Official Luthiers Forum!

Here is the latest Luthier Tips du Jour video -The topic is the Sunburst finish
This video as well as all my other videos are available via my website http://www.obrienguitars.com/videos/, LMI's website or on Youtube.
Enjoy!

Nice vid!

Wanted to throw something out there to see if anyone else has tried this. To pop grain, I tried the black dye to pop the grain and wasn't too thrilled with how they came out in a three tone, black/red/amber burst I did. The black looked too grey even under the amber.

The next time I did the same burst, I used a brown mahogany dye and the results looked much more natural. The grain popped like it did with the black but just seemed nicer.

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http://www.birkonium.com CNC Products for Luthiers
http://banduramaker.blogspot.com

Hey Robbie.. What type of topcoat do you use (Behlen's Stringed Instrument laquer for example..)?
If you use laquer, do you thin it at all or shoot it straight from the can?
Do you use HVLP or conventional?

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Old growth, shmold growth!

I have used every brand out there but if I remember correctly the guitars in the video were done with Behlen's. I usually spray full strength but thin the final coats. Of course all this depends on your spray set up, needle size, pressure, viscosity etc. I use HVLP guns with and without turbines.

Blacks only work well under dark colors, red, purple, blue, etc. but not so much for light colors like natural or amber, yellow.

For amber and yellow use a red dye to accentuate the grain, and for natural, try using a light amber dye.

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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

As always, thanks for sharing. Good stuff!

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Mike Lindstrom

Chapeau! Great video! Respect

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Funny you mention because I tried red under amber before and it came out pink in the end - didn't like it so much. I've found that brown works under the amber quite well though.

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http://www.birkonium.com CNC Products for Luthiers
http://banduramaker.blogspot.com