Tort guard hate?

[bkbirge]

I want to see a sunburst pickguard on a tort finished body.

 

[user362432]

Not a fan. But, I don't hate it. I like clean colors (except white)

 

[IconBasser]

I tend to hate tort pickguards, but that's just because I hate P and J basses, and those are what they usually come on. It's a Pavlovian response.

 

[pica]

I love a red tort pickguard on my James Johnston Squier

 

[ThinCrappyTone]

Apologies if this has been covered ad naseum here, but I’m new to the fold and lazy about searching, so here goes: why all the tort guard hate? Personally, I’ve always been a huge fan of tort guards; probably my favorite guard option. Am I in the minority? Lay it on me, TalkBass, what say y’all?

I don’t hate them! I just think they look like vomit. With bloody chunks mixed in. Hahaha just kidding tort fans

 

[grimjim]

I'm not a huge fan but i'm not a hater.

 

[bassliner50]

In general, we old guys prefer it , younger guys want a pickguard look to be sporty or edgy. Just a generality from observations. I have my basses torted or blacked. One of the easier decisions in life for me. But the debate will rage on watch and see.

 

[TuneSalad666]

I wouldn't say I hate it, but I definitely would say that I truly think it is ugly.

To me it looks cheap and synthetic in a sickly uncool brown smarmy 70's way.

 

[NOLA bass55]

<~~~~ Any bass I get will have tort, since any bass I get will be a Fender Jazz

 

[2F/2F]

I like darker, browner tort. It's the old really red/orange stuff that just clashes with pretty much any body color IMO. The absolute worst is tort on red. Barf!

For example, I like the tort on my AV '64 RI Jazz Bass, but I don't like the tort on a real '64 Jazz Bass.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Good tort is beautiful with many finishes. Cheap photo tort looks cheap.

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

View attachment 2996870 View attachment 2996871 View attachment 2996869
Mother Of Pepperoni.

Pepperonnnniiiiii drool
Now I know why I like tort.

 

[non]

i can deal with tort on other peoples basses never on one of mine.

 

[azfatboy]

I am a bonafide tort hater. But like many others have noted, we are actually a much-maligned minority up here on TB...

 

[Burwabit]

I've seen several decent tort pickguards.
Saw a few burst finishes that weren't too bad.
Combining the two, however…sorry, no.

Say it ain’t so

It’s ok you can call my baby ugly if you want

 

[FloridaTim]

Don't like tort. Have never owned a bass with tort. Tort is for 1970's grandma sunglasses. Not something as beautiful as a bass.

 

[mikeoso]

What exactly is "real" tort? Did somebody slaughter a poor defenseless tortoise for it's shell?

In a word, yes. The real original tortoiseshell was shell of, not a tortoise, but turtle, usually hawksbill sea turtle. Was used for pickguards on acoustic guitars, guitar picks, eyeglass frames, hairbrushes, hand mirrors....lots of consumer products...to the point the animals became critically endangered. They're now protected under US and international laws. Acoustic players value the real deal highly for picks.

 

[Frank77]

Tort? Just say no.

 

[jamro217]

The thing with tort is that it has to look good in context with the instrument it's on. On a Fender with a three tone burst, it's fine. On Bootsy's Space Bass it just wouldn't work. Some of the bright reddish tort from the '60's was garish and fake no matter what they were on. The more subdued brown tort goes better with any finish that features wood grain. For more unusual colors like purple, blue or green, I think pearloid looks better. Not a fan of black.

 

[Yahboy]

View attachment 2996910

I love a red tort pickguard on my James Johnston Squier

Gorgeous !!!!!!!!!