Natural or Sunburst Top?

johnnykf · July 4th, 2008, 05:07 AM

When ordering a Gibson or Martin, AJ, J45, D28 etc if you have a choice, which way would you go if its even $ or a small upgrade charge? Personally I'm not crazy about burst jobs with too much black on the edges to the center. Martin Amberburst looks fantastic to me. Just curious to see what others tastes are.

RickG501 · July 4th, 2008, 10:47 AM

I'm a purist. I like the old natural finish with a nice gloss. Just me tho.

johnnykf · July 4th, 2008, 02:27 PM

Seems like There is an advantage with a clear top in that you can see all the grain, they probably use a better quality piece than in Sunburst

JamonHamon · July 5th, 2008, 08:11 AM

I have bursts on my electrics but not on my acoustics
But my next acoustic is going to be a burst

Westerly Sunn · July 5th, 2008, 09:41 AM

I have always preferred a natural finish on acoustics myself but I have see (pictures) of Guilds in Ice-tea burst that I liked... Even on Electrics, I don't like bursts that go really dark on the edge... I still wanna see grain showing out there!

Colt W. Knight · July 5th, 2008, 06:37 PM

I like Martins with a natural finish, and Gibsons with a burst finish. Don't ask me why, I guess that's just the way my heroes' gutiars are.

zombywoof · July 7th, 2008, 09:20 PM

If your talking Gibsons the only way to go is with a burst. The bursts, particularly those applied in the spray booths in the old Daylight Plant, were about as good as it ever got. Everything else - natural will do just fine.

lewis · July 8th, 2008, 08:13 AM

If it was up to me, there would be a constitutional amendment that every Martin produced would have to have the "1935" sunburst finish.

July 4th, 2008, 05:07 AM	#1 (permalink)
johnnykf Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 438	Natural or Sunburst Top? When ordering a Gibson or Martin, AJ, J45, D28 etc if you have a choice, which way would you go if its even $ or a small upgrade charge? Personally I'm not crazy about burst jobs with too much black on the edges to the center. Martin Amberburst looks fantastic to me. Just curious to see what others tastes are.

July 4th, 2008, 10:47 AM	#2 (permalink)
RickG501 Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Oklahoma City Age: 54 Posts: 871	I'm a purist. I like the old natural finish with a nice gloss. Just me tho. __________________ I know my words sound strange to you but if you wait til my song is sung and my story's told you might come to understand...

July 5th, 2008, 09:41 AM	#5 (permalink)
Westerly Sunn Tele-Holic Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: S.E. North Carolina Posts: 774 18 Photos	I have always preferred a natural finish on acoustics myself but I have see (pictures) of Guilds in Ice-tea burst that I liked... Even on Electrics, I don't like bursts that go really dark on the edge... I still wanna see grain showing out there! __________________ My white hairs had you fooled, didn't they, son? Yes, Sir! Ha! Drive on!!!

July 7th, 2008, 09:20 PM	#7 (permalink)
zombywoof Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Back in the Heartland Posts: 2,861 17 Photos	If your talking Gibsons the only way to go is with a burst. The bursts, particularly those applied in the spray booths in the old Daylight Plant, were about as good as it ever got. Everything else - natural will do just fine. __________________ "I don't play a lot of fancy guitar. I don't want to play it. The kind of guitar I want to play is mean, mean licks." John Lee Hooker

July 8th, 2008, 08:13 AM	#8 (permalink)
lewis Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,821 26 Photos	If it was up to me, there would be a constitutional amendment that every Martin produced would have to have the "1935" sunburst finish. __________________ "I'm a maestro, I'm a maestro," Taj Mahal, 8/20/05.

July 4th, 2008, 02:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
johnnykf Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 438	Seems like There is an advantage with a clear top in that you can see all the grain, they probably use a better quality piece than in Sunburst

July 5th, 2008, 08:11 AM	#4 (permalink)
JamonHamon Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 1,300	I have bursts on my electrics but not on my acoustics But my next acoustic is going to be a burst

July 5th, 2008, 06:37 PM	#6 (permalink)
Colt W. Knight Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: West Virginia Age: 24 Posts: 1,823	I like Martins with a natural finish, and Gibsons with a burst finish. Don't ask me why, I guess that's just the way my heroes' gutiars are.