Tort pickguard: please help or my bass will die . . .

[Lujon]

of ugliness. I need help finding a tort pickguard for my fender standard jazz bass. So far I’ve bought three and all have issues:

The first one I bought used, looks great but doesn’t fit correctly. There’s a huge gap along the control plate and the heal cut is too small.

The middle one I ordered from Stratosphere parts. It looks freaking awful, like a low resolution photo of hot lava printed on plastic.

I did some searches here on TB and most recommended Allparts, so I ordered one from them. It’s closer to correct but still super fake. Up close it’s like a low resolution photo of tort printed on plastic.

What am I doing wrong? Am I searching for the wrong thing? Where do I find celluloid tortoise that actually has the swirly plastic look and not just a photo approximation?

 

[mcontour]

I just bought one of the following from Amazon for one of my fender ‘64 AVRI basses. Fit perfectly and looks great.

It is a true Fender piece.


Fender Vintage-Style Pickguard, 60's Jazz Bass, 11-Hole - Tortoise Shell

 

[Lujon]

I think my original post might have been confusing. I’m trying to find a tort pickguard that isn’t a photo of tortoise printed on plastic. Anyone have leads on where to find one, what key words to search?

 

[wvbass]

I think my original post might have been confusing. I’m trying to find a tort pickguard that isn’t a photo of tortoise printed on plastic. Anyone have leads on where to find one, what key words to search?

Spitfire.

 

[FrenchBassQC]

I think my original post might have been confusing. I’m trying to find a tort pickguard that isn’t a photo of tortoise printed on plastic. Anyone have leads on where to find one, what key words to search?

Ugh? try this "I’m trying to find a tort pickguard that isn’t a photo of tortoise printed on plastic" maybe it will work...

 

[Lujon]

Ugh? try this "I’m trying to find a tort pickguard that isn’t a photo of tortoise printed on plastic" maybe it will work...

I struggle to understand this. Am I asking you all the wrong question? Honestly looking for a little help here.

 

[FrenchBassQC]

I struggle to understand this. Am I asking you all the wrong question? Honestly looking for a little help here.

If you copy and paste this in your web browser on a search on exactly what I had mentioned in my post, you will see a result that might help you find what you're looking for... I’m trying to find a tort pickguard that isn’t a photo of tortoise printed on plastic - Bing

 

[ShawnG]

I ordered one from a reputable maker of pickguards that gets very good reviews and felt exactly the same way you do. It looked like a digital reproduction of tortoise shell or a high def photo printed onto a sheet of vinyl or similar material, then overlaid on a white-black-white three ply pickguard. No depth, no play of the light. Nothing. I was very disappointed and posted something around here about it. Got no replies.
My take is, this is what you get with a “modern” tort guard. They look great in pictures, but up close, it’s just a print.
I’ve read that the only company left making the type of tort pickguard you and I appear to be looking for is Spitfire. They have a completely different process and truly look vintage, with depth and variation. But they are expensive and I’d have to see one in person first before deciding to send my $$ to have one made, and even then I’d think twice before investing that much in a pickguard.

 

[staurosjohn]

I purchased a ‘Vintage nitrate’ pg, from here, for my P bass - a number of years ago… it the closest to what (I think) you’re looking for. I’ve looked at Spitfire guards, on various occasions, just couldn’t ‘pull the trigger’ due to the cost

Link Removed

 

[Lujon]

I purchased a ‘Vintage nitrate’ pg, from here, for my P bass - a number of years ago… it the closest to what (I think) you’re looking for. I’ve looked at Spitfire guards, on various occasions, just couldn’t ‘pull the trigger’ at the cost

Link Removed

View attachment 4370340

yes thank you!

 

[J_Bass]

Spitfire.

You missed @wvbass reply.

Here:
Spitfire.

 

[Lujon]

You missed @wvbass reply.

Here:
Spitfire.

No I saw it.

 

[relayer66]

Almost all tort these days is printed vinyl. Even my custom shop came with that.

If you want the real deal that emulates vintage celluloid, Spitfire is the way to go. But you’ll def pay for it (and wait for it).

 

[Lujon]

Almost all tort these days is printed vinyl. Even my custom shop came with that.

If you want the real deal that emulates vintage celluloid, Spitfire is the way to go. But you’ll def pay for it (and wait for it).

What seriously?! They’re using printed tort on custom shops?!

 

[relayer66]

I purchased a ‘Vintage nitrate’ pg, from here, for my P bass - a number of years ago… it the closest to what (I think) you’re looking for. I’ve looked at Spitfire guards, on various occasions, just couldn’t ‘pull the trigger’ due to the cost

Link Removed

View attachment 4370340

“Flammable”…that’s a good sign! Spontaneous combustion of celluloid.

I don’t know if Spitfire is actual celluloid or if he uses a different formula. But I have a couple and they look amazing.

 

[relayer66]

What seriously?! They’re using printed tort on custom shops?!

I’m not 100% sure it’s printed, but it sure looks like it. Besides the aging it doesn’t look much different from what comes on regular Fenders.

it looks pretty much like the one on top in your original pic.

 

[96tbird]

Almost all tort these days is printed vinyl. Even my custom shop came with that.

If you want the real deal that emulates vintage celluloid, Spitfire is the way to go. But you’ll def pay for it (and wait for it).

I’m not 100% sure it’s printed, but it sure looks like it. Besides the aging it doesn’t look much different from what comes on regular Fenders.

it looks pretty much like the one on top in your original pic.

 

[relayer66]

Judge my CS tort for yourselves.

It’s crying for some Spitfire, isn’t it? Shedding an ocean of turquoise metallic tears.

 

[Lujon]

Judge my CS tort for yourselves.View attachment 4376076It’s crying for some Spitfire, isn’t it? Shedding an ocean of turquoise metallic tears.

I don’t know, personally I think that looks pretty darn good!

 

[ShawnG]

I don’t know, personally I think that looks pretty darn good!

I think a lot of the printed ones look ok in pictures. But my experience was that in person, what looked good in a photo looked “lifeless” in my hands.