Color-filling Korina

[Kusmariini]

Hello!
I'm new to this site, I registered just to post this thread. And please pardon any spelling mistakes as English is not my mother tongue.

I am probably getting myself a Korina body (Deluxe 5 PBass) next summer, but I was wondering whether to color the body or not. Neck I'd be buying would be full Purpleheart, and for that reason I was thinking for something purplish to the body. Is it possible to grainfill Korina like the Gibson Voodoo-guitars? I was thinking that maybe I should stain the body reddish, and then apply blueish grainfill. I would love to hear other ideas if, and as my idea might be ridiculous.

Plan B is to grainfill, then tru-oil it until it looks decent. Lacquer is not an option as I have nowhere to apply it, no experience on lacquers and I don't even want the lacquer-shiny-look on my bass.

Any advice is taken and appreciated. Perhaps rewarded with a hug.

 

[alterbridgefan]

first off, please don't go the purple route. Purpleheart looks good with white, black, and natural.

 

[Kusmariini]

first off, please don't go the purple route. Purpleheart looks good with white, black, and natural.

Interesting, thanks!
You're implying I should go with plan B, the natural choice?

 

[bagman67]

Welcome aboard!


The way to go is to first, color the un-filled wood using paint, stain or dye.  Then seal using shellac, lacquer, or some other sealant. THe sealing step is crucial to keep the colored grain filler from bleeding into the wood you worked so hard to color the way you want it. Once that is done, you can fill the grain with your contrasting filler, tinted to taste. 


Peace


Bagman

 

[alterbridgefan]

especially if you go with black korina. If you do a solid finish, get a less pretty wood so I won't have to hunt you down and kill you. :icon_biggrin:

 

[Kusmariini]

Welcome aboard!


The way to go is to first, color the un-filled wood using paint, stain or dye.  Then seal using shellac, lacquer, or some other sealant. THe sealing step is crucial to keep the colored grain filler from bleeding into the wood you worked so hard to color the way you want it. Once that is done, you can fill the grain with your contrasting filler, tinted to taste. 


Peace


Bagman

Thank you! The answer rate here is phenomenal!
That shellac idea was excellent, gotta write that down.
By the way, do the grains in Korina follow the beautiful black streaks, making the streaks shine blueish? Or are the grains "just there", and filling them just makes the wood look stippled. The idea of making fine wood look like teenager's face makes me scared.

 

[bagman67]

Korina behaves much more like mahogany than ash - with mahogany (and korina), the grain pores are pretty much all over the surface, most of the time.  They are not concentrated in the colored streaks.  With ash, on the other hand, the pores are much deeper and numerous in the more dark colored ripples. 


So my recommendation would be to tint the korina, and fill with a dark color that will blend in with the dark streaks, and contrast with the lighter colored areas of the wood.

 

[Kusmariini]

Korina behaves much more like mahogany than ash - with mahogany (and korina), the grain pores are pretty much all over the surface, most of the time.  They are not concentrated in the colored streaks.  With ash, on the other hand, the pores are much deeper and numerous in the more dark colored ripples. 


So my recommendation would be to tint the korina, and fill with a dark color that will blend in with the dark streaks, and contrast with the lighter colored areas of the wood.

Do you mean to grainfill with a dark color?
What about if I'd just stain it, fill it with no color and oil x100

 

[bagman67]

Filling with a clear grain filler would work too.  SOme folks like to use a contrasting tinted grain filler because they find the contrast with the natural (or stained) wood attractive.  Some folks tint the grain filler to a color that closely matches that of the wood it will be filling because they do NOT find the contrast attractive.  Lots of ways to do it...


Bagman

 

[greywolf]

Stewart-Macdonald carries colored grain filler , it has worked well for me  .  I'd agree with filling the pores in the grain then staining .  and +1 on the more natural finish , it contrast the purple heart nicely .

 

[Kusmariini]

Filling with a clear grain filler would work too.  SOme folks like to use a contrasting tinted grain filler because they find the contrast with the natural (or stained) wood attractive.  Some folks tint the grain filler to a color that closely matches that of the wood it will be filling because they do NOT find the contrast attractive.  Lots of ways to do it...

I think I'd just leave the filler clear

Stewart-Macdonald carries colored grain filler , it has worked well for me  .  I'd agree with filling the pores in the grain then staining .  and +1 on the more natural finish , it contrast the purple heart nicely .

But if I'd fill before staining, then the stain wouldn't color the pores, am I right? :O
And yeah, thanks to you guys I didn't destroy a nice piece of wood into a acne-like purple monster!

 

[leo12.]

If you want a finish like the Voodoo guitars they use Ash with a deep grain, Korina has a
smaller grain like Mahogany (don't think you will get the Voodoo look).
Here's a SG i came across on Youtube, you can see the grain there is no grain fill if you
look at the cut away near the high E string.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbZIyeAn504&feature=plcp
I think the guitar is sealed, solid black colour coated, grain visable, some clear coats then some water base like laytex wiped in, excess wiped off then claer coated.
You could try this since spray gear is not possible:
Sand to 220 then 320 dust the body down. NO Grain fill, Stain wipe excess off let dry. wipe on your Tru oil build 3 or 4 coats (check the search function for Tru oil on the site).
pick a contrast grain colour Laytex wipe it in sparingly wipe off excess let dry start Tru oiling again.
When its hardened up lightly sand with 2000 grit to take the gloss off. (it will gloss again in the contact areas) try it on some waste Ash. Good luck