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Asking straight forward what plectrum was Hank using in the early 60s? Brand, thickness, shape, etc.
Thanks in advance

Hi, Nikola,
Only 6 months late with this reply.
I have this week astonished myself by trying a different pick to get as close a I can to the early sound. I have for years been using a 2 mm pick to hit the strings hard but this week tried a 1mm gibson H pick. the difference in sound is huge. The Gibson gives a more hollow sound on the lower strings more like the original recordings but the 2mm gives a much rounder sound on the treble strings, again much more like the original records. The 1mm is great for Gonzales.So it depends I think on which tune you are playing. My guess, and it is only a guess, is that Hank used a pick somewhere in the middle of these two, maybe 1.3 or 1.5mm.
Regards,
Franz

Hank had his own picks on sale back in the early sixties, they were similar to the old tortoiseshell Bert Weedon picks, but longer, I have a a picture of one but I don't know how to get it on here. If you Google Hank Marvin plectrum images you'll see it as well as the modern red ones and the Bert Weedon ones.

In the very early days, particularly for Apache, Hank would have used an off-the-shelf plectrum. What was available then in London? And what gauge was in favor then?

Andy

There were only tortoiseshell plecks around and we took them for granted.
I wish now I'd have bought a bucketful, I have one solitary Bert Weedon one left that is so precious I won't use it.
There was something about the 'bite' of tortoiseshell...........

Those Bert Weedon plectrums were the main ones when I first started, in tortoiseshell or the cheaper plastic, along with the black Gibson ones we still can buy today. Like I said before, Google 'plectrums' Bert Weedon or Hank Marvin images and there are pictures. If you type in guitar pick images , there are different pictures.

Here's some buffalo horn plecs. I've ordered 3.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-HANDMADE-BU ... 5668a554ca

ecca wrote:Here's some buffalo horn plecs. I've ordered 3.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-HANDMADE-BU ... 5668a554ca

They look the biz Ecca, let us know what you think - are they as good as the old school ?

I'll let you know Dave.
A huge amount of the tone comes from the pleck.
Brian May plays with a tanner. I'm far too miserable to do that.