Tortoiseshell pickguards? (Bass and Guitars)?
11th November 2008
Are the tortoiseshell pickguards that are usually on the vintage basses actually made from tortoiseshells like the old Dunlop picks were?
On guitars made before about 1940 yes, they really made the pick guard from tortoise shell. This only applies to acoustic guitars though. I'm not aware of ANY guitar made after that where genuine tortoise shell is used. From about 1950 on they are all made from cellulose. It looks the same and costs about 1/10 as much to make.
February 9th, 2007 at 5:04 am
On guitars made before about 1940 yes, they really made the pick guard from tortoise shell. This only applies to acoustic guitars though. I'm not aware of ANY guitar made after that where genuine tortoise shell is used. From about 1950 on they are all made from cellulose. It looks the same and costs about 1/10 as much to make.
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