Inspiration for a Finish on Roasted Swamp Ash

[Loiner91]

Im in the long the process of pulling together parts for P-bass build and have become a bit conflicted about what kind of finish would be best. Its roasted swamp ash, with a roasted maple neck. It’s going to have nickel hardware and I love cream pickup covers. I know that with the roasted ash, people tend to go natural/clear or do an oil finish. I want to have it finished in Nitro really so it’ll age nicely. I’m just a little worried worried the whole thing might look a bit samey and I’ll get fed up with it if its just natural. I feel that a black pickguard is the only option due to the blocks and binding. Ive seen some Fender Custom Shop models such as the Empire Music ‘58s even do some quite vivid bursts over roasted alder and quite like the idea of maybe a burst finish. Could you post me some pics of your roasted swamp ash basses for inspiration, I’m struggling to find pictures of anything other than natural on RSA (maybe thats telling me something!). Anyway, advise/guide/show me what you have!
Cheers

 

[Ric Vice]

Since you’ve spent all that time roasting the ash and prepping the surface, a clear finish is clearly the way to honor the spirit in [the wood. Covering it would be a “crime against the grain”. Just my take of course.

 

[Gopherbassist]

I'd go for a deep, rich burst. Vibrant colors!

 

[PapaBearBass]

Clear

 

[Malak the Mad]

I voted "Burst". As for what color, though, I am of two minds.

On one hand, my most recent acquisition is an American Deluxe Fender Dimension body in a "Violin Burst" which is fairly similar to a Tobacco Burst. The color lends no small amount of character, but does not obscure the swamp ash grain. It is both classy and classic.

On the other hand, sometimes I'm in the mood for a more vibrant color, but one that still showcases the ashy grain, albeit in a subtle way. This Mighty Mite Transparent Blueburst of mine is an excellent illustration of my point. It, too, is classy, but with a more modern sensibility.

Big picture...whether you go with a burst or not, my recommendation is to give it a little color, just as long as it's a transparent stain and finish...like this beastie of mine.

 

[SharpCat]

Tint the ash so that the tint gets sucked into the grain. (Your favorite color.) Sand back the main surface of the ash so only the grain is colored. THEN clear. Kinda like Malak’s last pic.

 

[Fuzzbass]

Tint the ash so that the tint gets sucked into the grain. (Your favorite color.) Sand back the main surface of the ash so only the grain is colored. THEN clear. Kinda like Malak’s last pic.

I would absolutely go for a ceruse finish. F Bass is known for them, and now Dingwall I believe. Do an image search!

 

[K. Powell]

swamp ash with black grain filler, check out Reverb and look up Madlad bass bodies, there are two nice examples listed.

 

[MrWolf14]

Tint the ash so that the tint gets sucked into the grain. (Your favorite color.) Sand back the main surface of the ash so only the grain is colored. THEN clear. Kinda like Malak’s last pic.

+1 ... this seems really the best idea.

By the way, you are really putting together a wonderful bass!

 

[Loiner91]

Burst wise, I like these: these are roasted bodies and I assume they had to use much brighter paint colours to get the finish so vibrant. The second one is violin burst. Think this tobacco one may be a bit more rock’n’roll.

 

[Bevan777]

blonde

 

[tubedude]

Grain filler mixed with gold mica flakes covered with a transparent layer, a vintage amber in this case.

 

[Loiner91]

swamp ash with black grain filler, check out Reverb and look up Madlad bass bodies, there are two nice examples listed.

Just looked and there doesnt seem to be any listings :/

 

[Loiner91]

Grain filler mixed with gold mica flakes covered with a transparent layer, a vintage amber in this case.
View attachment 7244174

Thats a pretty cool effect-reminds me of actual amber.

 

[Loiner91]

+1 ... this seems really the best idea.

By the way, you are really putting together a wonderful bass!

Thanks mate. I’ve found that because the options are more or less limitless with a parts build, I cant choose anything. I’ve got loads of basses in mind, they’re fighting to be this one! I think a more traditional burst that showcases the grain is my leaning. Also because of the roasted neck, I think a natural body may not contrast quite enough. I started out loving the LTD Ed. Fender P they put out a few years ago that was fully roasted and clear coated but as I’ve continued to look at it, I’ve got a little bored. Admittedly I’m a fan of 70s finishes such as Antigua, Mocha/Walnut and the Black/Red/Yellow bursts Fender put out during that time but they dont seem suited to a roasted body. I chose the full roast (the body is chambered) for the simulated ageing effect (dry, stabilised wood) and the weight reduction, I had neglected the impact on finish options! Foolish probably, this is my first project.

 

[Polfuste]

Clear would be a blast: this body wood is beautiful

 

[Loiner91]

Clear would be a blast: this body wood is beautiful

Yeah this is the thing too; I didn’t know what the grain would be like until it arrived and it’s more striking than I expected! I’d need the clear to end up a caramel colour. I can’t stand the colour the roasted bodies go on the Warmoth demo videos, but seems outside of that, individuals and some companies like Fender have ended up with much nicer results

 

[Dynacord]

I like the Fender white-blonde that was done over ash. Most often associated with Teles but plenty of basses done in it as well. It's subtle and lets some of the grain show through (depending on year, originals were opaque at the edges in sunburst fashion). Looks great as it ages.

 

[Gervais Cote]

This one below is a body made of roasted alder with a layer of raspberry red water stain and 6 layers of Tru Oil with a Warmoth roasted maple neck :

 

[dune]

These are both plain ol’ (not roasted) swamp ash done with Angelus leather dye a la BigD Guitars on YT.