Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi:

I just read an interview with McGuinn and he said that he uses "Hurkow" flatpicks 150. The interview does have several spelling mistakes.

But, does anyone know what "Hurkow" can be?

Herco picks.

I have one still that is over 25 years old and still works like the day I brought it home!

I also have one with Victor Wooten's autograph on it!

Oh yeah, those are those nylon picks. Very flexible, as I recall.

JimK

I still have an old, nasty-looking Herco "gold" from the mid-sixties given to me by Joe Walsh when we played together in college. You can't kill these picks! I now use thin Jim Dunlops but still hang on to several Herco's for old-times-sake.

I thought Chris Squire also used Hercos back in the day.

So I did too!

Squire and McGuinn should do a CD together, he said trying to stay on topic.

Thanks, guys!!!

Does anyone know how Herco picks affect the sound??? Brighter, darker, etc???

Karl

Squire did indeed use Herco picks, and so did I on my 4001 back in the '70s. (I also read that Chris used an English sixpence in a pinch.) I used Herco gold, which was probably a medium-heavy. As I recall, the point was not quite as sharp as something like the Jim Dunlop nylons that are out now. Later I switched to a small black plastic Gibson pick that I liked better than the Herco. The Hercos were virtually indestructible -- my guitarist at the time used to chew his between sets and it still didn't wear out. As far as sound differences, I don't know that you could detect one, at least on bass.

I seem to recall that I used a Herco green for a while. I managed to lose it somewhere. I didn't particularly care for it much. It seemed too floppy on my acoustic guitar. I used then, and still do now medium gauge strings on it.

JimK

I use the gray ones for bass and I have one gold one for guitar. The different guages do make a tonal difference.

Doesn't Roger use finger-picks in addition to a flat-pick?

Yes, indeed he does. He puts the finger picks on his middle and ring fingers, while holding the flat pick between his index finger and thumb.

JimK

Herco picks have (or had) a perforated edge for better grip. I used to turn them around and use that part of the pick for a better 'biting' sound.