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britguy

Posts: 712
Joined: Dec. 26 2010
From: Ontario, Canada

Darkening colour of guitar face? 
I recently acquired a very nice custom-built blanca with a very pale - almost whitish - natural-coloured face. The guitar is about ten years old, and is lacquer-finished.

The colour is a bit anemic for my taste, and I'd like to see the face a little darker and yellower than what it is currently.

Is there any way to do this short of re-finishing?

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 16 2014 21:59:09
 
n85ae

 

Posts: 877
Joined: Sep. 7 2006
 

RE: Darkening colour of guitar face? (in reply to britguy) 
Just let it sit where it get's sunlight and it will tan. Don't let it bake, but in a sunny
room, and over time it should darken. I like the look they develop from that, and
I have several guitars that are "tanned".

Myself, having had multiple skin cancers, I'm a bit sun shy so I wear a hat ...

Regards,
Jeff
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 16 2014 23:30:57
 
Leñador

Posts: 5237
Joined: Jun. 8 2012
From: Los Angeles

RE: Darkening colour of guitar face? (in reply to britguy) 
quote:

Just let it sit where it get's sunlight and it will tan. Don't let it bake, but in a sunny
room, and over time it should darken. I like the look they develop from that, and
I have several guitars that are "tanned".


Really????? That doesn't sound right at all.....
My experience is wood bleaches in the sun...........
Clear finishes yellow but wood bleaches....

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 17 2014 0:08:50
 
Andy Culpepper

Posts: 3023
Joined: Mar. 30 2009
From: NY, USA

RE: Darkening colour of guitar face? (in reply to britguy) 
Exposure to light and oxidation will darken light wood, especially Spruce. Direct, unfiltered sunlight will bleach darker woods, not actually sure what it would do to Spruce.
I would not recommend placing a guitar in direct sunlight, simple light exposure and oxidation will do it.

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 17 2014 2:16:03
 
Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006
 

RE: Darkening colour of guitar face? (in reply to britguy) 
It surprises me that its still so white after 10 years.
Normally all spruce oxidate with time and gets a very beautifull (my taste) light amber color which is very deep and where things like medular rays and bearclawing jumps out in a very "natural" way..
Do as Andy says, as close to sunshine without being directly in the sunshine.

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 17 2014 8:28:54
 
keith

Posts: 1108
Joined: Sep. 29 2009
From: Back in Boston

RE: Darkening colour of guitar face? (in reply to britguy) 
you can use a ultraviolet bulb to speed up the process. it is difficult to get good sunlight on a guitar without sticking it in the window or placing it outside. with autumn here and winter coming soon it will be more difficult.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 17 2014 11:40:46
 
gerundino63

Posts: 1743
Joined: Jul. 11 2003
From: The Netherlands

RE: Darkening colour of guitar face? (in reply to Anders Eliasson) 
A guitar in a case wiil stay light for a long time. I got my Gerundino when is was kept for 18 years in a case it was quite white.
I played it and let it out and it darkens quite fast. About two or three years.

In winter it is a good time to let the guitar in the sun. Behind glass, if the humidity in your room is ok.
The uv that colours the wood or paper etc. Gets trough glass.
The uv. That give ou a tan will not get through glass.
The guitar will not warm up much and because the sun is low it is mostly easyer to shine in the room/house.

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 17 2014 17:37:38
 
britguy

Posts: 712
Joined: Dec. 26 2010
From: Ontario, Canada

RE: Darkening colour of guitar face? (in reply to Anders Eliasson) 
quote:

It surprises me that its still so white after 10 years.


Actually, Anders, it surprised me too. It has almost a slight 'pinkish' hue.

When I saw it in the sellers photo it looked like a warm yellow. So when I opened the case I was surprised. I wondered if perhaps lacquered guitars behaved differently from french-polished?

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Fruit farmer, Ontario, Canada
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 17 2014 19:57:03
 
Escribano

Posts: 6415
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy

RE: Darkening colour of guitar face? (in reply to britguy) 
quote:

I wondered if perhaps lacquered guitars behaved differently from french-polished?


My cheap, poly Bernal blanca has become more golden over time, that is why the sticker I had on it for a while still shows its silhouette.

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 17 2014 20:01:58
 
Leñador

Posts: 5237
Joined: Jun. 8 2012
From: Los Angeles

RE: Darkening colour of guitar face? (in reply to britguy) 
quote:

When I saw it in the sellers photo it looked like a warm yellow. So when I opened the case I was surprised. I wondered if perhaps lacquered guitars behaved differently from french-polished?

Or if you potentially got the wrong guitar?

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 17 2014 20:02:06
 
britguy

Posts: 712
Joined: Dec. 26 2010
From: Ontario, Canada

RE: Darkening colour of guitar face? (in reply to Leñador) 
quote:

Or if you potentially got the wrong guitar?


I just KNEW someone would say that!

(No, I got the right one alright. Just looked rather different from the photo. Doesn't matter, plays really well - for me anyway. . .)

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Fruit farmer, Ontario, Canada
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 17 2014 21:55:24
 
jshelton5040

Posts: 1500
Joined: Jan. 17 2005
 

RE: Darkening colour of guitar face? (in reply to britguy) 
many lacquers have UV blockers so exposing it to sunlight may have minimal effect. Of course you could always have someone spray a color coat on it. It would require at least three light coats since you have to put clear coats over the color before polishing.

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 17 2014 22:15:15
 
Andy Culpepper

Posts: 3023
Joined: Mar. 30 2009
From: NY, USA

RE: Darkening colour of guitar face? (in reply to britguy) 
Photos sometimes don't capture guitar finish coloration very well, depends on the angle too.

If the guitar was left in a case for a long time it wouldn't get much air or light. It will probably develop a nice patina pretty quickly if you have it out regularly.

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 17 2014 22:41:50
 
Leñador

Posts: 5237
Joined: Jun. 8 2012
From: Los Angeles

RE: Darkening colour of guitar face? (in reply to britguy) 
quote:

I just KNEW someone would say that!

lol just throwin it out there
Plays & sounds well is the big one....

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 17 2014 22:57:20
 
Ricardo

Posts: 14822
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Darkening colour of guitar face? (in reply to britguy) 
just leave it with me and my friends for a few weeks.

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 18 2014 2:40:03
 
estebanana

Posts: 9354
Joined: Oct. 16 2009
 

RE: Darkening colour of guitar face? (in reply to britguy) 
Non suntanned guitar = First World Problem!!!!! ~

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 18 2014 10:07:32
 
britguy

Posts: 712
Joined: Dec. 26 2010
From: Ontario, Canada

RE: Darkening colour of guitar face? (in reply to Ricardo) 
quote:

just leave it with me and my friends for a few weeks.


I want it a little darker - not bloodstained. . .

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Fruit farmer, Ontario, Canada
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 18 2014 14:28:18
 
rojarosguitar

Posts: 243
Joined: Dec. 8 2010
 

RE: Darkening colour of guitar face? (in reply to britguy) 
Spruce darkens with exposure to sunlight - this is my long time experience. UV bulb probably can speed that up.

I would not try to change the varnish of the top just for the sake of color. You could lose more than you would win. It's funny that one always wishes for something different than one has got. I have bought the guitar for a reason, no?

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 19 2014 7:26:03
 
RobJe

 

Posts: 731
Joined: Dec. 16 2006
From: UK

RE: Darkening colour of guitar face? (in reply to britguy) 
Anders is right. 10 years is a long time. Most guitars would have darkened naturally in this time.

John provides a possible answer – that the lacquer had a uv blocker in it. I know that you can buy polyurethane lacquer with a uv blocker – nasty stuff to breath in if you spray it. I had it applied to some furniture and it delayed but didn’t eliminate the darkening process.

Perhaps the usual forum speculation could end if you contacted the luthier and asked about the original finish if he hasn’t passed away though inhaling the fumes.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 19 2014 9:05:11
 
jshelton5040

Posts: 1500
Joined: Jan. 17 2005
 

RE: Darkening colour of guitar face? (in reply to RobJe) 
quote:

ORIGINAL: RobJe

Perhaps the usual forum speculation could end if you contacted the luthier and asked about the original finish if he hasn’t passed away though inhaling the fumes.

There are no safe finishes although some like shellac are a little less dangerous than others. Anyone who breaths the fumes is crazy or soon will be. One should always use a respirator, eye protection and a ventilated finishing area. I even get a little dizzy from the vapors produced when sanding cypress.

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 19 2014 14:28:01
 
estebanana

Posts: 9354
Joined: Oct. 16 2009
 

RE: Darkening colour of guitar face? (in reply to britguy) 
If whomever owned this guitar before Britguy kept it in case it would not have oxidized much and still be pale.


Leave it out of the case in direct sunlight, it will change.

But I liked that Britguy said it had pink tinge to it. Perhaps I'll start making pink guitars and call them Panther Line Flamencos. And while I'm at I'll also have a Dr. Strangelove model.

________

OH my God! How will we all live with pale goth guitars???



Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 19 2014 15:08:19
 
Ruphus

Posts: 3782
Joined: Nov. 18 2010
 

RE: Darkening colour of guitar face? (in reply to britguy) 
With this thread lasting that long, you guys finally made me check out my 8 years old spruce-topped classical guitar. ( Which despite of being a really fine axe has left its case for only a few sessions, and those for most during nights.)

Findings:

Even though hardly seen any light of day the spruce has matured to a golden hue.

That is irony in life.
Me who could care less about oxidation, as I find the brightness of fresh spruce attractive, gets the perfect tan in the dark, whilst lovers of darkened tops get stuck with preserved spruce color.

Ruphus
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 19 2014 15:39:19
 
britguy

Posts: 712
Joined: Dec. 26 2010
From: Ontario, Canada

RE: Darkening colour of guitar face? (in reply to Ruphus) 
quote:

With this thread lasting that long, you guys finally made me check out my 8 years old spruce-topped classical guitar. ( Which despite of being a really fine axe has left its case for only a few sessions, and those for most during nights.)

Findings:

Even though hardly seen any light of day the spruce has matured to a golden hue.


Interesting. . .

Could it be the secret is something in the case? (?)

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 19 2014 21:01:42
 
tijeretamiel

 

Posts: 441
Joined: Jan. 6 2012
 

RE: Darkening colour of guitar face? (in reply to britguy) 
Kudos to Senor Banana for being able to reference Elvira in a flamenco thread.

Good work.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 19 2014 23:34:55
 
estebanana

Posts: 9354
Joined: Oct. 16 2009
 

RE: Darkening colour of guitar face? (in reply to britguy) 
Thank you, I've waited years for my chance to put Cassandra Petersen in one of my Foro posts. (And it was not even a sexist reference. *style points* )

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 20 2014 1:24:47
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