Favorite guitar color (if any)

**GNAPPI** · 02-09-2013, 03:48 PM

Most players probably have preferences in guitar color. There are some I like but I personally would consider almost any color that sounded and played right. In my fave order I'd choose: (Most of mine fall into #1-3)

1. Cherry sunburst
2. Tobacco sunburst
3. Natural
4. Solid transparent color like red, green or even blue
5. Solid color like black red, green, white or other except wild colors like purple, pink etc.
6. Painted graphics (but I'd have a couple if cans of paint remover on hand)

**BrianB** · 02-09-2013, 04:09 PM

I like to see the wood so:
1. Natural
2. Vintage or tobacco burst
3. Transparent sold color with quilted maple

**Spook410** · 02-09-2013, 05:28 PM

There are many shading variations.. not sure 'favorite' is how I see it. I usually either really like it or prefer a natural. There are some craftsmen (like the guy that used to do Heritage guitars) that just seem to have it down. I also think the individual that did my shaded Yunzhi did a good job though not in the master class of the Heritage guy (Patrick could probably name him).

If others have pictures of shaded guitars they really like, would like to see them. Trying to decide what what to have done with the 18" acoustic archtop now under construction.

**ooglybong** · 02-09-2013, 05:38 PM

Ha! This is tough. Except for the Graphics category, I'd say that I have at least one of each 'color' by now.
Playability and tone FAR out-weigh any color nudging my GAS, but I still can appreciate a nice-lookin' guitar outside of those set standards. Also, attractive wood grain is at least as important for me as any color or burst, and that varies by the example.

1) Natural is possibly my favorite but followed very closely by...
2) Cherry Sunburst -and- Tobacco Sunburst would have to be tied depending on the 'burst's quality (esp being blended right. Some 'bursts can look rather cheap, and I hate 'bursts where you can see a distinct edge(s) to their "gradation"; those look too mechanical, lazy, and art-less to me. However, most Eastman sunbursts are quite beautiful, IMO. See my avatar.);
3) Transparent stain;
4) Solid color (but somehow I see black as being its own category! That would definitely come in ahead of simply any ol' 'solid color' for me. Black can look so... classy.);
5) Graphics (No thank you under ANY circumstances!).

**mangotango** · 02-09-2013, 05:39 PM

I voted Tobacco Sunburst, but I really meant a Vintage sunburst, yellow to black with NO hint of red, thank you. Like the old Gibson 'burst.

In fact, this is Jason Combs getting it right, for my money. One fantastic looking guitar. Wish I could afford to place an order for something looking just like this.

Favorite guitar color (if any)-jason-combs-guitar-jpg

Favorite guitar color (if any)-jason-combs-guitar-jpg

**Chip** · 02-09-2013, 05:51 PM

Natural is my favorite by far, but I got caught up by a "flavor" called Honeyburst on the Peerless 16" Monarch, so I pulled the trigger. Next to my '64 Epiphone Sorrento, they look very similar. (I do have 2 Naturals, though).

I guess I like natural because they don't show the fingerprints as much...............Heck, I like the look of natural wood, too!

**PTChristopher** · 02-09-2013, 09:50 PM

Fun poll there Gary.

>>> yellow to black with NO hint of red, thank you.

And man is that sometimes tricky. 100% agreed that Jason's Vintage Burst in the pic above looks fantastic.

The hard part of yellow to black is that there can be a decidedly "dried-booger-green" cast along the transition.

You can see it on some modern Gibson bursts where they save $$$ by using three colors only on the top and back, and do the rest with just the black outline and yellow center. The top and back look almost as good as Jason's, but the back of the neck has the subtle green cast.

Nice poll.

Chris

**PTChristopher** · 02-09-2013, 09:52 PM

Here is a pic of a Howard Roberts Fusion showing the third (mid-brown) color only on the body, but missing from the neck.

http://static.musiciansfriend.com/de...burst_back.jpg

**hot ford coupe** · 02-09-2013, 10:02 PM

I like it where you can really see the wood.

**mr. beaumont** · 02-09-2013, 11:59 PM

I like all kinds of bursts...i love when the darkest sdge isn't a true "black" but a reddish or brownish color (though i don't love cherry sunburst)

Hofner did a violin like finish that was just perfect imho. I also love Gibson's "lightburst" and Heritage's Antique and Almond sunburst.

**ooglybong** · 02-10-2013, 12:19 AM

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

I like all kinds of bursts...i love when the darkest sdge isn't a true "black" but a reddish or brownish color....

Yeah, those are cool. Harder to find generally, but that nuance is nice to see other than having a hard black upper bout.

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

Hofner did a violin like finish that was just perfect imho. I also love Gibson's "lightburst" and Heritage's Antique and Almond sunburst.

Definitely. I especially like Hofner's violin burst. That sweet Jazzica that Hammertone was selling just a while back... OMG.

**Keira Witherkay** · 02-10-2013, 01:00 AM

yeah i like the bursts too... but prefer the ones that look like the bursts from 30's/40's seemed a darker edge but somehow richer golden colour in centre ....so yeah "vintage burst"

in my local gibson dealer i saw a es335 with a very light burst and i hated it it looked almost 'wrong" on the instrument ...guitar played beautifully and great tone but that burst whould put me off buying it ... so colour is important ...especially when buying new ........

**IbanezAS100** · 02-10-2013, 09:51 AM

I agree that the Hofner Violin Finish was fantastic. That old violin/cello thing is my favourite. Victor Baker and Moffa do it very very well:

Favorite guitar color (if any)-img_2288-jpg

Favorite guitar color (if any)-img_2288-jpg

and the late Jimmy Foster got it right too:

Favorite guitar color (if any)-basin-street-edition-archtop-guitar-03-jpg

**balthazar** · 02-10-2013, 10:46 AM

I 'm in love with Sunset Red.

Favorite guitar color (if any)-ibanez-afj81-sunset-red-jpg

**jhchop** · 02-10-2013, 10:51 AM

As long as it is translucent and dome to enhance the beauty of the wood, not done to hide the use of poorly selected tonewoods.

**Tom Karol** · 02-10-2013, 01:57 PM

I'm very conservative when it comes to guitar finishes:
Natural, Brown, or Sunburst only ...
Flat-Tops - Natural;
Solid-Bodies - Honey Burst;
Semi-Hollows - Almond Burst
Archtops - Golden-yellow to redish-brown to deep purple-brown.
If I had a Les Paul, the gold-sparkle thing might do it for me, though.

**Likeke** · 02-10-2013, 05:03 PM

My favorite burst of all made by Welcome to Laplante Guitars. Check out their sound also.
Favorite guitar color (if any)-brownburst-jpg

**jdazey** · 02-10-2013, 08:24 PM

Another fan of the Hofner violin finish.

Joe

**rhythmicillusion** · 02-11-2013, 01:35 AM

[QUOTE=IbanezAS100;294808]I agree that the Hofner Violin Finish was fantastic. That old violin/cello thing is my favourite. Victor Baker and Moffa do it very very well:

Favorite guitar color (if any)-img_2288-jpg

this is my victor baker lol

**IbanezAS100** · 02-11-2013, 02:07 AM

this is my victor baker lol[/QUOTE]

Lucky man, Victor makes some gorgeous guitars!

**feet** · 02-11-2013, 06:19 AM

solid colors- i just think they are the most fun, and say the most, when done right. wish there were more colored archtops, but that just isn't the aesthetic or the market.

transparent stain- the world won't listen :/

Gibson L 5CES Wes Montgomery Guitar | eBay

tobacco sunburst- just because. its the standard. its the first thing i loved and you just can't avoid it these days. i usually prefer the darker variants, but appreciate a clever, well done burst of any type.

those were my top three, natural is also great, but like the burst, too commonplace. if i could i wouldn't, but you normally can't with archtops. burst or natural, that's it.