I recently met Gordon “Gordie” Acri at the 2019 Blythe Bluegrass Festival in California. He is the inventor and builder of Acri Banjo Picks which happen to be my favorite picks. They are the kind I recommend in my book, “New Techniques for 5 String Banjo”. These picks are available through Elderly Instruments.
It was great to meet him. He carries his “samples” around in sort of a “James Bond” attache case. He generously gave me a brand new thumb pick out of his “Case of Wonders.” His banjo is set up with a “B Bender” that he built, much like the Telecaster “Parsons-White String-Bender.” Plus, I found out that he and I have similar eclectic musical tastes. Between him and my good friend “Banjo Bob” Emmert, (Me on guitar) we knocked out a nice mixture of stuff from “Sultans of Swing” to the Ventures’ “Pipeline” and even a little “Satin Doll.” I really enjoy this kind of wacky parking lot picking, so it’s always nice to come across people who share in my madness for all kinds of music.
