Any known source of NICE tort guard material?

[NickHorne]

Does any of us know of a source of electric-guard-sized pieces of really nice-looking tort, blanks or finished guards?
I'm usually pretty allergic to plastic tort, it most often just looks like polymerised roadkill to me. And lamination with white or black doesn't appeal at all. But nice stuff, like the best kind of acoustic scratchplate, is a different thing altogether. And I remember a photo (Fender Custom Shop, I think), in which the tort had been given a metallic film backing; that looked tastefully great. I'm only looking for a fairly thin (.060?) sheet, for a Classic, where the guard doesn't have to structurally support any pups, and is just a guard.
I've found a product called Tor-Tis (I think), and some of that looks nice, but it seems to be available only in acoustic-sized blanks.
All my other searches just return invitations to import half a ton of unseen bulk mass from the far east....
But I'm sure I remember seeing some of what I'm looking for, on guitars from time to time.
Any clues, anyone?

[darwinohm]

Nick, I had a pickguard made here recentlyhttp://www.warmoth.com/Pickguard/GuitarPickguards.aspx and it was very nice with a perfect fit and they have material blanks. I would suggest that you take a look.-- Darwin

[louis cyfer]

i think the problem may be the oxymoron in the thread title.

[yowhatsshakin]

Hi Nick

Anything on the Chandlers materials page that would comply with your boundary conditions? Maybe you looked there already but nevertheless.

Hope this helps,

- Jos

[NickHorne]

Thanks to you all.

Darwin: That is nicer than what I have seen so far, good suggestion!

Louis: I usually share your opinion. I just do find some old, almost black-looking tort has a very likeable depth and richness. I remember the guard on a nice old Epiphone Rivoli (another oxymoron?) that i had in the 60's, with some affection. But I got myself a Precision as soon as I could afford one (hated the guard)...

Jos: Your link is good too! I quite like the idea of their thick black perspex. It's not deeply opaque, and thin bits are slightly translucent, so thicker sections have some of the 3-D depth that I like about about "good tort". I used some on a rebuild I did of an L6-S earlier in the year, and the edges polished up like ebony. This is now my Plan B.