Custom Pickguard Makers

[therealting]

Thinking of getting a nice tortoiseshell pickguard for my Super J so that my Dingwalls match.

Anyone have any recommendations for a good custom maker?

[Zenitram]

https://spitfiretortoiseshellpickguards.wordpress.com/

This chap is amazing, and he was actively posting here for a while, with a long thread about his process and whatnot, which I found fascinating. I can't find it, sadly.

[Billy Apple]

Wouldn't touch Spitfire with a barge-pole due to his appalling attitude toward customer service.

[Karl Derrick]

Jack's Instrument Service, Manchester.

http://www.jacksinstrumentservices.com/

Used Jack lots. Brilliant.

Karl

[Zenitram]

[quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1458341365' post='3006897']
Wouldn't touch Spitfire with a barge-pole due to his appalling attitude toward customer service.
[/quote]

Oh, fair enough. Never dealt with him myself.

[discreet]

[quote name='Zenitram' timestamp='1458342308' post='3006911']
Oh, fair enough. Never dealt with him myself.
[/quote]

Just for balance, I bought a Jazz guard from Spitfire and was very pleased with it. You won't get better tort anywhere, unless you buy genuine vintage.

[police squad]

[url="http://www.originalscratchplates.com"]www.originalscratchplates.com[/url] are very good and very helpful

[Billy Apple]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1458349633' post='3006938']
You won't get better tort anywhere, unless you buy genuine vintage.
[/quote]

Just can't agree with this Mark. If he gets the process right it does look good, but they are thick and solid. The properties of Spitfire guards bear no resemblance to tort at all. You're scuppered if the holes don't align and his customer service policy means you have zero options. All this plus they are probably the most expensive out there, which does not include the bonus when it arrives in the UK.

I suppose if you found one second hand, managed to get it to fit and didn't mind it standing proud of adjacent control plates you might be onto something.

[discreet]

[quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1458382161' post='3007085']
Just can't agree with this Mark...
[/quote]

I remember very well that you had problems and a run-in with the Spitfire guy, which was very unfortunate as you ended up out of pocket and not getting what you wanted - and that's not good however you look at it. All I'm saying is, he did a great job on the guard I ordered, it looked fantastic and I had no problems with him. But if anyone wants a good tort guard they should at least check out his work, if only to see what's out there.

https://spitfiretortoiseshellpickguards.wordpress.com/

[Billy Apple]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1458383287' post='3007098']
I remember very well that you had problems and a run-in with the Spitfire guy, which was very unfortunate as you ended up out of pocket and not getting what you wanted - and that's not good however you look at it. All I'm saying is, he did a great job on the guard I ordered, it looked fantastic and I had no problems with him. But if anyone wants a good tort guard they should at least check out his work, if only to see what's out there.

[url="https://spitfiretortoiseshellpickguards.wordpress.com/"]https://spitfiretort....wordpress.com/[/url]
[/quote]

Fair enough. A good place to start with this guy is his disclaimer..

[url="https://spitfiretortoiseshellpickguards.wordpress.com/disclaimer/"]https://spitfiretort...com/disclaimer/[/url]

Edited March 19, 2016 by Billy Apple

[philw]

[quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1458383799' post='3007106']
Fair enough. A good place to start with this guy is his disclaimer..

[url="https://spitfiretortoiseshellpickguards.wordpress.com/disclaimer/"]https://spitfiretort...com/disclaimer/[/url]
[/quote]

Blimey! That's the kind of disclaimer that'd make me want to invite him around for dinner. Not. There's no way I'd place an order after reading that. Jeeez!

Edited March 21, 2016 by philw

[Luulox]

[quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1458383799' post='3007106']


Fair enough. A good place to start with this guy is his disclaimer..

[url="https://spitfiretortoiseshellpickguards.wordpress.com/disclaimer/"]https://spitfiretort...com/disclaimer/[/url]
[/quote]

Wow he definitely doesn't think the customer is always right! Or even sometimes right! Wonder if he gets much repeat business? He missed his vocation in pr.

[miles'tone]

[quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1458382161' post='3007085']


The properties of Spitfire guards bear no resemblance to tort at all.
[/quote]

Hi Billy. Which properties do you mean? Are they not made out of celluloid or something?
I ask as I was just thinking of placing an order. I bought a WD Music genuine celluloid tort guard for my P5 which I'm still umming about.
The Spitfire stuff does look like the proper old tort. At least on photos. What does it look like 'in the flesh'?
It is bloody pricey so it would have to be good.
I remember your probs with him too, but it does seem like we're all over a barrel in a way as nobody else is coming close. It seems, via interweb photos that is.

[John Schoen]

Pickguardian: http://www.pickguardian.com/ Very good service and the prices aren't bad either.

[ead]

I'd certainly endore Jack's Instrument Services. He just made one for me and it was excellent.

[therealting]

How have people found shipping pickguards? I'm based in London and am wary of shipping my only pickguards overseas for instance. I suppose I could do a tracing.

[discreet]

[quote name='therealting' timestamp='1459280458' post='3015129']
I suppose I could do a tracing.
[/quote]

That's the way to do it I think. Before now I've traced a guard onto a bit of card, folded it up and stuck it in the post. Worked fine.