Sofia Martinez
Guitar-like instruments played with some sort of plectrum have existed for centuries, with materials ranging from stone, wood, and feather quills to the outer shell casing of the Atlantic Hawksbill sea turtle, known as tortoiseshell. In 1922, Luigi D'Andrea, the eventual founder of D'Andrea guitar accessories, created the first plastic guitar pick using a tortoise-pattern celluloid sheet. Celluloid, the first commercial plastic, was invented in 1870 by John Wesley Hyatt, and its use as a guitar pick material sparked a revolution in tone and technique.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of Invention | 1922 |
| Inventor | Luigi D'Andrea |
| Material | Celluloid, a type of plastic |
| Reason for Invention | To find an alternative to tortoise shell picks, which were banned in 1973 |
| First Plastic Ever Used for Picks | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic guitar picks were invented in 1922 by Luigi D’Andrea
Plastic guitar picks were invented in 1922 by Luigi D'Andrea, using a tortoise-patterned celluloid sheet from a New York City sidewalk sale. D'Andrea, born in Foggia, Italy, in 1886, had come to the US in 1902 and settled in New York City's Little Italy by the dawn of World War I. He was an ambitious man who initially sold vacuum cleaners to his Italian neighbours. However, he was quick to seize new opportunities.
The story goes that D'Andrea's 8-year-old son, Tony, noticed the resemblance of some heart-shaped celluloid decorations to the tortoiseshell mandolin picks used by his cousin, Primo. Sensing a business prospect, Luigi and Tony approached a local music store and sold the first celluloid guitar picks for $10, a substantial sum at the time. Celluloid, a combination of nitrocellulose and camphor, was patented in 1870 by John Wesley Hyatt, who built on the work of Alexander Parkes, the inventor of the first thermoplastic.
Celluloid was not new in 1922, but it was the only commercially available plastic in the world. Its strength, flexibility, and density made it ideal for guitar picks, and it remains a popular material today. From the 1920s through the 1950s, D'Andrea Manufacturing dominated the international pick market, supplying major brands such as Gibson, Fender, and Martin. The D'Andrea 351 pick became famous, and celluloid became the most common material for guitar picks, especially as the use of tortoiseshell picks declined due to conservation concerns and eventual bans.
The invention of plastic guitar picks by Luigi D'Andrea in 1922 marked a significant moment in the evolution of guitar-playing techniques and sounds, with the Jazz era embracing these picks for their distinct sound and style.
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They were made from celluloid, the first commercial plastic
The first plastic guitar picks were made from celluloid, the first commercial plastic, which was invented in 1870 by John Wesley Hyatt. Hyatt patented the material, which is made by combining cellulose with heat and pressure. Celluloid was originally invented as a substitute for ivory in the production of billiard balls.
In 1902, Tony D'Andrea came across a sheet of tortoiseshell-patterned celluloid at a sidewalk sale. He began punching out heart shapes to be used as decorations for makeup cases. His son, Tony, noticed that these shapes resembled the tortoiseshell mandolin picks used by his cousin, Primo. The D'Andreas took a box of these heart-shaped celluloid pieces to a local music store and sold them as guitar picks for $10 (over $135 in today's money).
Celluloid guitar picks became popular due to their strength, flexibility, and density, as well as their ability to closely imitate the sound and flexibility of tortoiseshell picks. In the 1920s, the D'Andrea 351 celluloid pick was released, and the company, D'Andrea Manufacturing, would go on to dominate the international pick market from the 1920s through the 1950s. The use of tortoiseshell picks became illegal in 1973, leading to the increased popularity of celluloid and nylon picks.
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Celluloid was invented in 1870 by John Wesley Hyatt
Plastic guitar picks were invented in 1922 by Luigi D’Andrea, the eventual founder of D’Andrea guitar accessories. However, the plastic used in these picks, celluloid, was invented much earlier, in 1870, by John Wesley Hyatt. Hyatt built on the work of Alexander Parkes, a Briton who invented and patented the first thermoplastic, Parkesine, in 1862.
Celluloid is made from cellulose, an incredibly abundant natural material, and turns into celluloid when combined with heat and pressure. It was the first commercial plastic and was originally invented as a substitute for ivory in the making of billiard balls. It was also used as a substitute for tortoiseshell, which was commonly used in guitar picks.
Tortoiseshell is made out of keratin, similar to human nails in terms of tone and feel. However, it is fragile and illegal to sell in most places. Celluloid was a suitable alternative, as it was strong, flexible, and dense. It was also one of the only commercially available plastics in the world at the time.
In 1902, Tony D’Andrea, the son of Luigi D’Andrea, stumbled upon a sheet of tortoiseshell-patterned celluloid at a sidewalk sale. He noticed that the material resembled the tortoiseshell mandolin picks used by his cousin, Primo. The D’Andreas sold a box of heart-shaped celluloid picks to a local music store for $10, and celluloid guitar picks were born.
From the 1920s through the 1950s, D'Andrea Manufacturing dominated the world's international pick market, providing picks to major businesses such as Gibson, Fender, and Martin. The first mass-produced guitar picks were made from celluloid, and it remains a popular material for picks today, especially for those seeking a vintage tone.
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Plastic picks were developed as a substitute for tortoiseshell picks
Plastic guitar picks were invented in 1922 by Luigi D’Andrea, using a tortoise-pattern celluloid sheet from a New York City sidewalk sale. Celluloid, the first commercial plastic, was invented in 1870 by John Wesley Hyatt. It is made from cellulose, an incredibly abundant natural material, and turns into celluloid when combined with heat and pressure.
Celluloid first made its way to guitar picks when Tony D’Andrea, Luigi's son, stumbled upon a sheet of tortoiseshell-patterned celluloid at a sidewalk sale in 1902. In the 1920s, the D'Andrea family created the D'Andrea 351, made of celluloid, which is still manufactured in the company's Pennsylvania factory.
Celluloid picks were already well-known by the 1970s but exploded in popularity following the tortoiseshell ban in 1973, when the hawksbill sea turtle became classified as an endangered species. They are known for having a balanced tone, being flexible for strumming, and being inexpensive.
In recent years, several alternatives to tortoiseshell picks have been developed, including Charmed Life Picks, made from DuPont Vespel, PEEK (polyether ether ketone), and casein (a synthetic material made from dairy proteins); Apollo Picks, made from vintage or new casein, PEI (polyetherimide), and PEEK; and D'Addario Casein Picks, made from protein-based casein plastic.
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Plastic is still the most common material for guitar picks
Picks are an essential tool for guitarists, and there are countless different materials, each with its own pros and cons. Guitar-like instruments played with some sort of plectrum have existed for centuries, but around 100 years ago, the first plastic guitar picks were invented, sparking a revolution in tone and technique. Plastic guitar picks were invented in 1922 by Luigi D’Andrea, using a tortoise-pattern celluloid sheet from a New York City sidewalk sale. Celluloid was the first commercial plastic, invented in 1870 by John Wesley Hyatt, and it was the first plastic ever used to produce picks. It is still widely used today, especially for guitarists aiming for a vintage tone.
Celluloid picks generally have a tortoiseshell design, and this material was chosen as an alternative to using real tortoiseshell, which is now illegal to sell in most places. Tortoiseshell picks are made out of keratin, similar to human nails, and modern players often find them inferior to the plethora of modern materials available. They are also much more fragile than most modern picks. Celluloid was chosen as a substitute as it very closely imitated the sound and flexibility of a tortoiseshell guitar pick.
Other popular plastic picks include nylon, which has a warmer sound than celluloid and is more durable, though it loses its flexibility after 1-2 months of extensive use and can be fragile. Acetal is another highly durable class of plastics, though it is slippery and won't be as good for strumming. Ultem and ultex picks are also made from a very tough and durable plastic, and they are one of the most durable guitar pick materials out there.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic guitar picks were invented in 1922 by Luigi D’Andrea, using a tortoise-pattern celluloid sheet from a New York City sidewalk sale.
Plastic guitar picks are made from celluloid, a type of plastic patented in 1870 by John Wesley Hyatt. Celluloid is made from cellulose, an incredibly abundant natural material, which turns into celluloid when combined with heat and pressure.
Plastic guitar picks are used because of animal conservation. Previously, guitar picks were made from tortoiseshell, which is made from keratin, the same material as human nails. However, this practice became illegal in 1973 as a provision of the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
