Stingray fans - opinions needed!!

[kwmlondon]

34 minutes ago, carlsim said:

Wow! Lots of comments, and some great ideas for the colour. 
I have been looking at the EB catalogue and I do like the look of what I think they call HD yellow? With the black plate and black hardware, it looks pretty cool… plus a solid colour will be cheaper! 
although I wonder what that would look like with a metallic finish??

I’m going to strip it first and see what the grain looks like and go from there… 

I will upload some pics of how it transforms, although won’t be for a little while as I need it for a few gigs first…

Look forward to seeing whatever you go with!

[brickers]

Tony Levin has a couple of beautiful peach 5ers - there’s a picture on this thread: 

 

 

Failing that I’d go for black or white but with a sparkle or pearlescent so it’s not totally plain

[carlsim]

thanks for all the comments guys… I went and saw a local luthier today - Carl Munson at Munson Guitars who is ten minutes down the road from me and with me stripping the current finish, he is going to do a very competitive refinish for me.

He was keen to do a natural finish (gloss nitro finish) and I do like the idea, but it all depends on what I find underneath the paint. 
he also showed me about a ‘dirty stain’ natural finish - staining the wood with a dark stain then sanding back to make it pop a bit more as a natural finish. I would be worried about it being too light and boring so anything to bring the grain out a bit more can’t be a bad thing. 
Will be stripping it towards the end of August so will update and make a build thread so anyone interested.

 

thanks!

[nige1968]

[Geek99]

On 28/07/2025 at 10:57, kwmlondon said:

Yeah, I like that aesthetic - either low-key and show off the wood or go full on Glam! 

I tried going low-key and showing off the wood. Didn’t end well…

[Geek99]

1 hour ago, carlsim said:

thanks for all the comments guys… I went and saw a local luthier today - Carl Munson at Munson Guitars who is ten minutes down the road from me and with me stripping the current finish, he is going to do a very competitive refinish for me.

He was keen to do a natural finish (gloss nitro finish) and I do like the idea, but it all depends on what I find underneath the paint. 
he also showed me about a ‘dirty stain’ natural finish - staining the wood with a dark stain then sanding back to make it pop a bit more as a natural finish. I would be worried about it being too light and boring so anything to bring the grain out a bit more can’t be a bad thing. 
Will be stripping it towards the end of August so will update and make a build thread so anyone interested.

 

thanks!

Yes - done the grain dye thing. He is right 

[sshorepunk]

I used this photo for another post yesterday

This is my USA MM sterling, I was sparkly purple, I stripped it and went sonic blue nitro

its not perfect, I couldn’t flatten the grain off in some areas even with grain filler, but its fine for me! 
 

[miles'tone]

Inca Silver is a great 'Ray colour...

[rodney72a]

On 30/07/2025 at 15:20, brickers said:

Tony Levin has a couple of beautiful peach 5ers - there’s a picture on this thread: 

 

 

Failing that I’d go for black or white but with a sparkle or pearlescent so it’s not totally plain

 

Beautiful they are indeed but these are not Tony Levin's! 😎

[brickers]

45 minutes ago, rodney72a said:

 

Beautiful they are indeed but these are not Tony Levin's! 😎

😅😂

 

well, all I can say is I’m jealous of you and not Tony Levin!

[Kiwi]

On 27/07/2025 at 17:56, carlsim said:

I may consider a tru-oil finish with a poly top coat for a glossy finish.

I've not heard of anyone doing this before.  Are these finishes compatible?

[miles'tone]

7 hours ago, Kiwi said:

I've not heard of anyone doing this before.  Are these finishes compatible?

As long as time given for the Tru-oil to dry off fully, then yes. It's essentially poly on poly at that point.