Ok,

Please help...

I've been toying with the idea of making picks as a side business. I found this "material" that sounds almost like playing with ultra fine emery paper on one side of the pick and smooth on the other. It grabs and snaps the strings using both sides like nothing else I've found. It's very comfortable to use and gives lead lines major character because both picking directions sound different from each other.

Oh yeah and it looks extremely cool!!!

I don't have the cash to patent the idea but don't want everyone to steal the idea either. Right now I'm running on a shoestring budget and trying to get cost per unit down. This material must be shipped to me from other countries. They must also be made by hand one at a time.

I will be looking for testers in the future in case anyone is interested. I want to see how long they last in a beat it to death environment as well as get thoughts for improvement.

I play 3-4 night a week and am always looking for cool new picks. Definitely interested.

Keep me posted

First, don't tell anyone your material. It usually means that there will be a 1 year "window" for a patent, once you tell somebody else about it.

Also, you can apply for a "provisional patent". Costs about $100.00. This gives you a date that signifies it's your idea. Once you have that, you can go about researching and obtaining a patent, with some protection. Also, a provisional will allow you to find a party with the financial resources to bring your idea to market. I'd still have them sign a non-disclosure agreement, to get more protection.

As this material already exisit, I would think that the real patent would be for the way you're going to be using and marketing the material.

Also, you may need to get a book that describe the differences between Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights. It will probably have easier to understand descriptions of each of these.

Here's a website with a LOT of good resources:

http://www.cnbc.com/id/15838512/site/14081545/

Good luck!

Lots of good advice.

Additionally, I propose you have every tester and every potential investor sign a written non-disclosure agreement. No offers to sell until your provisional patent application is on file. Make sure and file a regular patent application before one year passes after filing the provisional.

I like that you are planning to make and market your product. Getting some company to license it is a pipe dream imho, unless you've already proven the product by developing an income stream.

I'm always interested in a new pick. My picks of choice, no matter what brand or size, have to be pretty hard : Dunlop gator grips 1.5mm or those jazz III's.
Are you thinking of different strengths and sizes?

count me in id love to try it, (especially if you can make me on the size of a jazz III i dont really have a picture in mind of what your pick looks like. but id be happy to try it when you get your patents ect.

I actually dreamt about this thread last night.. Tonewolf showing me one of his picks xD Like Ken I'm also a fan of big heavy picks, but I can't imagine this idea on something shaped like for instance a Big Stubby..

The material is natural and I can't "pick" the thickness of each one but I could sort them of course. I have to watch what I'm doing because it's now on the endangered list. I have enough for about 100 picks right now but this could be over too soon if I can't get more.

quote:

Originally posted by Tonewolf:
The material is natural and I can't "pick" the thickness of each one but I could sort them of course. I have to watch what I'm doing because it's now on the endangered list. I have enough for about 100 picks right now but this could be over too soon if I can't get more.

What's the range in thickness? And could you grow it yourself maybe? There's loads of information on growing stuff in small spaces on Dutch websites..

I would not want to grow these - they could hurt me.

Best of luck! I'm definately interested in testing them. I tear thru picks like you wouldn't believe. Anything less than 1.3 mm can't last more than a few songs with me. I've been on the lookout for a new pick and yours sounds like an awesome idea. Keep us posted, and if you want another tester I'm definately game.

D

I always enjoy trying new pick shapes and material. Right now I prefer the Jazz II shape or small teardrops. If you need help testing them, I'd be happy to give them a try and give you my feedback.

I'd love to try one. The thicker the better-I use the 3mm Big Stubbies now.

I don't know much about the business end, but how necessary would a patent be? I doubt most picks are patented because they are plastic triangles. But what do I know. Sounds like a cool concept anyway.

Good luck!

quote:

Originally posted by porkchop:
I doubt most picks are patented because they are plastic triangles. But what do I know. Sounds like a cool concept anyway.

Good luck!

Well the shape is not really much different. It's the material being used. It's natural like the old turtle shell picks only cooler looking and working.

Did I read pick?

Count me in!

I suggest you start by doing a paypal store... that's the way most out of the bnorm pick manufacturer do it anyway and it's cheap.

Yeah picks are patented... but some are not patented internationally and have the exact same thing being done legally in a country where the patent doesn't apply. The 'star pick' is one of those the one with a punched star shaped hole in the middle. The patent doesn't apply everywhere... the sharkfin pick also... copycats everywhere... wood... well there's more than one manufacturer out there doing what Dugain and Brossard are doing... they're all different in their own right tho. Go ahead and go at it you'll never know untill you do.

quote:

Originally posted by Glo®bz:

Did I read pick?

Count me in!

I suggest you start by doing a paypal store... that's the way most out of the bnorm pick manufacturer do it anyway and it's cheap.

I was wondering when I'd hear from you.
I do have a Paypal account. The only problem is that they dip into every transaction which in turn raises the price of the item. Right now I'm kind of slow at shaping them because I'm so picky. When they are finished they remind me of dinosaur teeth. Maybe I should call them Toothpicks!?

Ah. "Toothpicks." Now you need a trademark search.

Save yourself some change and go to the USPTO website here:

http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/gate.exe?f=tess&state=1qma38.1.1

Pick free form search. Then enter a search string like this:

(*toothpicks*)[BI] and (036)[US] and ((guitar)[GS] or (pick)[GS]) and (live)[LD]

So to search the word "tooth" you would use this search string:

(*tooth*)[BI] and (036)[US] and ((guitar)[GS] or (pick)[GS]) and (live)[LD]

As a general rule, you should search each non-generic word in your mark separately, and also search for synonyms of those words (e.g., "molar," "incisor," "cuspid")(use a Thesaurus). You also need to look for alternate spellings, which can be tough and requires a bit of imagination. "Tooth?" Oh, and don't forget "Teeth" too.

he's makin picks out of ivory!!!!!!! you bastard!!!...send me one lmao lmao lmao jk man

quote:

Originally posted by Big Rob:
he's makin picks out of ivory!!!!!!! you bastard!!!...send me one lmao lmao lmao jk man

Nope not ivory. Not even teeth.
The unfortunate thing is that this "Critter" is now on the endangered list. Most people have never seen one. There is a lot of the material from it out there but the price is starting to rise. I am not going to purchase from anyone who has gone out to hunt one of these down... Only old stock.

Thanks for all the information Tonesponge!!!