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Coloring Walnut?

#21
Yeah, walnut is walnut and even with a clear finish it will be dark. Theres a reason why early craftsmen used rotten walnut husks for a dark brown stain. I would just embrace it for what it is.

That PG and knobs would be easy to replicate in maple, especially Birdseye, and it would be stunning.
 
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#23
Jon Clegg said:
I'll offer a counter-intuitive thought: it might look less dark with the pickguard and thumbrest black. HUH? Well it's about contrast. Right now the whole body/pickguard/thumbrest and pickup cover are about the same shade. The black bridge stands out as a feature by being completely different. Case in point:

View attachment 3408967
Even though it's a dark walnut and there's a lot of dark features, the contrast breaks it up so that it doesn't feel dark. Just a thought.
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Well, at least nobody has suggested tort for the pickguard yet....:D.....

I'm actually thinking that the idea of maple for the pickguard, thumb rest and nobs might just cheer it up a little.....I'd also consider the idea of changing the pickup cover which, to me, looks like a Formica afterthought....

So.....Can anyone out there create the above for me please?......
 
#24
Fat Freddy said:
Well, at least nobody has suggested tort for the pickguard yet....:D.....

I'm actually thinking that the idea of maple for the pickguard, thumb rest and nobs might just cheer it up a little.....

So.....Can anyone out there create the above for me please?......
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Send me a tracing of the pickguard and thumbrest and the thicknesses. Not sure about the knobs.
 
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#29
Huh...maybe not so bad after all....

original.jpg


walnutcoloredsized.jpg


warrio-isabella-59er-amber-burst-1-8kfSJcF.jpg
 
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#31
Fat Freddy said:
Oh dear.....Confusion is now in full control of my poor remaining brain cell.....:confused:.....:D
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RIP braincell. :roflmao:

Fat Freddy said:
Would it be easier for you if I just sent you the actual guard and thumbrest?.....

I'm wondering if the knobs would look fine with the pickguard as a contrast?.....

Thanks for your offer of help.....:)
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Sure, if you're willing to do that.

Yeah I was going to suggest that leaving the knobs walnut would be a nice contrast.
 
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#33
That looks like.stained ash more than walnut. I'd bleach the wood with Oxalic Acid, dry, stain black, sand back so just the deep.grain was still black then seal/ oil/wax/buff etc.
 
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#35
Hues said:
I'm in the 'make the PG and thumbrest darker for contrast' camp....You say the pic is lighter than actual so I darkened the whole thing.Hope it's closer.

One has the knobs darkened,one not.

View attachment 3409298 View attachment 3409299
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Thank you so much for your efforts.....While I'm not exactly hating the darker still pickguard, I'm leaning toward the lighter Maple plan.....:thumbsup:
 
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#38
tubedude said:
That looks like.stained ash more than walnut. I'd bleach the wood with Oxalic Acid, dry, stain black, sand back so just the deep.grain was still black then seal/ oil/wax/buff etc.
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You could be on to something. Has the OP confirmed that it is indeed walnut? If it is swamp ash, it would bleach out much lighter and could be stained almost any color. Not sure about the black and sanding though.....Id have to see it.
 

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