'51 Tele P influenced 4-string - black or tort pickguard?

[SkuttleFunk]

so what do you think works better on this antique white body with Maple/Birdseye neck - black or this cool brownish tort?

Black (sorry about the flash glare)

Brownish tort

I keep flip flopping between the vintage look and something more stylishly modern. I have a black on order, but I'm not against keeping it for stock and ordering a tort pickguard instead

I'll have this wrapped up as soon as W's '51 Tele P control plates are back in stock next month


thanks for your input!

all the best,

R

 

[guitlouie]

I've said it before, I'll say it again.....I love the Tortoise.  In this case in particular, I think it is way cooler than boring old black.  Yeah black is more vintage, but you build custom basses, not vintage ones!!!

 

[jackthehack]

Black would look mo' vintage, but tort looks mo' better...

 

[Mor Paul]

Tort. If it was butterscotch, I'd definitely say black.

 

[RLW]

Anodized gold. But of the two choices, tortoise.

 

[willyk]

Anodized gold. But of the two choices, tortoise.

+1 :icon_thumright:

 

[Nando Vallart]

Tortoise! Nice birds on the neck! :icon_thumright:

 

[SkuttleFunk]

thanks for all the feedback so far, and for confirming that the tort is the way to go. looks like I'll be ordering a tort guard here when the '51 Tele P control plates are back in stock

I had considered a gold annodized pickguard, but I don't know of a source that makes them in the '51P style let alone one in '51P plus a radiused heel type neck pocket. since I made this an extended 21-fret fretboard I'm sure the square heel of a vintage '51P guard would be well hidden, but there's still the issue of finding a '51P pickguard in a gold annodized finish

all the best,

R

 

[jackthehack]

thanks for all the feedback so far, and for confirming that the tort is the way to go. looks like I'll be ordering a tort guard here when the '51 Tele P control plates are back in stock

I had considered a gold annodized pickguard, but I don't know of a source that makes them in the '51P style let alone one in '51P plus a radiused heel type neck pocket. since I made this an extended 21-fret fretboard I'm sure the square heel of a vintage '51P guard would be well hidden, but there's still the issue of finding a '51P pickguard in a gold annodized finish

all the best,

R

You might check with WDMusic, they do custom pickguards to order from your tracing, which is where I got that custom pickguard made for my '64 Melody Maker.