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mica
Moderator
Username: mica

Post Number: 2981
Registered: 6-2000
Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 1:48 pm:   Edit Post

Stripped all the paint off, here's a look at the naked body to help you decide what color to choose:

naked!
rben1
New
Username: rben1

Post Number: 1
Registered: 1-2006
Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 5:37 am:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 2:02 pm:   Edit Post

How about an amber tint? My fave!

Michael
bsee
Senior Member
Username: bsee

Post Number: 975
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 2:14 pm:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 3:03 pm:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 4:38 pm:   Edit Post

I think a blue dye would be awesome on that grain.
pace
Advanced Member
Username: pace

Post Number: 203
Registered: 4-2004
Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 6:10 pm:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 7:43 pm:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 8:52 pm:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 9:08 pm:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 11:08 pm:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Thursday, January 26, 2006 - 5:03 am:   Edit Post

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


Warmoth Custom Strat-style Guitar

The above is a Strat-style instrument from the linked site, for instance.
kmh364
Senior Member
Username: kmh364

Post Number: 1672
Registered: 9-2003
Posted on Thursday, January 26, 2006 - 5:12 am:   Edit Post

...And four more for good measure.




Warmoth 2Warmoth 1
warmoth 3


Enjoy!

Cheers,

Kevin

(Message edited by davehouck on January 26, 2006)
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 3075
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Thursday, January 26, 2006 - 5:28 am:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Thursday, January 26, 2006 - 7:45 am:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Thursday, January 26, 2006 - 4:33 pm:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Friday, January 27, 2006 - 5:29 am:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Friday, January 27, 2006 - 5:34 am:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Friday, January 27, 2006 - 11:50 pm:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Saturday, January 28, 2006 - 11:30 am:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Saturday, January 28, 2006 - 6:29 pm:   Edit Post

tigers eye that thang
rben1
New
Username: rben1

Post Number: 4
Registered: 1-2006
Posted on Wednesday, February 01, 2006 - 7:07 pm:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Saturday, February 04, 2006 - 8:13 pm:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 6:24 pm:   Edit Post

Some sealer in place to get a better idea of the grain:

sealed- not delivered

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
Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 6:26 pm:   Edit Post

Aw heck, I just had to put a fake amber tint on this guitar to see:

fake amber

Just a touch of the color is awfully nice.
davehouck
Moderator
Username: davehouck

Post Number: 3469
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 6:58 pm:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 7:05 pm:   Edit Post

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
Posted on Tuesday, March 14, 2006 - 9:53 pm:   Edit Post

Oh yeah - how nice - I had a feeling it would look really classy with a clear finish. Beautiful!

Tom

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