franzbassist Posted February 20, 2014 Posted February 20, 2014 (edited) My 1970 fretless P had the most beautiful tortoiseshell scratchplate on it, whereas the one on my new Tony Franklin looks like a pretty average facsimilie. 1970 P 2012 Tony Franklin Why aren't they the same? I assume it's something to do with the material they are made out of now? Cheers Gareth Edited February 20, 2014 by walbassist Quote
paul_5 Posted February 20, 2014 Posted February 20, 2014 I know! I mean it's a tortoise. It's not like trying to catch gamefish is it? Quote
gary mac Posted February 20, 2014 Posted February 20, 2014 [quote name='paul_5' timestamp='1392921091' post='2374272'] I know! I mean it's a tortoise. It's not like trying to catch gamefish is it? [/quote] Quote
Chiliwailer Posted February 20, 2014 Posted February 20, 2014 (edited) The Bass Doc has the best t/shell I've seen in modern times. Lovely nitro and awesome value. Someone should tell Fender Custom Shop... Edited February 20, 2014 by Chiliwailer Quote
theyellowcar Posted February 20, 2014 Posted February 20, 2014 [quote name='Chiliwailer' timestamp='1392921762' post='2374287'] The Bass Doc has the best t/shell I've seen in modern times. Lovely nitro and awesome value. Someone should tell Fender Custom Shop... [/quote] I have one of these in production with Howard as we speak - excited doesn't quite cover it! Quote
Shaggy Posted February 20, 2014 Posted February 20, 2014 I think Howard gets his p/guard sheet from WD Music, and that's certainly where I've had the most authentic "vintage" pick guards from for my Rics and Fenders As far as I know the nice old ones are nitrocellulose but the modern ones are acrylic (expect I'll be corrected!) only drawback with the nitro ones is they tend to gradually shrink and get brittle with age Quote
Beer of the Bass Posted February 20, 2014 Posted February 20, 2014 I had a WD music tort scratchplate, and it was pretty nice. It had some decent depth and swirl to it, though less than your original example. It smelled like the old-fashioned celluloid plastic, (smells like Vicks Vaporub!) but I suspect that's just the top layer. Quote
EssentialTension Posted February 20, 2014 Posted February 20, 2014 From what I can see in those pics the TF wins. Quote
Lozz196 Posted February 20, 2014 Posted February 20, 2014 [quote name='Chiliwailer' timestamp='1392921762' post='2374287'] The Bass Doc has the best t/shell I've seen in modern times. Lovely nitro and awesome value. Someone should tell Fender Custom Shop... [/quote] [quote name='theyellowcar' timestamp='1392922709' post='2374317'] I have one of these in production with Howard as we speak - excited doesn't quite cover it! [/quote] Me too. Quote
wateroftyne Posted February 20, 2014 Posted February 20, 2014 There's a depth and a complexity to the old stuff you just don't get with the modern printed stuff. Quote
GreeneKing Posted February 20, 2014 Posted February 20, 2014 [quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1392939759' post='2374612'] Me too. [/quote] And me Quote
Bassman Steve Posted February 21, 2014 Posted February 21, 2014 I know exactly what you mean. I don't understand why modern tort plates are so dreadful. The Bass Doc is your man though. He does source from WD and the results look like this. Two Bass Doc torts and an original 1971 side by side. [attachment=155766:DSCN0182.JPG] Quote
Happy Jack Posted February 21, 2014 Posted February 21, 2014 The tort crops of the late 60s and early 70s were particularly fine, but the pick-weevil infestations of the late 70s did serious damage and many tort growers were forced to switch to a carbon fibre crop. By 1982 the first attempts at genetically-modified strains of tort were appearing but this generated great controversy, especially since these torts had a tendency to react badly with the epoxy resin used in poor-quality Jaco rip-offs, leading to spontaneous jazz. It is only in recent years that cross-breeding with Galapagos Sprinters has managed to exclude 'the Paisley tendency' in modern tort. Quote
franzbassist Posted February 21, 2014 Author Posted February 21, 2014 [quote name='Bassman Steve' timestamp='1392975180' post='2374741'] I know exactly what you mean. I don't understand why modern tort plates are so dreadful. The Bass Doc is your man though. He does source from WD and the results look like this. Two Bass Doc torts and an original 1971 side by side. [attachment=155766:DSCN0182.JPG] [/quote] I would like to see this picture as a larger file, to really check out the detail. Quote
tony_m Posted February 21, 2014 Posted February 21, 2014 [quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1392975782' post='2374749'] The tort crops of the late 60s and early 70s were particularly fine, but the pick-weevil infestations of the late 70s did serious damage and many tort growers were forced to switch to a carbon fibre crop. By 1982 the first attempts at genetically-modified strains of tort were appearing but this generated great controversy, especially since these torts had a tendency to react badly with the epoxy resin used in poor-quality Jaco rip-offs, leading to spontaneous jazz. It is only in recent years that cross-breeding with Galapagos Sprinters has managed to exclude 'the Paisley tendency' in modern tort. [/quote] Alternatively, now available in handy-sized packs at your local supermarket (possibly)... [url="http://s11.photobucket.com/user/tonyonespeed/media/Tortloaf.jpg.html"][/url] Quote
Thunderbird Posted February 21, 2014 Posted February 21, 2014 I thought all tort was pretty much the same shows how much I know Quote
GreeneKing Posted February 21, 2014 Posted February 21, 2014 [quote name='Thunderbird' timestamp='1392978706' post='2374801'] I thought all tort was pretty much the same shows how much I know [/quote] Nope some is pure tort and other pure torture Quote
Bassman Steve Posted February 21, 2014 Posted February 21, 2014 [quote name='walbassist' timestamp='1392976366' post='2374761'] I would like to see this picture as a larger file, to really check out the detail. [/quote] If you pm me your email address I'll send it to you. The original bass is on the left. Quote
Bolo Posted February 21, 2014 Posted February 21, 2014 [quote name='tony_m' timestamp='1392977952' post='2374786'] Alternatively, now available in handy-sized packs at your local supermarket (possibly)... [url="http://s11.photobucket.com/user/tonyonespeed/media/Tortloaf.jpg.html"][/url] [/quote] Salami pickguard! Brill! Quote
JapanAxe Posted February 21, 2014 Posted February 21, 2014 Given that it is all tortoiseshell [i]effect[/i] plastic, surely it can't be that difficult to make it look nice? (IMO only torty on cream/white looks good, whereas torty on sunburst/red/black = meh) Quote
wateroftyne Posted February 21, 2014 Posted February 21, 2014 I'd also like to +1 th Bass Doc's tort guards. He gets closer than any that I've seen, and are enough to fool anyone who isn't a sad anorak. Quote
karlfer Posted February 22, 2014 Posted February 22, 2014 [quote name='theyellowcar' timestamp='1392922709' post='2374317'] I have one of these in production with Howard as we speak - excited doesn't quite cover it! [/quote] And me Quote
wateroftyne Posted February 22, 2014 Posted February 22, 2014 Here's a (very complicated!) tort guard the Doc created for my Rosoce Beck. It's light-years better than the super-sharp pepperoni you usually get. Quote
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