We are proud to begin on site production of  a wide range of exotic wood guitar picks in both standard and unusual styles.

The story

This project started as a productive way to explore the characteristics of different exotic woods first hand with intentions of using that developed knowledge in future intended luthiery projects. Nothing like a little bit of first hand experience!

Thus, the collaboration was born - Ace Music sourcing material and a place to sell finished product, and Valentine Guitar Services providing tools, extra knowledge, and space to create them.

3pc Multi-wood, Chechen, and Purpleheart Blanks

WHy Wood?

Wood picks, similar to other materials, will naturally develop impact wear with consistent and regular use, with softer woods, thinner, pointier options being the fastest of the bunch. So it's perfectly valid to ask - why bother using one of these, when you can buy, as an example, 20 standard plastic picks for the price of one?

We find that acoustic players in particular find tonal benefits and variation that they don't get with standard plastic picks, and after a breaking in period, the wear tends to taper off significantly regardless of wood type. There's also a psychological element to spending more on a pick - you're probably less likely to lose it!

These aren't meant to replace what you're already using, but we have had a positive response when used in both live acoustic applications as well as recording electric guitar and bass.

Ultimately we enjoy being able to provide more of a custom end product, and enjoy being able to provide a little piece of handmade art with equal amounts naturally occurring beauty and utility.

Purpleheart Prototype

Made by Hand, NOT Cnc

These pieces are made exclusively by hand, using no more than a band saw, two types of power sanders, a Dremel, and a ton of sandpaper.

With that in mind, and the variances of wood, each pick will be entirely unique with a lot of personal time put into each to make it as perfect as possible. Having already created prototypes of several designs and weeded out the ones that didn't stick, the speed of process and degree of consistency has improved dramatically since the first. Due to the handmade nature of these pieces, the price is set to accommodate time, characteristics, and type of wood used.

New pieces are created daily for stock.

Breaking them in

When you first purchase your pick, you will immediately notice use of a thin clear coat on the entire item. To some, this may seem counter intuitive, as during its first extensive use, the tip clear wears back almost immediately to expose the bare wood.

If we know it's going to happen, why do it?
It's not done to protect the wood from wear, most hard woods will do that sufficiently on their own after the sharpest point has worn down. Instead, we do it to replicate a similar effect of a glossy guitar neck - they get sticky! And while that's why a lot of people satin up their necks on otherwise fast playing guitars, this is a general positive when not wanting to drop your pick. And aesthetically speaking, it enhances the look of the wood.