About Strum-N-Comfort Picking Systems
At Strum-N-Comfort Picking Systems our focus is creating comfortable and highly functional guitar accessories. Such as, guitar straps, Crossover thumb picks, custom flat picks and unique heart stone flat picks.
A "Crossover Pick" is gear designed to facilitate the blending of right hand playing skills for stringed instruments. Available in four models, the SharkTooth "Traditional", "Super Hybrid", Un-Thumb-Pick and "Kodiak" Crossover Picks. The Crossover picks are designed by and for players to facilitate the maximum amount of technical flexibility. The "SharkTooth" models use Neoprene and the plectrum material is made of classic pearl celluloid for professional tone and player feel. The Kodiak Crossover Pick uses a nylon strap and a durable polymer flat pick material.
You can even use your favorite flat pick with any of the SharkTooth models.
Our goal is continue to find innovative ways to serve musicians world wide. We seek to expand the world wide dealer network and continue to license private label distribution rights for the Strum-N-Comfort product line. We are located in Anaheim, Orange County, California, USA. Get in touch with us today. Phone: 714-663-0071gatkin@strum-n-comfort.com Contact - Greg M Atkin
A "Crossover Pick" is gear designed to facilitate the blending of right hand playing skills for stringed instruments. Available in four models, the SharkTooth "Traditional", "Super Hybrid", Un-Thumb-Pick and "Kodiak" Crossover Picks. The Crossover picks are designed by and for players to facilitate the maximum amount of technical flexibility. The "SharkTooth" models use Neoprene and the plectrum material is made of classic pearl celluloid for professional tone and player feel. The Kodiak Crossover Pick uses a nylon strap and a durable polymer flat pick material.
You can even use your favorite flat pick with any of the SharkTooth models.
Our goal is continue to find innovative ways to serve musicians world wide. We seek to expand the world wide dealer network and continue to license private label distribution rights for the Strum-N-Comfort product line. We are located in Anaheim, Orange County, California, USA. Get in touch with us today. Phone: 714-663-0071gatkin@strum-n-comfort.com Contact - Greg M Atkin
Greg M Atkin: Biography
Early Life and Education Greg M. Atkin was born in August 1951 and grew up in Southern California. He attended CSULB, Long Beach, and the University of California, Irvine, where he received a certificate in Advanced Computer Engineering. Computer Technology Career (1970s-2006) In the mid-1970s, Atkin began a four-year career at General Automation in Orange County, California, a pioneering computer company that specialized in industrial and commercial automation systems. In 1978, he partnered with Mel Jones to form Atkin/Jones Computer Services, a company that delivered technology maintenance services and products to business and government clients. Atkin successfully ran this business for 28 years before selling his interest to his partner in 2006. Musical Background Atkin began playing guitar at age 19 and is entirely self-taught. He attended many rock concerts in the late 1960s and early 1970s with his brother Steve, including memorable performances by Led Zeppelin, The Who, and The Rolling Stones. His musical influences include James Taylor, Cat Stevens, Neil Young, and classic rock, as well as early rock, folk era, blues, and 1950s "Oldies but Goodies". Innovation and Invention (1990s-Present) The Crossover Pick In the early 1990s, Atkin invented what he calls the world's most comfortable thumb pick, known as the Crossover Pick. The invention was inspired by his interest in and personal development as a solo guitar composer and player. Having trouble controlling a flat pick when playing his steel string guitar at fast tempos, he imagined what it might be like to have a more flexible pick.In 2000, he officially launched the SharkTooth Crossover Pick, which quickly sold over 10,000 units and has been a popular product ever since. This ultimately gave rise to a line of Crossover Picks and the launch in 2006 of his boutique company Strum-N-Comfort Picking Systems.
Product Development In early 2002, Atkin further developed the Crossover Pick product line and began working with professional guitarists, bassists, banjo players, auto harp, pedal steel, and Dobro players. Another group of players that inspire custom designs are those with injuries or permanent disabilities. Atkin gained critical feedback from established music teachers and continued to refine the product, eventually producing three standard models, three custom versions, and many artist signature models of the Crossover Pick. The product line includes: 1) SharkTooth Picks: Made of pearl celluloid with soft and flexible sleeves, available in three unique designs: the Traditional, the Super Hybrid, and the Un-Thumb Pick. 2) Kodiak Crossover Pick: Made of a more durable polymer material with a warm tone, using a simple twill nylon strap. 3) Artist Signature Picks: A growing collection of artist signature Crossover Pics and flat picks are now in production. Educational Collaboration Atkin collaborated with USC Professor and master guitarist Steve Trovato to create the "Universal Picking Technique" method, which includes a series of musical arrangements in book form, a music CD, and the SharkTooth Crossover pick product. This method is designed to facilitate combining different guitar playing techniques including flatpicking, strumming, fingerstyle, harmonics, percussion, and finger tapping. Community Involvement Atkin served as the past President of the Association of Fingerstyle Guitarists based in southern California. Additional Ventures Fine Art Publishing In 2003, Atkin began exploring the area of fine art publishing, initially with a music theme in mind, later working with visual artists and sculptors to develop print lines and other practical products featuring their artwork. He founded Artisan StudioWorks for this purpose. Notably, he produced a two-CD Living History audio book on the life of western artist Al Shelton (known as the "Cowboy Artist to the Stars"), publishing twenty of Shelton's paintings with the audio book as an optional collectible. Music-Themed Products In 2005, Atkin expanded his music theme product line to include highly functional stone guitar picks (heart-shaped) and silver-wrapped pendants, as well as music-themed jewelry items such as guitar pins, ornate banjo clips, and dangling G-Clef pendants. Altered States Guitar Project Atkin developed the Altered States Guitar, featuring innovative AS 3D Split Bridge technology that offers a new way of voicing for electric guitars, incorporating two body wood selections and a divided bridge to bring two unique wood qualities to the guitar's voice. www.alteredstatesguitar.com Playing Style and Equipment Atkin plays a Carvin Jumbo and Taylor 714CE acoustic guitar and composes contemporary guitar arrangements with mixed styles of music, blending or fusing different styles in his own compositions. His largest performance was to approximately one thousand people at a graduation event. Current Work Greg M. Atkin continues to operate Strum-N-Comfort Picking Systems and Artisan StudioWorks from Santa Ana, California. His picks are designed to serve guitarists who have skills in both fingerpicking and flatpicking but have not been able to comfortably combine the two techniques, allowing musicians to change techniques on the fly between sweep picking, strumming, flatpicking, and fingerstyle playing. www.artisanstudioworks.com His innovative products are sold direct to consumers and through dealers worldwide. The products have received endorsements from professional musicians, music educators, and recording artists across multiple genres.