Make Something Unique, Check Out Our Vintage Coin Guitar Picks

Custom Coin Guitar Pick made by Rusty Knuckles from a Half Dollar

Following the paths least traveled is always a mantra that we do our best to adhere against. Finding a unique spin on an idea or seeking out an idea that maybe goes against the grain just a bit more than something else is always where inspiration comes knocking. When creating all that exists within this whole "Rusty Knuckles" approach, it's easy to say "we" as there are folks who work within the music label and help out on varying projects, but day in and day out, it's primarily yours truly that is working up all the designs and getting things done to keep refining our approach. Many days are simply a labor of love and other days are just purely spent grinding through orders to get done to keep the lights on. Would I trade it for anything? Nope, not in the least. Do I get pissy about certain things when they just don't seem to work, but of course. But, first and foremost in our custom shop, failure is just one more step towards creating something that will stand the test of time.

In one of those long days of thinking about new concepts and ways to push our approach, a few coins were on the work desk and led to pulling out a guitar and trying to play a few good riffs. With no plastic pics readily available a quarter was put to the strings and inspiration struck. We know this is not a new concept by any means, but in our wheelhouse of custom music gear, these neat little picks are perfectly at home on our island of misfit toys. 

Through some trial and error and burning many finger tips, to correctly grind and polish these beauties, we started to find a great rhythmic approach to making them in bulk and now will be offering them in the Rusty Knuckles Etsy Store. 

Wanting a specific coin, just email us or get in touch as we are a full custom shop with a wanton approach to trying new ideas and wanting to create something new every day.

Custom Coin Guitar Pick made by Rusty Knuckles from a French 50 Franc coin

Custom Coin Guitar Pick made by Rusty Knuckles from a French 50 Franc coin

Custom Coin Guitar Pick made by Rusty Knuckles from a Half Dollar

Custom Coin Guitar Pick made by Rusty Knuckles from British Hong Kong coin

Custom Coin Guitar Pick made by Rusty Knuckles from a Saudi Arabian Ghirsh coin

Custom Coin Guitar Pick made by Rusty Knuckles

Zen And The Art Of Carving An Old Nickel Into A Portrait Of J.D. Wilkes Of The Dirt Daubers

Birth - Life - Death

Hand carved hobo style nickel for JD Wilkes of the Dirt Daubers

Life is all about what you put into it. That's it, plain and simple. If you slouch around and think the world is against you, well, chances are things might not go according to plan. If your wandering thoughts drift towards the abstract and your mind ventures into areas of science and meditative thought, maybe the rationalization of raw energy in its purest form, will light your candle. Within this latent power source of zero point energy, all the potential kinetic energy exists in the ether and it fascinates me to no end.

Is this chatter, just a brain spewing diatribe of random thoughts? Not in the least. What it is and what it boils down to is the realization that doing cool things and having a positive outlook will attract a similar mindset within the latent energy of others. Call it a zen philosophy or maybe just a positive outlook, either or, both are on the money.

From the many posts within this blog there are write ups on all things motors and music, along wtih a hodge podge of information focused on the DIY mindset and work ethic. Rusty Knuckles is not an individual or a singular concept, but rather a collective mindset of the do it yourselfer's who choose to dictate their place in the world, rather than be given directives about how to live.

In this capacity creating anything from scratches on paper in a notebook or a pure thought to pop into your mind is possible. For the photo above, I have been tinkering around with ideas for etching some coins and luckily enough J.D. Wilkes had noticed them and inquired about getting one. All the past coins I have created have just been skulls, but that would be too easy to do again as a gift. I knew for a dude as creative as him, I wanted to try a bit harder and produce something that would challenge my skills. So what the hell, why not go for a portrait and throw the lack of experience to the wind, along with any real engraving tools.

So here are these rambling thoughts in a nutshell. Create work that you enjoy and be humbled by life itself. By having a great attitude, ya never know who might show up knocking on your door to say hello. Life is too damn short for negative or jealous folks, as they are the inverse of zero point energy and create a true black hole. 

Rise above and conquer my friends as there is no second place.

An old Indian head nickel carved into a skull. Sense any sort of irony?

Large batch of Indian nickels scored from ebay ready for carving into new style coins

Scratch The Surface, New Life Through Engraving

Old Indian head nickels are ready for engraving

Scratch the surface, serve a purpose" Sick Of It All is ringing true right now as we prep up some of our pirate coin snaps for our belt loops.

Rusty Knuckles belt loop with engraved Indian Head nickel snap