The guitar pick might just be the most variable part of a player’s arsenal. There are so many different shape and material options, each offering something different to both the sound and feel of your playing experience. There are picks that make you sound bright, picks that make you sound warm. There are picks that allow you to play faster leads and picks that allow for smooth strumming. There are even picks that stand up to the thickest bass strings with the heaviest of attacks. In recent years, players have ventured in ever greater numbers beyond the classic shapes and materials. Modern innovations such as Ultex® now sit comfortably alongside time-tested favorites such as Tortex® and Nylon, and the Jazz III and Flow® Pick shapes offer strong competition to the standard 351 shape for the attention of today’s players.

Even so, there remain a number of picks that we like to think of as “unsung heroes.” They don’t get a lot of hype, but each has their own devotees—and for good reason! Let’s look at why.

The statement “Black Lives Matter” has become a global call to action, bringing much needed attention to the issue of systemic racism in the USA and around the world. Music has always been a powerful healing force, and we are determined to support healing, unity, and love through music.

These picks were created as a way to participate in the fight against injustice and to shine a light in the darkness. Proceeds from the sale of this product will go directly to the NAACP Legal Defense And Educational Fund, Inc., an organization that is committed to fighting systemic racism by promoting educational and economic opportunities in the Black community.

One of our guys recently found this Hamer guitar in a storage facility and brought it into the Dunlop shop for some TLC. It’s an early 2000s Hamer Newport Pro, a US made semi-hollow body beauty that was suffering, not so much from abuse, but just from lack of use. We decided to give it the Dunlop restorative treatment, utilizing Formula 65 products, Miracle Cloth, a little tape and steel wool, some elbow grease and attention to detail to bring this beautiful instrument back to top playing form. Here’s how it went down…

The first thing we noticed was how corroded and nasty the frets were. The corrosion had overtaken each fret, and the fingerboard was in desperate need of oil conditioning. The strings were in the same shape—they were rusted, and felt and sounded completely dead.