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I just finished a 12 string 12 Fret Slope-Shouldered Dred. Joe White is finishing it and I'm considering having him do a burst. I'm leaning toward a cherry burst since there is red purfling within the rosette and top arrays as well as bloodwood bindings. My only question is the magnitude and color spectrum of the burst and I seek advice and counsel from those who have more experience.

The top is Lutz and the 3-piece back is IRW with a wedge of quilted Bubinga. The Bubinga also shows on the headstock, rosette, butt wedge and heel cap.

The following are some pics in the white.









TIA

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

JJ Bro she is just stunning!!!!

Bursts are very easy to not get right...... I agree that this guitar would look even more stunning with a burst but it needs to be the right burst.

Cherry, or perhaps the Gibsonish Heritage Cherry burst can look a little too bright red for my taste and also when dealing with brighter shades of red they can look entirely different in different light.

With this in mind I would suggest something darker than a cherry burst and I would also suggest, because of the sloped shoulders that the darker color be present over most of the upper bout. My favorite bursts have the lightest areas centering on and focusing your eye on the bridge area. Very much like the vintage Gibson bursts.

Here is an example of what was billed a root beer burst, darker than cherry, looking way to red in the right or should I say wrong light. This is one of mine and I don't like the burst in hind sight - it's too red...... too cherry.....



This is more of what I would suggest, not quite a tobacco burst but far less bright red and with the woods that you have expertly chosen for your guitar I think that this would look great. Mind you this is a 1938ish Gibson and the colors have faded and the patina is both beautiful and difficult to calibrate one's eye so as to imagine how this would look as a new guitar:



Notice too, in the picture above, the almost pickish shaped lighter area centering on the bridge - this is what I am trying to describe.

Now taking it to present day this is what this darker burst, not cherry by any means, with the pick shaped lighter area highlighting the bridge looks like on the Kim Walker masterpiece:



I think a finish just like Kim's above would look incredible on this beautiful guitar.

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Ann Arbor Guitars

Interesting...and thanks for the feedback. Do you have any wider shots of your cherry burst? You're right about the red being very RED but I would like to see it in relationship more to its surroundings.

On the others...they look a little too brown for my taste on the guitar in question.

Thanks for the contribution!

Any others?

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Sure thing JJ.

Check out how when you are not looking at it straight on, even though these were taken in the same "big light" the red darkens.

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Ann Arbor Guitars

Here's my Tobacco burst. I like 'em subtle.


-C

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Freeborn Guitars
and home of BeauGuard©

I don't like cherry on an acoustic. Go more to brown, like the "iced-tea" burst IMO.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

I'm concerned that the red bindings and red purf would clash with a brown burst. In addition, the Bubinga is somewhat pinkish under finish while the IRW is purplish under finish. Does it really make sense to now add a brown component??

Chas...I like the burst level you show...I might even go a little lighter on the main color.

Hesh...it's amazing how this has changed in color from a simple angle change...looks like 2 different guitars!

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Or - go really subtle and lighter in the darkest color like this beauty that Brock did - Toasted Orange Sunburst.

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Ann Arbor Guitars

Here's what I mean by iced-tea:

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

YESSSSSSS!!!! I love the burst effect in every way. So Iced Tea it will be.

That's it, Howard! Joe will see this one...thanks so much for the input.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Hey JJ, Here's a darker burst Addam Stark did. I think I like the lighter one of Howard's better as well.
Terry

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

Um, er, well, I mean the burst is kind of subtle...

As far as technique and color, I use Trans Tint colors. This happens to be their Dark Walnut color which is a fairly "cool" (not much red in it) brown. Their "Mission Brown" has more red in it and is much warmer. They have even redder colors too. You can intermix the colors to get your own shade as well.
http://www.homesteadfinishing.com/htdocs/TransTint.htm
You can control the amount of color by how rich you mix in the tint (it's very concentrated) and by how many coats/ layers you build.

-C

I use my little Finex fx1000 for the shading.

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Freeborn Guitars
and home of BeauGuard©

I'd like to see some more cherry sunburst to get an idea of they look. I think the one Hesh showed might have looked better with a different shade of red. I've been giving some thought to giving a cherry sunburst a try and wouldn't mind seeing some other examples before deciding.

I just returned from Joe's shop. He also likes Howard's example and will be preparing a spectrum board to show the various levels of intensity and then we'll make a final decision.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

I like the outer layers of Howards Iced tea as well .. but prefer when the centre of the top has something darker as well, as its a bit too white for my liking - a combo of the iced tea and the darker one below it would be my preference.

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

This was my first attempt at a single colour "low intensity" burst & I was quite happy with the result.
The edges were shot using just a less dilute version of the blend. I'm a fan of the very subtle transitions.

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Dave
Milton, ON

I like that second darker one too but that's just a matter of personal taste as tobacco sunburst is probably my favorite at this time. But I just don't see how these are anything I'd consided as Redburst. Wasn't that the original finish in question? I guess JJ. changed his mind. But that's find as he found a finish that he really likes but do you all have any more Red/cherry burst pics?

By all means, please post any bursts within the red hue. The purpose of my post was to get advice even if it is a departure from my original idea. When one solicits advice one must be prepared to be open minded and in this case I'm trying to get a confidence level in making an important decision. So far, Howard's burst has piqued my interest and I believe I'm almosrt there but I reserve the right to change my mind as well. In fact, once Joe completes his red burst charts, it's likely that I will change slightly. Perhaps Joe can post a few pics of some of the brown burst spectra that he has produced so far. It really is enlightening to see these in person to help along the decision process. On the other hand, too many choices can add to the confusion. I personally need to see guitars with the burst applied and the charts only serve to supplement the information.

I never really paid much attention to bursts in the past so seeing different approaches now is like cramming for the final exam! We've all been there.

Thanks for the suggestions...keep em coming!

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

I agree with Tony. I thought I was giving that one enough color in the middle, and it looks lighter in that photo than in person, but I'd prefer more amber in the middle and would give it more the next time.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

Howard's my new burst bud

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

UPDATE:

After further review, I decided to exercise my right to change my mind on the burst and go with a slightly amber shade on the top. I believe I finally realized that there was a lot going on with the red purfs as well as the zooty rosette, headstock and other Quilted Bubinga appointments. In the end, I feared too much cross-talk with the burst and decided to let the original idea speak for itself. Nonetheless, my next effort will have a burst and the lessons learned from this thread will be applied.

Thanks to all for the help and stay tuned for the results as soon as Joe White releases her back to my custody!

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com