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Does anyone know how Martin Guitar achieves their vintage amber tops? (I was looking for a brand name and a technique)

Thank you,

Ray

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Guitar Building = Continuous Improvement Process

If by vintage you mean the pre-war Martins, Shellac stained the tops. Early Martins were FP finished for quite some time.

Ray,

I don't have any specific information on how Martin does it currently, but it's not difficult to do. Just mix a little amber tint (I use Stew-Mac's) in with your lacquer and spray as usual. Test various amounts of tint on a scrap before you spray the finished product to get the color like you want it. A very subtle tint doesn't take much. You can spray the entire guitar with the tinted lacquer and unless it's extremely light wood, it's unlikely you'll notice the tint on the back & sides. It might darken your purflings a little, particularly if you use bright white fiber, but I find the look very appealing.

FWIW, virtually all of the 30's vintage Martins (The ones they're trying to replicate) were sprayed with clear nitrocellulose lacquer and acquired their "Vintage" look just like the rest of us. Too much exposure to mother nature.

Good luck!

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Jimmy Caldwell
http://www.caldwellguitars.com

Jimmy, I just had a look at Stew Mac's and I guess the amber would be there yellow in the Colour Tone? Not that they can send it to Canada anyway.

Thanks,
Danny

Thanks for the responses guys! I was just wondering what the "vintage toner" is they are currently usings in 2009.

I will take your advice Jimmy and tint the nitro and spray as I normally do.

Danny, if you are looking for dyes and such in Canada go here. I have bought from them in the past and they are easy to deal with.

http://www.woodessence.com/

Thank you again!

Ray

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Guitar Building = Continuous Improvement Process

Not yellew, colortone vintage amber, part #5030.

A little bit of amber in your finish is nice, so is shellac under lacquer. Waterbased lacquers especially benefit from the "warming up".

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Jordan Aceto
Ithaca, NY

I regularly get requests to finish the top, and the whole guitar, to "look like it is 70 years old". I use the analine powder stains from LMII, specifically the amber and brown, mixed in my shellac for FP. Then at least a session of shellac with no stain after the desired tone is met, to seal over the color coats.

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I use a drop or two of the Color Tone tinters. A little goes a very long way, so test before you spray.

I've also just left an instrument next to a large window with the tropical sun coming through and it turned the spruce top a golden yellow in just about a week. Your UV rating may vary.

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Allen R. McFarlen
Barron River Guitars & Ukuleles
Facebook
Cairns, Australia

Stewmac dropped the "flammable! Ship by ground or within USA only" text on their colortone dyes, you can get it in Canada. I ordered their vintage amber as a test to see if customs will allow it, they seem to have opened the package for inspection but they let it in anyways. Just be aware that lacquer will yellow by itself if you dye it they might get too yellow as it ages.

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

I like to use Allens "suntan" trick too, some sun can really darken up wood in a nice way. I often leave instruments on a stand out in the yard to tan them, checking on them pretty often. If it is really sunny out, watch that the glue joints dont get too hot.

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Jordan Aceto
Ithaca, NY

Thats the look!

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Jordan Aceto
Ithaca, NY

Todd that is exactly what I was looking for! Very nice indeed!

I will be making a Martin 000-45 inspired 12 fret as seen here:
http://www.carmelmusic.com/stocklist/index.html

I took advantage of Kevin Ryans Zipflex special offer and will be also using Stew Mac's Golden Age restoration tuners, which are VERY close to the originals you see in the link.

Thank again for the input!

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Guitar Building = Continuous Improvement Process

Raymond,

A much better match for your 000-45 would be Waverly #3500. The Restoration tuners, while functional, aren't a good match. Check Stew-Mac's website, they have some really good pics that will illustrate the differences.

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Jimmy Caldwell
http://www.caldwellguitars.com