Any advice on how to achieve this finish look?

[LushTone]

I have a Warmoth one piece alder body and am thinking about a wipe on satin poly finish over a nice dark stain to get this effect (but satin instead of gloss). Any advice would really help! :help:

 

[Wolf Follower]

No advice, but I agree that its a pretty cool and unique look for a guitar. Seems like the sort of thing where you could just start playing around until you reached a point you liked. Maybe use some scrap wood first if you're the cautious type.

WF

 

[KingOfTheCountry]

I know, it's not very similar, but it reminded me this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdpgcHJoJZw
Maybe better choice of wood or different finish will work...

 

[LushTone]

Maybe use some scrap wood first if you're the cautious type.

Yea I'm thinking the same thing. I refuse to screw up a $300 piece of alder  :icon_jokercolor:

 

[LushTone]

I know, it's not very similar, but it reminded me this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdpgcHJoJZw
Maybe better choice of wood or different finish will work...

Hah! That's a cool thought, but no fire is touching this!

 

[zebra]

Forum member Fretless some really nice minwax-poly finishes that seem to be along the lines of wipe-on satin poly that you're referring to.  I plan on using a similar process on a reclaimed piece of poplar...eventually....

http://unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=21915.msg324162#msg324162

I sent him a PM re his process, if you want me to pass on what he shared, let me know and I'll copy-paste in a PM to you.

 

[Tonar8352]

That finish is a just black aniline dye mixed with lots of thinner so it is very transparent then coated with some type of clear gloss. It would be very easy to replicate. 

 

[LushTone]

That finish is a just black aniline dye mixed with lots of thinner so it is very transparent then coated with some type of clear gloss. It would be very easy to replicate.

Oh wow, thank you for the insight. Where can I find that sort of dye?

 

[Tonar8352]

Both Stew Mac and LMI sell dye, lacquers and thinners. I prefer the MEK dye from LMI and I would use Seagraves lacquer to finish over it. I would mix the dye with a blend of lacquer thinner and lacquer retarder until I got the color I wanted on the color sample board. I also shoot clear over my sample board to make sure what the color looks like when it gets finish because it will change some.

Hope that helps.

 

[LushTone]

Forum member Fretless some really nice minwax-poly finishes that seem to be along the lines of wipe-on satin poly that you're referring to.  I plan on using a similar process on a reclaimed piece of poplar...eventually....

http://unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=21915.msg324162#msg324162

I sent him a PM re his process, if you want me to pass on what he shared, let me know and I'll copy-paste in a PM to you.

Thanks, I'll ask him about the aniline dye he used on that green strat!

 

[Tonar8352]

Here is a link to a similar finish I did for Bart. I would use more thinner to get the look you are after. This is also a good example of how the color changes with the clear.
http://unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=15729.0

 

[LushTone]

Here is a link to a similar finish I did for Bart. I would use more thinner to get the look you are after. This is also a good example of how the color changes with the clear.
http://unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=15729.0

Beautiful work 

 

[fretless]

to me it looks like it was sanded back a little so yeah test on Alder scrap  go with a light mix of black as suggested . I would probably not sand evenly either to add to that more or less coverage effect. Alder doesn't always take dye evenly and  that is what I see happening as well as being sanded back , the contours are exposed on that . It looks great like that , to me it would probably seem unfinished but seeing it done it looks great . Minwax wipe on is great and very easy to use . It dries fast and it's cheap  :icon_biggrin: You can do a truck load of guitars + everything in the house with one can .

 

[dmraco]

water based strain on alder.  Maybe a bit sand back.

I find the water based to not soak in like the oil based stuff.  Like others said...try a scrap.

 

[LushTone]

Thanks! Yeah I think I will try those water based dyes with the Minwax wipe on poly. On a piece of scrap alder first! Haha

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

I've played this actual guitar that he's posting.  The finish is very slick & smooth for what looks like a gloss finish.
Not to mention, this guitar feels and sounds great all over.

 

[LushTone]

I've played this actual guitar that he's posting.  The finish is very slick & smooth for what looks like a gloss finish.
Not to mention, this guitar feels and sounds great all over.

Yea it's a pretty sweet guitar Tony. I'm gonna put a raw baked maple neck on the alder body in question though. And satin poly versus gloss for the body.