| Author | Message | ||
| richbass939
Advanced Member Username: richbass939 Post Number: 286 Registered: 11-2004 |
Does anyone know what the elves use to stain cocobolo so that the beautiful darks and reds come out? I am also open to other things that bring out nice colors in coco. Rich | ||
| valvil
Moderator Username: valvil Post Number: 719 Registered: 7-2002 |
Hello Rich, we don't stain coco bolo, though I've been considering doing it to my guitar for a while. Coco Bolo is often reddish by nature, but has a tendecy to redden even more under artificial lighting. It often seems to look much redder in pictures than up close. Valentino | ||
| pas
Junior Username: pas Post Number: 36 Registered: 3-2003 |
Stain Coco Bolo....Blasphemy! | ||
| richbass939
Advanced Member Username: richbass939 Post Number: 288 Registered: 11-2004 |
Okay, "stain" isn't the right word. I remembered seeing pictures of colo bolo with something on it that enhanced the appearance. Here are the pics from the wood bank that show colo bolo with acetone on it. http://alembic.com/club/messages/2344/17024.html?1114129737 http://alembic.com/club/messages/2344/16991.html?1114190445 Valentino, it says that acetone makes it look like it will under the finish. Does the standard polyester finish make it look like that? Is there something that you must also do to get that appearance? Paul, maybe I'll just white wash it and splatter it with some different colors. That would look pretty punk. (Kidding, of course.) Rich (Message edited by richbass939 on June 13, 2005) | ||
| byoung
Member Username: byoung Post Number: 82 Registered: 12-2004 |
I've been wondering if something like a 10-20% yellow tint (the older Alembics did this naturally as they aged) might get the grain and figuring to stand up. I know they do this sometimes for quilted maple, and it looks fabulous. I'm wondering if it has ever been done to cocobolo. Brad | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 2530 Registered: 6-2000 |
The pictures you've referenced are a way of getting a preview of what the wood will look more like when finished. We wipe acetone over the wood, which before it evaporates, gets a close approximation of the final look. It also cleans away dust from sawing, sanding or just sitting around. Naptha can also be used. I've seen a wood supplier use it, but we've always used acetone. Not all Coco Bolo is the same. A quick look through the Custom Archives or the Club Showcase will show all sorts of grain and color. Our typical Coco Bolo is an orangish-red color with dark brown grain. But we've had pieces that were so dark they look almost like Ebony and stuff that could be mistaken for Padauk, totally absent of the dark grain and bright orange. Brad, I don't remember us ever spraying an amber tint on Coco Bolo, but my gut feeling is that it won't enhance the grain or color Coco Bolo much at all. It will make the Maple components of the bass less white and more of an aged-yellow. The fact that is it painted and glossy makes the colors and grain "pop" while an oil finish like Bob's will look closer to the "raw" wood. A satin finish like this 1985 Distillate is the same paint we use today, but rubbed out to a satin finish. This is something I'm not crazy about doing on any dark wood these days, as I think the wood is always enhanced by the glossy finish. Plus, the extra fine scratches that create the satin finish collect oil from your hands and make the bass look kinda smeary. The 1985 bass I linked to above would have more intense color and grain with a gloss finish. (Message edited by mica on June 13, 2005) | ||
| jlpicard
Advanced Member Username: jlpicard Post Number: 206 Registered: 7-2002 |
Rich, The second image that you've posted is my choice for my new dream bass! I know that cocobolo varies so much and I really wanted to make a pilgrimage to the holy land to see this wood with my own eyes; however, that was out of the question right now so I asked Mica and company to swipe it with acetone to see the real color and grain so I could get an more accurate idea of what this wood would look like when finished. Mike | ||
| richbass939
Advanced Member Username: richbass939 Post Number: 289 Registered: 11-2004 |
Mike, you're right. It is beautifully figured. Did you get the e-mail I sent you with pictures of the pieces of colobolo that my father-in-law had? Rich | ||
| jlpicard
Advanced Member Username: jlpicard Post Number: 208 Registered: 7-2002 |
Rich I remember the post but I never got the pictures. Mike |
