Picks!

By Will Hoover

Imagine a world with no guitar picks. Nothing but muted mandolins and bare-fingered banjos. No sounds of Doc Watson, Chet Atkins, or Stevie Ray Vaughan. You might as well imagine a song without a tune. This eye-catching book full of stunning color photos looks at the history of the pick and includes fantastic picks of every shape, design, and material. Also includes a commemorative pick

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0879303778
• ISBN13: 9780879303778
• Release Date: October 1995
• Publisher: Backbeat Books
• Length: 2 Pages
• Weight: 0.42 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.5" x 6.5"

Customer Reviews

For our guitar player

This book will be a Christmas present for our teenaged, great-nephew, guitar player. I am certain he will love it.

Picks

Cool little book. Great photos. Fastinating history. This is book would make a fun gift for a guitar playing friend or family member.

The Spectrum of Plectrums

As the founder of PickNET (a free online global trading network for pick collectors) one might surmise that I'd know a few things about picks, yet I have to bow my head to pickmaster Will Hoover for writing such an informative and fun history of picks and teaching me a lot that I didn't know. The author clearly did his homework and has the knowledge and a deep appreciation for his subject matter. If I had to say one negative thing about this book, my complaint would be that it was too short. The great details and photos of vintage, promo, and celebrity picks just left me wanting more. A great read for the serious guitar pick devotee as well as for the casual music fans who want to know more about these seemingly mundane musical accessories. PICK up a copy asap! (Sorry but I couldn't resist at least one plectral pun.) Well done Mr. Hoover....Well done indeed!

Information on Picks

This is a superb introduction to the subject of the history of the plectrum/pick/pic. Not many people think about the pick as anything but a piece of plastic but in truth it is the unseen connection between the instrument and the musician. It can be made from many materials and has a fascinating history. This book is perfect for the new collector.

This is a guitar-picker's must-read!

If you want to have a good time reading about one of the most overlooked essentials of good guitar-picking, read this book. Hoover's style is direct, yet whimsical; his information is authoritative and far-reaching. I intend to write a followup review once I've had a chance to digest and reflect upon this small gem, but, as a guitar plunker (as distinguished from picker) of small talent and great enthusiasm, I wanted to add my applause to the nice things already said about Hoover's accomplishment by Chet Atkins and B.B. King.