V-PICKS are hand made

guitar picks A plectrum is a small flat tool used for plucking or strumming of a stringed instrument. For hand-held instruments such as guitars and mandolins, the plectrum is often called a pick and is held as a separate tool in the player's hand. In harpsic ...

created in 1980 by guitarist Vinni Smith. By design these guitar picks were unique, being the first picks to originate from cast

acrylic Acrylic may refer to: Chemicals and materials * Acrylic acid, the simplest acrylic compound * Acrylate polymer, a group of polymers (plastics) noted for transparency and elasticity * Acrylic resin, a group of related thermoplastic or thermosett ...

. The pick was originally developed for more volume, better tone, fast playing action and beauty. Since its introduction, over 100 models have been designed. Picks available are applicable for electric and acoustic guitar, mandolin, bass guitar, dulcimer and an assortment of therapeutic picks for players with hand and arm injuries. In the early years they were named V-PICKS by friend and guitarist, John Dean. The company was started in 2004 and then incorporated in 2008. V-PICKS Headquarters was moved from California to Tennessee in 2011.

Notable users

One of V-PICK's most recognizable endorsers is

Carlos Santana Carlos Humberto Santana Barragán (; born July 20, 1947) is an American guitarist who rose to fame in the late 1960s and early 1970s with his band Santana, which pioneered a fusion of Rock and roll and Latin American jazz. Its sound featured ...

. Other artists include Bill Decker, Billy Gibbons, Walter Becker, Phil Keaggy, Jorge Santana, Brad Whitford, Vernon Reid, Rick Vito, Gordon Kennedy, Derek St Holmes, Roger Fisher, Jimmy Herring, Johnny Hiland, Danny Kortchmar, SKY Dangcil, Andy Reiss, Stu Hamm and Billy Sheehan, Scott Van Zen, Neil Zaza & Joe Martinelli, CJ Whitehill. V-Pick Group

Materials

Acrylic Acrylic may refer to: Chemicals and materials * Acrylic acid, the simplest acrylic compound * Acrylate polymer, a group of polymers (plastics) noted for transparency and elasticity * Acrylic resin, a group of related thermoplastic or thermosett ...

is the material used in crafting V-PICKS. A proprietary mixture of two different acrylics is used plus an inert material. The manufacturer states that materials and mixtures are chosen to render a strong, long wearing guitar pick that has a gripping quality which reacts to the temperature in the players fingertips. These acrylic picks are made in gauges ranging from .75mm to 11.85mm.

Manufacturing

V-PICKS are made in

Nashville, TN Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the List of muni ...

. The company produces over 100,000 hand made picks per year, and supplies guitar picks to 101 countries in the world. Some models are originally cut out by laser from sheets of cast acrylic. Others start as raw materials poured into molds. Both styles are then hand ground on a bench grinder and hand trimmed with a razor knife. This creates the bevel, feel, and sound of the pick. Next, they are tempered for strength with intense high heat, much like the process done on steel and glass. Then they are buffed with high heat flame for a smooth and slick playing edge and bevel. V-Pick Psychos

References

*http://www.v-picks.com {{Guitar picking Pick