Eek! Need Old National Fingerpicks...

Eric West · From: Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.

After 10 years I suppose it was bound to happen. They've been stepped on a few too many times.

Now I see "new style" ones that just aren't goig to cut it.

I'll put a WTB in the FS section too.

TIA for reply.

EJL

David Coplin · From: Eugene, Oregon, USA

Eric,
I've got an extra set of the old (really old)
National finger picks. E-mail me your address
and I'll send them up to you.
Dave

David Mason · From: Cambridge, MD, USA

Janet Davis Music has a couple of brands advertised as "just like the old Nationals". I haven't tried either old Nationals or these, but it's worth a look. http://www.janetdavismusic.com/finpiks.html

Eric West · From: Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.

Thanks. the "1941s" look like theyre similar. I tried a couple of the other ones there and they just weren't stout enough the way I clamp them on and they extend.

Thanks. On my way out of town for a day or so. Got an email off to Dave too.

What a place. I love it.

EJL

Stephen Gambrell · From: Over there

Yeah, Eric, you should definitely give the Showcase 41's a try. I use 'em for steel, Dobro, banjo, and Scruggs-style guitar. They cost too much, but what doesn't?
And unlike Sho-Buds or Harleys, they don't leave oil spots in the driveway.

David Mullis · From: Rock Hill, SC

I also like the 1941 picks, but since I've never owned any of the old (good) Nationals, I don't know how they compare. Before a buddy of mine got me hooked on the 1941 picks, I was using the Jeff Newman picks. I still use them for banjo though since I like my banjo picks bent at a slightly different angle than I use for steel. The Newman picks are a little heavier also.

David Mullis · From: Rock Hill, SC

oh and by the way, I saw some old nationals ( the ones with the patent numbers on them) on Ebay, like 8 or 10 picks and the bidding was up to $60.00!!!!

Danny Naccarato · From: Burleson, Texas

Believe it or not, I've got several from my Dad's old music business and I've been getting $50/pair on Ebay....That was in Feb/Mar. Right now they haven't reached that, only to about $30 or so......I think mostly banjo players been grabbing them....

David Mullis · From: Rock Hill, SC

Is there a forum member discount on those picks Danny?

[This message was edited by David Mullis on 05 April 2003 at 07:50 AM.]

RON PRESTON · From: Dodson, Louisiana, USA

I will sell mine for $30.00 a pair....The OLD ones with the Serial #' on them. I have about 150-200 of them. E-mail me for info.
These are the old Nationals.

RON PRESTON · From: Dodson, Louisiana, USA

Eric West · From: Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.

Thanks all. I have had just TWO sets of fingerpicks in my 25 years. the first just completely wore out. They'd been stepped on once. This newest pair I got in 89, and they two have been stepped on. The first pair was done by a near sighted bass player as I was setting up. The second was by a dancer.( Both escaped any kind of corporeal or capitol punishment. It was my fault. I caught the edge of a string and "flipped the middle fingerpick of into space.)

I'm going to see what the ones I've been sent by Mr Coplin so generously do, and am going to look into the 1941s. I do have an "emergency" set of those lighter Kysor picks. They really need to "clamp" down on the ends of my fingers so's to be more "part of the bone" than fingertip covers, as BC got me started doing.(After the initial 5 years of blood blisters and small abcesses got me thru the "break in" it seems a waste of agony to go to an "easier, softer" way..) The other more malleable alloys such as Dunlops and ones that are "rounded" just don't cut it "for me".

Thanks to all. This was a very minor thing, and all the response was amazing considering the obnoxious stuff I come up with on some of my posts.

I'm considering some sort of "community service"...

Now for those "blue thumbpicks".. (just kidding...)

Is this a great place OR WHAT?

EJL.

[This message was edited by Eric West on 06 April 2003 at 05:01 PM.]

Eric West · From: Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.

Steve G.

Oil Spots..

The Sho~Bud spots tend to be on my right knee from dripping WD-40 every 6 months. The mark it usually leaves is four scrape marks in the linoleum on the floor/stage.

The Harley after 15 thousand bucks doesn't leave any, which leaves my friends with harleys to think that maybe I've run out of oil..

The Chev Pickup, on OTOH, which like ALL the other four wheel vehicles in my life isn't in my name anyhow, and about a gallon of Delo 15-40 a month is what I tend to go through. I hope the paving company stays in business, or I'll actually have to go out and BUY it myself....

Again, Thanks to all.

EJL

Mac Bellingrath · From: Pine Bluff, Arkansas, USA

Herby Wallace sells some fingerpicks that were designed to mimick the old Nationals. I have been using them and have been fully satisfied. He sells them on his web-site.

Hope this is of help.

------------------
LEFTY 2002 Pedalmaster D-10 8x5, Supro lap 8-string strung lefty, Nashville 400, Rabro strung lefty, Fender resonator converted to lap-style lefty by Resophonic Outfitters

Lee Baucum · From: McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier

At one time, I was a hard-core National pick user, until I discovered Pro-Piks. To me, they feel and sound just like the old Nationals, but with a bit of an angle to them. You might want to try out a pair. I get mine from Frenchy.

Maybe I should get out my stash of old Nationals and sell them. I had no idea they were worth so much!

------------------
Lee, from South Texas
Down On The Rio Grande

Sherman Willden · From: Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA

I found National Patent Number 1787136 NP2 for $2.00 a pop at John's The Original Folklore Center here in Colorado Springs.

Sherman

Lee Baucum · From: McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier

I love it when a topic is revived a year later!

------------------
Lee, from South Texas
Down On The Rio Grande

Rick Schmidt · From: Prescott AZ, USA

Eric, Eric, Eric...WD40???

heavy sigh....

It's taken me 15 years at least to finally get rid of that greasy kid stuff underneath Old Betsy.

Oh yeah...good luck with the picks.

Eric West · From: Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.

Subject: WD 40

The product began from a search for a rust preventative solvent
and de-greaser to protect missile parts. WD-40 was created in
1953 by three technicians at the San Diego Rocket Chemical
Company. It's name comes from the project that was to find
a "water displacement" compound. They were successful with
the fortieth formulation, thus WD-40.

The Corvair Company bought it in bulk to protect their Atlas
missile parts. The workers were so pleased with the product,
they began smuggling (also known as "shrinkage" or "stealing")
it out to use at home. The executives decided there might be a
consumer market for it and put it in aerosol cans. The rest,
as they say, is history.

It is a carefully guarded recipe know n only to four people.
Only one of them is the "brew master." There are about
2.5 million gallons of the stuff manufactured each year.
It gets it's distinctive smell from a fragrance that is added
to the brew. Ken East says there is nothing in WD-40 that
would hurt you.

Here are some of the uses:

Protects silver from tarnishing
Cleans and lubricates guitar strings
Gets oil spots off concrete driveways
Gives floors that 'just-waxed' sheen without making it slippery
Keeps flies off cows
Restores and cleans chalkboards
Removes lipstick stains
Loosens stubborn zippers
Untangles jewelry chains
Removes stains from stainless steel sinks
Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill
Keeps ceramic/terra cotta garden pots from oxidizing
Removes tomato stains from clothing
Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots
Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors
Keeps scissors working smoothly
Lubricates noisy door hinges on vehicles and doors in homes
Gives a children's play gym slide a shine for a super fast slide
Lubricates gear shift and mower deck lever for ease of handling on riding mowers
Rids rocking chairs and swings of squeaky noises
Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to open
Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close
Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards in vehicles, as well as vinyl bumpers
Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles
Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans
Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons and bicycles for easy handling
Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly
Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools

We're not through. Here's more;

Removes splattered grease on stove
Keeps bathroom mirror f rom fogging
Lubricates prosthetic limbs
Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell)
Removes all traces of duct tape

I have even heard of folks spraying it on their arms, hands, knees,
etc., to relieve arthritis pain.

One fellow claims spraying it on fishing lures attracts fish.

WD-40 has been designated the "official multi-purpose problem-solver
of NASCAR," a ringing endorsement if there ever was one. I told my
NASCAR loving sons about this and they said they couldn't imagine
how WD-40 can solve the Jeff Gordon problem.

In celebration of their 50th year, the company conducted a contest to learn
the favorite uses of it's customers and fan club members, (Yes, there is a
WD-40 Fan Club).

They compiled the information to identify t he favorite use in each of
the 50 states. Naturally I was curious about Georgia and Alabama and
found the favorite use in both states was that it "penetrates stuck bolts,
lug nuts, and hose ends." Florida's favorite use was "cleans and removes
lovebugs from grills and bumpers."

California's favorite use was penetrating the bolts on the Golden Gate Bridge.

Let me close with one final, wonderful use--the favorite use in the
State of New York--WD-40 protects the Statue of Liberty from the
elements.

Gotta add too that it keeps elephants away from my house.

It's worked so far...

EJL

Joey Ace · From: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

I use the National 1941s. I got them from Herby. About $7 a pair.

HowardR · From: N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville

Rick Schmidt · From: Prescott AZ, USA

Eric.....ROTFLMAO!!!

Let's not forget that compound #40 also does a great job as a "smoke buster"...i.e. it literally yanks the second hand smoke out of the air and bonds with it permanently, thereby creating an attractive laquer-like substance.

Heck I'm gonna go douse down the old Plymouth with some right now....

Wonder if it works on finger picks?

Eric West · From: Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.

Joey.
I got a set of 41s myself, but found that the "semi crimped" or rolled blades that were slightly rounded were much different than the mid 70s ones. Also the "Old Nationals" were similar in shape, and not quite the same alloy as the mid 70s.

I ended up using a couple chrome plated ones I got from Harley James, ala Doug Jones, a couple of my local betters. They have a flat, wider blade, though not exactly as wide.

I put some WD 40 on them......

Seriously though, I recently mistakenly tried lubing my changer with spray graphite.

It was a mistake. They gummed up in a week, and I ended up cleaning it all out with WD, and lightly lubing the whole works with 3-1 oil.

I wonder if drinking some would "loosen things up down there"...

Incidentally, the Dunlop tortoise shell thumbpicks I boiled flat, cut to Herco width and shape but longer, ended up the answer to a LONG fight with the shortness and loss of grip of the hercs over the years.

I sent a couple I made to a fellow forumite, and haven't heard how he likes them yet. You do have to polish the blade though or it'll grab the strings.

Been too busy at the day job, and getting ready for a nother 8 nite stretch next week to get up for much air lately.

Much as it should be..

EJL

emil noothout · From: Amsterdam, Netherlands

National has reissued their vintage picks: the NP2 (1787136). I've read at this forum that Scotty seems to have them. Elderly music (Elderly.com) sells them for 8 dollar (4 picks).

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