Tiny Tone Scratchplate Specific Terms and Conditions

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By ordering from us (henceforth referred to as ‘TinyTone’/‘us’/‘we’/‘the company’), you (henceforth referred to as (‘you’, ‘the customer’) agree that you have read, and agree to be bound by, the terms and conditions stated in this document. Scratchplates will also be referred to as ‘guards’, ‘pickguards’ etc.

1. The Process

1.1 We offer bespoke, made to order scratchplates in a variety of materials. We do this by either:

     1.1.1 -Copying or modifying your original

     1.1.2 -Working from a template which the customer provides,

     1.1.3 -In certain circumstances, designing one freehand- should a satisfactory level of information be provided by the customer (such as a physical guitar body to work from). In such cases we will send a photo to check our design is ok, but once ok’d this design will be final.

1.2 We will make your new pickguard/s as accurately as possible from the information(text, template, drawing, new pickup to be fitted, guitar body, etc) you provide with your order. If we deem information is missing we will in most cases contact the customer and try to request it, however this is at our discretion and we reserve the right to ‘fill in the gaps’ ourselves.

1.3 We will not be held responsible for any issues with the finished guard directly caused by incomplete information or overlooked inaccuracies on a template from the customer.

1.4 The process should almost always begins with the customer filling out our quote form(as found here: https://tinytone.co.uk/custom-scratchplate-request-form/ ).

1.5 We understand the form is a hoop to jump through, but this is essential for our process as it puts all of our information in the same place, and should any confusion arise later in the process this will save time and potential confusion.

1.6 For scratchplate enquiries, the only reasons for not filling out the quote form are as follows:

      1.5.1 -Ordering a bound guard.

      1.5.2 -Quote form not working.

      1.5.3 -Enquiry regarding part of the process not outlined in this document

      1.5.4 -Enquiry regarding a specific part of the process as a stand-alone, for example just about an engraving on an existing plate or just ordering a sheet of blank material

1.7 Once we have received your quote form, one of us will get back to you with an itemised estimate as soon as possible. On this you will be able to see a breakdown of what all the different aspects of the job will cost, along with any discounts we’ve chosen to add at our discretion and if appropriate for the job.

1.8 Please study this carefully.

1.9 However be advised this is only an ‘estimate’ not a ‘quote’- the price may go up or down once we have everything here as our understanding of your requirements develops.

1.10 If you are happy with the estimate then please let us know, and send your original guard/template along with any extras to the address stated on our website, our email signature, and the estimate itself.

1.11 Once your parcel reaches us we’ll give it a good looking-over and make sure that both sides understand the job.

       1.11.1 Once we’re happy we’ll send you an invoice, which will be the final price you will pay, along with a link to pay online/details required for bank transfer.

       1.11.2 Please study this invoice carefully. We’ll use this invoice as the basis for the job sheet, so any mistakes not spotted here will become permanent!

       1.11.3 By sending payment you are confirming that the invoice is for exactly what you’ve requested- we’ll make this nice and detailed to help you make sure.

1.12 Once paid, your job will be assigned a date up to 10 working days in the future for completion. This will be the day we aim to complete the job, not a deadline for you to receive it in the post.

1.13 At this stage we ask you not to contact us asking if your guard is ready yet. We’re a small team and time spent replying to emails like this takes up valuable time that we could be spending making other people’s guards. We reserve the right not to respond to frivolous enquiries once jobs are booked in… really sorry about this but need to prioritise our time effectively!

1.14 When making your guard, we may need to contact you for further clarification about the job. While waiting for a response, your job is effectively paused and the turnaround time will be extended relative to the amount of time we spend waiting to hear back, if applicable.

1.15 Once completed, we’ll post your guard back to you along with your original if you sent one. You’ll usually receive your guard within two weeks of placing your order.

1.16 We strive to use recycled packing material where possible

1.17 Please note if your original guard has a protective layer we will have to remove this to proceed.

2. Materials

2.1 Our vast selections of materials are of high quality, we have accurately described the construction, feel and look of them. We cannot guarantee the longevity of them when they are sent out from us against warping, scratching or de-lamination. We don’t make the sheet materials ourselves, and whilst we audition and use them to the best of our availability, we are unable to know how long they will last- in particular the celluloid ones as these naturally degrade over time.

2.2 On-Website Colour depiction: Our sample photos are genuine photos of our scratchplates using our material. Our “Tile” shaped samples are up-to-date and colour matched to the real material. Painstakingly colour matched in fact (3 weeks solid of photography and editing..). Some stocks can vary depending on batches, and older photos(further back in the carusel) may not always reflect accurately our current stock. For the avoidance of doubt, please ask us before purchasing, or consider requesting a sample offcut.

2.3 Colour distortion: Please be aware that your screen will display the colours differently. If you are concerns please get in touch and we will happily send real a sample piece of the material(s) you are interested in.

2.4 Material/Colour selection must be made by the customer. We can advise on colours but take no responsibility if the final product colour is not to your liking. 

2.5 Payment of our itemised invoice confirms you are happy with the colour selection. Itemised invoice will describe the exact material name

3. Delays

3.1 Whilst we aim to complete your scratchplate within 10 working days of receipt of both your original guard/template(4 weeks for bound guards), delays can sometimes happen as a result of the following:

         3.1.1 -Unexpected surge in workload

         3.1.2 -Stock shortage (or delay in previously-ordered stock reaching us

         3.1.3 -Staff shortage(we are a small team with a big workload)

3.2 For the reasons stated in 2.1.1 through 2.1.3, our turnaround times are to be considered our targets only, and are not binding.

3.3 If you have not heard from us or received your new guard within 3 weeks of sending payment(or 6 weeks in case of bound guards, please do give us an email to check where we’re up to and reminding us of how long it’s been. In rare cases job sheets can slip through the cracks.

      3.3.1 If this has indeed happened we will of course drop everything and get your late guard made as soon as is physically possible within the confines of our working hours.

4. Accuracy

4.1 We aim to manufacture all guards to a 5% tolerance (5% of total job), which occurs as a result of us making everything by hand, the old-fashioned way. We do not make exact copies but as close as we can

      4.1.1 If there is an inaccuracy of 5% or more, upon receipt of evidence of that we’ll recut your guard at no extra charge.

4.2 Inaccuracies resulting from incomplete information, inaccurate information, or unclear lines on templates are not our responsibility.

4.3 In some cases we need to deviate from the standard. On certain bass pickguards with trussrod notches, we are unable to bevel these unless they are over a specific diameter(that our 45 degree router bit can actually fit into) and on guards with blade switches we are limited by both our materials and tooling- which means blade switches may be longer or wider than the original. If this will be an issue, please let us know before sending payment so we can try and get it right for you.

5. Damaged material

5.1 In very rare cases, our sheet material can be damaged, either through- or underneath the protective layer. Although each order is inspected prior to shipping, shipping damages can occur

5.2 Within reason we will offer a partial refund or to replace your new guard if it arrives with such damage, until you are satisfied with the outcome, in accordance with section 6 below.

5.3 Machine marks: as with any pickguard manufacturer, our pickguard will bear light tooling marks on all edges, although we make them a hell of a lot cleaner than most. This does not constitute damaged material.

6. Warranty

6.1 If you spot an issue with your guard, of any kind, we ask that you contact us to discuss this within five working days of receiving your pickguard.

6.2 After that time, we will not be held responsible for any issues, damage or inaccuracies on the guard.

  6.2.1 We will not be held responsible to any damage to guards after they have been received, ie. through improper fitting, use of inappropriate tools, or use of a body-end trussrod adjuster with the pickguard still attached.

     6.2.1.1 If your guitar/bass has a body-end adjustment, we strongly advise removing the neck when adjusting to avoid damaging the body or scratchplate- if you are not comfortable doing this, please consult a skilled guitar technician.

6.3 If you are buying your guard for a project and will not know if there are any issues for any time beyond this, we ask that you let us know- at our discretion we may choose to extend our warranty in cases like this

6.4 All warranty decisions are final.

6.5 Where applicable, refunds will be issued via direct bank transfer. We will ask for your account number and sort code to facilitate this, which you can provide either via email or telephone as preferred.

7. Loss/Damage

7.1 All items are the customer’s responsibility until they reach us. This particularly accounts for items posted in to us- anything that goes missing before it reaches our inbox is not our responsibility to replace or compensate for

7.2 We take full responsibility for customer scratchplates once they reach us here, and while posting back along with our new guards. However, in the very unlikely event where a customer’s guard is misplaced, we will offer the customer’s choice of either a refund, or a like-for-like replacement.

7.3 Whilst we take every care when cutting our templates, the fact is that sharp, whizzy implements are involved and accidents can happen and it is possible to damage the original guard on our router table.

      7.3.1 However this is VERY unlikely and incidents like this almost never happen- we’ve had one in the last five years.

      7.3.2 In fact we’re literally more likely to damage ourselves on the router than we are your guard… but the joys of writing out Ts&Cs is we have to anticipate this kind of stuff.

      7.3.3 If we do damage ourselves or lose any appendages while making your guard, we promise not to hold you responsible.

     7.3.4 If we damage your guard, for example in the extremely rare event a router bearing seizes, we’ll be happy to replace the original guard (as close as we are able with the resources in our workshop) at your request.  

7.4 We offer a fully tracked and insured Special Delivery postage service, in addition to regular 1st class postage which is neither insured nor tracked.

     7.4.1 When insuring return parcels, we do not include the value of the original guard. If you would like us to insure your original guard, please state its value and provide some evidence of this value (i.e. link to a sold listing on eBay) that we can use in the event of a claim. If you cannot provide evidence of the guard’s value, we won’t be able to guarantee any success of any claim we end up having to make, should the need arise. Sorry- these are just the hoops we need to jump through on your behalf.  

    7.4.2 A parcel will be considered missing one calendar week after Royal Mail’s longest estimated delivery/turnaround date.

   7.4.3 If a parcel deemed to be missing was sent via Special Delivery, we will make a claim for the full value of the missing pickguard as per the insurance, and should this claim be successful we will pass any monies accrued through this on to you within one working day of receipt, (less a £5 admin fee).

  7.4.4 If a parcel deemed to be missing was sent via 1st Class, there is unfortunately nothing we will be able to do to recover it. At our discretion we may offer you a discounted or free re-cut in these VERY rare events, as they are so rare. This does not include the original and is subject to template file availability.

         7.4.4.1 In events where this happens, we will not be able to replace your original guard. At our discretion however, depending on the nature/value of the original guard, we may be able to offer a replica version of the original cut from modern materials and offered at a suitable discount. Sorry again- but as our work is bespoke and time-consuming we feel this is the fairest way to distribute risk between both parties

7.5 All decisions of this type are at our discretion and will be final.

8. Standardisation

8.1 This is probably already in our FAQs (if we’ve got around to writing them yet) but either way, to reiterate:

8.2 THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A STANDARD GUARD, FOR ANY GUITAR

    8.2.1 Not even yours.

    8.2.2 Not even a ‘standard USA 8-hole Stratocaster’

    8.2.3 Nada.

    8.2.4 No guard is standard.

8.2 Please don’t assume because you own a common guitar, we will have template for it already. We have a shelf out back creaking under the weight of several hundred Stratocaster-shaped templates, many of which are from the same make/model/year.

8.3 The above is the reason we’re so insistent on having either an original or a template pickguard to work from. We offer guards to a VERY high standard of accuracy, and could not guarantee this standard by simply picking up an existing template from the top of the pile.

8.4 See 8.2 above

9. Screws and Countersinks

9.1 On rare occasions, we do forget to include screws with your guard if they were ordered. If you ordered screws and they don’t arrive with your guard, please inform us within 24 hours and we’ll get them sent out to you free of charge via first class post as soon as is possible.

9.2 When countersinking, unless otherwise specified, the depth and width of countersink are chosen by us from experience to be the best possible for your type of guitar/screw hole size.

9.3 If in doubt, we’ll countersink screw holes rather than not(particularly strat pickups and blade switches)- if your screws don’t require this, it will still function perfectly and look great.

10. Relicing

10.1 In cases of relic-ing/ageing pickguards, we have a fairly fluid set of standards for what light/heavy relic involves. We’ll do what we think looks best/authentic within the confines of your chosen style, however if you have anything particular in mind just let us know on your quote form.

11. Engraving

11.1 Engraving jobs are taken on at our discretion.

11.2 Engraving has a flat fee of £35 which can include some design work, but more advanced design/graphics work will incur a surcharge relative to the time and skill involved.

11.3 We generally require a .DXF or Vector file to proceed, conversion software and websites are available for free online- however we can help with this if needed.

11.4 When carrying out engraving, particularly of trademarked logos, we assume the customer has permission to use the designs. Any repercussions resulting from trademark infringement are thus the full responsibility of the customer and not of TinyTone, anyone it employs or any other related parties.

12. Shielding

12.1 We offer anti-hum (50/60 cycle) shielding on the backs of guards at the quote stage.

12.2 This is charged as a flat fee, regardless of how much is needed or used. 

12.3 The amount of shielding we use is down to our discretion unless otherwise specified at the quote stage by the customer. As a rule we only cover areas vulnerable to RF interference, ie those surrounding pots and switches. Any further shielding is generally considered unnecessary -but can be done at customer’s request/expense.

13. Promotions

13.1 From time to time we may run promotions, for example offering discounts on certain materials. The terms and conditions of those promotions will be outlined in full on their respective blog posts, which can be found in the ‘Blog’ section of our website.

14. Customer Guard Photos

14.1 We ask all our customers to send in pictures of our finished guards once fitted to their guitars! This is non-mandatory, but we certainly appreciate it- we put a lot of love and time into making every single guard and it always means a lot to see them out in the world.

14.2 Another reason to ask for photos is to use as part of our promotional strategy on our website and social media.

        14.2.1 By sending in your photos you’re giving us permission to use them for these purposes and post online for all to see.

        14.2.2 If you change your mind about this at any time, simply email us to say so and we’ll delete the photos from anywhere we have them saved immediately.

15. Data protection

15.1 We will NEVER, EVER, FOR ANY PRICE sell our database of customer information.

       15.1.1 Ever. For any price. It’s not for sale, and never will be.

15.2 However, if there is an overlap between the job we are doing for you and work conducted next door at Jack’s Instrument Services (for example, you’ve sent in a guitar for a new scratchplate but also a respray and a setup) we will share your contact info with JIS so they can contact you if needed to ask questions about the job.

        15.2.1 If such an overlap occurs though, we’ll be outsourcing the work to them, so you’ll only get one invoice from us(or sometimes from them) for all the work undertaken.

        15.2.2 If the above happens, we may ask for a deposit towards our portion of the work, and then the JIS portion upon completion.

16. Returns/Change of Mind

16.1 Every single guard we make is unique and made bespoke to order. Once you’ve paid your invoice, we will not issue refunds or accept returns unless it’s an issue mentioned in sections 3 or 4 above or section 6 below.

16.2 We provide a scratchplate-making service, and it is the service side of things which we are charging for. Once the service has been paid for and carried out[ie the scratchplate has been made], no refunds can be given; on the grounds that the product is totally useless to anyone other than the original purchaser. 

17. Shipping policy

 17.1 All products will be shipped out using the method described on the final invoice.

   17.1.1 If we send an item using the incorrect service(ie, UK 1st Class when Special Delivery had been paid for), the customer will be entitled to a refund amounting to the difference in price.

 17.2 We are not responsible for delays with the customer’s chosen shipping method, but outbound items lost in transit will be dealt with as per articles 7.4.1 though 7.5.

17.3 The customer will be responsible for paying ALL inbound shipping fees, including customs charges and import fees. If such charges are incurred, the appropriate costs will be added to the final invoice.

   17.3.1 The customer will be responsible for any customs fees/import charges accrued when we send the products.

  17.3.2 If we underpay for the outbound shipping itself, we will refund the customer to that amount. But again this refers to shipping fees, NOT customs/import charges.

TinyTone Pedals and Wiring Specific Terms&Conditions

By ordering from us (henceforth referred to as ‘TinyTone’/‘us’/‘we’/‘the company’), you (henceforth referred to as (‘you’, ‘the customer’) agree that you have read, and agree to be bound by, the terms and conditions stated in this document. Wiring, pedals etc will henceforth be referred to as themselves or, ‘[the] product’.

1. General

1.1 We offer made to order pedals and wiring products. These are from a set menu, but modifications can be made at the buyer’s request.

     1.1.1 Jobs involving modifications to our designs are taken on at our discretion, and within the realms of physical possibility.

     1.1.2 Not all modifications are possible with all circuits.

1.2 Pedals can be purchased from our website’s shop, Jack’s Instrument Services, eBay, and Reverb. We reserve the right to alter the places we offer our products for sale without notice.

1.3 Payments are accepted via the portal on our website, via accepted methods on other sites (ie PayPal for eBay). In some cases direct bank transfer is also acceptable.

2. Designs

2.1 Most of our designs are variants of existing circuits in the public domain.

3. Warranty

3.1 Pedals (including, but not limited to, enclosed products such as our ‘Varitone’ or ‘Mini True Bypass Looper’

      3.1.1 We offer an industry-leading three year warranty on such products- this will be 1095 days from the date of purchase.

      3.1.2 This means we will repair or replace any pedal, at no charge to the customer, which stops fully functioning during this time. The caveats for this are as follows:

               3.1.2.1 You must be the original purchaser of the pedal. If the pedal has been re-sold, we may offer to help, but are not bound to.

               3.1.2.2 The pedal must not have been modified, serviced, or interfered with in any way. If we believe beyond reasonable doubt (85% certainty) that this has occurred, we reserve the right to void the warranty on this basis.

               3.1.2.3 The warranty will be voided if we detect damage caused by water, electricity, fire, storms, acts of god, and/or inexplicable use as a suppository.

               3.1.2.4 The warranty will be applied if there is a fault in the pedal caused by workmanship, faulty components, or what we deem to be ‘reasonable wear and tear’ to the components within.

               3.1.2.5 Cosmetic damage to the pedal is at all times the customer’s responsibility and not covered here.

3.2 Wiring (including, but not limited to, products such as ‘The Dubplate’ or any pre-wired harnesses)

      3.2.1 We offer an industry-leading 6-month warranty on such products. This will be 6 calendar months from date of purchase.

      3.2.2 This means we will repair or replace any wiring product of the kind mentioned in 3.2, at no extra charge to the customer, if it stops fully functioning during this time. The caveats for this are as follows:

               3.2.2.1 You must be the original purchaser of the product. If the product has been re-sold, we may offer to help, but are not bound to.

               3.1.2.2 The product must not have been modified, serviced, or interfered with in any way. If we believe beyond reasonable doubt (85% certainty) that this has occurred, we reserve the right to void the warranty on this basis.

               3.1.2.3 By purchasing our product you confirm the basic level of literacy and technical knowledge required to follow the comprehensive instructions included with each product.

                          3.1.2.3.1 The warranty will be voided if it is damaged as a result of improper installation. If you are in any doubt, please contact us for support as outlined in section 4.

               3.1.2.4 The warranty will be voided if we detect damage caused by water, electricity, fire, storms, acts of god, and/or inexplicable and uncomfortable use as a suppository.

               3.1.2.5 The warranty will be applied if there is a fault in the product caused by our workmanship, faulty components, or what we deem to be ‘reasonable wear and tear’ to the components within.

               3.1.2.6 Cosmetic damage to the product is at all times the customer’s responsibility and not covered here.

4. Support

4.1 We’re here to help! We provide detailed instruction with all of our products. If you do not find these detailed enough, or need extra help installing/using them, please feel free to contact us.

4.2 If contacted for assistance we will get back to you within 5 working days and help as best we can. Our products are designed to be user-friendly but within reason we’ll do what we can to help you get set up!

5. Promotions

5.1 From time to time we may run promotions, for example offering discounts on certain products. The terms and conditions of those promotions will be outlined in full on their respective blog posts, which can be found in the ‘Blog’ section of our website.

6. Product Specifications.

6.1 Our product specifications and exact parts used may change without notice. We will only ever change to things with the same effect on the circuit or better.

7. Data protection

7.1 We will NEVER, EVER, FOR ANY PRICE sell our database of customer information.

       7.1.1 Ever. For any price. It’s not for sale, and never will be.

7.2 However, if there is an overlap between the job we are doing for you and work conducted next door at Jack’s Instrument Services (for example, you’ve sent in a guitar for a new wiring loom but also a respray and a setup) we will share your contact info with JIS so they can contact you if needed to ask questions about the job.

        7.2.1 If such an overlap occurs though, we’ll be outsourcing the work to them, so you’ll only get one invoice from us(or sometimes from them) for all the work undertaken.

        7.2.2 If the above happens, we may ask for a deposit towards our portion of the work, and then the JIS portion upon completion.

8. Shipping policy

 8.1 All products will be shipped out using the method described on the final invoice.

   8.1.1 If we send an item using the incorrect service(ie, UK 1st Class when Special Delivery had been paid for), the customer will be entitled to a refund amounting to the difference in price.

 8.2 We are not responsible for delays with the customer’s chosen shipping method, but outbound items lost in transit will be dealt with as per section 9 below.

8.3 The customer will be responsible for paying ALL inbound shipping fees, including customs charges and import fees. If such charges are incurred, the appropriate costs will be added to the final invoice.

   8.3.1 The customer will be responsible for any customs fees/import charges accrued when we send the products.

  8.3.2 If we underpay for the outbound shipping itself, we will refund the customer to that amount. But again this refers to shipping fees, NOT customs/import charges.

9. Loss/Damage

 9.1 If we do damage ourselves or lose any appendages while making your guard, we promise not to hold you responsible.

9.2 We offer a fully tracked and insured Special Delivery postage service, in addition to regular 1st class postage which is neither insured nor tracked.

 9.2.1 A parcel will be considered missing one calendar week after Royal Mail’s longest estimated delivery/turnaround date.

   9.2.2 If a parcel is deemed to be missing by Royal Mail, at our discretion we will replace the products at no extra cost to you.

9.5 All decisions of this type are at our discretion and will be fina