I noticed in the last year when I saw Four Men and a Dog in concert, that Gerry O'Connor appeared to use more than one plectrum during the show. It looked as if he was, more than once, selecting a plectrum for a specific tune. Could this be true? I contrast this with the redoubtable Kevin Griffin who told me he had used the same Dunlop 60 for years and produced a battered and bent piece of what might once have been plastic but was now of an indeterminate material. Anyone know why the same instrument (right down to maker: Davy Boyle) has such widely different approaches. Could it be idiosyncrasy on both parts?
Yes, I think it's so!
But do You know anyone more "idiosincratic" than a musician.
Even if I'm not so skill like the musicians You mentioned, I often use different plectra for different tunes. I usually play bouzuki with a Dunlop .63, guitar .60, but banjo with very small and tight plectra
I recommend you use only the finest Guatemalan climbing tortoise shell found only near Tikel in the North. http://www.lonelyplanet.com/mapshells/central_america/guatemala/guatemala.htm
The Tortoise shells are exported to the coast where they are soaked in Brine for 3 years and then after thorough drying are hand worked into the final form by highly skilled "Plectraniros" who sell them in the Guitar bars of Livingston either singly, or in matched sets of 7.
Of cause if you want the crème de la crème the only maker is Enrique Portillo, but I think he has recently retired, but used Portillo's are still available if you keep your eye open
Gerry O'Connor is very particular about his plectra and when one is worn beyond his specifications, he discards it and uses another one. He has been using the Dunlop nylon .60 (light gray or grey depending on where you are from) and once they start to wear a little he throws them away. He is so particular that he will only hold it with the "JIM DUNLOP" against his thumb to assure consistency. Such little things make an artist.
yet more on plectra
yet more on plectra
I noticed in the last year when I saw Four Men and a Dog in concert, that Gerry O'Connor appeared to use more than one plectrum during the show. It looked as if he was, more than once, selecting a plectrum for a specific tune. Could this be true? I contrast this with the redoubtable Kevin Griffin who told me he had used the same Dunlop 60 for years and produced a battered and bent piece of what might once have been plastic but was now of an indeterminate material. Anyone know why the same instrument (right down to maker: Davy Boyle) has such widely different approaches. Could it be idiosyncrasy on both parts?
# Posted on June 6th 2004 by r&c
Re: yet more on plectra
Yes, I think it's so!
But do You know anyone more "idiosincratic" than a musician.
Even if I'm not so skill like the musicians You mentioned, I often use different plectra for different tunes. I usually play bouzuki with a Dunlop .63, guitar .60, but banjo with very small and tight plectra
# Posted on June 6th 2004 by BFreak
Re: yet more on plectra
I forgot to ask pardon for my poor english.
(Sorry!)
# Posted on June 6th 2004 by BFreak
Re: yet more on plectra
I recommend you use only the finest Guatemalan climbing tortoise shell found only near Tikel in the North.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/mapshells/central_america/guatemala/guatemala.htm
The Tortoise shells are exported to the coast where they are soaked in Brine for 3 years and then after thorough drying are hand worked into the final form by highly skilled "Plectraniros" who sell them in the Guitar bars of Livingston either singly, or in matched sets of 7.
Of cause if you want the crème de la crème the only maker is Enrique Portillo, but I think he has recently retired, but used Portillo's are still available if you keep your eye open
# Posted on June 7th 2004 by Pied Piper
Re: yet more on plectra
ROTFL!
# Posted on June 7th 2004 by grego
Re: yet more on plectra
Does his cousin Michael not make them?
# Posted on June 7th 2004 by John J.
Re: yet more on plectra
Gerry O'Connor is very particular about his plectra and when one is worn beyond his specifications, he discards it and uses another one. He has been using the Dunlop nylon .60 (light gray or grey depending on where you are from) and once they start to wear a little he throws them away. He is so particular that he will only hold it with the "JIM DUNLOP" against his thumb to assure consistency. Such little things make an artist.
Mike Keyes
# Posted on June 7th 2004 by mikeyes
Re: yet more on plectra
yes, the Hamelin man always makes me laff, even when he's serious
# Posted on June 7th 2004 by vboyd100
Re: yet more on plectra
que?
# Posted on June 7th 2004 by grego
Re: yet more on plectra
pied piper of Hamelin, as the tale goes, btw, my condolances re..youknow who
(an' bleeve me i am not..erm..dominant.. u mis-red me an it stung a bit, but u were kind to post it in a prvate email...)
erghh!!so sorry! This si a public forum. ..rego an I were talking about banjo styles and its' effectiveness in a session
# Posted on June 7th 2004 by vboyd100
Re: yet more on plectra
uh....rego means grego...
si means is
# Posted on June 7th 2004 by vboyd100