Question on Color

[Devilsrope]

Hey guys! I'm brand spankin new to guitar building and I should be getting my Warmoth parts within a week or two. I was hoping I could get some suggestions on how I could paint my project to match this Schecter. I'm thinking about a black dye underneath a transparent Blackcherry or purple. Please be gentle if I'm way off  :icon_biggrin:

 

[Keyser Soze]

I'm afraid I really don't get much from the picture - just not enough detail.

It might be a tinted candy clear over black paint rather than a dye.  Using a  black dye would tend to allow more wood grain to show, which could be good or bad depending on your ultimate goal. 

It also could be some kind of custom mixed color change paint.

What type(s) of wood have you chosen?  Some do not dye well at all.

 

[tfarny]

Yeah, show a better picture, and tell us what woods you've bought.

 

[Devilsrope]

As far as the pic goes that's the best I can find in that color. The other ones are cherry or brown burst (sounds lovely). I shoulda clarified on the wood, it's a mahogany blank and the neck is maple/ Indian rosewood.
I like the idea of tinted candy clear over black paint. I was worried that solid black would over power any translucent coat I put on top.

 

[Keyser Soze]

Your concern is valid. 

The darker the base layer the less well the color clear shows - it tends to show better 'off axis' than looking at it straight on.  A couple years ago I tried doing a clear red over a flake blue and I might as well just done a straight candy purple - there was no red anywhere.  Sometimes adding a little pearl or flake can heighten the effect, but you need to go easy - too much pearl and you clear ends up opaque.

It's been about 25 years since I worked in auto body repair but it is the hot rod auto/motorcycle guys are the ones who know this area best.  If there are any in your area you might want to see if they are interested in an odd job, or at least give you some advice on mixing up your layers.

 

[Mor Paul]

Nothing like that, right?

(ps... image is a link)