What are considered Clownbursts?

[Ermghoti]

Yeah, that's the one! What the HELL were they thinking

Sad browwn was a design phase in the 70's. Paneling, appliances, and polyp-looking guitars.

 

[Steven]

I have a Les Paul custom that is heritage cherry, and I HATE it when it's referred to as "clownburst". I like the three colors, and preferred it over standard sunburst.

 

[cosmefulanito17]

Same guitar, just different camera, HCB is a difficult color to photograph as seen in person, luckily in person it is always much more beautiful than in photos

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Image DSC-1766 hosted in ImgBB

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[Mr Hockey]

I never heard of a clownburst till I read this.

 

[cloven]

I have heard mine is a clown burst. But I love her just the same. Meet Lilith.

 

[hmesters]

Looking at buying a Gibson LP Standard, in Heritage Cherry Burst. It's the right weight for me, so I'm thinking about it. Would this be considered considered a Clownburst finish? View attachment 567154View attachment 567154M
My ‘53 goldtop conversion probably is a clownburst but best guitar I will ever have. Poor man’a burst

 

[skydog]

Whew! I can't be playin' with no Clowns! Thanks for your replies.

Why not? You’re having a discussion with them…

 

[DBDM]

I am a hard "no". That is NOT a clownburst and not even close!

Edit after thinking about this--There is a subtle, hard to define line of where clownburst stops and the various sunburst colors lie. The orignial posted guitar, in my definition, is no where near that line. i consider that a beautiful finish. Clownbursts have predominantly 2 colors with little fading in between. Pretty much red rimmed yellow. Like if a 10 year old colored a red circle around a photo of a yellow guitar with a crayon. In my mind, the disdain for them comes as much from the lack of effort as it does from them being ugly.

 

[landguitar]

Did you buy it?
If it had some flame it would matter less to me; I am just not a fan of plain tops. My first 2 LP’s back in the 70’s were plain tops, the first being similar to yours, a little more subtle in the transition. I have convinced myself that the plain tops made them my worst LP’s…oh sure they were Norlins, but at the time to me they were just LP’s!

 

[Mr.6 String]

Here’s a reference chart

 

[tremelo68]

Stick it in the sun for a while and that red will fade to a more subtle burst.

 

[judson]

op guitar not a clown burst. Sometimes cherry sunbursts look clownish in a photo but look great in person.

yes i have pics of my 2006 R8 that suck as it is difficult to get a decent pic with my crappy photo skills...i think the red gets out of wack with photos... have 40 fugly shots and maybe 2 that actually represent close how it looks in person...i gave up on tryin

 

[KS 5150]

Here’s a reference chart View attachment 568253

I posted that at the start of the thread.

 

[nomadh]

I had a thing against clownburst a decade before I ever heard the term. It so turned me off I was unlikely to ever consider even the most beautiful and well balanced CSB as it would just subconsciously gag me. Just the bad taste of the clownburst plus the oversaturation of any csb. I wasn't until I ran into a heritage cherry sunburst with a dark back (another typical dislike) that I was suddenly smitten. It just looked so rich and majestic and stately. I didn't get it at the time and ended up with a HSB that although beautiful I now feel is also an overdone color. Still I've never judged ANYONE else for what they play and I certainly hope no one ever didn't buy a guitar because of what they thought anyone else would think.

 

[Geronimo]

I love the Bourbon Burst myself. I've got Iced Tea but it's a dark one as you can see.

Bourbon Burst works well on these

 

[nomadh]

I wouldnt call it clown but not HCSB either. Looks like an old school ex goldtop refinish. Classic unhidden butcherblock. I like those and its a nice burst on it.

 

[Clocker]

Whew! I can't be playin' with no Clowns! Thanks for your replies.

Dude, BOZO could SHRED!

 

[mrblooze]

If you told Frank Zappa he had a clown burst, he'd simply say...

View attachment 567184

And not, "Who you jivin' with that cosmic debris?"?

 

[AlbinB]

It looks to me like a nice cherry sunburst. This shade can present well live compared to photographs. It certainly is hard to miss on a stage.

 

[DMBwire]