Some time ago I started experimenting with the use of a printed circuit board (PCB) as a coin cell battery holder. After a friend of mine pointed out it wasn’t making great contact, I considered the idea that this typically undesirable property could instead be used to create a low-pressure switch, a la string detector.
Thus was born the LightStrum Pick You can currently buy one at:
- Tindie: https://www.tindie.com/products/jeremycook/lightstrum-light-up-guitar-pick/
- Reverb: https://reverb.com/item/75853402-jc-devices-lightstrum-000led
Here’s a video of me playing it on a baritone ukulele:
And here’s a video of someone much better playing it on an electric guitar:
LightStrum guitar picks light up when you strum via a coin-cell battery and simple switch mechanism. I’m planning to make these in limited edition runs, and, as of this writing in November 2023, the current limited edition is “000.” Newer picks may come with changes and a new series number, so hopefully they’ll become somewhat collectible as the design develops.
Details, Caveats, Etc.
This pick is .8mm thick where it contacts the strings, and has a squared-off edge, which may take some getting used to. It is made out of fiberglass/FR4 circuit board material, so is more prone to scratching a guitar than a plastic pick would be.
All that being said, use at your, and your guitar’s, own risk. OTOH, one might argue that’s why they make pick guards, and metal picks are a thing, so perhaps there’s some precedent. Finally, keep the coin cell away from kids or anyone/anything else that might eat it.
But It’s Pretty Rad
Allll that being said, it’s a lot of fun to use, and can produce a really cool real-life persistence-of-vision/long exposure photography effect, especially if you look at it down the neck while playing. I can also imagine someone doing a windmill strum with the pick fully depressed the whole time, which would look awesome.
