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Thread: Natural top anyone?

  1. #1

    Default Natural top anyone?

    I've been playing my mandolin in the white now for about three weeks and have taken it out on several occasions. I've done some trial color boards, and an almost unanimous choice is amber, but several people have liked it in the white and questioned the need for color at all. This got me thinking of clear coating the top, since spruce seems to be problematic to stain, then doing all the maple in amber. I can't recall seeing this but surely it must have been done before.

    Anyone have any pics of this color combination? Or any clear top color back and sides build. I would assume the wood would darken over time.
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  2. #2
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Natural top anyone?

    That would be creating a blonde mandolin.
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  3. #3
    Mediocre but OK with that Paul Busman's Avatar
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    Default Re: Natural top anyone?

    That sounds like a plan, especially if the grain on the back and sides is interesting. A change from the common burst is nice.
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    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Natural top anyone?

    I guess the top on this isn't as light as I thought it would be. If you use varnish it will darken over time.
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    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  5. #5
    Registered User Rodney Riley's Avatar
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    Default Re: Natural top anyone?

    Yep, a blondie. Search “blonde” Mandolin. Almost every name that is on a headstock has one.

    The Eastman MD915-BD’s are really white!
    My Godin is a natural finish instead of the Burst. Just the body is Walnut, so back n sides are dark.

  6. #6
    Orrig Onion HonketyHank's Avatar
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    Default Re: Natural top anyone?

    If you are making it for yourself (or maybe for a weirdo like me) and you like no or minimal stain, go for it. I may be wrong, but my gut feeling is that blondies don't sell as fast or for as much as their darker stained siblings. I happen to like the natural look, with stain used to even out variations in color rather than to change the color much overall.
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  7. #7
    Masamando Steve Hinde's Avatar
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    Default Re: Natural top anyone?

    Natural Engelmann top with natural Koa back and sides. Only tint is from the shellac sealer and varnish.Click image for larger version. 

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    Any time I get a really clear top with no color, I put it aside for any 'blonde' requests.
    Last edited by Steve Hinde; Aug-14-2018 at 8:35pm.

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  9. #8
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    Default Re: Natural top anyone?


  10. #9

    Default Re: Natural top anyone?

    A clearer finish looks more like this:
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    formerly Philphool Phil Goodson's Avatar
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    Default Re: Natural top anyone?

    Pure natural tops always look just a little "raw" to me. A slight amber or slight tobacco tint always looks just a little richer and more finished. Just me.
    Phil

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    Dave Sheets
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    Default Re: Natural top anyone?

    Just a bit of a yellow or amber gives that sort of warm, aged look. I find it way more appealing than sunbursts somehow.
    -Dave
    Flatiron A
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  13. #12

    Default Re: Natural top anyone?

    Well I am going back and forth between a light Amber top with dark Amber back and sides, or clear top with darker Amber back and sides. Love the two tone look. Too many mandolins have bursts, and I really want my repairs to show as a reminder to myself that you can overcome some prett bad screw ups. I'm embracing the process rather than hiding it, if that makes any sense.

    The big thing is I'm loving the voice, which is bright and brash but has a quality of richness lacking in my Michael Kelly, admittedly a low bar to set.
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  14. #13
    Registered User jim simpson's Avatar
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    Default Re: Natural top anyone?

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    Default Re: Natural top anyone?

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    Andy Mueller
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    https://www.muleskinnerinstruments.com/

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    Default Re: Natural top anyone?

    Using a "natural" stain before sealing, which will darken it a bit, will prevent it from yellowing more and more over time.

  17. #16

    Default Re: Natural top anyone?

    I'm leaning to mixing amber in my shellac after sealing the top. When I get enough color, I'll just switch to clear.

    Then I can stain the back, sides and neck a darker amber. Enough so there is no doubt I'm not trying to match the top, but contrast it.

    Thanks for all the nice pictures. Very helpful. I have some time yet to think about it because I'm painting a strat body in coral nitro laquer. Man that nitrocellulouse laquer is nasty stuff. My respirator needs replacing.
    Silverangel A
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  18. #17
    Mandolin user MontanaMatt's Avatar
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    Default Re: Natural top anyone?

    Not sure what Audie used for my top, but I'm particularly fond of my Ratliff color.Click image for larger version. 

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    2007 Weber Custom Elite "old wood"
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  20. #18
    Registered User Ivan Kelsall's Avatar
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    Default Re: Natural top anyone?

    I really like 'natural' tops. The one posted by Andy looks terrific. A lot of the so called 'blonde' tops,do have a degree of colour. This one by builder Wyatt Wilkie is simply beautiful to my eyes,
    Ivan
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    Weber F-5 'Fern'.
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  21. #19

    Default Re: Natural top anyone?

    Quote Originally Posted by Ivan Kelsall View Post
    I really like 'natural' tops. The one posted by Andy looks terrific. A lot of the so called 'blonde' tops,do have a degree of colour. This one by builder Wyatt Wilkie is simply beautiful to my eyes,
    Ivan
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    Wyatt's instruments are even better in person.

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  23. #20
    Registered User slimt's Avatar
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    Default Re: Natural top anyone?

    Heres My two Blondes.. some said the F4 was a Pumpkin top. Not sure about that but any ways..
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    I do know the Moon is Varnish..

    Not sure about the F4 finish material used though..

  24. #21
    two t's and one hyphen fatt-dad's Avatar
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    Default Re: Natural top anyone?

    Does it have to be spruce?

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    My Cohen. There's no stain on it! Just some varnish. (Redwood and walnut)

    f-d
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  25. #22
    Mandolin user MontanaMatt's Avatar
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    Default Re: Natural top anyone?

    Here's a lovely color scheme to peruse, natural top, dark back
    https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/127994#127994
    https://www.elderly.com//media/catal.../_3a_11_25.jpg
    2007 Weber Custom Elite "old wood"
    2017 Ratliff R5 Custom #1148
    Several nice old Fiddles
    2007 Martin 000-15S 12 fret Auditorium-slot head
    Deering Classic Open Back
    Too many microphones

    BridgerCreekBoys.com

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