Picks! (Book) [Paperback]

Will Hoover (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1995

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!

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The perfect companion to the scads of pictorial guitar retrospectives of recent years, this engagingly written and very colorfully illustrated little history of guitar plectrums is also a pop-culture collector's guide and the story of a miraculous and beautiful (but highly explosive) substance--celluloid. Picks come in an amazing array of shapes, sizes, and colors, and celluloid was ideal for them, partly because of its flexibility, but also because of its artistic qualities. It lends itself to lovely, swirling designs, to incorporating sparkling and otherwise eye-catching additives, and to better string tone, too. Unfortunately, besides its instability, it is time consuming to produce, and today, very few sources of celluloid are left. So picks are made of dozens of other materials as well, which may not enhance the playing of music as much but do open up additional niches in the collectibles environment. A fun little book. Mike Tribby

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Backbeat Books (October 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879303778
• ISBN-13: 978-0879303778
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 6.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #869,137 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is a guitar-picker's must-read!, April 14, 1999

By 

James R. Harstad (Honolulu, HI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Picks! (Book) (Paperback)

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.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Spectrum of Plectrums, September 29, 2007

By 

Stevie Leavitt (Massachusetts-USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Picks! (Book) (Paperback)

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!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Information on Picks, May 12, 2007

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Picks! (Book) (Paperback)

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.