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I have been building a guitar with some of that Opportunity Grade rosewood from Allied. I have been pleasantly surprised how nice it is, and I would be comfortable using it as is.

However, Allied has a nice tip on its website about using Zar rosewood stain from Ace Hardware to beautify dull-looking rosewood. I'm generally a "natural wood" fan, but I tried some of the Zar on a scrap piece of the rosewood, and it's a pretty impressive transformation.

Now, the Opportunity Grade stuff I got from Allied is not exactly dull looking, but it's not master grade either. So I'm debating whether to stick with the natural look or go with the Zar.

So here's a couple questions:

(1) Has anyone else tried the Zar? or any other stain on Rosewood? How did you feel about the final product?

(2) If I stain the back & sides, what will happen when I sand/scrape the bindings & purflings flush?    I'll inevitably sand/scape the surface of the sides/back; will the stain (oil-based) penetrate deep enough to withstand a little sanding and scraping? I assume I want to avoid applying any stain after the binding/purfling is installed, or else I'll get stain on the binding and purfling. Not good.

(3) Any other considerations you can offer are most welcome.

(3)

Ive just made up a dreadnaught body using Allieds opp grade IRW...looks fine without any staining. Personal preference maybe.

The only thing I'd be a little worried about is how well the stain's going to hold up over time.

[QUOTE=Mattia Valente] The only thing I'd be a little worried about is how well the stain's going to hold up over time.[/QUOTE]

Mattia,

I could be wrong but I seem to recall that CF Martin used to stain all of their BRW to get a uniform product. This of course was back in the days when uniform coloured straight grain BRW was the rule rather than the exception. From what I understand Martin simply chose a hue and dyed the lot...go figure (pardon the pun) Anyhow, it would seem that a lot of the vintage BRW Martins were in fact stained.

Cheers

Kimlarkim38960.2709143519

The back and neck of every D18 I have seen has been stained - it will hold up fine. I guess Martin doesnt like natural mahogany - want it to look like rosewood without the cost.

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

stain it, cut the ledge and seal with shellac, then glue on the binding/perfling if you are worried.

Ive just put a coat of shellac on my dreadnaught back (Allied Opp grade IRW) and taken a photo of same. Will upload pic tomorrow.

[QUOTE]....taping off the binding is also a possibility.[/QUOTE]I'd be very careful with this. Many stains aren't impressed with tape as a barrier. I think staining and the cutting the binding ledge is more fool proof.

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"An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered." G. K. Chesterton.