Beer of the Bass Posted November 25, 2017 Share Posted November 25, 2017 21 minutes ago, FinnDave said: Looking at WD's main site, it seems they do very similar 'plates in celluloid and vinyl, so I'll need to take mine off and check the part number to be sure. The bass is packed ready for tonight's gig, so it'll have to wait until tomorrow now. Have a good sniff of it - celluloid smells like Vick's Vapourub. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted November 25, 2017 Share Posted November 25, 2017 Doesn't smell of anything, so must be the vinyl version. Interestingly (perhaps!) they are both the same price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted November 25, 2017 Share Posted November 25, 2017 Mr. Impatience here just dragged the Jazz out of the pile of stuff ready for tonight, removed the scratch plate in order to see the part number and guess what?? No bloody part number on it! Oh well. It looks nicer than any of the Fender tort guards I've got, but I still don't know whether I can get better. It doesn't have any trace of an aroma about it, but neither does my cellulose finished jazz (the other one, not the one with this plate on it) now it's a few years old. I think I need to find something less trivial to occupy my brain cell! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted November 25, 2017 Share Posted November 25, 2017 This brings a whole new dimension to scratch'n'sniff ... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlfer Posted November 25, 2017 Share Posted November 25, 2017 8 hours ago, discreet said: Thanks, Karl! A quick google finds something similar, acrylic drip painting opens a world of possibilities as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted November 25, 2017 Share Posted November 25, 2017 1 hour ago, karlfer said: A quick google finds something similar, acrylic drip painting opens a world of possibilities as well Thanks for that Karl, very interesting... I'm assuming the Spitfire tort is some kind of poured resin, but I've no idea how it's done. There seems to be little information available. You can buy this stuff in sheets from Rothko and Frost, but as they say, the overall effect is dependent on what colour base you stick it to. Seems a little too expensive to buy just for experimental purposes, though. http://www.rothkoandfrost.com/cellulose-nitrate-celluloid-sheet-tortoiseshell-vintage-430-x-290-x-2mm/ Bugger it, now I'll have to find out how to make celluloud tort pickguards. As if I didn't have enough to do! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted November 26, 2017 Share Posted November 26, 2017 10 hours ago, discreet said: You can buy this stuff in sheets from Rothko and Frost, but as they say, the overall effect is dependent on what colour base you stick it to. Seems a little too expensive to buy just for experimental purposes, though. http://www.rothkoandfrost.com/cellulose-nitrate-celluloid-sheet-tortoiseshell-vintage-430-x-290-x-2mm/ That stuff looks a bit like regular modern-day pepperoni..? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted November 27, 2017 Share Posted November 27, 2017 On 26/11/2017 at 07:10, wateroftyne said: That stuff looks a bit like regular modern-day pepperoni..? Not ideal, I'll grant you. But it IS celluloid... it's a translucent top layer, so whether you used it with a black or white base guard would have a huge impact on the final appearance, I'm guessing. But the whole tort thing is such a pain in the bum, I'm tending towards mint or parchment for a vintage-type look. Depending on what colour the bass is, of course. Black always looks great for a 70s vibe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grahambythesea Posted November 27, 2017 Share Posted November 27, 2017 I may be wrong with my memory but I seem to recall my brothers 50's made Precision with a tort pick guard had a metal (aluminium?) backing. Was this the secret of good looking tort guards? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted November 27, 2017 Share Posted November 27, 2017 3 minutes ago, Grahambythesea said: I may be wrong with my memory but I seem to recall my brothers 50's made Precision with a tort pick guard... I may be wrong too, but I'm pretty sure there were no tort guards until 1960. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted November 27, 2017 Share Posted November 27, 2017 Surely if the early ones had a metal backing plate, they wouldn't crack or warp as they do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted November 27, 2017 Share Posted November 27, 2017 8 minutes ago, FinnDave said: Surely if the early ones had a metal backing plate, they wouldn't crack or warp as they do? I believe I've seen pics of the celluloid shrinking and exposing the backing plate, but I believe a lot of things... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiliwailer Posted November 27, 2017 Share Posted November 27, 2017 21 minutes ago, FinnDave said: Surely if the early ones had a metal backing plate, they wouldn't crack or warp as they do? Indeed they do, very temperamental material. Plus they also go up in flames if you leave them near heat - like too close to a lamp, this happened to a good pal of mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiliwailer Posted November 27, 2017 Share Posted November 27, 2017 1 hour ago, discreet said: I may be wrong too, but I'm pretty sure there were no tort guards until 1960. 1959, but what’s in a year? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted November 27, 2017 Share Posted November 27, 2017 (edited) 17 minutes ago, discreet said: I believe I've seen pics of the celluloid shrinking and exposing the backing plate, but I believe a lot of things... I disbelieve in a lot of things, including things I am certain I have seen. It was ten years after the event that I was finally convinced that the amazing laser show during the Here & Now set at Deeply Vale in the late 70s was invisible to anyone except me. Probably something I ate. Might have slipped off topic there...anyway, I'm collecting one of my Precisions from the guitar chap in Oxford tomorrow, I'll ask him about the celluloid tort guards he makes. If they look any good, I've half a mind to try one after the Christmas drain on my wallet is over. (To be fair, having had a mind means I will, 'coz that's all I've got!) Edited November 27, 2017 by FinnDave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted November 27, 2017 Share Posted November 27, 2017 1 hour ago, FinnDave said: ...I'll ask him about the celluloid tort guards he makes. If they look any good, I've half a mind to try one... Take pics! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted November 27, 2017 Share Posted November 27, 2017 46 minutes ago, discreet said: Take pics! Will do if I get a chance. Seeing him at one pm tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grahambythesea Posted November 28, 2017 Share Posted November 28, 2017 It was a long time ago, he bought it mid 60's 2nd hand so I thought it was late 50's like the one below for sale on Reverb for £11000! I bet he wished he kept it, I think he sold it for £75. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgehouse Posted November 28, 2017 Share Posted November 28, 2017 £11k? Seems a bit steep that! Have they gone up that much?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted November 28, 2017 Share Posted November 28, 2017 1 minute ago, Bridgehouse said: £11k? Seems a bit steep that! Have they gone up that much?? You can pay that for a good original example that's pre-57, I believe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgehouse Posted November 28, 2017 Share Posted November 28, 2017 1 hour ago, discreet said: You can pay that for a good original example that's pre-57, I believe. True. But not for a tort guard model tho Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted November 28, 2017 Share Posted November 28, 2017 (edited) 3 minutes ago, Bridgehouse said: True. But not for a tort guard model tho Well there's this... http://www.andybaxterbass.com/details.php?id=1326 But AB's prices can usually be improved upon with a bit of effort and research. Edited November 28, 2017 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted November 28, 2017 Share Posted November 28, 2017 11 minutes ago, discreet said: Well there's this... http://www.andybaxterbass.com/details.php?id=1326 But AB's prices can usually be improved upon with a bit of effort and research. Damn. Just perfect! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FinnDave Posted November 28, 2017 Share Posted November 28, 2017 23 hours ago, discreet said: Take pics! He didn't have any with him when we met today. He buys the sheets of celluloid tort from WD though, so his are very similar to the ready made one WD makes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgehouse Posted November 28, 2017 Share Posted November 28, 2017 25 minutes ago, discreet said: Well there's this... http://www.andybaxterbass.com/details.php?id=1326 But AB's prices can usually be improved upon with a bit of effort and research. Looks like they have gone up then.....! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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