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Topic: National Fingerpick Varieties and Styles? |
Eric West
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 13 Jul 2006 4:59 am |
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Well I did it. I lost one of my prime picks. Vanished into thin air. Tore the club apart and searched all the patrons...
Somebody posted a link to all the different varieties, but I can't find it on a "Search".
The ones I have(d) appear to be a 70s version with broad flat blades that are wider at the bottoms than most. Number and "USA" off center to the hole.
In the meantime I have a couple 1941 style that will "work", and 4 NP2s coming from Elderly. Maybe I'll like them. the other ones are too thin and narrow.
Boy, you sure get used to a certain thing after a few years.
Anybody have either that post link, or some "offcenter USA 70s broad blades".
Money is no object up to a grand or so..
EJL |
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A. J. Schobert
From:
Cincinnati, Ohio,
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Posted 13 Jul 2006 9:29 am
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| Eric I use jeff newman picks I get them from billy coopers, now if you want to pay up to a grand or so, well I think I can help you there also. |
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Larry Chung
From:
San Francisco, CA, USA
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Ron Sodos
From:
San Antonio, Texas USA
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Posted 13 Jul 2006 9:42 am
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| I recently broke one of my picks that I have been using for about 15 years or so. I was devastated as it was so comfortable. I bought a couple of sets of the more expensive National picks from Bobbe Seymour and they were so perfect i was surprised. A little tweaking and bending with a pair of long nose pliars and the replacement is so comfortable it feels like my old pick. I am ecstatic...... [This message was edited by Ron Sodos on 13 July 2006 at 10:43 AM.] |
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Waisznor
From:
Berlin, Germany
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Posted 13 Jul 2006 11:44 am
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Eric, I have 5 sets with the "straight 7"and 5 old National thumbpicks (NOS) that I don´t use.
Horst
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Bob Kagy
From:
Lafayette, CO USA
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Posted 13 Jul 2006 2:43 pm
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| IMHO the NP2's are pretty good. They resemble my old Nationals the most in every respect. The 1941's seem to be a heavier guage. |
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Eric West
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 13 Jul 2006 4:37 pm
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My thanks for the link, the offers and the advice.
I appear to have used the Style5s since I got my first pair at Oxon Hill Music. I shoulda bought a hundred of em.
It looks like the Np2s are the most like them.
I tried the Straight 7s, have a couple Kysers, which I found the blades are too narrow, and a couple others.
That link and those pics of the different styles is priceless. I found the main page last nite but not the indiv. picks.
I should be getting the NP2s this weekend by mail via Elderly.
Thanks all.
EJL |
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Garry Vanderlinde
From:
CA
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Posted 13 Jul 2006 5:59 pm
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Eric the description you gave sounds like style 7a with the broad flat tip. Is the off center hole on the band or the blade? If it's on the blade then it a style 7a.
Larry thanks for the link, I never knew there were so many different styles of Nationals. But I was a little disapointed to find out that my no USA pair were made in the '60's and not pre-war.[This message was edited by Garry Vanderlinde on 13 July 2006 at 07:30 PM.] |
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Eric West
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 13 Jul 2006 7:10 pm
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I don't see a "7a", but it does look like the 5. The ones pictured in the posted pic are 6aas. They had a little crimp on the edges of the blades, and would be really hard to find. I had a pair early on, and I just couldn't get used to the additional curve.
I have the index one, and it does match the 5. This set I got from HArley James, a local guy and they were chromed before I peeled it off of them.
I'll see what the NP2s are like. They look wider at the flat blade than the Kysors or the 1941s that I have.
(The hole on the blade is off center as referenced.)
EJL |
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Garry Vanderlinde
From:
CA
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Posted 13 Jul 2006 7:34 pm
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| Sorry I ment 7b. is the blade flat or concave? And why is this post so WIDE, it sure makes it hard to read [This message was edited by Garry Vanderlinde on 13 July 2006 at 08:42 PM.] |
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Eric West
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 13 Jul 2006 7:49 pm
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Actually, when I looked closer, it's a 7b.
The blades are flat, and wider at the bottom. Holes in the center of the band, slightly off on the blade.
They were probably the most common in the early 80s.
Wish I'd have grabbed a bunch..
Oh well. Four could be a lifetime supply
at my age.
EJL |
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Garry Vanderlinde
From:
CA
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Posted 13 Jul 2006 8:02 pm
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| Eric...I've got four of them never used. I was using the 6aa's and then switch to the 1941's a few years back, so these 7b's just sat in my drawer. If you want them email me. [This message was edited by Garry Vanderlinde on 13 July 2006 at 10:42 PM.] |
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Eric West
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 13 Jul 2006 9:53 pm
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I certainly will. Thanks.
I'm looking around for the thousand bucks.
I had it right here..
EJL |
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Eric West
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 14 Jul 2006 9:31 am
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Is this a great place or WHAT?
My thanks to all.
EJL |
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Ray Minich
From:
Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra
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Posted 14 Jul 2006 10:12 am
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| Hard to believe there really is enough information and history about finger picks to write a book...but there is. I'm still having to reread this thread several times to "get the picture". |
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David Wren
From:
Placerville, California, USA
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Posted 14 Jul 2006 12:20 pm
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Eric, I have a pair that I bought in early '70s... email if you can't find any and I'll send up to you.
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Dave Wren
'96 Carter S12-E9/B6,7X7; Twin Session 500s; Hilton Pedal; Black Box
www.ameechapman.com
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Eric West
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 14 Jul 2006 1:09 pm
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Ray. I thought it was simple enough until a couple years ago when I went looking..
Dave. Thanks. Mr V got some email, and I'm sure it'll work out.
I'll post what I think of the NP2s I ordered from EI too.
I found that with thumbpicks I come out best after ditching my age old Blue Herc habit and started cutting down large Dunlops and Golden Gates. I was boiling them and reshaping them for a while, and sent a couple out to people here pro bono, and finally got to cutting them down with a leatherman file to fit perfectly.
Fingerpicks OTOH are a more specific thing and it's funny how 28 year old habits stick with a guy.
Anyhow I saved all the pics off the site and they will come in handy.
EJL |
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Eric West
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 17 Jul 2006 6:59 pm
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My immense thanks to Mr.Vanderlinde. I got four perfect National steel 7bs today, and it's a lifetime supply if the past is any indication.
$980.00 was less than I was expecting. ( Just kidding. Just a little over the postage, for what they are.)
I've always liked them over silver or SS alloys because they seem to be somewhere inbetween the two, don't scallop from being too soft, and don't grate on the strings from being too hard.
As an addendum. I was totally going nuts, because I lost it in a place that was confined, and I checked EVERYWHERE. All my amp crannies, inside my Hilton, under my steel, EVERYWHERE.
Well, after a weekend's worth of gigs, loading in and out, and a miserable and hot Sunday gig yesterday afternoon, I was dragging my amp and anvil purse out of the bed of my ranger.. and "ping", I heard something hit the pavement. I'd know that sound ANYWHERE!
There it was.
All I can think is that it got wedged in under one of the rubber feet under my anvil gig case, and stuck there. I had noticed that one corner of the case wasn't closing perfectly, but I looked inside the hinge and didn't see anything.
My whole week was made.
Made perfect by getting four more hard to get replacements.
My thanks to you all, and Mr V especially!
If you ask me, this Forum is MADE by people like those represented in this post.
THEY are the ones that I hope never go away.
I'll always try to be like them if I try to be like anybody.
EJL |
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Garry Vanderlinde
From:
CA
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Posted 18 Jul 2006 4:24 am
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I'm glad it worked out, you can donate what ever is left of the $1000 to the Forum.  |
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David Wren
From:
Placerville, California, USA
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Posted 20 Jul 2006 6:29 am
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I just love a happy ending
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Dave Wren
'96 Carter S12-E9/B6,7X7; Twin Session 500s; Hilton Pedal; Black Box
www.ameechapman.com
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Al Marcus
From:
Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)
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Posted 20 Jul 2006 7:07 am
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Eric-I'm sorry you lost your National Picks. I wouldn't want to lose mine.
I have always used National picks. They just feel right for me.
I have one set from my first year around 1936, Silver Plated (collector's items??)
They made black marks on my fingers.
They are wore so thin that I had to retire them.
Now my fingers don't get black with the later ones.LOL...al
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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/
[This message was edited by Al Marcus on 20 July 2006 at 08:12 AM.] |
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Ray Minich
From:
Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra
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Posted 20 Jul 2006 9:54 am
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I've got six Nationals from 1963 that are kinda rusty (not flaking, just an orange patina).
Should I shine them up or just leave 'em alone? (or maybe use them to clean 'em up?)[This message was edited by Ray Minich on 20 July 2006 at 10:54 AM.] |
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Eric West
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 20 Jul 2006 6:08 pm
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I had also ordered a couple sets of NP2s from Elderly.
I find that like the 7bs, they are a nice hard grade. I play very hard and any of the older ones I've tried over the years, the Kysors, or the other repops just weren't stiff enough and the blades weren't wide enough.
With the Np2s they stamp the blades slightly concaved (or convex, depending on how you look at it) and in my case I flattened them out.
Anyhow, a happy ending to at least one of my sagas..
EJL |
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Kevin Hatton
From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted 20 Jul 2006 9:49 pm
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| This is classic forum. |
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