More SDUGF Green Singlecut Madness: Seeking Custom Guitar Finisher for Warmoth Regal

[Snake Aces]

I finally contacted Marty Bell. This may happen yet. I have not decided on pickups yet, but I will get there. I am tempted to go with a CS 78 set now... they do usually sound good in other bright guitars and I want this green one to sing.

 

[Snake Aces]

I have decided I will go with a Custom Shop 78 pickup set for this build. It will be a chambered swamp ash Regal body with a quilted maple top (I would prefer a swamp ash top, but I found a quilted maple option I like) hopefully finished by Marty Bell (I have yet to discuss it with him, but that is the plan). Transparent neon green dye on the top with transparent neon green for the swamp ash back as well. Purpleheart neck, 24.75" scale, glow in the dark skull and crossbone inlay. Custom shop 78 set with 4-conductor for push/push volume pots. Thanks for all the help everyone! I can't wait to see this one come together...

I will try to get in touch with Warmoth to request a purpleheart neck and fretboard that will look quite purple next to such a bright green body. Maybe they will throw me a bone, but if not, at least I tried

 

[ItsaBass]

Good call on the finisher. Many Bell, IME, is among the very best you can get for a urethane paint job.

 

[Masta' C]

SnakeAces and I are after similar colors for our projects. We both want bright, transparent greens with grain showing. Here are some samples we both like so far, one in Trans Neon Green Satin from Warmoth and the other from a newer Ibanez RG5220M. I really like the grain contrast of the Ibanez best.

 

[Snake Aces]

Indeed, I really want this green to pop. Very bright. I want to look at this guitar and feel like it is something from a comic book!

 

[ItsaBass]

You guys should really do some experimenting with wood bleaching, as I mentioned a few pages ago.

There isn't a ton more lightness to be achieved with freshly surfaced ash...but you can get SOME.

 

[Masta' C]

I missed the bleaching part. I'll have to go back and look :beerchug:

 

[ItsaBass]

I missed the bleaching part. I'll have to go back and look :beerchug:

I didn't say much about it – just to look into it. It takes some practice, but I believe that it might have great utility for achieving brighter and more chromatically pure translucent finishes.

 

[ItsaBass]

Here is a very brief introductory article on bleaching: https://www.woodmagazine.com/materials-guide/finishes/get-the-color-out-with-wood-bleach.

 

[Mincer]

I didn't know about wood bleaching. I really like the results on those dark woods, which might make it easier to pick a body or neck wood for the tone and not discount it because the wood is visually too dark. Neat idea.

 

[Snake Aces]

I also did not know about wood bleaching. I really am curious how it would work on a wood such as black korina or mahogany.

I wonder how it would work on ash as well, considering the idea is to make the grain pop, would the bleach affect the grain's visual effectiveness?

 

[Masta' C]

By many reports, bleaching seems to work really well on Ash. How much "whiter" you can get than the freshly sanded wood, as Itsabass mentioned, I don't know, but I imagine countering the tannins in any shade of wood from its natural state is going to help the "brightness" factor of the final stain and keep it looking brighter long-term.

As for grain contrast, I'm not sure what the bleach would do, but there are lots of ways to bring back contrast if needed, including various color grain fillers.

I'm contemplating making this DIY. I mean, if I have to bleach, grain fill, and sand a body, then it's pretty much ready for a stain and a can of 2K satin clear is like $20, LOL! I have 2 bodies coming...I could experiment on 1, I suppose.

I'm just not sure if dying the wood is actually going to give that bright, nearly "neon" appearance, even on white wood. PRS manages a pretty good bright green color on their "Eriza Verde" guitars, but I'm fairly certain the Warmoth and possibly the Ibanez are tinted paints, not actual stains.

 

[Snake Aces]

By many reports, bleaching seems to work really well on Ash. How much "whiter" you can get than the freshly sanded wood, as Itsabass mentioned, I don't know, but I imagine countering the tannins in any shade of wood from its natural state is going to help the "brightness" factor of the final stain and keep it looking brighter long-term.

As for grain contrast, I'm not sure what the bleach would do, but there are lots of ways to bring back contrast if needed, including various color grain fillers.

I'm contemplating making this DIY. I mean, if I have to bleach, grain fill, and sand a body, then it's pretty much ready for a stain and a can of 2K satin clear is like $20, LOL! I have 2 bodies coming...I could experiment on 1, I suppose.

I'm just not sure if dying the wood is actually going to give that bright, nearly "neon" appearance, even on white wood. PRS manages a pretty good bright green color on their "Eriza Verde" guitars, but I'm fairly certain the Warmoth and possibly the Ibanez are tinted paints, not actual stains.

Interesting. I wonder if Marty has ever tried bleaching ash. Either way, I am not going to try a DIY on another carved top Regal. Last time I attempted a DIY, it was a disaster. Marty is getting my business for sure, but I will ask him about bleaching.

 

[Top-L]

Instant gratification:

 

[Snake Aces]

Instant gratification:

That is a beautiful guitar, but I never cave to the temptation of instant gratification. Instant gratification is for people who do not know what they really want in life. I have a specific color in mind, so a specific color I shall get. That Ltd is not the color I want, but it is gorgeous.

 

[Top-L]

That is a beautiful guitar, but I never cave to the temptation of instant gratification. Instant gratification is for people who do not know what they really want in life. I have a specific color in mind, so a specific color I shall get. That Ltd is not the color I want, but itnis gorgeous.

Post a pic of the color you want.

It would be a good idea to find a guitar with the top you want, so you know it CAN be done. The way you describe the bright neon green, might not be possible with the amount of grain you want showing.

You can get the LTD for around 800. Just sayin.

 

[Snake Aces]

Post a pic of the color you want.

It would be a good idea to find a guitar with the top you want, so you know it CAN be done. The way you describe the bright neon green, might not be possible with the amount of grain you want showing.

You can get the LTD for around 800. Just sayin.

Cost is of no concern to me when it comes to getting what I want. I know what I want can be done. MastaC posted photos of the proof it can be done. Marty Bell will send me samples. If anyone can do it, Marty can. I have all the faith in the world in him.

This guitar will be gorgeous. I will post photos when it is done as proof, until then, I have no interest in buying anything else. I have plenty of guitars to play until this one is done

 

[Top-L]

How heavy do you want it to be? 7#? 9#? 11?

I have an Ibanez Swamp Ash full size ATK bass, that I just weighed at 10lb, 8oz. I thought it would be heavier than that.

I'm guessing that wood used in a Singlecut 6-string would be 7.5-8#.

 

[Snake Aces]

How heavy do you want it to be? 7#? 9#? 11?

I have an Ibanez Swamp Ash full size ATK bass, that I just weighed at 10lb, 8oz. I thought it would be heavier than that.

I'm guessing that wood used in a Singlecut 6-string would be 7.5-8#.

I am getting a chambered body, I have learned to not have weight expectations with custom order guitars. I currently have one solid, non-chambered singlecut swamp ash (the one in my avatar photo). It is a bit hefty but not an anchor. I forgot the exact weight. I have another all swamp ash Regal on the way already, that one will be chambered. All my swamp ash bodies will be chambered from now on. They are just... better. I am happy I own one that is not though, because it is a special wood to me.

 

[Snake Aces]

I have a solid swamp ash Warmoth J bass as well. With a bubinga neck. That is like a Fat Boy Harley. I think it is almost 13 pounds if I remember right. Maybe 12. It is a heavyweight, but it packs a mean haymaker.