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Thread: Where can i find a gibson usa teardrop pick?

  1. #1
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    I have a hard Gibson USA teardrop pick and it is my favorite pick to use. After a near loss of the pick (I left it at a gig...fortunately the guitar player picked it up for me!), I am trying to track down a place where I can get a couple back-ups. Does anyone know where I can track these down? I've done a few searches online with no luck.

    Thanks,

    Lauren

  2. #2

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    i got one n u can have it
    Look up (to see whats comin down)

  3. #3
    Café habitué Paul Hostetter's Avatar
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    Make it out of another pick. Making picks is easy, and all you need is a larger pick you can work down to the size you like.

    Is this what you're talking about?:



    If so it's the most common pick on earth, launched by D'Andrea in the early 1920's, known as the #351. It's available in celluloid, polycarbonate, polyester, Delrin and a few other materials (not to mention real tortoiseshell) in this precise shape. What you need to know is the thickness you like, and the material. It doesn't have to say "Gibson USA" on it to be the same pick.

    You might enjoy a cruise through my pages about flatpicks here.

    .
    ph

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    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Lauren:
    I think I know the one you are talking and it is one of my favorites. I bought a few from a store a few years ago but when I went back they didn't have them any more and told me that they were discontinued.

    A friend found what he thought were some in another music store but they were mediums. I can probably scan mine tomorrow. They are smaller than the ones that Paul scanned, almost circular on the top part and more pointy. The shape is more like the style D Red Bear Tortis (at least the one that I am talking about):





    Jim

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    Registered User Timbofood's Avatar
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    Sounds like you are talking about the old Gibson "Star" pick.
    Timothy F. Lewis
    "If brains was lard, that boy couldn't grease a very big skillet" J.D. Clampett

  6. #6
    Registered User Steve G's Avatar
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    http://www.janetdavismusic.com/

    I love them for guitar and was happy to see them available again.
    ‎"Don't worry about people stealing your ideas. If your ideas are any good, you'll have to ram them down people's throats." - Howard Aiken

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    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    There was a smaller Gibson teardrop shaped pick (I have one at home, I have no idea where it came from). Is that what you're looking for? Like the D in Jim's example, maybe a little more elongated.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
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    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
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    I had trouble scanning in my pick, but I found this picture with an older Gibson design on it.
    I think this is the one that I have. I am not sure what the material is or what the precise measurement is other than "H."

    I think this is the same one that Mike is talking about. Do they not make the teardrop size anymore? I didn't see it at janetdavismusic; I only saw the bigger size. I have no clue where my pick came from either! Is this the one you have, mandolooter?

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    Café habitué Paul Hostetter's Avatar
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    Buy the bigger one and reshape it. It's not rocket science!
    .
    ph

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  10. #10
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    That's the one. I have one and I have no idea where I got it. I haven't seen them anyplace recently. I'm with Paul to reshape one or...

    Take a look at this pick at First Quality. Close on the shape.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

Name:	teardrop.jpg 
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ID:	34349  
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  11. #11
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    I bought one to try to reshape...we'll see how it goes! Thanks for all the input!

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    Registered User Ivan Kelsall's Avatar
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    Lauren - you have a 'personal message',( & another)
    # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # Saska



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  13. #13
    Registered User Tom C's Avatar
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    Those Gibson "Jazz" picks are the choice of Barry Mitterhoff. They no longer make them. I started with those when I picked up the mando because they were what he used. I gave him a nice suprise of about 50 of them I had laying around when he was down to his last few. I love the tone of them. No plectum noise, clean playing, but my knuckles would hit strings when playing hard.

  14. #14
    Registered User Ivan Kelsall's Avatar
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    I did a 'grande tour' of the 4 music shops that i know of in Manchester ( i had to go to Manchester anyway,so no big deal) - result,everyone knows of the teardrop shaped picks,but no one has them. Apparently they ARE no longer made as most of us suspected.
    I've sent Lauren a personal message that i have 3 of the picks that she wants & 2 Jazz picks. The Jazz picks have printed on them "JAZZ by Pick Boy" 1.5 mm,whereas the Gibson picks are 0.036" (approx.1.0mm).If she e-mails me a mailing address,they'll be on their way,
    Saska
    Weber F-5 'Fern'.
    Lebeda F-5 "Special".
    Stelling Bellflower BANJO
    Tokai - 'Tele-alike'.
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    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
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    Fender's #347 is same shape as the Gibson * (a star is embossed) picks.
    an $0.25 sized teardrop, but though mediums show up in the Misc. grab bag ,
    heavy or extra heavy require buying a Gross lot.

    So I make do with large rounded triangle 'Wankel' picks.
    [the shape of the rotary engine's 'piston']
    writing about music
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  16. #16
    Café habitué Paul Hostetter's Avatar
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    The #347, $18 for 72 of them online. That's half a gross for 25 cents apiece.



    They also come in extra heavy at the same price. But wouldn't it be hipper to make your own?
    .
    ph

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  17. #17
    Registered User Ivan Kelsall's Avatar
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    Lauren - If you read this before your e-mail,the picks are even now on their way to sunny California - & boy,do i wish i was with them !!!,
    Saska - (from a very soggy UK
    seriously in need of sun
    & Mandolins)
    Weber F-5 'Fern'.
    Lebeda F-5 "Special".
    Stelling Bellflower BANJO
    Tokai - 'Tele-alike'.
    Ellis DeLuxe "A" style.

  18. #18

    Default Re: Where can i find a gibson usa teardrop pick?

    Hi lauren

    I love those picks and can't find them anywhere. Please could you tell me if you managed to find them or similar? I note that you posted this message a cou[le of years ago so I hope you are still around.

    Thanks


    Mike from UK


    Quote Originally Posted by Lauren Donahue View Post
    I have a hard Gibson USA teardrop pick and it is my favorite pick to use. After a near loss of the pick (I left it at a gig...fortunately the guitar player picked it up for me!), I am trying to track down a place where I can get a couple back-ups. Does anyone know where I can track these down? I've done a few searches online with no luck.

    Thanks,

    Lauren

  19. #19
    Registered User Ivan Kelsall's Avatar
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    Default Re: Where can i find a gibson usa teardrop pick?

    I sent Lauren the few picks that i had,they were a bit too small for my fingers.The ones i like & am using right now are similar in thickness (.045").They are the Gibson 'Pure' XH picks . A larger 'teardrop' shape & terrific on my instruments,
    Ivan
    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	Gibson XH pick.jpg 
Views:	440 
Size:	9.7 KB 
ID:	64524
    Weber F-5 'Fern'.
    Lebeda F-5 "Special".
    Stelling Bellflower BANJO
    Tokai - 'Tele-alike'.
    Ellis DeLuxe "A" style.

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