Stain or dyeing my Warwick Corvette $$ 5 body?

[JoshuaTSP]

I'm really digging my $$ lately.....but it's a little "meh" in the looks department.

I'd like something a little darker?

Anything I can't do to darken up the body wood without harming it?

I don't want to do anything major......I like the grain and the overall vibe.....just a little color for my pale little pal.

I'd like to avoid the "cheese" colors...... like this: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...jL._SS400_.jpg

The neck is spectacular, and I'd like to match that a little more.

Thoughts?




PS - maybe a little photoshop of it in a dark brown?

[nato101010]

Put mahogany dust in wax, and wipe it all over the body?

haha, I really don't know.

[BigOldHarry]

I'd leave it be - it looks good to me (but that's me)...

I think you'll find the effort in doing any kind of refin will be WAY in excess of what you get in the end. If you want a different looking bass, go buy one!

[JoshuaTSP]

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

I'd leave it be - it looks good to me (but that's me)...

I think you'll find the effort in doing any kind of refin will be WAY in excess of what you get in the end. If you want a different looking bass, go buy one!

You're post is exactly what the other half of me is thinking.

Why bother? potentially mess up a nice bass.

[BigOldHarry]

Originally Posted by JoshuaTSP

You're post is exactly what the other half of me is thinking.

Why bother? potentially mess up a nice bass.

Yup. By the way: Been there, done that, regretted it later.

Besides: The grain in that body is nice and big - why dork with it?

[JoshuaTSP]

Imagine it a nice brown color!

yeah. see. hot.

I've seen the other colors that the $$ comes in and those are equally as
The Nirvana black isn't terrible though.

I don't find the body very attractive.......it being so.....light......draws your eyes to it.
Or that's my logic at least.


I'm not 100% about doing anything to it yet.......just looking for suggestions. Washable markers maybe?

[levis76]

Darken it with your own blood, sweat, and beers, but mostly blood since that will dry to a kind of dark brown.

[AndyPathosis]

Thats a lovely looking guitar, don't mess with it. Keep it how it is!

[tercesyrev]

I had a bass identical in color and wanted to darken it. My guess is that is an oil finish which usually includes some wax coating. The only way to truly stain the wood is by removing the electronics & hardware and sanding it to the bare wood. Then it's pick your color. This would be expensive but can be done very well by a good luthier.

I went for the cheaper option and applied Dark Walnut tinted - Danish Oil, which is a blend of oil and varnish. I purchased it at Menards. It will definitley take the "brightness" out of the color and highlight the grain. Over time it will fade or wear off but just put another coat on it and your good to go. Gives a nice shine as well. I would first try a small area to see if you like it. I suggest the surface where the strap rubs against the body.

[Bass-Adrenaline]

My guess is youll regret it but its your bass.....

[JoshuaTSP]

Originally Posted by tercesyrev

I had a bass identical in color and wanted to darken it. My guess is that is an oil finish which usually includes some wax coating. The only way to truly stain the wood is by removing the electronics & hardware and sanding it to the bare wood. Then it's pick your color. This would be expensive but can be done very well by a good luthier.

I went for the cheaper option and applied Dark Walnut tinted - Danish Oil, which is a blend of oil and varnish. I purchased it at Menards. It will definitley take the "brightness" out of the color and highlight the grain. Over time it will fade or wear off but just put another coat on it and your good to go. Gives a nice shine as well. I would first try a small area to see if you like it. I suggest the surface where the strap rubs against the body.

A true refinish hadn't really crossed my mind at all.

Cool, thanks for your input. That's pretty much what I had in mind too. So the oil varnish stuff is permanent but does wear off?

You wouldn't happen to have a picture would you?

[darkstorm]

Since warwicks are bassically unfinished, and as long as you havent built up a coat of wax from the regular waxing warwick reccomends, its fairly easy thing to do. Id use ming wax tinted sealer and finish (the all in one version). First Id use ultra fine sandpaper over the body. Then use light coats with soft clean cloth and let dry inbetween coats. Prob 2-3 light coats. Then very lightly buff and smooth with ultra fine sandpaper. Ive used this for a couple other basses yrs ago when I wanted darker finish over natural for see thru. They turned out more a semi luster matte tone rather then shiny/glossy.

[JoshuaTSP]

Now that I see it.....maybe a dark brown is rather Warwicky anyway. Not sure if I dig it as much as I thought I would?

[tercesyrev]

Originally Posted by JoshuaTSP

A true refinish hadn't really crossed my mind at all.

Cool, thanks for your input. That's pretty much what I had in mind too. So the oil varnish stuff is permanent but does wear off?

You wouldn't happen to have a picture would you?

Sorry but I don't have Pics. Sounds like DarkStorm's description of a tinted sealer is very close to what the Danish Oil is. The Danish Oil is what I consider semi permanent at least the glossy coating. Where ever there is contact with your body the gloss will eventually dull. The tint rarely fades. But after a few applications the finish begins to last much longer. I use non tinted oil on my current bass which is Walnut. When applied it almost looks like a fresh coat of varnish really enhances the grain. Looks great!

Luthiers have told me that even an "unfinished" guitar usually has a wax coating from the factory. I didn't go that extra step and do the fine sanding as DarkStorm did. But I what I did worked fine and only cost me $10 for the can of oil. Whatever you decide, we'd love to see pics . . . Good Luck!

[Buslady7803]

I would rather trade for a darker body 'Wick than mess up a great looking bass.

[Staccato]

If you plan to keep it forever, great. Otherwise, realize-it may lose appeal to any potential buyers...

[BigOldHarry]

I wonder... which is a better use of a player's time: refinishing and instrument or practicing that instrument... ?

Just a thought.

[RFord04]

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

I wonder... which is a better use of a player's time: refinishing and instrument or practicing that instrument... ?

Just a thought.

Which makes me wonder... which is a better use of a player's time: posting on talkbass about an instrument or practicing that instrument...?

Just a thought.

[JoshuaTSP]

BTW. I play and practice all of the time.

Most of my time posting here is at work.

On top of that, at some point in the night.....I'm done practicing or playing....and would still like to do something music or instrument related.

I have plenty of other hobbies......this was just an idea. Don't bash the dreamers bro.

Originally Posted by tercesyrev

Sorry but I don't have Pics. Sounds like DarkStorm's description of a tinted sealer is very close to what the Danish Oil is. The Danish Oil is what I consider semi permanent at least the glossy coating. Where ever there is contact with your body the gloss will eventually dull. The tint rarely fades. But after a few applications the finish begins to last much longer. I use non tinted oil on my current bass which is Walnut. When applied it almost looks like a fresh coat of varnish really enhances the grain. Looks great!

Luthiers have told me that even an "unfinished" guitar usually has a wax coating from the factory. I didn't go that extra step and do the fine sanding as DarkStorm did. But I what I did worked fine and only cost me $10 for the can of oil. Whatever you decide, we'd love to see pics . . . Good Luck!

Hmmm.....after some more thought, it sounds like this idea may not be worth it.

I really don't want to enhance the grain at all.

I've been waxing the Warwick once a week, so I'm sure that would be a pain to remove before staining.

[Lublin]

Amen.

Originally Posted by levis76

Darken it with your own blood, sweat, and beers, but mostly blood since that will dry to a kind of dark brown.