More reliable finish ?

rickengrowl · Post by **rickengrowl** » Sun Mar 10, 2002 4:45 am

Thanks Peter.

I have one more question, and it is about FireGlo finish on recent basses. From one bass to another, the dominance of red seems to vary much.

This one, in my own taste, is much too red :
http://www.gbase.com/gearlist/guitar_picture.asp?guitar=292794

while this 4003S/8 is perfect (still in my own taste) :
http://www.gbase.com/gearlist/guitar_picture.asp?guitar=376245

So, as it may have to do with photo quality, light, flash, etc., I'd like to know whether there are real differences between FireGlo basses while they get out of the factory. And to know what they really look like if they are identical.

Thanks in advance.

admin · Post by **admin** » Sun Mar 10, 2002 5:37 am

Jean: I will let Mark comment on this question in detail. Having said that, there are indeed differences in the fireglo finish over the years based on yellowing of the finish and differences in spray technique. To me there seems to be remarkable similarity between the fireglo finish when one considers that there are different persons doing the refinishing. One would expect some differences, however, as humans are involved! To my way of thinking this makes each instrument somewhat unique. Mark?

markthemd · Post by **markthemd** » Sun Mar 10, 2002 3:00 pm

In the first photo , notice the headstock is NOT the bright crisp red of the rest of the guitar/bass......

The second was shot with a bounced light source.It gives a truer color .

Many of the fireglo's vary over the years ...for the most part , the tints are the same old tints.But the sprayer is THE reason for different looks .

My favorite shader was the painter from the late 1960's to the early /mid 1970's ...Russ Chapman.To me and others , his was' THE' version .He learned from Bill Meyers, who may have sprayed the First 360-12 .I do not know this to be true , but as he is no longer with us and Dick Burke is NOT online , that info is gone forever I am afraid.It really does not matter .
The spray job on the 12 string that I bought from John Hall in 1972 was a terriffic shading .THAT WAS 'THE' fireglo .I am hoping that the new /current paint crew has matched it from posters and from looking at guitars from long ago in the 'museum' .

As a side note , look at all the variations at Gibson and Fender with their burst's ....it is not the materials , but always the hands that hold the gun.

When I spray 5 of the same coloring it makes it easier to match , but if I have to do this days apart , or months ...it becomes difficult .

There is much art to this bursting.Solid colors are a breeze,by comparision.I

rickengrowl · Post by **rickengrowl** » Sun Mar 10, 2002 6:18 pm

Thanks one more time Mark.

Both photos I linked are supposingly these of very recent basses. So I tend to agree to light exposition and painter to explain the huge difference.

What do you actually call 'THE' FireGlo ? For me, it's very dark red (almost brown) on the edges, while fading regularly to lightly oranged natural on the center of the body... And finally the presence of bright red is rather small. Correct ?

markthemd · Post by **markthemd** » Sun Mar 10, 2002 6:59 pm

The Red is NOT fire engine red .
It has a brown cast to it .There is NO yellow applied to get the fireglo .That is a process of the clear 'yellowing' .

Fireglo is two coats of red sprayed around the outside of the guitar . The way the gun is aimed, adjusted, and how the guitar is 'turned' to the gun , effects the way it looks.
Playing with how wide the fan of the spray is also a factor.
There was a lot of overspray when I worked there , you were only using half the gun pattern.

I take 5 parts Red tint and add one part brown to it to achieve the tint...sometimes more brown ,This is a walnut tint.

I add clear to it as the vehicle to get the right effect .This is a dye type material ,not a pigment.Pigment is not see through.

The center is just the wood.Always has been.The pink factor is from the sprayer and how they spray .

rickengrowl · Post by **rickengrowl** » Sun Mar 10, 2002 7:51 pm

Well, what can I say other than "thanks again Mark for your skill and patience" ?

sonicray · Post by **sonicray** » Mon Mar 11, 2002 5:38 am

I like the darker colours to blend more subtly. Those two examples seem to have quite a harsh edge to the red/brown tint as it faded into the centre of the instrument. It almost appears to be a stripe surrounding the edge of the bass! This is just personal taste of course and I am obviously leaning towards the finish of my own 4003. I think someone at the spray shop was having a good day when they painted it!

corey · Post by **corey** » Mon Mar 11, 2002 7:11 am

I'm the same way, Richard. When my 360/12FG arrives, I hope it's one of the more "subtle blend" ones. Naturally though, whatever it looks like, it will be mine and I'll get to "know" it soon enough.

rickengrowl · Post by **rickengrowl** » Mon Mar 11, 2002 9:18 am

My FireGlo dilemma is now solved : my dealer does not have FG 4003's anymore (all sold). So mine will probably be a MapleGlo...

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Mon Mar 11, 2002 10:03 am

Whatever they mixed up for most of the run of the Carl Wilson Fireglo guitars IMO was a home run..the color is very uniform and true to the 60's shading. Very pretty.

sonicray · Post by **sonicray** » Tue Mar 12, 2002 1:56 am

Now I have got the hang of this picture posting gizmo, I thought I would stick a picture of my bass up to demonstrate my comments.

corey · Post by **corey** » Tue Mar 12, 2002 3:51 am

Very nice. I'd be a happy guy if that's what my FG looks like.

admin · Post by **admin** » Tue Mar 12, 2002 6:10 am

Jon: You are right. The Carl Wilson Model finishes are a work of beauty.

rickengrowl · Post by **rickengrowl** » Tue Mar 12, 2002 10:42 am

In the very final step of my course to a new Rick, mine will be a ZeroGlo. I wish and mean to exasperate nobody, but the huge disappointment I had today definitely put me off buying any Rick. (see in Rickenbacker General section for details)

Since I don't have much to do here any more, I won't leave without sending thanks to all of you guys, and especially to Mark for his skill and patience, and to Peter for his great involvement.

All the best,
Jean Lançon.
http://www.jeanlancon.com
[email protected]

leftybass · Post by **leftybass** » Tue Mar 12, 2002 11:33 am

Peter: The wood that was chosen for the CW's was of a very high-quality as well. My 360/12CW has a highly flamed back. I hope the pickings for the 360/12C63 are as good.....I hope to splurge one day....