Flame Koa top, decisions, decisions..

[Kaoskadosk]

So, first time poster here and first time I'm getting a custom guitar..
My idea for the body is to have a Mahogany body with a nice Flame Koa top, but here's the thing. Looking at the preview pictures of the wood on warmoths Unique Choice page, they look pretty good and I have two favorites already. My problem however, is how do they actually look with the finish on? I know that they show them wet to reveal the figure of the top, but that isn't exactly the same as finished.

http://www.warmoth.com/select/images/large/LT457a.jpg <- This one for example. Nice, tight grains. But will it look like the picture, or more like this? http://www.melanconguitars.com/images/guitars/custom_koa_elite.jpg.JPG
Or will the color maybe turn out to be something like this? http://www.warmoth.com/Showcase/ShowcaseItem.aspx?i=ps4315&Body=2&Path=Body

IMHO, the finishing process on Warmoth is tearing me apart. On some bodies, the clear coat mahogany is kinda bright, almost like alder, but on other bodies, it's almost as dark as Koa. What is my "guarantee" that my two pieces will match, like on this last body?

Any help with this would be heavily appreciated.

 

[Nando Vallart]

All can happen, since it's wood and it has a LOT of variation in color and grain... if you're very specific about the color and figuration, the Unique Choice is the way to go!

remember it's not the finish, but th wood itself

 

[jackthehack]

Assuming you're going to have a clear gloss finish on that Flame Koa top, it shouldn't wind up looking very different from that picture.

As you've probably seen on the website, coloration of Mahogany can vary a lot from lighter to darker. As you are custom ordering you could request they pick out a body blank that is more to your liking to make the body with, but you're at the mercy of somebody else making that subjective call, although I'm sure they'll do their best.

Another idea if you're going to have Warmoth do the finish for you is get Tobacco Burst; that eliminates the coloration issue and would look great on that top with a mahogany core.

 

[Kaoskadosk]

As you've probably seen on the website, coloration of Mahogany can vary a lot from lighter to darker. As you are custom ordering you could request they pick out a body blank that is more to your liking to make the body with, but you're at the mercy of somebody else making that subjective call, although I'm sure they'll do their best.

Another idea if you're going to have Warmoth do the finish for you is get Tobacco Burst; that eliminates the coloration issue and would look great on that top with a mahogany core.

Now that sounds like two fantastic ideas! I kinda thought you couldn't get a Tobacco Burst finish on a Flame Koa since it wasn't available in their online builder, but I guess it works if I request it with a note while ordering.

http://media.photobucket.com/image/Tobacco%20burst%20flame%20koa/YtseJam92/IMG_3257.jpg Yes please  :hello2:

 

[Bass-Adrenaline]

Warmoth WILL NOT choose a specific body wood to match whatever top you get, its totally up to whoever is building the body to choose the piece. I asked when i ordered mine and that was the answer i got.

 

[Kaoskadosk]

Warmoth WILL NOT choose a specific body wood to match whatever top you get, its totally up to whoever is building the body to choose the piece. I asked when i ordered mine and that was the answer i got.

I guess I'll find out in 2-3 weeks when the parts are done. Hopefully the build is in the hands of someone who likes a nice overall look of the guitar  :hello2:

 

[Bass-Adrenaline]

Ha, same here. Im not gonna lie, ill be kind of pissed if the body looks like crap with the top.

 

[OzziePete]

Assuming you're going to have a clear gloss finish on that Flame Koa top, it shouldn't wind up looking very different from that picture.

As you've probably seen on the website, coloration of Mahogany can vary a lot from lighter to darker. As you are custom ordering you could request they pick out a body blank that is more to your liking to make the body with, but you're at the mercy of somebody else making that subjective call, although I'm sure they'll do their best.

Another idea if you're going to have Warmoth do the finish for you is get Tobacco Burst; that eliminates the coloration issue and would look great on that top with a mahogany core.

Jack's idea of getting the mahogany finished is something I have had in mind for years about whether the clear mahogany would be too light in colour. I share your concerns about the body wood quite light against a darker laminate top like Koa.

Besides a burst maybe look at transparent finishes like Transparent Brown? That way you will get the darker coloured mahogany..

 

[bassilisk]

I did a carved top Dinky P in Mahogany with an amber stained quilted Maple cap. Here's a shot of the back with a clear coat, and a side shot showing some of the red running through it. The color is is pretty accurate - it is fairly light. I think it looks great.