Best tort pickguards in the UK?

jellybelly · September 2023

So I'd like a tort 'guard for my sonic blue AV65 Jaguar (see this vintage one for reference!!). Who does the best stuff without breaking the bank in the UK at the moment? Had a look at the spitfire site and while they look excellent MY GOD is that a lot of cash for a piece of plastic.

https://www.gbase.com/gear/fender-jaguar-1962-sonic-blue

Gerz6558 · September 2023

Not tried one, but pickford guards fit your brief:

https://www.pickfordguards.co.uk

Seziertisch · September 2023

Pickford Guards look to do nice and reasonably priced stuff.

Reptile Guards also seem to do good work, but are maybe a bit less traditional looking in some cases.

AvantGuard in France are also worth a look.

jellybelly · September 2023

Gerz6558 said:

Not tried one, but pickford guards fit your brief:

https://www.pickfordguards.co.uk

This is exactly what I was looking for thank you!!

stickyfiddle · September 2023

I have one from Avantguard and 2 from Lavaguards. All are excellent, and that’s comparing directly with the real mid-60s guard on my Jazzmaster.

Avantguard’s ageing is a bit better, but I think Lava has the better colours, so if you’re happy scuffing them up yourself (or want something new-looking) then Lava is the better option. You can’t really go wrong with either, mind you.

The Pickfords ones look ok but not as good as the above imo. No yellow at all in most of them, and not enough variation in the red tones.

Lava:

Avantguard:

Pre-CBS

GavRichList · September 2023

Another vote for Lava. Lava guard on the AV65 on the left, right is a genuine 1962. They’re very, very good. Mine has a light relic, even has genuine looking warps. Apparently it was the second one he ever made. (It was on the guitar when I bought it.)

jellybelly · September 2023

This is really helpful info guys.

I think I've missed a bit of history with he colours of these things though - did that change over time, or were there just some that were more red and some more brown?

The one in the link I posted in my original post is a lot more red than the ones @GavRichList has, but they seem to align with the 'genuine' one on @stickyfiddle 's ice blue JM... is that just a mid 60s thing, and they tended to be redder/plainer as you go back further?

GavRichList · September 2023

jellybelly said:

This is really helpful info guys.

I think I've missed a bit of history with he colours of these things though - did that change over time, or were there just some that were more red and some more brown?

The one in the link I posted in my original post is a lot more red than the ones @GavRichList has, but they seem to align with the 'genuine' one on @stickyfiddle 's ice blue JM... is that just a mid 60s thing, and they tended to be redder/plainer as you go back further?

The guard on the jag is original too fwiw, not a repro. 61 years old and counting. They’re hugely changeable depending on what light you catch them in.

Svartmetall · September 2023

I had (a Strat) one from Axerus a few weeks back, and it's excellent; really sound guy, too.

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Best tort pickguards in the UK?

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