LEGEND PICKS...
Legend Picks is a highly reputable, progressive and prominent music accessories company specializing in custom imprinted guitar picks. We cater to musicians searching for the highest quality guitar picks in addition to premium imprint "look and feel". We use top quality celluloid pick material and utilize a printing process which provides superior and durable "raised print" which yields well defined detail. Our ability to print logos, illustrations, graphics, and signatures... along with lettering, allows customers to portray a personal and professional touch. Since our inception in 1990, Legend Picks has filled a niche in the musical arena by providing professional and amateur guitar players the ability to acquire low volumes (one gross minimum) of high quality imprinted guitar picks.
The background behind the start-up of Legend picks dates back to the late 1980's when I was casually looking around the music industry to purchase a small quantity of imprinted picks for myself to be handed out by my local band and distributed as a novelty item. Like most folks who had gathered a hand-full of souvenir concert picks, I liked the concept and thought that having my own personalized picks would be a nice touch. To my surprise, it was very difficult to locate a source for such an item. I checked with my local music stores and even went as far as traveling to Chicago in an attempt to find a store that could either provide me with a product or at least give me a lead as to where such an item could be purchased. Most of the avenues led nowhere; however, I did find out that I could purchase either a minimum of 10-gross ( 1,440 picks) through one of the many music wholesale suppliers or I could purchase a lesser quantity from a couple of outfits located on the east coast. The problem with these two options was first that I didn't really need, or want 1,000 plus picks, and second the suppliers on the east only offered "block lettering" imprints with the standard three lines of imprinting along with the limitation of printing a maximum of nine letters/numbers per line. Frustration set in and I began exploring the concept of purchasing picks and having them imprinted locally by either a screen printing or hot-stamping establishment. Well, I did follow through with this notion and had a couple of jobs printed up locally; however, because of the nature of printing on such a small item as a guitar pick, requiring detailed designs, and having to consistently print the design perfectly in the same place on each item caused the local printing businesses to raise prices up to the point where it became ridiculous.
It was at that point that I entertained the concept of making the picks and rigging my own imprinting setup, and I set out to perform an in-depth review of available imprint methods and ink specifications. Following an extensive series of letters, phone-calls, and a visit to the Chicago Plastics Exposition, I set off to acquire the necessary tooling items and soon had my own imprinting procedures in place. After months of sharpening my skills, experimenting with different ink and adhesion mixtures, and continual re-tooling procedures, I was able to successfully deliver a quality product. My output was so good that I began to consider selling it to others. My next phase was to locate sources for the classic celluloid material and work up the procedures to cut/tumble the picks...
One of the primary reasons for starting the company was to maintain an interest in the music/entertainment business and to open up avenues to develop contacts with professional musicians, tour managers, and "hands-on" technical roadies. Another significant reason for initially starting and continually expanding Legend Picks was as a means to provide fellow musicians the ability to purchase reasonably low quantities of quality imprinted guitar picks at prices below the usual amount that is charged at the corner music store for a standard pick. Legend Picks is the best in the business... both in terms of quality and price. I work very closely with our customers to ensure that we provide products to exactly meet the desired specs, and I personally quality check each and every pick leaving our office to ensure that no "seconds" make to the customer's hands.
The quality of our product is reflected by the fact that we have continuing initial and refill orders from many casual musicians, professional musicians, and music arena companies throughout the United States. In addition, our current list of notable users includes Ted Nugent, Tommy Shaw/Styx, Pat Travers, Eddie Money's guitarists, Corey Stevens, Black Oak Arkansas and the Celestion speaker manufacturer company (for promotion at the NAMM shows). Examples of promotional environments that our picks have been used include; wedding favors, CD/record/tape stores, musical instrument repair/retail/wholesale stores, music studios, audiophile stores, and concert promoters.
Our current standard price of $48 for one-gross of single sided imprinted picks is a total package cost which includes picks, custom imprint, plate and setup charges, tax, shipping, and handling. Double sided imprinting is available for $72 per gross. In addition to the standard size picks made of celluloid, we sometimes have special availability of rounded and large triangle picks.
I currently manage and direct Legend Picks' operations and play a daily "hands-on" role. My music related background includes guitar instruction, guitar repair, and guitarist for various "weekend" bar/wedding bands. I am proud to be a member of the U.S. Army's civilian community as the Information Services Division Chief of the North Central Civilian Personnel Operations Center (web ~ cpol.army.mil). My education includes a B.S. in Business/Accounting from Missouri (Truman) State University (1983) and an M.B.A. from Saint Ambrose University (1990).
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Last Update ~ July 11th, 2003