Gibson style Tobacco Burst

[Beebe]

Does anyone know what the difference between Gibson's Tobacco Burst and Sunburst is?

I'm doing an all Mahogany Non-Reverse Firebird - Jazzmaster hybrid for a guy who likes "Tobacco Bursts" and a "darker" look.

Here's one Gibson calls Tobacco Burst

Here's one they call Sunburst

Here's the workpiece

 

[brookdalebill]

Though I’m no expert, the Tobacco looks “redder”, or more red.
It also looks better, IMO.

 

[Flyboy]

Sunburst is usually black/red/amber. Did Gibson ever do a sunburst, like a Fender Sunburst?

 

[Beebe]

Though I’m no expert, the Tobacco looks “redder”, or more red.
It also looks better, IMO.

It looks more red to me too. Mahogany can look quite different from different angles though. And the saturation of the colors in the photo can have a big impact.

Here's one with a Maple cap that Gibson calls Tobacco Burst.

 

[Beebe]

Sunburst is usually black/red/amber. Did Gibson ever do a sunburst, like a Fender Sunburst?

Never exactly like a Fender that I know of. Mainly because the Gibson would be Mahogany or Maple, and Fender would most likely be Alder, maybe Ash. And I only recall seeing two color bursts from Gibson.

 

[Beebe]

And here is a "Sunburst" that Will Kelly, Repair Columnist for Vintage Guitar Magazine, does on a Precision Guitar kit.

He uses only lacquer based sanding sealer, Behlan Starcast Amber lacquer and Behlan Encore Brown lacquer.

... And it turns out looking quite red in this video.

 

[Flyboy]

Back around 2010 I had a 335 Triburst, very much like this one. That's probably the only guitar I saw Gibson make with a 3TSB.

 

[Beebe]

Back around 2010 I had a 335 Triburst, very much like this one. That's probably the only guitar I saw Gibson make with a 3TSB.

Very nice. It's hard for me to distinguish between two tone and three sometimes. Because, at least for Fender, the dark edge is actually a semi transparent blackish-brown pigment that when layered starts to look black. And I'm not always sure what is a third color and what is a really light pass with the brown.

Here Dan demonstrates mixing the black and brown.

 

[Beebe]

Here are two in the same photo. This could be the answer I was looking for,

"...the vintage burst is a darker burst with less fade."

It's the edge, not the "burst" that is darker, but I get what they are saying.

 

[Beebe]

I experimented with a Brown burst on my first test panel. Turned out nice, but probably not for this project.

The client is giving me some creative license, but I'm going to attempt a more traditional Tobacco Burst on the next test panel.

 

[Beebe]

Just found that StewMac has a 2-Tone Tobacco Burst kit that includes three colors.

I'm going to start with BLO, a homebrew oil based grain filler, and mix up an Amber and a Black/Brown and see where that gets me.

 

[schmee]

Sunburst is usually black/red/amber. Did Gibson ever do a sunburst, like a Fender Sunburst?

The original Fender Sunburst didn't have the red. Now called "Vintage Sunburst"

 

[schmee]

Here are two in the same photo. This could be the answer I was looking for,

"...the vintage burst is a darker burst with less fade."

It's the edge, not the "burst" that is darker, but I get what they are saying.

View attachment 1073985

Yeah, many of the Gibson "bursts" were that teardrop shape, especially on the right in your pics.

 

[SacDAve]

This is video from Fine Woodworking goog ideas for applying a sunburst.
https://www.finewoodworking.com/2007/12/17/how-to-create-a-sunburst-finish

 

[clayville]

There are almost as many varieties of Gibson 'burst descriptors as there are Gibsons, especially as contemporary sprayers attempt to make a guitar look like one made in the 1950s that has faded in quirky ways 50-60 years later.

And a bit like describing Tone there isn't *really* a universal understanding of what to call all of these varieties. "A darker look" could mean almost anything, so I'd have the guy you're building for supply reference photos of what he hopes to see - preferably on a mahogany body.

And then... talk him into Shell Pink

 

[Beebe]

I mixed up a nice looking Amber using Gamboge Resin and Dragon's Blood Resin.

It looks like I'll be able to build from yellow to red with multiple coats. Hopefully approximating the Tobacco Burst SG in the first picture at the top of the thread.

Here's the test board oiled and grain filled. I'll spray clear, level sand, then Amber.

 

[Wyatt]

I'm doing an all Mahogany Non-Reverse Firebird - Jazzmaster hybrid for a guy who likes "Tobacco Bursts" and a "darker" look.

Everyone's option of what a great "-------" finish is very subjective. If they want something specific, I would have them supply reference pictures of what they like/want.

 

[Beebe]

There are almost as many varieties of Gibson 'burst descriptors as there are Gibsons, especially as contemporary sprayers attempt to make a guitar look like one made in the 1950s that has faded in quirky ways 50-60 years later.

And a bit like describing Tone there isn't *really* a universal understanding of what to call all of these varieties. "A darker look" couldn't mean almost anything, so I'd have the guy you're building for supply reference photos of what he hopes to see - preferably on a mahogany body.

And then... talk him into Shell Pink

He's being difficult and leaving it up to me. I've tried to get him to come by and look at some test panels but he just says he trusts me, and to make it something I can promote myself with.

He knows I do all-natural finishes and make my own lacquer etc. So that may factor into his approach.

I showed him these pics and he said he likes both of them. But then again he said he likes the brown burst test panels above too.

So I'm just going to go as traditional as I can.

Shell Pink would look good on this one.

 

[pipthepilot]

Does anyone know what the difference between Gibson's Tobacco Burst and Sunburst is?

As you say, your client is giving you creative license so I would worry too much about what the differences actually are. Especially when you consider that all the various names that Gibson currently has for bursts are all describing how the original Cherry Burst faded over time.

Tobacco burst is typically used to describe the late 1960 Cherry Bursts which used a different type of lacquer than the 58s and 59s. The new lacquer used in 1960 didn't fade but darkened over time. Often, guitars described as Tobacco Burst have little figuring in the maple tops, so had cherry lacquer heavily applied to cover it up.

 

[Beebe]

As you say, your client is giving you creative license so I would worry too much about what the differences actually are. Especially when you consider that all the various names that Gibson currently has for bursts are all describing how the original Cherry Burst faded over time.

Tobacco burst is typically used to describe the late 1960 Cherry Bursts which used a different type of lacquer than the 58s and 59s. The new lacquer used in 1960 didn't fade but darkened over time. Often, guitars described as Tobacco Burst have little figuring in the maple tops, so had cherry lacquer heavily applied to cover it up.

Thanks. I have a pretty good idea of what he will like. I just want to make sure I'm knowledgeable.