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  • You can email me at contact@apollopicks.com, or message me on Instagram or Facebook.

  • Artists interested in collaborations can email me at contact@apollopicks.com to discuss potential projects.

    • Ready-Made Orders: Items ordered from the Ready-Made page typically ship out the same day or the next business day. If you place your order in the morning, I usually can get it out the same day, but please note that my mailman comes around 11 AM.

    • Custom Orders: Custom-made picks require more time, as I need to craft them to your specifications. I maintain a list for custom work, and the current lead time is about one week from the time the order is placed.

      After I print your label, you'll receive an email with your tracking number. However, it’s normal to see no progress with the shipment at first. This only means that your order is on the bench, and tracking will update in a few days.

    • Combined Orders: If your order includes both a ready-made pick and a custom-made pick, please expect a slight delay in shipping the ready-made pick, as I'll send everything together.

  • You’ve got 40 days to decide if you want to keep your pick—no strings attached. If you decide it’s not for you, I completely understand. All I ask is that you cover the cost of shipping it to you (about $3). I get that tone and feel are incredibly personal, and the sound I’m chasing might not be the same as what you’re after. It’s all good.

    If you do decide to return the pick, please email me first at contact@apollopicks.com so that I can make sure you send it to the right address. And if you're returning a casein pick, please use a padded envelope to prevent any damage.

    When you return the pick, please include a note specifying what changes you'd like, whether you'd prefer a replacement (along with the specs), or if you would like a refund.

  • Yes, I do offer discounts on picks from time to time. To stay updated on when and how to get these discounts, follow me on social media or join my email list.

  • Absolutely! I’ll gladly ship anywhere in the world. For international orders, I ask for $15 at checkout to cover the extra cost of shipping.

    However, I want to be upfront about the risks: there is an increased chance of “lost packages” with international shipping. The USPS claim process, especially for international shipments, can be a bit of a nightmare and rarely worth the time involved. Rather than restricting shipping to the USA, I offer to ship outside of the USA at the buyer's risk—meaning that you accept the possibility that your package may take longer to arrive or might not arrive at all.

    That said, I guarantee that tracking will show the picks started their journey. The packages usually do show up, though sometimes it can take a while.

  • I use a variety of materials, including different kinds of casein and plastic, each offering unique tonal characteristics. The differences are most noticeable in the high end of the frequency spectrum, while the mids and lows remain fairly consistent across all materials.

    • Highly Figured Casein: This is a very old material and tends to emphasize the higher end of the frequency spectrum (for casein), giving it a bit more brightness.

    • Modern Casein (Tortoiseshell Look): The casein currently in production, especially the tortoiseshell-looking variety, has a slightly less pronounced high end compared to the older casein but is known for its warmth and fullness.

    • Black Plastic: This material offers a bit more high-end than either type of casein and is often compared to tortoiseshell in terms of tonal brightness.

    • White Plastic: With a little less high-end than the black plastic, it is sometimes preferred when strings are freshly installed, as it can reduce some of the initial high-end "edge." However, opinions on this can vary, with some professionals stating the opposite.

    While the differences in tone among various colors and materials are subtle, these nuances can make a significant impact on your playing experience.

  • The thickness of a guitar pick plays a significant role in shaping the tone of your instrument. Thinner picks tend to produce a brighter, sharper sound with more articulation, making them ideal for strumming and fast, rhythmic playing. Thicker picks, on the other hand, deliver a warmer, fuller tone with greater bass response and sustain, which is often preferred for lead playing and producing richer melodies. The pick’s thickness can also affect how it interacts with the strings. I find that thicker picks give one more control, while thinner picks offer greater flexibility.

  • A bevel on a pick mimics the natural wear you’d put on it after extensive use. A beveled pick will feel and sound different compared to an identical pick with a rounded edge. Some folks like the difference, while others might not—it’s a highly personal preference, and there’s no right or wrong answer.

    After studying the wear patterns on picks from various professional musicians, I’ve noticed that the angle of natural bevels is often unique to each player. While there are some commonalities, the differences are noteworthy.

    It’s important to mention that having a bevel doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll play faster, so I prefer to just call it a “bevel” rather than a “speed-bevel.” And since the vast majority of pickers are right-handed, it’s generally assumed that “bevel” means a right-handed bevel. If you’re left-handed, you’ll want to specify a left-handed bevel.

    Another aspect worth mentioning is that the bevel thins out the edge of the pick. For example, a 1.5mm pick with a bevel might have a tone similar to a 1.25mm rounded-bevel pick. While this might not be news to everyone, it’s an important detail to point out.

  • How to take care of my pick?

    For black or white high-performance thermoplastics, there's nothing special you need to do—they're extremely durable. However, for casein picks, it's best to avoid contact with water or excessive moisture. Casein is hygroscopic, meaning it can absorb water, which may cause it to deform as it dries. With proper care, casein picks can remain perfectly flat for many years. Just make sure to keep them dry and avoid unnecessary bending. While casein is a durable material, it’s not as resilient to bending as high-performance thermoplastics.

    Re-polishing your pick:

    If you find your pick has scratches or needs a touch-up, you can re-polish it using micromesh sanding pads. A pack of these pads can be purchased online here. Start with a coarse grit and gradually work up to the finest grit. This technique can buff out any scratches and restore the pick's smoothness. While I don’t use this method anymore, it’s the approach I started with, and it really works.

  • It's not uncommon for casein picks to have a slight curve, especially the thinner ones. For example, if you order a Shape A at 1.3mm, you might notice this more than with a Shape D at 1.3mm. When the picks leave my workshop, they are dead flat, but casein is a more natural material compared to a pick made with a High-Performace Thermoplastic. If you notice pronounced "cupping", it's likely that the pick came into contact with excessive moisture at some point.

    If the cupping on your pick is excessive or distracting, I’m happy to make you another pick. You can exchange the one you received within 40 days.

  • The logo is actually a “lyre,” a harp-like instrument that was central to Ancient Greek culture. The lyre wasn’t just an instrument; it was a symbol of music, poetry, and learning. The Greeks were among the first to use “picks” in recorded history, which they used to play the lyre. The tool used to strike the strings was known as a Plektron (Latin: Plectrum). These picks were typically made from materials like bone or ivory and were essential for producing the lyre’s sound.

    As for the name Apollo, it’s inspired by the ancient Greek god Apollo, who was the god of music, poetry, and the arts, among other things. Apollo was often depicted with a lyre, symbolizing his connection to music and harmony.

    As the story goes, Apollo had a lyre, and played it often. According to myth, the lyre was originally created by Hermes, who gifted it to Apollo in exchange for forgiveness after stealing Apollo's cattle. Apollo became the master of the lyre and was frequently shown playing it.

  • My name is Nik, and I make picks. Apollo Picks was born out of my love for acoustic music and the pursuit of better tone.

    This small business began on a summer day in 2020 when I was looking for something to do with my four-year-old son. As guitar pick collectors, we decided to try making one ourselves. We found a recipe for casein, used up all the milk in the fridge, and got to work filing, sanding, and polishing. We ended up with a pick that we were quite proud of. I still have that one actually! While I don’t make my own casein anymore, I still enjoy every step of creating each pick.

  • I appreciate your curiosity about the materials I use for my picks. While I prefer to keep the specific types of plastics I utilize to myself, I can share that they are high-performance thermoplastics selected for their exceptional durability and tonal qualities. Discovering and sourcing these materials involves a lot of time and energy.

    You might notice other makers using the same types of plastics; however, the exact formulations and the way I work with them are part of what make my picks unique. Thank you for understanding!