---
title: My handmade guitar picks
author: George Mandis <george@mand.is>
date: 2011-08-11
description: I have a side-business selling handmade guitar picks called Roma Picks
tags: post
---

<img src="http://romaguitarpicks.com/media/2011/gypsy-rose-black.min.png" alt="Roma Guitar Picks." class="right"/>

Here's the gist of it: I've relaunched my [handmade guitar pick](http://romaguitarpicks.com) business &mdash; [Roma Picks](http://romaguitarpicks.com). If you're a fancy of thicker plectrums for gypsy-jazz styles, or just like thick, beautiful picks that make acoustic guitar sound great, please give it a look.

[romaguitarpicks.com](http://romaguitarpicks.com)

Now, a little back story: A few years ago I started dabbling with hand made guitar picks.  I had become addicted to the thicker, gypsy-jazz style plectrums you can find at places like [Django Books](http://djangobooks.com). However, I kinda felt like a sucker plopping down $10 or so for a single pick when I knew I was going to inevitably lose them at gigs, or somewhere stupid like the woods, as I did the other week at [my family reunion](http://blog.georgemandis.com/2011/08/10/business-advice-from-my-uncles.html). 

In the interest of being kind to my wallet and in the interest of finding new hobbies, I started making my own picks.  This led me through many adventures learning about and experimenting with sandpaper, files, emery boards, the aisles at [Tap Plastics](http://www.tapplastics.com/), laser-cutters, polyurethane finishes and exotic hardwoods: 

<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3427/3370261689_3b6ce51989_z.jpg?zz=1" alt="Roma Pick Samples" />

<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3262/3334227501_f6b7814145.jpg" alt="Smiling Guitar Picks" />