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Just finish sanding a cocobolo/adirondack Norman Blake style 000 and noticed how stark white the top is. I personally love the vintage "pumpkin color" that old Martin's have and also what they have been using on the EC 000 and some of their new authentics.
Some have recommended dying the wood directly or adding color to the first coats of finish?
I am looking for some advice from those who have also added color to their soundboards. Thanks in advance.

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Guitar Building = Continuous Improvement Process

Using water bourn, I usually add an amber toner to the finish before I spray. It works fine. I have never tried staining the top first.

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

If you had a couple months you could try UV light from the sun. I've used toner in the finish directly and it works but to my eye it looks slightly off, that was the Stew Mac stuff and water base finish. It's quite possible I added too much of it so a little dab will do ya.

You can get some amber shellac too and that will give it some color tone.

I like to add color with a few light, sprayed coats of shellac before spraying, mixing different ratios of platina and garnet shellac depending on the shade I'm going for.


Ken Jones
Mountain Song Guitars

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Mountain Song Guitars www.mountainsongguitars.com

+1 for shellac, use one of the darker tones, to me the vintage toner look is way too artificial looking but the shellac looks natural. Remember the top will age darker no matter what you do so do not over do the color you may not like it in a few years.

Fred

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Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
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