Tortoiseshell picks| Feature Article | “Save the Turtles!”
What are tortoiseshell picks?
These are picks made from the keratin scutes (shells) of specific marine turtles, and not to the scutes from terrestrial tortoises. All marine turtles are endangered and now listed on Appendix 1 of the CITES convention.
CITES convention?
CITES stands for: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. It is an international agreement between governments, to ensure trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
Offical CITES websites:
CITES website
Appendices info
So what’s Appendix 1?
Appendix I consists of species that are threatened with extinction and are affected by trade. Trade in wild-caught specimens of these species is illegal. It is only permitted in exceptional liscenced circumstances.
There are approximately 800 species on Appendix 1 including all marine turtles, the gorilla and the Jaguar.
Why are marine turtles on Appendix 1?
Exploitation for tortoiseshell has caused the decline of several species, most notably, the Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata).
Tortoise shell was widely used in the 60s and 70s in the manufacture of combs, sunglasses and knitting needles. It was attractive because of its natural beautiful, durability and organic warmth against the skin.
It was used in guitar picks because it can be easily worked, has excellent durablility – tortoiseshell picks can be used for years.
It is illegal to own a tortoiseshell pick?
Possession of a tortoiseshell pick is not offense. So it is entirely legal to re-work your great-grandfather’s 1930′s tortoiseshell comb to make picks. However it is an offense to sell those reworked picks or attempt to cross an international border with one (without permits).
Sales of any tortoiseshell guitar picks or items made after 1947 is illegal. Here’s what the UK CITES management authority has to say on this:
“… worked items made from tortoiseshell that acquired before 1 June 1947 do not require Article 10 certificates to allow them to be used for any commercial purpose – which would include sale. However, if a pre-1947 worked item is subsequently re-worked after 1 June 1947, then the derogation would not apply and an individual Article 10 certificate would be required. Anyone selling such re-worked items without an Article 10 certificate would be committing an offence under …. Regulations 1997 and, if convicted, could face up to five years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.
Roy Pitt
Enforcement Co-ordinator
Animal Health Agency
UK CITES Management Authority
How about before 1947?
All tortoiseshell items made prior to 1947 can be sold legally with the CITES paperwork.
What are ‘Reworked’ picks?
The term “re-worked” is defined as conversion from a different object. This includes conversion from a box or hairbrush to a guitar pick.
Reworked Tortoiseshell picks
Why is reworked tortoiseshell picks illegal to sell?
One cannot tell if the tortoiseshell came from antique or a freshly harvested stock.
Are there legal tortoiseshell picks?
D’Andrea manufactured tortoiseshell picks from 1930 to the late 70’s. At present however, there is no way to prove a date of manufacture for a guitar pick as even receipts cannot identify individual picks.
Hence, even if a tortoiseshell pick was legally made before 1947, it is unlikely that you CITES authorities would issue a certificate.
Here’s an example: A 1999 survey by Traffic, a worldwide trade monitor network showed newly created tortoiseshell guitar picks being sold at US$5.40 in Mexico City and the Yucatán Peninsula.
There is no method to differentiate between one of these Mexican made picks and the pick you have made from your grandmother’s 1920′s tortoiseshell box.
Do they sound different?
My opinion is that compared to nylon and plastic picks, the tortoiseshell picks do provide more clarity and greater depth to the trebles. However this is a minor difference and there are many good picks on the market. Golden Gate, Wegen, and Tortex are just a few used by pickers, each with their own wonderful characteristics.
Personally, I feel that recycling old tortoiseshell items into picks is a more ecologically friendly way then manufacturing more sythetics. As long as I am certain of the provenance of the item, I will continue to use tortoiseshell picks.
References:
CITES website
Appendices info
Andy Highfield- bluegrasswales.org
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I’m playing guitar for over 16 years and I never tried at least a single tortoiseshell pick in my life. I even didn’t know that something like this exists cause the plastic picks are the ones I had the chance to try. But from my own experience I don’t think that there will be a great difference between the tortoiseshell and plastic ones. So, let’s not destroy the nature cause it’s a part of us…
I have owned a few genuine tortoise shell picks over the years, only to lose them almost as easily as my celluloid picks. They sonic difference is more than marginal and anything else falls flat to my ears. However, none of the above mentioned alternatives, such as Tortex, Golden Gate, etc. sound anything like tortoise shell. I have found that only the latest alternative: “ULTEM” made by Clayton, gives the same sound as the real thing, and I mean the SAME sound. I never use my real ones any more and can only be satisfied with the ULTEM. You can order from me, if you’re interested, by contacting me through my website. They are .69 each, which is a far cry from the $50.00 price tag of a good Genuine piece.
I use nothing but tortoise shell picks and have been doing so for about 10 years. The difference is substantial to my ear between them and synthetics, and the feel is unmatched. I have never heard or felt any synthetic pick that approaches the tone and feel of a real turtle pick… including all the Red Bear knockoffs. I only buy picks made from reclaimed / recycled material which can be proved to be made from such material. Unless you’ve actually played with some tortoise picks (especially tortoise picks that were made by someone that knows what they are doing and has made hundreds and hundreds of them), you really cannot say that based on your experience there is no great difference between them and plastic picks since you have absolutely no experience with them. I do not in any way advocate the killing of any animal for our musical passions, but I do believe in recycling something that would otherwise either be discarded or just sit on a shelf somewhere.
This is a fascinating article! I have to admit to being naive enough not to realise that ‘tortoise shell’ meant that it was actually, you know, real tortoise shell. I think I might have had fake tortoise shell picks as a child.
Your new blog layout looks really, really good – nice one.
Thank you all for your feedback- it’s nice to hear your experiences and points of view- TortoiseShell is definitely an issue which is rife with speculation and myth- hopefully we can help clear that up!
IMHO, Ultem (or as Dunlop rebranded it Ultex) is one of the best man-made shell alternatives out there (definitely the best if price is added into the equation). You can buy it in sheet form from online plastic venders, at various thicknesses, then simply cut out your own picks (i make my own 6.3mm gypsy picks from Ultem sheets i buy online), its the 2nd hardest wearing plastic pick material i’ve ever come across, only Kevlar and epoxy mixes are stronger (but these are real hard, and expensive, to source online …only one custom pick manufacturer uses Kevlar – Wegen picks, which are also great sounding picks by the way).
*they’re absorbent, so they can get ruined in the wash*).
There is also a polymerised animal protein used by a couple of custom pick makers, such as Red Bear picks. IMHO this stuff is exactly the same as tortoise shell, to my ears (when compared to real turtle shell of the exact same thickness), it also has the same ‘feel’ in the hand as real turtle shell. The downside is that it costs around $20 a pick (and make sure you don’t leave them in your trousers when they go in the wash
Thats my 2 cents.
Anyways, peace out to all my tone hunting brothers and sisters!
I have played for years and found that real antique tortoise shell guitar picks made from antiques from 18th and 19th century are unbeatable. I will never use anything else. I would not and do not condone using a illegally obtained piece. The wonderfully warm tone that comes from a quality guitar and a good tortoise pick is second to none.
I have found that cow hoof comes fairly close but not quite the same. Anyone can try this with a hacksaw and a fingernail file. These can be purchased at farm supply and on the internet. This is what i will be using when I use up my last tortoise Pick.
I have been playing the same tortoise shell picks since the early 70′s and used them tonight on my 63′ strat and 41′ Martin….. I love them! You can play my guitars any time you like but you cannot touch my picks. I don’t advocate killing endangered species… I didn’t back then either… There is an encredible difference in sonic quality and attack of the string… It makes every guitar sound better. Each and evey angle of the pick addressing the string creates subtle differences in tone… It’s amazing! You don’t have to worry about them being sold after i die… I’ve arranged to take them with me… Where ever I go in the next life, I’ll need them…
I’m having a great time with all these suggestions, and luckily digging through my “pick stash” I’ve been able to locate every one of these picks, and they are all great depending on the sound you prefer. I’m picking on a ’51 D28 and a 1995 Brazilian Taylor 810. I’ve tried Clayton Ultem/Ultex, Golden Gate, David Grisman and Dawg (definitely not the same pick), and Wegen. I have 4 old genuine tortoise shell picks from medium heavy to thick and they each have a very unique sound from a very bright with the thinnest to an actual squeek (which I love) with the thick. Excellent feel on the strings. Volume is outstanding with each. The Golden Gate, Dawg, and Grisman have a more muted sound that I like with vocals. The Ultex and Wegen are brighter picks with good volume. But…, the pick I keep going back to for sound and feel and the best compromise for the hard-to-get tortoise shell is the Blue Chip TPR 60. I’ve been using this pick for a couple months now and have been inviting every comparison I can find to change my mind. These picks are $35 each and worth every dollar. I read about them recently in Bluegrass Unlimited and ordered a couple from Knoxville Tenn. Check them out at http://www.bluechippick.net
I have been playing for years maybe more than 30 lol And I have to agrea with the views posted here.
Andy I make carbon and kevlar picks due to the fact that we all just started on cheep plastic picks and there had to be a lot better, never found turtle shell ones.
Its good to see alternative materials being used, havent tried Ultem but there there is an amaizing difference in tone when you use harder more tensile materials. Not trying to do the sales pitch thing too much lol but I mass produce woven carbon and Kevlar babies from a guitarists point of view and they are awsome.
Turtle sounds like they set the benchmark, though I have never tried them,there’s an obvios reason they were used. Must be good. polymerised animal protein? im looking at using only the best alternatives.
This is a brilliant descusion forum.
bobby
I played flatpick guitar and mandolin for 20 years and tried everything … then a couple of years ago I discovered Wegen … THEN a couple of weeks ago I discovered Blue Chip. The best! Good snap, good tone, doesn’t wear, nicely finished, beautiful! I play a TAD 60 and love it.
Hey now! thanks for the info bobby. Just managed to source 2 hawksbill shells (from the 1800′s) from an antique seller in London. If i told you the price however your eyes would probably pop out! But thats the good thing about not having a wife ..i have a decent amount of petty cash to spend on myself
now all i need to do is grind down a butter knife (to make it thinner and sharp around the edges) and get these scutes manually removed (unless anyone knows a better way to remove them?).