ToneSlabs premium picks has announced a new signature model thumbpick for banjo player Anthony Howell.
Anthony was one of the first banjo pickers to warm to the ToneSlabs thumbpicks, which are made in cooperation with Prucha Bluegrass Instruments in the Czech Republic. Essentially, Prucha takes the Torlon pick material manufactured by ToneSlabs, and mates it with a metal band to form a comfortable thumbpick, shapable to your own thumb size.
For Howell, it was a chance meeting, and a discussion with the ToneSlabs principals that led to the introduction of this new pick shape.
“I played at the Station Inn with Seth Mulder & Midnight Run back in January. David Welch, Frank Solivan, and Jarda Prucha came to the show with some brand new thumb pick prototypes. I used the Crowe Claw pick for a good while. After trying both the Crowe and the Stubbs, I decided neither of them were my style. Both great picks, but they just weren’t quite right for me.
I really like the shape of the old National and Golden Gate thumb picks. I had a talk with David about it and he said, ‘Let’s just make you a custom pick!” So, five months later, we have the signature pick!
I also am a big fan of Chet Atkins and I finger pick guitar, so I wanted to design a pick that was perfect for banjo and finger picking guitar. I think the guys at ToneSlabs absolutely nailed it! I can not be happier to be working with these guys.
I will also have picks for sale while I’m out on the road. If you want to get them from me, come see us and I’ll probably have some for sale.”
You can check his schedule with Midnight Run online to see where you might hook up with Anthony, or contact him on Facebook to find out how to get your hands on one of these new ToneSlabs picks.
At this time, no information about them is up on the ToneSlabs web site, but they will be there soon.
