White swamp ash strat body needs a tan

[enickma]

I have an unfinished strat body lying around that is too white for my taste. In looking around at various pictures, I ran across this relic strat ... the sanded down parts where the bare wood is exposed is the color I am looking for ( even though they darkened specific parts, the close up picture of the arm rest wear shows what I am after specifically )
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300219140009&indexURL=5&photoDisplayType=2#ebayphotohosting (http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?type=3&campid=5335828753&toolid=10001&mpre=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2Fws%2FeBayISAPI.dl l%3FViewItem%26item%3D300219140009%26indexURL%3D5% 26photoDisplayType%3D2%23ebayphotohosting)

What will turn my albino body this boss looking tan? Tung Oil? A light stain from Home Depot? All tips/suggestions appreciated

[larry1096]

Amber shellac would get you in the ballpark. If you're set up to spray, you could tint nitro with a bit of tobacco brown and amber to reach that shade, I think.

Larry

[testing1two]

a tinted lacquer and some time in the sun (UV exposure) will get you closer to the color. True nitrocellulose lacquer will yellow more rapidly when exposed to UV and the elements and will wear down quicker than polyester or urethane.

You might do a TGP search on relic techniques...it's quite popular around here

[enickma]

Thanks guys. I'm not into relic'ng the guitar, I just happened to find the color I'd like to get my swamp ash body to look like on that relic auction, so I included it for you all to see. I stopped by Home Depot tonight and did some stain color comparisons with a few of their paint sticks. I think I found the stain to get me that color. Thanks again

[Boris Bubbanov]

I recommend instead Behlen Jet Spray rattle can tinted nitro in 13 ounce cans from Woodworker's Supply in Albuquerque.

Once I have the ash grain filled and sanded at least to 600, I gently mist on Deft clear gloss rattle can nitro. Wait for the wood to accept the moisture before increasing the amount applied, but once you have 3-4 coats of clear on, begin careful tinting or misting either the Maple or the Light Fruitwood or the Brown Mahogany Behlen onto the clear nitro, adding the tone real slow and almost from "overspray" distance, maybe 8-12 inches depending on the size of the area you are concentrating one. Little baby sprit mists. Then start piling the Deft on again, not enough to make it sag but close, and if you like the result out it away to dry. If you have an "issue", take it all back down to the grain filler with acetone and try again. Works great on ash, maple, mahogany, alder. Works great for toning maple necks as well.