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I've wanted a blue archtop for awhile. Something big and Johnny Smith-ish, and something minimal. After shopping around, thinking about modifications, etc., I decided to simplify and contact Lora. Communication has been, so far, stupidly easy. The price made the decision a no brainer. I wired the deposit this morning, and decided to try to follow the local tradition and share the journey. To be continued...
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12-05-2023 04:38 PM
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I think I just found a photo of her with an initial study (object) - logical choice to order something blue from China!
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Thanks, I'd forgotten about the cultural tradition!
Originally Posted by RJVB
logical choice to order something blue from China!
I'm hoping for a blue finish that I've only seen on a couple of guitars. When I showed her a picture, she replied "no problem." I'm managing my expectations, but I'm guardedly optimistic that her builders will ship something I'll be happy with.
I'll post pictures as I get them.
Edit: spelling.
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Just be aware that colors look different on different computers and different monitors. Blue is a wide range of colors, and what looks great on your monitor may look different on another monitor with a computer using another operating system. So don't be amazed if what you get is slightly different from what you wanted. But getting any blue may be better than none.
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Send Pantone colour swatches or refer to Pantone colour numbers for a standardized colour reference.
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Duly noted. My eyes are pretty trashed from staring at monitors for a big hunk of my professional life, so my expectations are adjusted accordingly. Originally Posted by sgosnell
Having said that, I had to hire a photographer for something this past fall. I ended up choosing someone who had lousy subject matter, but whose portfolio looked the least digital. It was an awful selection process for me. I'm not a super visual person, but I have little interest in pictures and videos that look entirely processed.
Thanks! I didn't know such a thing existed. Since you've now opened a new can of worms: does anyone (starting with Hammertone) know the Pantone color numbers for anything in The Blue Guitar Collection? Inquiring minds want to know. Originally Posted by Hammertone
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The book, Blue Guitar, by Ken Vose, documents the project. IIRC, it has information about the specific blue colour that Scott Chinery wanted to be used. That colour can be matched to a Pantone number, but it’s still up to the skill of the guitar painter to get it looking right when sprayed.
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AFAIK, the Pantone system is mainly used for printing and in graphic design.
For laquer coating you might also use the Munsell (US) or the RAL Design System (Europe) color code for specification of your desired color. Both systems are refering mainly to coating applications.
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Sounds like the easiest solution is to find a printed picture like a page in a book that shows the look you want. Then post it to Lora with snailmail.
Assuming people on the other side of Earth see the same thing on their screens is a longshot.
And to interpret color codes correctly they would need official printed references… if they don’t have them (most likely) it will be looked up on a screen anyway…
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Just curious, what company is "Lora"? Originally Posted by osloutah
I hadn't heard of that company before, though everyone else in the thread seems to know who that is. Must be a piece of common knowledge that I missed out on. Web searches on "Lora guitar" and "Lora archtop guitar" turned up nothing, other than something about a Mr. Wu who apparently is accessible through "Ms. Lora".
Help a guy out! I can't drool over the OP's impending purchase if I can't find the guitar online!
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Lora is the point of contact for working with Mr. Wu.
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She also works with Yunzhi. She's a go-between, who does the translating and communication.
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Am I wrong in fearing that many originally blue guitars turn greenish over time? Visiting Ivor Mairants (now Mak's) in London a decade or so ago, most of the Vestax D'Angelicos left wore an ugly shade of turquoise. Hardly the intended color. (Between a lovely-sounding sunburst NYS-2 carved top and a wine red NYL-2 pressed top my wallet had to choose latter, to the dismay of the rest of me.)
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Seems like a reasonable concern, especially if there's a nitro clear coat. The actual color coat might be stable, but nitro often turns yellow with exposure to UV light, nicotine, schmutz, etc. Originally Posted by Gitterbug
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Yeah, all the Chinery guitars are quite different now; not necessarily in a bad way, though ...
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The blue Gibson L5 Studio guitars from the mid-90's have turned kind of a swamp green. Is it the stain or the finish or an interaction of the two?
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Not sure what your budget is, but based on your description, preferring something "Johnny Smith-ish", you might check out these two blue archtops: Originally Posted by osloutah
Heritage Super Kenny Burrell carved body (Japan listing
Heritage The Super KB (Kenny Burrell Model) 2004 - Blue | Reverb
Heritage H-550 laminate body (USA listing
Heritage H-550 Custom 2003 -Rare Neptune Blue | Reverb
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Originally Posted by dconeill
Originally Posted by mr. beaumont
All correct. I wouldn't know about her, Mr. Wu, or Yunzhi but for this amazing community. I didn't specify anyone for this build, but she offered Mr. Wu or Yunzhi. I'm safely assuming the builder will be someone from Yunzhi. I'll try to add a bit more below. Originally Posted by sgosnell
@dconeill, if you haven't searched around here yet, you'll find a bunch of examples of work produced by these builders. @mr. beaumont was thinking about commissioning something earlier this year, and he probably gets credit/blame for planting this idea in my head.
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I had to buy two cars this year along with some other major outlays, so I imagine that my wife might end my time on this planet if I tried to swing an expensive instrument right now Originally Posted by Gitfiddler
Not sure what your budget is, but based on your description, preferring something "Johnny Smith-ish", you might check out these two blue archtops:
Heritage Super Kenny Burrell carved body (Japan listing
Heritage The Super KB (Kenny Burrell Model) 2004 - Blue | Reverb
Heritage H-550 laminate body (USA listing
Heritage H-550 Custom 2003 -Rare Neptune Blue | Reverb
The Heritage examples are beautiful, though. Thank you for sharing. I actually hit up Maui Bob earlier this year about the 18" Wu he was selling, but I missed out. I'd like to try something Super 400 sized one of these days.
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Regarding all of the color education and discussion: jeez I wonder WHERE I might have first gained interest in owning a blue guitar
Thank you, I'll consider all of it, and circle back with questions as I have them. I'm not super worried, though, because this isn't a "dream" build. I wanted a blue archtop and I'm excited to see what these builders come up with.
I seriously can't express how much I appreciate this community! Ping me if you're ever in Salt Lake so I can treat you to a cup of coffee or something.
Lora is anticipating delivery in March, so, hopefully, I'll have some pictures to share soon. Stay tuned...
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It won't be somebody from Yunzhi, it will be multiple people from Yunzhi. It's a factory. Not necessarily a bad thing, Gibsons are made in factories, as are many other makes.
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It is the clear lacquer turning yellow over time. Add yellow to blue and you get green. Same goes for some of the Blue guitars built for Chinery. Originally Posted by Spook410
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In the old days, yes. These days, it is becoming a simple colour standard for any application. As in, "make the colour look like Pantone #XXX." For coatings, it is "make the coating match Pantone #XXX." Pantone's system incorporates translations to a few other colour systems as well, for ease of use. Pretty simple and handy. Originally Posted by bluenote61
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If you want a blue guitar to stay that way, don't use nitro. There are other fine finishes that do not yellow and have excellent UV protection. Which is another big color modifier, so keep it out of the sun.
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Originally Posted by Hammertone
Are there standard formulations people have been using forever? Maybe stuff that was inherited from violinmaking? Originally Posted by ccroft
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