to stain or not to stain

[tremor100]

hey guys ive looked alot in the show me your bass thread. And ive noticed some stains on flamed maple look AMAZING.. but some of the ash corvettes are really patchy and look worn down. Especially with the nirvana black. Im debating what finish i should do with for a ash double bucker corvette. Some things im thinking of are... french violet (ive always liked dark purple and black) thing that scares me is if it will turn out more magenta pink/be blotchy. Black gloss paint with gold hardware... this is a safe route and looks classy... but like i hate how fingerprints and scratches happen easily. Purple heart top (would definatly be th most epensive option and might look wierd on ash since its so light then boom purple top.) Or maybe even burgandy red stain or paint with blck hardware. Bassically i want to know your opinions on some of the stains youve seen in person/ on basses you own. And tell me how safe it would be to get it without it arriving in six months and me being somewhat disapointed. Furthermore is the worn out look actuall FROM age and stains just fade... cause like i want this bass to last me for years to come and look and sound great. Also i dont have tons of money to just order another one .Opinions are appreciated thanks.

 

[avionix543]

bassemporium has a 96 Fortress with a stained maple body that looks basically new. The one's I've seen in person have all looked good regardless of age but I've only seen maybe 20 or so. Haven't owned one so I don't have firsthand experience. ~M~

 

[Vinnie]

I've never seen a stain that has looked bad.

 

[FMJ]

If I could... Id have all my basses stained. I reckon my Fortress's Burgandy Red stain, looks as good as when it came out of the shop and its a 96. Ive had it for over 2 years and I havent noticed any noticeable change in its colour.

 

[Lex]

i second that jono... my burgundy fortress stain was beautiful, brought out the grain in the wood

if i was going to go for a coloured stain again it would have to be burgundy.. like this one:

 

[Stroud]

personally for a stain i'd go for the french violet on a flamed maple top because it usually ends up looking darker and richer than when on ash

 

[Casey]

I saw a $$ at GC with the black stain... And I hate to say it... But it was the ugliest finish I've ever seen! It was rough and patchy and... just... ewww... I really prefer the natural oil finish

 

[Malk]

I saw a $$ at GC with the black stain... And I hate to say it... But it was the ugliest finish I've ever seen! It was rough and patchy and... just... ewww... I really prefer the natural oil finish

..and that's why i like the NBK finish on ash bodies, i love the worn-out look on maple it would look a lot more elegant for sure