks from Jeff Newman. Jody. |
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Benton Allen
From:
Muscle Shoals, Alabama, USA
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Posted 9 Mar 2011 6:45 am
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Hi Ethan!
Richard wrote:
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| 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 |
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Ethan Shaw
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 9 Mar 2011 7:40 am
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| Thanks for the answers, y'all--everyone seems to be in agreement! |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 9 Mar 2011 7:43 am
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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).
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 55 years and still counting. |
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John Bechtel
From:
Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.
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Posted 10 Mar 2011 11:05 am
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For years, I've been using National .025 gauge finger-picks and occasionally .018 gauge!
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<marquee> Go~Daddy~Go, (No), Go, It's your Break Time</marquee> L8R, jb
My T-10 Remington Steelmaster |
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robert kramer
From:
Nashville TN
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