OK, I don't mean to sound like an old geezer here, but what happened to the good old days? You used to be able to pick up a decent pick holder at any local guitar store. In fact, the first one I purchased lasted me about 10 years. It did explode on me once or twice because of the spring on the inside, but I never had to replace it until it started getting some serious crack-age. After that, I decided to retire that pick holder and look for a replacement.
The only thing most stores seem to carry now is a generic Dunlop black pick holder. I have nothing against the color. It would be nice to see a little more variety, but that's not the point. I have nothing against Dunlop. For the most part, they seem to provide quality products. However, these little black pick holders have proven to be completely useless.
The first one broke on me within a week. I attempted to put it back together, but after it breaks the first time, it's never the same. All it is is two pieces of plastic and one piece of metal that fit together with dowels on one of the plastic pieces. The second one broke within a day or two. I covered it with masking tape to hold it together, but it still only lasted me a couple of months before it started giving me trouble again.
What gives? Not that I'm sore about a buck or two, but seriously? Haven't we arrived at a point in technological advancement where we can produce a decent pick holder? I don't mind paying an extra 50 cents to a dollar if it's going to hold my picks without blowing up on me.
Maybe that's the point. Everything is so disposable nowadays (even mixers), you can replace your broken or malfunctioning items cheaply without seeing much of an impact on your wallet. I still don't think that's an excuse to create shoddy products.
Ultimately, I have yet to find a suitable replacement. I'm sure there's something out there, I just haven't come across it. Bottom line - I'm not going to buy any more of those Dunlop pick holders.
