It is clear that the causal nexus is not a nexus at all.– Ludwig Wittgenstein The first company that I started collecting in earnest, Vinni Smith’s V Picks have been doing the good work since the 1980’s. Born of the acrylic used to make aquariums (where Vinni first saw it), V Picks offer an almost […]
“Man suffers only because he takes seriously what the gods made for fun.”― Alan Watts Getting your own Dunlop signature model is no small thing. The current lineup of artists that Jim’s company have attributed sigs too are people like John Petrucci, Jeff Loomis, Matt Heafy, Tosin Abasi and Andy James, and while there’s been plenty […]
A need or problem encourages creative efforts to meet the need or solve the problem. – Plato – The Republic The mechanics of guitar playing are myriad and complex. With every player having their own technique, style and preference, it’s inevitable that players will make in-roads into developing their own tools for the job. Like […]
The busy bee has no time for sorrow.– William Blake Like all creative endeavours, the Plectroverse has a cast. Characters crop up time and time again, and while there is certainly room for everyone, it’s wonderful when someone comes along and shakes up the script a little. Makers also take inspiration from each other – […]
Come on down and read this crucial review of the Hell Super Black 3.2mm!
This calls for a very special blend of psychology and extreme violence. – Ben Elton I get to handle some pretty exotic stuff while I’m reviewing, and some picks come to me from very diverse sources. This particular review came as a result of having a conversation with everyone’s favourite shredding granny-cat-mother Mrs. Smith. One […]
All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others. – George Orwell Seemingly incapable of writing pieces that aren’t both technically crushing and melodically astute, Tosin Abasi has carved out a significant niche in the modern era of the guitar. More of a composer than just a shredder, and now with his own […]
Bring your pretty face to my axe! – Gimli of Gloin An awful lot of romantic fiction has been written about the desert. The endless savagery, vast expanses and infinite interpretations of that wild, barren place conjure mystic, incredible notions of ancient thoughts and spiritual realms. What does this have to do with the subject […]
Poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese.― G.K. Chesterton Over the course of my journey through the Plectroverse, I’ve been presented wtih some incredible materials. Woods, plastics, bone, rocks, compressed corn somehow, recycled landfill – but cheese is right up there. Why am I mentioning this? Well, that’s because this pick is […]
It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near one. –J.R.R. Tolkien The heat in Arizona is quite something. A huge portion of this southwestern state is desert, and as romantic and Kyuss-y as that sounds, all that expanse can do crazy things to people. These insane […]