First build: tung oil on ash?

[jwyse]

I'm starting my first build, and I'm super excited about it. I've got an unfinished ash body from Warmoth. I already have a natural-finish Fender FSR Precision (mine's the same color as this image from Musician's Friend, but with a tortoise-shell pickguard), so I wanted this one to look a bit different, although still an ash-bodied P-bass.

I'm kinda going for a slightly darker color than the natural FSR -- maybe a light to medium brown -- and I definitely want a satin rather than glossy finish.

From all my reading here and on the unofficial Warmoth forums, I'm under the impression that multiple coats of tung oil will gradually darken the color until I get to a shade I like. I don't have a specific target shade in mind, so I'm really hoping that I can just keep adding coats of tung oil until I decide it's "done." Is that accurate, or am I going to end up disappointed after many coats and much work with no color change?

I read the FAQs and searched these forums like mad, and didn't find any other posts/examples that clearly answered my question. I apologize if I missed one though. Thanks!

[Triad]

Hei! Good luck with your project!
Oil is usually yellow/brownish... it's certainly going to alter wood's color but it won't darken it too much. If you want it to become much darker you should use a dye, I guess. I've finished a couple of Ash bodies with Danish Oil and Waterlox and they both are yellow

[RedsFan75]

Like you I had an idea of the look I wanted. I searched a LOT to get the color I wanted. Googled images of the type of wood I had and various staining options until I found an image of a bass that I really liked. Found out it was Minwax's Antique Maple stain. I did a few coats until I got the color I wanted, and then applied the Lacquer.

See it here.
Jazz bass building from parts - A Chronicle

I searched woodworking forums as well, as they had a lot more staining information and images available.

You might see a lot of information on Tung oil as well. I've used Tung oil, Formby's in particular, but on a bookcase. It DID darken after adding more layers. Have you looked at any of the woodworking boards? There's some caveat's to using Tung, but I don't remember the specifics right now.

[jwyse]

Thanks for the input. I'd like to get some scrap ash to play around with before doing much with the real body.

Anybody know where I might be able to pick up some ash scraps? Or are there other readily-available types of wood that are similar in color, open-pore, etc. that would be acceptable substitutes for the purpose of trying out the oil and maybe playing with some stain?

[62bass]

Originally Posted by jwyse

Thanks for the input. I'd like to get some scrap ash to play around with before doing much with the real body.

Anybody know where I might be able to pick up some ash scraps? Or are there other readily-available types of wood that are similar in color, open-pore, etc. that would be acceptable substitutes for the purpose of trying out the oil and maybe playing with some stain?

Oak has a similar pore but not the same colour. Call around specialty hardwood dealers for scrap ash. I haven't been able to find it in Home Depot or any of the chain stores that sell lumber. Sometimes it's used for hardwood flooring so try with them too. Go through the yellow pages.

I found one place about 10 miles from me that carries it in stock and will sell me small amounts.

Definitely practice first. A tung oil type finish is probably best for your first try and satin is easy to do. Various brands are good, such as Minwax, Watco and others.

I make my own from a mixture of tung, alkyd varnish and paint thinner which I like a lot.

If you want to go really a lot darker you'll have to use a wood dye or stain. I prefer a dye.