what kind of pick did Bill Monroe use

[GTison]

That's it. What did he use. Did he use different things early in his career. what size was it. I've heard triangle before but just a sted fender triangle style or what? rounded off? did he use the sharp edge?

[AlanN]

Whatever he had in his pocket or what someone gave him.

[Scotti Adams]

..thats one thing about Bill it wasnt so much as what worked but rather whatever worked....he wasnt much into the mechanics of his playing....there are storys about how bad of care he actually took care of his mandos....never cleaned them...hardly ever changed the strings....to Bill it was more about making music...not what made the music...

[John Flynn]

Mike Compton tells a great story about Monroe and picks in his workshops. The story goes that Bill was going to give a workshop and had a friend drive him to the venue. When they got there, Bill realized he did not have a pick in his case. The friend went out and searched around his car and found an old pick of unknown origin wedged down between the seat cushions. He gave it to Bill to use in the workshop. At one point in the workshop, a participant asked Bill what kind of pick he used. He very ceremoniously held up that pick and said with emphasis, "I...use one of THESE!"

[GTison]

I've heard that before... But I thought He really might have had a preference of some sort.

[wheelhoss]

A few months ago, I had the chance to play at a jam with
David McGlaughlin, and he showed me his selection of picks, including one that Monroe gave him....a heavy Gibson wedge
pick.....I bet Gibson gave Monroe a whole slew of picks to play and give out.

# # # # # # # # Ron Kaye

[docmarc2771]

Bill gave me a pick he was using on stage at a club concert here in Madison, WI...Gibson heavy guitar pick...

[Nelson Peddycoart]

Gibson heavy guitar picks are one of my favorites. I like the plain ole white ones.

[Gary Hedrick]

..thats one thing about Bill it wasnt so much as what worked but rather whatever worked....he wasnt much into the mechanics of his playing....there are storys about how bad of care he actually took care of his mandos....never cleaned them...hardly ever changed the strings....to Bill it was more about making music...not what made the music...


Hmm for all the statements made on this forum concerning Bill Monroe, the above is the most accurate one I've ever read about him and his view about his instrument. Scotti you have hit the nail on the head from the experiences that I had with him.
I'm saying that this was the way he looked at things in the true, hardcore years before Loars were celebrated instruments and all the hoopla came into play and he started being told how sacred the instrument that he played was. He was a person who played the music for people.

In fact if you look at him in the "before Ralph Rinzler years" when Neil Rosenberg and others finally got through to him that the music form he was the anchor and focus of was really something of note and really that he was the "Father of Bluegrass" it wasn't even the music so much that he was about but he was a performer there to play for the folks.....play if there were 12 in the crowd on a cool September night at Bean Blossom or there were a 1000 there for a really big show. ...he was there to play and play 100%.

Heck in the early 60's his mandolin sat in the middle room backstage at Bean Blossom unattended for hours and a certain young snot was able to try and play it a number of times.......it was just a tool....a tool like a hoe or a shovel.....in those days.