Opaque color changing finish - what was it called?

[Hartmut Engel (haddimudd)]

for a while there was that cool short scale series I (?) displayed in the online shop, that had the unique opaque goldenish finish which changed colors when viewed from different angles. i can't seem to find it on the website anymore. what was the finish called again and how much would it cost as a custom feature? would you mind to integrate it to the online quote generator?
 
i love that finish!
 
thanks a billion!
 
big cheers,
hartmut

[mica]

Hey Hartmut,
 
That color is called Black Fire and it shifts from bronze, burgundy, to gold. It's an $800 option for any model. We have to paint the bass first black, then with the special color shifting paint (it's really expensive) and finally with clear. It looks great (as you know).  
 
There is a color changing Blue Steel finish in the  store right now. It flops from blue to purple.  
This bass will be in the store soon:

This picture doesn't show the bass very well, but it does indicate the color change.
 
There are even more colors available. Is there anything in particular you had in mind?

[Hartmut Engel (haddimudd)]

Hi Mica,
 
Right, that's what is was: Black Fire! Nothing particular I had in mind other than that. Maybe my next (short scale) series II will use that color :-) No clue though about WHEN that will be...
 
But as you are mentioning all the different color options: Don't you want to set up a special color finish page on the alembic website showing off these unusual colors, or at least the ones which have been photographed already (e.g. the black fire, blue steel, etc.)?
 
Also regarding the online custom quote: What option would be the correct one to chose in order to represent this feature? Opaque gloss burst finish?
 
Thanks a lot!
 
Big Cheers,
Hartmut

[mica]

I am currently working on a redesign of our website. The new content pages will come out with the redesign. Since this website has been active since 1995, it's outgrown its original structure and needs attention.  
 
The Chromalusion finish isn't on the quotemaker yet. I supposed when it is, I'll list as Chromalusion Thanks for the suggestions, Hartmut.
 
I suppose we'll have to make the triple gig bag for you when you get your shortscale in the future.

[Hartmut Engel (haddimudd)]

Hi Mica,
 
That's great news, thanks a lot! So I will look out for Chromalusion in the next make over of the quotemaker.
 
> I suppose we'll have to make the triple gig bag
> for you when you get your shortscale in the  
> future.
 
:-) looks like it - even though I may want to have a single gig bag for that small scale bass as well (logically).
 
Cheers & all the best for your website re-designs,
Hartmut

[Kris Stewart (elwoodblue)]

curious...
  Does the chromalusion paint have the possibility of being stain-like; enabling the wood grain to be seen?...maybe with a dark wood instead of the black undercoat.
  Or is the thickness of the coat(s) part of it's magic, like the thickness of a soap film determines the color seen on a bubble.
  I love the fiery marbling in bubbles ,  matched with the beauty of wood...oo-la-la !  
...hoping I'm clear with my curiousness  ; )
smiles,
silly curious kris

[Michael DeVincenzo (jlpicard)]

You know Kris I had the same idea. Would'nt it be great to have a quilted maple  top that went from light amber tint to a honey and then to a tobacco brown?Or a cocobolo that changed from a red to an orange to the dark brown?!!!!! Wow, The mind boogles at the thought!!  Mike

[Michael DeVincenzo (jlpicard)]

You know Kris I had the same idea. Would'nt it be great to have a quilted maple  top that went from light amber tint to a honey and then to a tobacco brown?Or a cocobolo that changed from a red to an orange to the dark brown?!!!!! Wow, The mind boogles at the thought!!  Mike

[mica]

Next time we spray a chromalusion, we'll put some on a dark wood to see what it looks like. I have no idea what it will turn out like. Should be interesting.

[Kris Stewart (elwoodblue)]

neato...
So nice to have contact with those who like to experiment.
 Thanks again for the great format for discussion.
 ...I better start saving for my first custom ?lembic ...looking forward to the interesting tint testing, hopefully some little area of the test wood will hold promise of our visions  : )  
 cheers,
Kris

[Hartmut Engel (haddimudd)]

Kris,
 
cool idea! I myself wasn't sure if I would want to loose the nice grain of chosen high-end woods just for the sake of a cool opaque finish. The semi-opaque version (if turning out feasable) would give you the best of both worlds! Definitely making decisions easier ;-)
 
Mica, you are mentioning dark wood, but maybe even tinting (any) brighter wood to a dark color without obscuring the grain might work as well? I was just thinking if you would want a specific wood for tonal reasons which isn't dark enough by itself...
 
Also, the other question bugging me was: Can the chromalusion be applied to the top and back laminates and maybe the core only, while keeping veneer laminates and the through-neck unaffected?
 
Thanks!
 
Hartmut

[mica]

We can selectively paint. The Almost Black basses we made for Jason Newsted had natural satin finish necks. We've done a few paint jobs that were the body only leaving the neck bare.  
 
Of course, like everything we do, we take our time to do it right. We use a fine line tape to mask the boundry between the colors and paint one color. After the paint dries, we mask off that painted area and spray the other. We do this for each layer and it takes about twice as long to finish. With any two polyester color paints we have to charge $650 for this service. The chromalusion would add an additional $800 to the bill.  
 
My uncle Bob does the finish work here, and his finishes look amazing. Right now I'm in love with the Winebursts and the Oceanburst.  
 
Hartmut - we'll try your suggestion too. All these great ideas lead to experiments and who knows, we may have to name a new feature someday!