Creeper Posted November 24, 2017 Share Posted November 24, 2017 Why is it that modern tort pickguards just look crap, you can buy a beautifully crafted Fender Custom Shop vintage reissue which is lovingly crafted in the image of the original bass, to the finest detail, and then they slap on the crappest piece of pretend tort as a pickguard. Let’s be honest, this stuff looks nothing like the original, vintage tort is beautiful, everyone is slightly different with shimmering patterns, deep reds and swirly things, modern tort is pretty crap and does not look nice. Spitfire torts which are rediculouy expensive are about the best your are going to get, they are pretty good, but again just do not stack up to the originals. Surely it cannot be that hard? Am I wrong? Is the tort pickguard an art form lost to time??? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nivagues Posted November 25, 2017 Share Posted November 25, 2017 Totally agree! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted November 25, 2017 Share Posted November 25, 2017 (edited) 6 hours ago, Creeper said: Am I wrong? Is the tort pickguard an art form lost to time??? Nope, you're quite right. I think Spitfire tort is excellent, or at least the product I've had has been. And don't forget, original vintage tort isn't cheap, either. My view is you either have to bite the bullet and shell out, or avoid tort altogether. Modern salami-slice tort just isn't an option. It's like farting on a beautiful woman, or something. And that can get expensive too, but it's probably for another thread... Edited November 25, 2017 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted November 25, 2017 Share Posted November 25, 2017 I have some celluloid Tort for sale with many happy BC buyers pm me if you want some Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Creeper Posted November 25, 2017 Author Share Posted November 25, 2017 2 hours ago, Geek99 said: I have some celluloid Tort for sale with many happy BC buyers pm me if you want some But does it look like this? This is from a 1969 Jazz bass. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted November 25, 2017 Share Posted November 25, 2017 The trouble is those tortoises take a long time to grow! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlfer Posted November 25, 2017 Share Posted November 25, 2017 A few years back I came across an instructional video on how to paint your own tortie plate. Great video, although I remember it being quite a painstaking process. Being gormless I never kept it and can't find it now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted November 25, 2017 Share Posted November 25, 2017 15 minutes ago, karlfer said: I never kept it and can't find it now. Thanks, Karl! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted November 25, 2017 Share Posted November 25, 2017 1 hour ago, Creeper said: But does it look like this? This is from a 1969 Jazz bass. Well, that certainly puts my modern 'plates to shame...2018 could be the year of the great scratch plate upgrade for me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted November 25, 2017 Share Posted November 25, 2017 (edited) 24 minutes ago, FinnDave said: Well, that certainly puts my modern 'plates to shame...2018 could be the year of the great scratch plate upgrade for me! My Spitfire Jazz guard... Edited November 25, 2017 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted November 25, 2017 Share Posted November 25, 2017 Lovely...must be hard work wiping all the drool off it at gigs, though. Checked Spitfire's page but can't see prices...my local luthier makes tort plates, I'll have to ask to see some when I visit next week to collect the Precision he's been making more precise. I'll probably take a Jazz bass over there soon for added jazziness. Not sure what he can do to a Thunderbird!* *Not strictly true, he's had that in already and improved it beyond belief! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted November 25, 2017 Share Posted November 25, 2017 4 minutes ago, FinnDave said: Lovely...must be hard work wiping all the drool off it at gigs, though. No longer mine, unfortunately. Or rather fortunately, I was getting nothing done! Spitfire options and prices are here, you need to scroll down a bit: https://spitfiretortoiseshellpickguards.wordpress.com/order/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgehouse Posted November 25, 2017 Share Posted November 25, 2017 See my dilemma in my other thread. The tort guard on my 64 Precision is a thing of beauty. There really isn't a modern equivalent. In late 64 Fender stopped using nitro for their pickguards and swapped to vinyl. They did it as they were getting large numbers of warranty claims for shrinkage, warping and other issues. The nitro continues to outgas over time just like the paint, so it never stops shrinking or warping. The Very thing that makes it look so good also spelt its eventual withdrawal. Its not so much the artistry that is dead, more that the vinyl or printed ones don't capture the same look and feel of what was ultimately a flawed product Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Creeper Posted November 25, 2017 Author Share Posted November 25, 2017 Here’s the Spitfire tort I had made for my Precision, very very good but still not like the originals, how hard can it be? Do they just not know how to do it anymore? i found a guy in Germany selling vintage tort pickguards and I picked that 69 Jazz one up for about the same as the Spitfire cost..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgehouse Posted November 25, 2017 Share Posted November 25, 2017 2 minutes ago, Creeper said: Here’s the Spitfire tort I had made for my Precision, very very good but still not like the originals, how hard can it be? Do they just not know how to do it anymore? i found a guy in Germany selling vintage tort pickguards and I picked that 69 Jazz one up for about the same as the Spitfire cost..... Like I said - you need the original materials to get the original effect. And that way of doing it just ain't gonna work any more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted November 25, 2017 Share Posted November 25, 2017 Ouch, that's about £150 plus shipping and import duty, etc....and I've got five Fenders wearing tort, and a serious case of tort envy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Creeper Posted November 25, 2017 Author Share Posted November 25, 2017 (edited) Check Axels store out over in germany, I bought my 69 tort Jazz pickguard from him, he currently has a 65 tort for sale, great guy to deal with and has some great vintage gear. http://www.gitarren-laden.com/ Edited November 25, 2017 by Creeper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rumple Posted November 25, 2017 Share Posted November 25, 2017 I find it odd that you can buy cheap Celluloid guitar picks that look reasonably close to vintage tort but it is so hard to find a nice reasonably priced scratchplate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Creeper Posted November 25, 2017 Author Share Posted November 25, 2017 13 minutes ago, Rumple said: I find it odd that you can buy cheap Celluloid guitar picks that look reasonably close to vintage tort but it is so hard to find a nice reasonably priced scratchplate. That my friend, is a very good point very well made, whilst not perfect, that looks a damn sight better than most modern tort.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted November 25, 2017 Share Posted November 25, 2017 3 hours ago, Creeper said: Check Axels store out over in germany, I bought my 69 tort Jazz pickguard from him, he currently has a 65 tort for sale, great guy to deal with and has some great vintage gear. http://www.gitarren-laden.com/ Beautiful, bit of an eye-watering price tag, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted November 25, 2017 Share Posted November 25, 2017 WD Music tort guards are proper celluloid, I've had a couple: http://www.wdmusic.co.uk/pickguards-c62/fender-basses-c111 - not as nice as Simms or Spitfire, but pretty decent, and cheaper. Used to be around the £50 mark but seem to have gone up a hell of a lot since Brexit....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted November 25, 2017 Share Posted November 25, 2017 I didn't know they were celluloid, I bought a used one last week here on the forum, it is now adorning my US Jazz. I'll have a better look at it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiOgon Posted November 25, 2017 Share Posted November 25, 2017 17 minutes ago, FinnDave said: I didn't know they were celluloid, I bought a used one last week here on the forum, it is now adorning my US Jazz. I'll have a better look at it! You can tell by the smell I think it was a WD tort plate - I opened the sealed pack and couldn't stop breathing it in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted November 25, 2017 Share Posted November 25, 2017 41 minutes ago, Shaggy said: WD Music tort guards are proper celluloid, I've had a couple - not as nice as Simms or Spitfire, but pretty decent, and cheaper. Their cream and mint guards look pretty good, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted November 25, 2017 Share Posted November 25, 2017 Looking at WD's main site, it seems they do very similar 'plates in celluloid and vinyl, so I'll need to take mine off and check the part number to be sure. The bass is packed ready for tonight's gig, so it'll have to wait until tomorrow now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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