What kind of pick did Bill Monroe use?

[Ron McMillan]

I am bemused by the levels of obsession displayed over anything to do with BM here.

Not that that stops me reading these threads, you understand.

[Marty Henrickson]

He used the pick of destiny before Tenacious D rediscovered it.

Heck, he used it before they were BORN!

[allenhopkins]

I read a Monroe anecdote, which I can't now locate, that he used to use whatever pick he happened to have in his pocket or mandolin case. One of his band, or someone who was accompanying him, once played a prank by slipping a large, neon-colored guitar pick into the case. Monroe was giving a workshop or talking with audience members, and was asked what kind of pick he used. He pulled out the Day-Glo pick and said, "I use one of these right here." The prankster got a good laugh, and presumably a generation of local mandolin players were suckered into using garishly colored flat-picks...

[Timmando]

Thats funny Allen. It reminds me of a story I heard about Earl Scruggs and why he never put the banjo strap over his head. Story was that with the strap over just one shoulder, his right arm and wrist were in a better position to give better attack and downward thumb power with his picking. And that it allowed him to get better tone out of the banjo. Then someone asked him and he said "Well...you see this big hat that I have to wear....its just too hard to get that strap over the top." So I guess the moral of the story is that, yes, people do over-analyze things sometimes.

[KEB]

I am bemused by the levels of obsession displayed over anything to do with BM here.

Not that that stops me reading these threads, you understand.

We should keep adding verses to Red & Jethro's 'Cept Old Bill

Well the folks on that old internet
argue all day bout picks, straps, and armrests,
With a toneguard & blue chip, it just bout makes me ill.
I wonder how Thile, Steffey or McCoury
play with all those accessories
But no one could play without em.... 'cept old bill

(Okay... needs some polish, I get it)

[Jeroen]

The Big Book of Bluegrass, Ed. Kochman, 1984, GPI publications, page 17,18:

(Dix Bruce) Are you particular about the picks you use?
(Bill Monroe) I like a heavy pick. I dont like real light, thin picks because I don't think you can get a tone out of the mandolin with a thin pick. I let the point wear off, because it's too sharp, why, you don't get the tone. I've tried tortoiseshell and it's pretty good. I use bronze strings.

[Caleb]

Anyone ever seen this book devoted entirely to picks?

http://www.amazon.com/Picks-Book-Wil...n+pearse+picks

[Timbofood]

Not bad KEB, you're on the right track!
Now that being said, I don't use much of the trappings that some folk find indispensable, no tone guard, armrest, fancy strap, thirty five dollar pick. Just an old Alvarez and purple Dunlops, dog leash strap and an appropriate beverage.

Good point Ron, anything WSM related goes for at least three pages.