Guitar picks from Horn

Subject: Guitar picks from Horn
From: DonMeixner
Date: 26 Jun 02 - 11:56 PM

I have found a source for cow horn and have orders for silver mounted powder horns. There is significant material left over and I have wondered about making guitar picks from it. It is basically the same material as a hoof (Finger nail) so the sound should be good. Are there already picks made from horn? How do they sound? The same source can supply turtle shell, NOT TORTOISE, North American Snapping turtle actually taken under licsense. How would they work for picks?

I know there was an earlier thread about tortoise shell. THis isn't tortoise shell. These products are not the result of vanity but by products of the food and clothing industry.

Don

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar picks from Horn
From: GUEST,Guest Spot
Date: 27 Jun 02 - 02:11 PM

Don re. turtle shell picks - not advisable as the "striations" are wrong. It doesn't last, wears wafer thin and sounds like erm... crap!! Hope this helps. Tortoise is a completely different animal, as it were, I have some t-shell mando picks, made from antique brush handles etc and they're great!

Regards to all Spot

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar picks from Horn
From: MMario
Date: 27 Jun 02 - 02:14 PM

well - there's at least one company out there selling horn guitar picks at ten bucks each - (they also offer coconut shell guitar picks)

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar picks from Horn
From: Jeri
Date: 27 Jun 02 - 02:22 PM

I overheard a conversation in a music store. The shop employee said that some people just loved the horn picks, but they tended to break quite regularly because they were brittle. Somebody out there's buying them at $10 a pop, though.

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar picks from Horn
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Jun 02 - 03:08 PM

It could be that as horn is similar to fingernail in make up it needs similar care. Some means to keep it from drying out perhaps.

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar picks from Horn
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 27 Jun 02 - 06:48 PM

GUEST Spot, I would love to hear more about your research into the difference between turtle and tortoise shell.

ALL turtle shells have the "wrong" striations, and will wear wafer thin , is that correct? Not disbelieving you, or anything, but are these assertions based on personal research, hearsay, or what ?

My understanding, which may well be totally erroneous, was that the material referred to as "tortoiseshell" has in fact always been harvested from turtles, not tortoises.

Murray

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar picks from Horn
From: michaelr
Date: 27 Jun 02 - 08:56 PM

Don, I'd be interested in trying a horn pick. Think you can do better that $10?

What is the difference between turtle and tortoise, anyway? Land vs water dweller, or what?

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar picks from Horn
From: DonMeixner
Date: 27 Jun 02 - 09:32 PM

Michael,

Probably, but thats because I don't know what I'm doing and will surely charge too little. But jeepers, I can make a sterling silver thumb pick for under twenty. How about a silver flat pick? I call the "Wood Drill".

:-))))

Don

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar picks from Horn
From: NicoleC
Date: 27 Jun 02 - 11:18 PM

Don, does the same source sell ox or cow bone? I would think that it would be more suitable for pick material, and probably cheaper for you to buy. Lord knows people fork out big dough for "ivory" picks, most of which is probably just cow bone anyway - 'taint but so much pre-ban and mammoth ivory out there.

Subject: RE: BS: Guitar picks from Horn
From: DonMeixner
Date: 28 Jun 02 - 12:06 AM

Not that I know of Nicole, But I imagine bone is pretty much bone when it comes to large animals. My Dad said nothing is harder or tougher than the shin bone of a pig. ( Would they be Kosher to use by our Kosher keeping Catter's,) Thats a semi serious wonder by the way.

Dad once made a plat pick out of Jade for a Bluegrasser he knew. To my knowledge it is still in operation.

Bone.....Hmm.

Don