Alembic Guitars Club

Alembic products => Factory to Customer => Topic started by: mica on January 23, 2006, 01:48:20 PM

Title: Richard's refinish
Post by: mica on January 23, 2006, 01:48:20 PM

Stripped all the paint off, here's a look at the naked body to help you decide what color to choose:
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/24349.jpg)

Title: Richard's refinish
Post by: rben1 on January 25, 2006, 05:37:30 AM

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

Title: Richard's refinish
Post by: dela217 on January 25, 2006, 02:02:01 PM

How about an amber tint?  My fave!
 
Michael

Title: Richard's refinish
Post by: bsee on January 25, 2006, 02:14:03 PM

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

Title: Richard's refinish
Post by: bigideas on January 25, 2006, 03:03:18 PM

for myself, if not natural, i'd go with a greenburst. you can't go wrong with a nice british greenburst.

Title: Richard's refinish
Post by: applejuice on January 25, 2006, 04:38:05 PM

I think a blue dye would be awesome on that grain.

Title: Richard's refinish
Post by: pace on January 25, 2006, 06:10:35 PM

If I recall, this was originally a stormburst finish?!?? She deserves either an amber or wineburst finish IMHO.... so many choices... hmmmm.....

Title: Richard's refinish
Post by: rben1 on January 25, 2006, 07:43:55 PM

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

Title: Richard's refinish
Post by: valvil on January 25, 2006, 08:52:33 PM

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

Title: Richard's refinish
Post by: bsee on January 25, 2006, 09:08:35 PM

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 (http://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)

Title: Richard's refinish
Post by: palembic on January 25, 2006, 11:08:22 PM

The yellow or amber you are after is sometimes called old violin I think.
Could be nice!
 
Paul TBO

Title: Richard's refinish
Post by: kmh364 on January 26, 2006, 05:03:19 AM

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 (http://www.warmoth.com/gallery/gallery.cfm)
 
 

(http://alembic.com/club/messages/631/24497.jpg)
 
 
The above is a Strat-style instrument from the linked site, for instance.

Title: Richard's refinish
Post by: kmh364 on January 26, 2006, 05:12:03 AM

...And four more for good measure.    
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/24505.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/24506.jpg)
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/24507.jpg)

(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/24508.jpg)
   Enjoy!  Cheers,  Kevin  (Message edited by davehouck on January 26, 2006)

Title: Richard's refinish
Post by: David Houck on January 26, 2006, 05:28:29 AM

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.

Title: Richard's refinish
Post by: tom_z on January 26, 2006, 07:45:54 AM

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

Title: Richard's refinish
Post by: David Houck on January 26, 2006, 04:33:38 PM

Tom; that was my reaction too!  I wonder if it would be helpful to see it with an acetone swipe?

Title: Richard's refinish
Post by: rben1 on January 27, 2006, 05:29:21 AM

I am leaning towards leaving it natural as well. Is there a slight effect that can be added to enhance an otherwise natural finish?

Title: Richard's refinish
Post by: kmh364 on January 27, 2006, 05:34:49 AM

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?

Title: Richard's refinish
Post by: valvil on January 27, 2006, 11:50:24 PM

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

Title: Richard's refinish
Post by: Bradley Young on January 28, 2006, 11:30:47 AM

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

Title: Richard's refinish
Post by: osoloco69 on January 28, 2006, 06:29:23 PM

tigers eye that thang

Title: Richard's refinish
Post by: rben1 on February 01, 2006, 07:07:16 PM

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?

Title: Richard's refinish
Post by: zappahead on February 04, 2006, 08:13:39 PM

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.

Title: Richard's refinish
Post by: mica on March 14, 2006, 06:24:04 PM

Some sealer in place to get a better idea of the grain:
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/26287.jpg)
 
A light amber tint would enhance what the wood has naturally, without making the color the focal point.

Title: Richard's refinish
Post by: mica on March 14, 2006, 06:26:39 PM

Aw heck, I just had to put a fake amber tint on this guitar to see:
 
(http://club.alembic.com/Images/631/26290.jpg)
 
Just a touch of the color is awfully nice.

Title: Richard's refinish
Post by: David Houck on March 14, 2006, 06:58:00 PM

Wow!  It doesn't look like the same guitar as the one at the top of the thread!  Nice!

Title: Richard's refinish
Post by: mica on March 14, 2006, 07:05:38 PM

I know - my dad said the same thing! Sanding really deflates the look of Maple - nothin' like a little finish to perk it up.

Title: Richard's refinish
Post by: tom_z on March 14, 2006, 09:53:20 PM

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