pickguard disparity tortoise/solid

[pantherq]

Friends,
It seems like there is a big disparity in quality and consistency of pickguards when you get away from solid colors without getting a custom shop retro nitro cellulose. That is, I see tortoise pickguards on your site, but most of your guitars have solid color pickguards. For example, some of the tortoise you see in a music stores looks really cheap/cheesy and web threads say it has to do with how they do tortoise these days. Outside of aesthetic decisions, is it just easier/more consistent to get good looking pickguards in solid colors with modern materials?

thanks,

PantherQ

[Rich]

We cut our own pickguards here from raw stock. There isn't a disparity of color or consistency, it is more a matter of personal preference. Old school materials are very costly, and have a tendency to shrink/warp/lose their shape over time. Modern materials have a different look to them, but are a better, more stable material as far as function over time. Colors are chosen by individuals, some folks like tortoise, some don't. It takes deeper pockets to make them from celluloid.