This is Very Cool.

[Zaphod B]

A coworker who is a fellow guitarist and collector (mostly resonators and acoustics) called me over to his desk a few minutes ago.

He handed me a hand-made pick made from bois d'arc, that he made especially with me in mind. Very cool, the same size as a "standard" pick but thicker than celluloid of course. Very nicely made and the grain is beautiful. It was a nice gesture and completely unexpected.

Then he pulled out a couple of solid silver peso picks that he made by hand, saying that he had copied the idea after he heard that Billy Gibbons played a peso pick. These are sized about halfway between a standard and a jazz pick and he did a really fine job on them. You can clearly see "UN PESO" and the face of whatever Mexican general or politician is on it. He gave one similar to these to Ian Moore after seeing him play live a few years back adn said that Ian really liked it.

After I commented on what great attack that silver pick would have on an electric he handed one of those to me as well!

Just when I get to thinking that people are mostly assholes, someone has to go and do something unexpectedly generous and thoughtful to me, and make me rethink the human race all over again.

Thanks, Ron, I'll treasure these.

Looks like I'm gonna have to find some silver pesos for you!

 

[Zaphod B]

Oh, bois d'arc is also known as a horseapple tree, or bodark around here, lots of other names. Muttley and Light might know it as Osage orange (Maclura pomifera).

 

[32-20-Blues]

That's cool - random acts of kindness are always appreciated.

 

[DrewPeterson7]

Could you post up a picture? I have no idea what those might sound or feel like, but I bet they look pretty cool.

 

[Zaphod B]

Could you post up a picture? I have no idea what those might sound or feel like, but I bet they look pretty cool.

If I have a chance tonight I'll post a shot.

I'll warn you, though, that I'm notorious about promising pictures and never delivering.

 

[muttley600]

....Muttley and Light might know it as Osage orange (Maclura pomifera).

Just known as Osage over here. Used it for pegs on Viola da Gamba before and as tool handles. It turns pretty good. Careful how you use it as a pick because it will wear.

PM me a postal I'll send you one of my tortoise shell ones to complete the collection.

Glad you have some faith in you fellow man restored.

 

[Zaphod B]

Here's a picture.

On the far left is a "standard"-sized Fender pick. Left middle is the bois d'arc pick.

Right middle is the silver Mexican Peso pic, and next to it is a Fender jazz pick.

 

[Zaphod B]

Just known as Osage over here. Used it for pegs on Viola da Gamba before and as tool handles. It turns pretty good. Careful how you use it as a pick because it will wear.

PM me a postal I'll send you one of my tortoise shell ones to complete the collection.

Glad you have some faith in you fellow man restored.

Point made about the pick wearing - the wood doesn't feel particularly hard. I'm going to try out a few chords on the Martin and then retire it to a display case.

PM sent, and thanks so much.

 

[pohaku]

Oh, bois d'arc is also known as a horseapple tree, or bodark around here, lots of other names. Muttley and Light might know it as Osage orange (Maclura pomifera).

Hmm. Used to burn it as firewood when I had a wood stove. Hard, dense and very oily. Throws sparks like you wouldn't believe. Good in a stove though. The green fruits from it are sold around here in the fall as a natural insect repellent. Place a few around in your basement or other areas where insects congregate. The insects vanish, there's no smell and the Osage Oranges just dry out over time. Fun extraneous facts

 

[Zaphod B]

Fun extraneous facts

Ha!

We have quite a few of those trees in the area, and when they drop those "oranges" - we call 'em "horseapples" - you better not run over one on your bicycle or you'll be on your head!

 

[muttley600]

Hmm. Used to burn it as firewood when I had a wood stove. Hard, dense and very oily.

Thats why it makes good friction pegs.