| Author | Message | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 2981 Registered: 6-2000 |
Stripped all the paint off, here's a look at the naked body to help you decide what color to choose:  | ||
| rben1
New Username: rben1 Post Number: 1 Registered: 1-2006 |
Valentino, The wood is better than I had expected. What are your thoughts. I would like to try something clear and natural. Do you have any suggestions. Richard | ||
| dela217
Senior Member Username: dela217 Post Number: 584 Registered: 6-2002 |
How about an amber tint? My fave! Michael | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 975 Registered: 3-2004 |
Always mine, too, Michael. Tiger eye, tortoise shell, violin amber, antique violin, a bunch of names for relatively similar finishes from different sources. I love the way those tints bring out the grain, and this wood seems to have nice lines. -bob | ||
| bigideas
Member Username: bigideas Post Number: 68 Registered: 1-2004 |
for myself, if not natural, i'd go with a greenburst. you can't go wrong with a nice british greenburst. | ||
| applejuice
New Username: applejuice Post Number: 7 Registered: 1-2006 |
I think a blue dye would be awesome on that grain. | ||
| pace
Advanced Member Username: pace Post Number: 203 Registered: 4-2004 |
If I recall, this was originally a stormburst finish?!?? She deserves either an amber or wineburst finish IMHO.... so many choices... hmmmm..... | ||
| rben1
New Username: rben1 Post Number: 2 Registered: 1-2006 |
Thanks for all of your comments. It is encouraging to know that so many people take an interest. I like the amberburst, but the amberburst finish, shown on the site seems too yellow. I would prefer more of a brownish, more orange style of amber, though still light revealing the wood grain, rather than a yellow. Does anybody have any further suggestions? RB | ||
| valvil
Moderator Username: valvil Post Number: 835 Registered: 7-2002 |
Hello Richard, since we can do a lot of different color finishes (an orange wash is definitely a possiblity), my suggestion would be to find a picture of an instrument, or wood object, preferably made of maple (or another light wood like ash, sycamore or holly) that sports a finish you like. Then send it to us and we'll do our best to match it. Valentino | ||
| bsee
Senior Member Username: bsee Post Number: 976 Registered: 3-2004 |
Best bet is probably to surf for some guitar photos that you like and present them to the Alembic elves. One place you might start is the PRS website. Their private stock instruments show a lot of great brownish amber finishes. They are at www.prsguitars.com. (Edit: It's always great to cross-post the same answer as the bosses...) (Message edited by bsee on January 25, 2006) | ||
| palembic
Senior Member Username: palembic Post Number: 2245 Registered: 9-2002 |
The "yellow" or "amber" you are after is sometimes called "old violin" I think. Could be nice! Paul TBO | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1671 Registered: 9-2003 |
Try Warmoth's site for inspiration...they have galleries of all types of guitar/bass body styles with translucent finishes over highly figured maple. http://www.warmoth.com/gallery/gallery.cfm  The above is a Strat-style instrument from the linked site, for instance. | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1672 Registered: 9-2003 |
...And four more for good measure.     Enjoy! Cheers, Kevin (Message edited by davehouck on January 26, 2006) | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 3075 Registered: 5-2002 |
I'm not good at this type of thing, but it does occur to me that the grain in this case looks like it would work well with a burst design. You stated above that you like the amber burst but thought it might be too yellow; so maybe something between an amber burst and a tobacco burst. | ||
| tom_z
Advanced Member Username: tom_z Post Number: 272 Registered: 7-2004 |
Gosh - a naked California Special! The natural wood looks quite nice. If it were mine, I'd leave it natural - with, at the most, a thin warm wash to bring out the grain. Tom | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 3078 Registered: 5-2002 |
Tom; that was my reaction too! I wonder if it would be helpful to see it with an acetone swipe? | ||
| rben1
New Username: rben1 Post Number: 3 Registered: 1-2006 |
I am leaning towards leaving it natural as well. Is there a slight effect that can be added to enhance an otherwise natural finish? | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 1676 Registered: 9-2003 |
As with most of the axes above, and with most PRS's, they use a stain or dye as a wipe and then sand most of it off. This darkens and intensifies the grain, depending on the color of the stain used and how much is sanded-off/left-on. While Alembic does do burst and tinted finishes (besides opaque painting), I don't know if they do staining of grain. Mica, Val, Dave? | ||
| valvil
Moderator Username: valvil Post Number: 840 Registered: 7-2002 |
Don't know if ever we stained an instrument; I'd have to check with Susan or Mica. I've considered doing it on one of mine, and Bob told me he could do it. I've discussed with Susan in the past and she might consent it if anyone asks. I've had this crazy idea of bleaching coco bolo and then tinting it in various colors. Valentino | ||
| byoung
Intermediate Member Username: byoung Post Number: 195 Registered: 12-2004 |
Valentino, Seems like you've had a few "crazy ideas" that have turned out acceptably (what a British Understatement that is...  ). Maybe you should try it, and it'll be the next big thing. Brad | ||
| osoloco69
Junior Username: osoloco69 Post Number: 30 Registered: 9-2005 |
tigers eye that thang | ||
| rben1
New Username: rben1 Post Number: 4 Registered: 1-2006 |
Valentino and Crew, I am wondering if a slight tint with a clear finish would do the trick. I like the natural wood but would like it darker, either more towards a a grey (but very light..not charcoal)or a very light walnut coloring through a clear finish. What do you think? | ||
| zappahead
Intermediate Member Username: zappahead Post Number: 125 Registered: 10-2002 |
http://store.yahoo.com/alembic/ocskyl1.html Not sure if you have seen this or considered it, but its one of my favorite Alembic burst finishes. Its a bit different from most of the oceanbursts and I think it looks better personally. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 3141 Registered: 6-2000 |
Some sealer in place to get a better idea of the grain:  A light amber tint would enhance what the wood has naturally, without making the color the focal point. | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 3142 Registered: 6-2000 |
Aw heck, I just had to put a fake amber tint on this guitar to see:  Just a touch of the color is awfully nice. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 3469 Registered: 5-2002 |
Wow! It doesn't look like the same guitar as the one at the top of the thread! Nice! | ||
| mica
Moderator Username: mica Post Number: 3145 Registered: 6-2000 |
I know - my dad said the same thing! Sanding really deflates the look of Maple - nothin' like a little finish to perk it up. | ||
| tom_z
Advanced Member Username: tom_z Post Number: 313 Registered: 7-2004 |
Oh yeah - how nice - I had a feeling it would look really classy with a clear finish. Beautiful! Tom |
