Aside from being a guitarist, I'm also a banjo player.  This is a review of my favorite banjo finger pick:  The Old 97 finger pick.


For banjo players and guitarist that use finger picks. Choosing the correct finger pick is a very personal decision. My pick of choice is the Old 97 finger pick developed by Judy Townshend. I'd like to share with the reader my reasons for choosing this pick in case you are shopping for a finger pick or considering a change.  I am a large man and stand about 6ft 1inch. The old 97 picks offer me the most comfort and ease of use which I believe improves my overall tone. The Old 97 picks come in 3 sizes: Medium, Large and Extra Large. I’ve chosen the Extra Large for myself. Quite honestly, the finger bands are probably intended for someone with larger diameter fingers than myself, however; the bands can be overlapped which proves quite comfortable. Also, the large bands fit snugly around the entire finger which don't irritate the hangnails I am prone to. In addition to aforementioned benefits, the old 97 picks allow me to grow out my fingernails which I use to play guitar with. With any other finger pick I've tried, nails would have to be clipped pretty tightly in order to make use of the picks. There are never many gigs on my schedule in any given year as I'm an amateur, however; the gigs I do play normally last 3 hours. Also, many nights have been spent around a campfire in my life. For me, It is comforting to use a finger pick that will fit comfortably for many hours. and the Old 97's provide me this convenience. The flat thin blades allow one to pick with exceptional speed and precision while projecting more volume than with most other brands.

If you are looking for a comfortable finger pick with great tone. I recommend the Old 97’s. - Kirby Amick

Tele Tone

There are many people that have never heard the gentle crackle of a phonograph needle on a vinyl record and yes, I'm revealing my age. It must have been my Tele Tone suitcase phonograph that began my interest in music and entertainment.

It is really not possible for me to remember the age when I received my Tele Tone. I do remember that I did not like the covering. Most of these devices from the 1960's were minimal and classy in their décor. Technology had not changed much from the 1960's to the mid 1970's but fashion had. My Tele Tone must have purchased during the rise of the Disco era. The paper covering was bright orange with patterns that always reminded me of looking through a kaleidoscope. I always wished it were a plain color but it must have been one of my favorite possessions. It was an electrical device contained in a box. It was magical.

No other kids were in my neighborhood at that time. Only a few 45 rpms existed in my collection. Lyle the Crocodile was the one I remember most. I also had few other 45's, that were stories and a Glenn Campbell 45 that I inherited from my father. I don't remember which song it was but the B side was a story about a Rooster set to music. Perhaps this was the First time, I heard music as a performance piece. It's difficult to say.

Nostalgically, I remember this as a time when you could buy one song at a department store. Occasionally plastic records would appear in magazines. My Tele Tone allowed me to escape reality and potentially set me on a life long habit that was once known as daydreaming. It's possible that I suffer from ADD and perhaps it started with my Tele Tone.

I don't have any pictures of my Tele Tone. The Peter Pan featured here is much cooler than the one I had but the joy I got out of that 1 watt speaker was insurmountable. The excitement and anticipation of waiting to get a record and then waiting on the record to begin playing would stick with me for sure.  

STELLA

 STELLA

I can't pinpoint the precise moment that made me want to play the guitar but as I recall it was after seeing a television commercial advertising a KISS concert. It makes me think of a statement made by Sex Pistol's guitarist: Steve Jones. Jones described how Rock Stars seemed to be entities that fell from outer space after seeing The New York Dolls and T – Rex on television. Its easy to see how Ace Frehley invoked a similar emotion in me plus I liked his platform boots best.

Being the only child of two only children in a small town country home, I spent much of my time daydreaming about being something bigger. Now that I've made a statement like that, this should be the part where I tell you about my slow rise to fame but I can't. Instead, this will be my love-hate story with the guitar, my fascination and challenges with the guitar that still obsess me and haunt me today.

At some point, in between kindergarten and first grade, I told my mother that I would like to play guitar. Now, If I had possessed my now amateurish expertise, I would have known to ask for a Cherry burst Les Paul with 3 stacked humbucker pickups and smoke generator but instead in my childish undeserving way, I just asked for a guitar.

Now, My parents, especially my mother has always tried to give me what I wanted which I am very grateful for. At the same time, It's hard to suggest that you'd like play guitar like a DEMON in a small southern town. So, My mother took me down to the local music store to pick out a guitar. Even though I didn't know what they were, Visions of Gibson explorers and Cherry burst Les Paul's danced in my head. It wouldn't go quite that way at the music store.

Wertz music was a tiny store with some music stands, some records, some books and a lot of sheet music. On the left wall just past the entrance was a wall of acoustic guitars. I remember my mother explaining that we wanted a guitar to learn on. I still remember Mrs Clara Wertz saying that a Stella was a good instrument to start on. Even though I remember the strings being a little lower on some of the other models, I picked out the sunburst Stella. Likely, It reminded me of the Cherry burst Les Paul. Now,   Stella and I would begin our Journey and we're still friends even though she pissed me off a lot.

These guitars have found a resurgence today. I still have Stella. She still watches me from the closet and she is still nearly impossible to play. 

Introduction to Guitars and Comedy

This Blog will be about my Personal Journey with guitars and comedy. Along the way, I will share my experiences and songs. Hopefully, We can laugh learn and share. Humor has been essential to my survival. Guitars and comedy have made it possible for me to get through life. Now, lets start talking about my two favorite things.
There will be blogs, songs, pictures, videos, tweets, tales and of course, GUITARS...... DAMN !, How can one blog offer so much ? It's truly hard to say but I hope you'll join me in this journey, share with me and possibly donate money. I hear all of the kids are doing it. Seriously, Thank You so much for joining me. I hope you'll help me spread the word and PS we might even talk about bass and banjo.

K. Midnight.