100% Celluloid (Cellulose Nitrate) red tortoise pattern pickguard material sheet

Here is the REAL DEAL tortoise shell pattern celluloid sheet material for pickguards (or inlays I suppose). 100% Celluloid (cellulose nitrate). I’ve been keeping the real stuff on hand for pickguards on my guitar builds. But with this tortoise now on so many of my guitars, I’m using some different tort colors/patterns now for variety’s sake and letting the rest of this go.

This size sheet is big enough for 2 Tele, Strat, or Jazz Bass pickguards, or 1 P-Bass guard. It’s a beautiful vintage deep red, but as you can see the color changes depending on the background or where the light source is. This in not multi ply with a thin layer of celluloid and 3 sheets of cheap PVC - the whole thing is Celluloid, and it’s thick enough for pickguards on its own.

The sheet(s) - I have a few of them left - measure 17.5” x 11.5” x 0.8”. It is hard to find in this thickness (2mm as opposed to 0.46mm, 0.71mm, 1.0mm etc), but it is the perfect thickness.

Thick enough you can use it by itself, or on guards where you want a white beveled edge, you can glue it to white or cream celluloid sheet (.7 - 1.0mm thick) and have a standard thickness guard (2.7 - 3mm). I’ve done it both ways to great result. Or you could glue to PVC, I just don’t like that as much personally so I never tried.

If you haven’t used this stuff, all the “mill finished” celluloid sheets have scratches and some can have slight bowing. I didn’t see much if any bowing on our sheets. But there is scratching as you can see captured in the last photo. You just buff out the rest. I was wary of the mill finish at first, but mine all came out perfect when they were done.

This stuff cuts easily with scroll saw, mill, steel-rule die or laser, and glues with Binding Cement, double-sided adhesive, or acetone. Scratches can be removed by buffing with a white wheel, such as found on a drill or a polishing machine, and then finishing up by hand with auto wax. If there is any bowing or bending, it can be remedied with gentle heat and applying some weight. CAUTION: Celluloid is flammable!

Once it’s finished and polished to a fine luster, it looks amazing and well worth the trouble. There is no substitute ;)

Thanks for your interest.