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How are STRATosphere pickguards? Quality?

ScorchedCortex

ScorchedCortex

Oct 26, 2012
52
5
Northeast
#1
Hello folks,

I posted a question about pbass pickguards in another thread, but I was hoping someone on this board can tell me specifically about pickguards ordered from the STRATosphere? How is the overall quality? Are they comparable to the quality and thickness of a Fender or D'andrea pickguard?

Thanks!

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#5
Stratosphere just parts out regular (often new) instruments, so all those qualities should be good, and coming from Fender/Squier/...

HOWEVER! The guard you posted isn't a real tortoise pickguard, but a pickguard with a tortoise print on it (as used on cheaper instruments like Squier). Real tortoise is made from celluloid plastic, and has a 3D swirly pattern in it. The printed guards are just a picture on a white guard, with no 3D effect, and if you zoom in closely, you'll see the dots from the printer. A real tortoise guard isn't cheap, it sits around 40USD.

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This is a real tortoise pickguard. Can you see the difference, and can you see how thick the red layer is (look at the beveled edge), compared to the non-existing red layer in your pickguard?
 
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#9
I recently got one of those cheap $9.99 tort pickguards from the Stratosphere, and its actually a nice looking tort! The thickness is the same a stock Fender, and it blows away he crappy (pixel printed) tort I bought from Stewmac that was a joke. Here it is on my Squier P.

IMG_20150909_145715.jpg
 
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#10
Mr.Fingers said:
Stratosphere just parts out regular (often new) instruments, so all those qualities should be good, and coming from Fender/Squier/...

HOWEVER! The guard you posted isn't a real tortoise pickguard, but a pickguard with a tortoise print on it (as used on cheaper instruments like Squier). Real tortoise is made from celluloid plastic, and has a 3D swirly pattern in it. The printed guards are just a picture on a white guard, with no 3D effect, and if you zoom in closely, you'll see the dots from the printer. A real tortoise guard isn't cheap, it sits around 40USD.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
This is a real tortoise pickguard. Can you see the difference, and can you see how thick the red layer is (look at the beveled edge), compared to the non-existing red layer in your pickguard?
Click to expand...

Fender hasn't been using real tort either for decades. All their reissues is just another vinyl layer that looks nothing like the real thing.
 
#11
mikeswals said:
I recently got one of those cheap $9.99 tort pickguards from the Stratosphere, and its actually a nice looking tort! The thickness is the same a stock Fender, and it blows away he crappy (pixel printed) tort I bought from Stewmac that was a joke. Here it is on my Squier P.

View attachment 704270
Click to expand...

Any chance you have a closeup shot of the pickguard on your bass? Is the tort pixelated when you look at it closely?
 
#12
Far as I know, the STRATosphere is just parting out (mostly) Fenders. Some new and some used, but all pretty much genuine fender. Some of the used stuff contains aftermarket pups. I looked at some complete wiring sets for the Hot Rod J (p/j and j) and of the three they had, one had EMG pups one had stock pups and the last one had some other brand of non fender pups the name of which I can't recall. Read the descriptions, they have always been up front about what they have to offer.
 
#13
fhm555 said:
Far as I know, the STRATosphere is just parting out (mostly) Fenders. Some new and some used, but all pretty much genuine fender. Some of the used stuff contains aftermarket pups. I looked at some complete wiring sets for the Hot Rod J (p/j and j) and of the three they had, one had EMG pups one had stock pups and the last one had some other brand of non fender pups the name of which I can't recall. Read the descriptions, they have always been up front about what they have to offer.
Click to expand...
Looks like they are now also offering thier own "house brand" parts. I was looking at their pickguards but chose to go with real Fender part.
 
#14
aetheldrea said:
Looks like they are now also offering thier own "house brand" parts. I was looking at their pickguards but chose to go with real Fender part.
Click to expand...

Does it not clarify that in the item description? Everything I've ever bought from them had a country of origin in the description, as well as saying "genuine fender" if that was the case.
 
#16
I purchased three P-Bass pickguards from the Stratosphere last month, cream, mint, and white pearloid. All are thick, all look great, and all can fit on my various P-Basses. I've always had positive experiences with the Stratosphere. I've e-mailed them a couple of times with questions and Christine always writes back very promptly.
 
#18
Octavio said:
I purchased three P-Bass pickguards from the Stratosphere last month, cream, mint, and white pearloid. All are thick, all look great, and all can fit on my various P-Basses. I've always had positive experiences with the Stratosphere. I've e-mailed them a couple of times with questions and Christine always writes back very promptly.
Click to expand...

Hey Octavio, any chance you have pictures of the cream and mint on your basses? I am considering both of those colors!
 
#19
ScorchedCortex said:
Any chance you have a closeup shot of the pickguard on your bass? Is the tort pixelated when you look at it closely?
Click to expand...

Sorry, cant take any pics right now, my phone is only working as a 'phone' right now. But it is not a pixelated pattern, probably a tort-loaf swirl. It really does remind me of the color and swirl style of the pepperoni guards of the 80's.
Also it is actually a 4-layer, not a 3-ply the ad described it wrong. It is tort/white/black/white.
 
#20
Albeit this is an older thread, I thought I would add my contribution as I just installed a Stratosphere 3-ply cream pickguard on my parts P-bass with a Fender MIM Standard white body. The pickguard lined up perfectly and the color really compliments the off-white body nicely. The control holes also are drilled to fit CTS/Switchcraft sized components, so no reaming needed. My only criticism is that the shape of the guard around the control area is a hair different on some of the curves, but all mounting holes line up and there are no gaps. I peeled off the small amount of aluminum shielding in the control area and covered the whole back of the pickguard in Stew Mac self adhesive shielding foil, too. Overall, it's a killer deal and I intend to order more pickguards from them down the road when the need arises.

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