SIK PIK

The U.S. Design Patent No. D603,449, Guitar Plectrum (flat pick) and U.S. Design Patent No. D603,891, Guitar Plectrum (thumb pick) were granted on November 3rd and 10th (respectively), 2009. The Utility Patent, U.S. Patent Appl. Serial No.12/537,633, Pick for Stringed Musical Instruments, was filed August 7, 2009 and is pending. From page 5, in Summary of the Invention, of the Utility Patent application, “In the design of the pick of the invention, an outer extent of the pick portion of the pick body is angled downwardly with respect to the gripping portion of the pick body such that the pick plane is angularly inclined at an angle greater than about 30 degrees with respect to the gripping plane. This enables orientation of the pick portion of the pick body at a near right angle relative to the plane of a string being struck while maintaining a near parallel orientation between the longitudinal axis of the musician's forearm and the string.” In other words, “Play on the Edge.”

The Sik Pik came through observation. Watching how players (like George Benson and Jorge Strunze) used their picks in a unique playing style to achieve incredible results. Seeing the seemingly effortless way in which these players traversed the strings. The feel, the dynamics, and the sound are the fundamentals that need to be different to create a strikingly different result. The Sik Pik is the smallest change that can be made to create a profound effect. A real change in pick shape (not just making it thicker, though that can help) brings about a profound change. An evolutionary change is not a simple thought, but a foundational change that creates a positive difference in how the pick is utilized. Seeing the Sik Pik and understanding its concept brings together two of the elements of how this difference is not only made manifest, but made effective. The third and most profound element is demonstration.