How do I get this color?

Hey All/ How do I get this color on a curly maple body i've just picked up. I'm OK with the edging and I'll get some scrap maple at home depot or something to practice on, but is this a water based dye or a stain or what? Before I start samples on the scrap piece, I'd like to be barking up the right tree.
Thanks!
http://i.ebayimg.com/11/!Bb8rN+!Bmk~$(KGrHqYH-DIEq0k1GFk!BKyUfDwtSQ~~_3.JPG

You can use either a water-based or solvent based dye, but NOT a stain. Technically, they are different. Stain have pigment granules in them, however microscopic they may be. They can be very blotchy when applied, as the granules tend to pool. They are a SUSPENSION, not a liquid. Dyes are a chemically-colored liquid, NOT a suspension, and will absorb like any liquid.

First of all, the color: you will need yellow, red and brown to mix what you have there. I would say equal parts red and yellow, and a bit of brown just to tone it down. Test on scrap maple, let it dry and clear-coat with a little spray lacquer or even clear nail polish (which is mostly nitro lacquer) to test the final result.

Here's a hint: make the stain a little darker than you'd like it. You want to make it a bit dull-looking before lacquering. Then, tint the nitro lacquer (I DO hope you are using nitro!) with a little yellow and a touch of red, enough for a vintage amber look (which will also look nice on the faux binding area). When that tint hits the dull top, you will see some serious flame popping! The slightly-darker dye will accentuate the grain, while the tinted top coat (technically called a "shader") will brighten it and really showcase whatever woodgrain the top has to offer.

How about these?

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Finishing_supplies/Colors,_tints,_and_stains/ColorTone_Concentrated_Liquid_Stain.html

Would they work? I'm thinking of the amber stain. You can mix them with pretty much any finish.

tbof

How about these?

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Finishing_supplies/Colors,_tints,_and_stains/ColorTone_Concentrated_Liquid_Stain.html

Would they work? I'm thinking of the amber stain. You can mix them with pretty much any finish.

tbof

Those are perfectly good stains, BUT.....everyone's idea of "vintage amber" is different. The last time I purchased a dye with that color name it was downright orange, and I wound up mixing my own anyway. Get the red, yellow and medium brown and balance it out yourself. Or get the vintage amber and wing it, but you will need it for the top AND the lacquer shader coats, which have different requirements. You need more brown for the wood and little to no brown for the lacquer. I know that they are a bit pricey, but who ever said that nice finishes came cheap?

Hey jrfrond,
The folks who built and finished that guitar got back to me and said the mixed stewmac's vintage amper with solvent/alchoal sprayed 2 coats and then hit it with the clear coat.
I do subscribe to your train of thought though, I went to guitar reranch and got yellow, medium brown and scarlet dyes. 1 oz. bottles, less than half the price of stewmac, there's are 2 oz., and I got a can of nitro based tinted laquer. I'm thinking this will get the color I'm looking for. Obviousley I'll practice on some scrap, with the laquer.
After I get the color right, with the dye and alchoal, should I apply the dye like the stew mac direction, they used waterbased here. http://www.stewmac.com/freeinfo/Finishing/Colors,_stains/a-blueguitar_1.html
Will it be aplied the same way, just with solvent base? And after I put a can of the tinted laquer on I'll still hit it with another can of nitro.
I plan on doing the edging like the tutorial teaches as well.
Please leat me know what you all think.
Thanks, Dave

Hey jrfrond,
The folks who built and finished that guitar got back to me and said the mixed stewmac's vintage amper with solvent/alchoal sprayed 2 coats and then hit it with the clear coat.
I do subscribe to your train of thought though, I went to guitar reranch and got yellow, medium brown and scarlet dyes. 1 oz. bottles, less than half the price of stewmac, there's are 2 oz., and I got a can of nitro based tinted laquer. I'm thinking this will get the color I'm looking for. Obviousley I'll practice on some scrap, with the laquer.
After I get the color right, with the dye and alchoal, should I apply the dye like the stew mac direction, they used waterbased here. http://www.stewmac.com/freeinfo/Finishing/Colors,_stains/a-blueguitar_1.html
Will it be aplied the same way, just with solvent base? And after I put a can of the tinted laquer on I'll still hit it with another can of nitro.
I plan on doing the edging like the tutorial teaches as well.
Please leat me know what you all think.
Thanks, Dave

PM sent Dave.