Where has all the decent tortoiseshell gone?

[Zenitram]

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Whoever that person is, they've got a great way with words:[/font]

[font=georgia,serif][b]THE QUEST[/b][/font]
[font=georgia,serif]That discovery led me on a search to find a modern pickguard with the same captivating craftsmanship—a search that led to dead end after dead end. I couldn’t find a single pickguard available today that resembled the quality of the original from the 60s. I realized that if I wanted to possess this art ablaze, I had to harness the elusive flames myself.[/font]
[font=georgia,serif]So I began researching how I could resurrect the exotic fiery relic. My determination began a years-long exploration. I never had a taste for chemistry in school, but passion drove me. I searched for the perfect compounds—some highly toxic. I experimented with admixtures, I tested materials, and sometimes at my own peril: blisters, blood and chemical burns challenged my resolve. But I should have known that when I attempted to tame the inferno it would bite. So I shifted tactics and continued my endeavor with greater respect for my newfound craft.[/font]
[font=georgia,serif]Then it happened: after many years, like a billowing explosion captured and frozen in time, [i][b]Spitfire[/b][/i] Vintage Tortoiseshell pickguards were born.[/font]

Hell yes! And it's all about Jesus, which is ace. Fire, brimstone, tortoiseshell, Jesus, it's fantastic.

[Zenitram]

And I'm not taking the piss.

[Spitfire7]

Alright Im in. Hey guys. I am Spitfire aka Mark and yeah like you may have heard, its is true I am much like you guys on the quest to finding that holy grail tortoiseshell. Well let me just say I search high and low all across the world and its doesn't exist anymore.... until now!!! As the "About me" article that Zenitam posted, I have composed my own material and have recreated the vintage looking soft, smokey, sometimes fiery, vintage burgundy tortoiseshell material. I am currently in the works right now on getting templates for Jazz bass and P bass made. Hopesully it wont be much longer. Please feel free to check out more of what I do on my website here http://spitfiretortoiseshellpickguards.wordpress.com/pictures-and-styles/

I can do just about any style you like within reason. Looking at the gallery on my site you will see that I am not lying when I say I can do just about any style you like. Thank you for welcoming me over into the bass world. This is a new things within the last 2 years and I pretty much have the Jazzmaster and Jaguar market and expanding over to you guys. I have a list I can put you on and as soon as my templates are ready I can contact you. If you would like to be on that waiting list, just PM me. If you have any questions or would like to see pictures, just let me know. Here are a few pictures just to give you an idea of what I have created so far. These were all custom made and exactly what the customer requested. I can get about 75% close to any picture you send.


[URL=http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/IMAG3704_zpsbed0f898.jpg.html][IMG]http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac50/Spitfire57/IMAG3704_zpsbed0f898.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/IMAG3748_zps30f9bb8c.jpg.html][IMG]http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac50/Spitfire57/IMAG3748_zps30f9bb8c.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/IMAG3687_zps2c53bf7b.jpg.html][IMG]http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac50/Spitfire57/IMAG3687_zps2c53bf7b.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/IMAG3646_zps9847bf0a.jpg.html][IMG]http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac50/Spitfire57/IMAG3646_zps9847bf0a.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/IMAG3641_zpsafe782b0.jpg.html][IMG]http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac50/Spitfire57/IMAG3641_zpsafe782b0.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/IMAG3615_zps2d9e0865.jpg.html][IMG]http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac50/Spitfire57/IMAG3615_zps2d9e0865.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/IMAG3555_zps78616dff.jpg.html][IMG]http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac50/Spitfire57/IMAG3555_zps78616dff.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/IMAG3541_zpsa18e918a.jpg.html][IMG]http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac50/Spitfire57/IMAG3541_zpsa18e918a.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/IMAG3463_zps5b5e4257.jpg.html][IMG]http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac50/Spitfire57/IMAG3463_zps5b5e4257.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/IMAG3441_zps38950b5c.jpg.html][IMG]http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac50/Spitfire57/IMAG3441_zps38950b5c.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/IMAG3212_zps5d7568e7.jpg.html][IMG]http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac50/Spitfire57/IMAG3212_zps5d7568e7.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/IMAG3203_zps0b72292c.jpg.html][IMG]http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac50/Spitfire57/IMAG3203_zps0b72292c.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/photo3_zps69b77e26.jpg.html][IMG]http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac50/Spitfire57/photo3_zps69b77e26.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/vd4g_zpsb42afaa3.jpg.html][IMG]http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac50/Spitfire57/vd4g_zpsb42afaa3.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/P1010017_zps586eda59.jpg.html][IMG]http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac50/Spitfire57/P1010017_zps586eda59.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/k0pi2dz_zps7b387555.jpg.html][IMG]http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac50/Spitfire57/k0pi2dz_zps7b387555.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/Hoops1_zpsf01cca91.jpg.html][IMG]http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac50/Spitfire57/Hoops1_zpsf01cca91.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/FirstonesoldLPB_zps79b6074b.jpg.html][IMG]http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac50/Spitfire57/FirstonesoldLPB_zps79b6074b.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/3f17041065ff11e3b90c1211b6281a69_8_zps96364833.jpg.html][IMG]http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac50/Spitfire57/3f17041065ff11e3b90c1211b6281a69_8_zps96364833.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/20131101_191431_zpsbf38c958.jpg.html][IMG]http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac50/Spitfire57/20131101_191431_zpsbf38c958.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/photo-5_zpsd0b1b958.jpg.html][IMG]http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac50/Spitfire57/photo-5_zpsd0b1b958.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/photo_zps8d200e29.jpg.html][IMG]http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac50/Spitfire57/photo_zps8d200e29.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/DSCF5032_zpsd8158cce.jpg.html][IMG]http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac50/Spitfire57/DSCF5032_zpsd8158cce.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/DSCF5012Medium_zps06fbbcbc.jpg.html][IMG]http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac50/Spitfire57/DSCF5012Medium_zps06fbbcbc.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/DSCF5008Medium_zps8d30b9a3.jpg.html][IMG]http://i884.photobucket.com/albums/ac50/Spitfire57/DSCF5008Medium_zps8d30b9a3.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

How about one of those on your P or J bass huh?

[Zenitram]

You, sir, are an artist, a craftsman, a scholar, a visionary, the genuine article, a defender of the faith, a protector of the heritage of the tortoishell truth and dreams that are found within us all, and I salute you most humbly and most admiringly, from the geniune bottom of my poor sinner's ugly, debased, sickened and poorly heart.

I hereby declare my ever-lasting love and abiding devotion to you and your incredible wondrous delirious fantastical groovy-ass tortoiseshell acts of God.

I will be in touch. In the meantime, enjoy the praise and acknowledgement your artistry is bound to cause here on these shores. What you do is beautiful. Thank you.

Edited March 2, 2014 by Zenitram

[Zenitram]

No, really. Come on guys, Look at those photos. Wow. Seriously.

[Zenitram]

I was a bit drunk last night. But still. Wow.

[Noisyjon]

[quote name='Spitfire7' timestamp='1393726617' post='2383824']
...How about one of those on your P or J bass huh?
[/quote]

Mark,
If the 10 hole P bass is possible then at some point I am thinking about going from this:


To this (not my bass or pic):

[wateroftyne]

[quote name='Spitfire7' timestamp='1393726617' post='2383824']
Alright Im in. Hey guys. I am Spitfire aka Mark and yeah like you may have heard, its is true I am much like you guys on the quest to finding that holy grail tortoiseshell. Well let me just say I search high and low all across the world and its doesn't exist anymore.... until now!!! As the "About me" article that Zenitam posted, I have composed my own material and have recreated the vintage looking soft, smokey, sometimes fiery, vintage burgundy tortoiseshell material. I am currently in the works right now on getting templates for Jazz bass and P bass made. Hopesully it wont be much longer. Please feel free to check out more of what I do on my website here [url="http://spitfiretortoiseshellpickguards.wordpress.com/pictures-and-styles/"]http://spitfiretorto...res-and-styles/[/url]

I can do just about any style you like within reason. Looking at the gallery on my site you will see that I am not lying when I say I can do just about any style you like. Thank you for welcoming me over into the bass world. This is a new things within the last 2 years and I pretty much have the Jazzmaster and Jaguar market and expanding over to you guys. I have a list I can put you on and as soon as my templates are ready I can contact you. If you would like to be on that waiting list, just PM me. If you have any questions or would like to see pictures, just let me know. Here are a few pictures just to give you an idea of what I have created so far. These were all custom made and exactly what the customer requested. I can get about 75% close to any picture you send.


[url="http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/IMAG3704_zpsbed0f898.jpg.html"][/url]
[url="http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/IMAG3748_zps30f9bb8c.jpg.html"][/url]
[url="http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/IMAG3687_zps2c53bf7b.jpg.html"][/url]
[url="http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/IMAG3646_zps9847bf0a.jpg.html"][/url]
[url="http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/IMAG3641_zpsafe782b0.jpg.html"][/url]
[url="http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/IMAG3615_zps2d9e0865.jpg.html"][/url]
[url="http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/IMAG3555_zps78616dff.jpg.html"][/url]
[url="http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/IMAG3541_zpsa18e918a.jpg.html"][/url]
[url="http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/IMAG3463_zps5b5e4257.jpg.html"][/url]
[url="http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/IMAG3441_zps38950b5c.jpg.html"][/url]
[url="http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/IMAG3212_zps5d7568e7.jpg.html"][/url]
[url="http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/IMAG3203_zps0b72292c.jpg.html"][/url]
[url="http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/photo3_zps69b77e26.jpg.html"][/url]
[url="http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/vd4g_zpsb42afaa3.jpg.html"][/url]
[url="http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/P1010017_zps586eda59.jpg.html"][/url]
[url="http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/k0pi2dz_zps7b387555.jpg.html"][/url]
[url="http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/Hoops1_zpsf01cca91.jpg.html"][/url]
[url="http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/FirstonesoldLPB_zps79b6074b.jpg.html"][/url]
[url="http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/3f17041065ff11e3b90c1211b6281a69_8_zps96364833.jpg.html"][/url]
[url="http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/20131101_191431_zpsbf38c958.jpg.html"][/url]
[url="http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/photo-5_zpsd0b1b958.jpg.html"][/url]
[url="http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/photo_zps8d200e29.jpg.html"][/url]
[url="http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/DSCF5032_zpsd8158cce.jpg.html"][/url]
[url="http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/DSCF5012Medium_zps06fbbcbc.jpg.html"][/url]
[url="http://s884.photobucket.com/user/Spitfire57/media/DSCF5008Medium_zps8d30b9a3.jpg.html"][/url]

How about one of those on your P or J bass huh?
[/quote]

That is bloody lovely.

Get a move on with the P guard... I might be about to have my '71 refinned, and it's new colour depends on whether or not I can get a decent tort guard.

[Roland Rock]

[quote name='Zenitram' timestamp='1393756697' post='2383959']
I was a bit drunk last night. But still. Wow.
[/quote]

:-D
Excellent

I'm not really a fan of tort, but I'm loving those examples too - like three dimensional burning embers - smokin'!

[JTUK]

[quote name='Noisyjon' timestamp='1393582690' post='2382144']
Any good closeup pics we could see please JTUK?
[/quote]

I don't have any to hand.... but that reminds me that I should get these things sorted.
Martin Sims did actually say that good tort was very hard to come by these days and
I was lucky with the batch he had. As a blank plate, it looked a brown burgundy colour
which I really wasn't sure of... much like some of the pics of blanks that Spitfire posts
but when I saw it on the bass in context, it was great.
If you know of the general level a supplier works at, their advice may well be more informed
that 'yours' as was the case when I got mine made.

As an aside, he also looked at the general finish of a bass that they work on and finish,
and he did say...'that didn't come out of my shop'... it looked fine to me..and I am pretty picky,
but in this case, I am obviously not looking at the right thing...

You will see the blanks before you get them cut, wont you?

[Noisyjon]

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1393839969' post='2384759']
...You will see the blanks before you get them cut, wont you?
[/quote]

If possible, yes.
Hopefully Spitfire7 will get some pics of his P & J bass examples up once they're made for us to see too.

[Happy Jack]

I don't normally wax lyrical about tortoiseshell pickguards, but for this sort of quality and impact I'm prepared to make an exception.

[Spitfire7]

I just received a few PBass guards in the mail and I will try to cut a temporary template today and see how it works. Will let you guys know.

[Clarky]

Here is where all the tortoiseshell has gone http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Custom-Fender-Precision-Bass-1979-USA-Olympic-White-Hard-case-P-X-Jazz-/181339280962?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item2a38a9d642

[Spitfire7]

So I made a PBass template, but Im having trouble cutting the pickup routs. Is anyone proficient with routing and cutting pickguards? Lets talk. PM me.

[Noisyjon]

[quote name='Clarky' timestamp='1394049171' post='2387436']
Here is where all the tortoiseshell has gone [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Custom-Fender-Precision-Bass-1979-USA-Olympic-White-Hard-case-P-X-Jazz-/181339280962?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item2a38a9d642"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item2a38a9d642[/url]
[/quote]

Flippin' 'eck

[theyellowcar]

Here's some more of Howard's phenomenal handy work in the flesh (apologies for the sideways picture) my bass has honestly never looked better.

[karlfer]

Was hoping mine would arrive yesterday. Photo up when it does.

[bonnp]

old looks best, had a red tort of ebay and it split

[Jono Bolton]

This is my Bass Doc tort scratchplate. Looks a lot redder in the pic than it is in real life.

[RandomBass]

Built-in control cavity. All I need is a mighty-mite neck, some hardware and pickups. Job's a good'n.

[Lozz196]

Just received my Bass Doc tort pickguard - need to fit it now.

[karlfer]

This is from The Bass Doc's value range. Superb again Howard, cheers boss.
[URL=http://s1354.photobucket.com/user/Karl_Altdorfer/media/DSCF0470_zps416ee3bc.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q693/Karl_Altdorfer/DSCF0470_zps416ee3bc.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://s1354.photobucket.com/user/Karl_Altdorfer/media/DSCF0469_zpsd8bab225.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q693/Karl_Altdorfer/DSCF0469_zpsd8bab225.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[theyellowcar]

[quote name='karlfer' timestamp='1394481014' post='2391835']
This is from The Bass Doc's value range. Superb again Howard, cheers boss.
[URL=http://s1354.photobucket.com/user/Karl_Altdorfer/media/DSCF0470_zps416ee3bc.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q693/Karl_Altdorfer/DSCF0470_zps416ee3bc.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[URL=http://s1354.photobucket.com/user/Karl_Altdorfer/media/DSCF0469_zpsd8bab225.jpg.html][IMG]http://i1354.photobucket.com/albums/q693/Karl_Altdorfer/DSCF0469_zpsd8bab225.jpg[/IMG][/URL]
[/quote]

Congrats Karl! Looks great!

[Lozz196]

Not `alf, those basses look great with the stock scratchplate, but that tort transforms it to a much better look.