Where/why did the burst painting start?

[specflec]

I have always wondered why Gibson uses the burst style look. I assume that it is about highlighting the contour of the top. It has become such a convention on so many models that I have to believe I am missing something. And of course, I realize that bursts are not unique to LPs and that some spraying is darker than others. I have searched around a bit and not found threads that address this...

I am actually a wood guy and find, in many cases, I am wishing that the burst highlighting was not there at all. Just curious as to the original thoughts behind going with the burst paint jobs.

 

[Deus Vult]

goldtops werent selling..bursts were an attempt to compete with fender and other companies

 

[monroe]

I think there were sunburst finishes before 1952 though...?

 

[Deus Vult]

the OP asked why gibson used Burst finishes. while the prototypes had a burst finish, the burst did not make its debut on a LP until 1958 bevause LP sales were tanking.

 

[TnT~55]

I have always wondered why Gibson uses the burst style look. I assume that it is about highlighting the contour of the top. It has become such a convention on so many models that I have to believe I am missing something. And of course, I realize that bursts are not unique to LPs and that some spraying is darker than others. I have searched around a bit and not found threads that address this...

I am actually a wood guy and find, in many cases, I am wishing that the burst highlighting was not there at all. Just curious as to the original thoughts behind going with the burst paint jobs.

AFAIK, Gibson had been using the burst finish on other models (semi-hollow, and hollowbody guitars). Some prototypes for the Les Paul had a sunburst finish, and Les suggested it be a goldtop to go well with his tuxedo (something along the lines of that), and due to poor sales, Gibson decided to apply the sunburst finish sometime in 1958 (I believe most '58s were goldtops). And I might be way off by the way...but I'm pretty sure that's generally how it happened.

 

[2manyGuitars]

Gibson (and other instrument makers) have been using sunburst finishes for around 100 years. In an interview I once read, they talked about how the maple top was necessary tone-wise to balance the darker sound of the mahogany, but at the time, maple was considered an inferior wood as far as guitar building. They wanted to cover it up with something and thought "what's more classy than gold?" and so the Goldtop was born. As stated by others, after declining sales numbers, Gibson decided to try something to revamp the Les Paul and the good 'ol sunburst finish was just one of several changes.

 

[specflec]

Thanks for all the responses. So, I take it that the bursts were for sales increases and Gibson - and others - knew how to do it , so why not. I find it interesting that some are so pronounced - as in, dark - and others are barely there. I am not a huge fan of the pattern as a whole - as I said, I like the wood and find the darkened areas distracting - but far better than sparkles and lighting bolts.

For 2manyGuitars - Is your avatar a burst? If not, what is the finish? Sure is pretty.

 

[Scarab Exec]

The guitar in the avatar has a finish that's supposed to simulate a burst that has faded.

 

[Deus Vult]

.

 

[2manyGuitars]

For 2manyGuitars - Is your avatar a burst? If not, what is the finish? Sure is pretty.

Did someone say "photo"?

2001 Classic Plus in Trans-Amber

 

[specflec]

Oh, yeah... That's what I'm talking about. Is there a burst in this beautiful top? Thanks for the pic!

 

[Nick59]

I asked a similar question a while ago - I was wondering whether the burst effect simulated the wear on a painted guitar - why else paint just the edges, and fade it into the non-painted centre? The style was used long before the Les Paul, but it is the original purpose of it that still puzzles me. More research needed, I think.

 

[rumbling_groover]

The style was used long before the Les Paul, but it is the original purpose of it that still puzzles me. More research needed, I think.

That's a great question. What was the original purpose of the burst finish on a guitar?

I think it was to show off the technical capability of the finishers. This is just pure speculation on my part however.

 

[specflec]

Maybe this question comes from my theatrical experiences - the shadow areas could be used to highlight the curvature in the tops under stage lights - like making up your face so stage lights won't make you look washed out? The bursts seem to generally occur in the "low" areas.

Just an uninformed guess...

 

[rumbling_groover]

to highlight the curvature in the tops

I like that one.

 

[Inside Guy]

I look at it from a production point of view, and I would break it down like this:

Ebony Finish - Use with C grade wood

Sunburst Finish - Use with B grade wood - (almost perfect but the outer burst color can hide a defect)

Natural Finish - Wood has to be Void free. A Grade wood

This criteria is different today, but back on the 20's-50's the sunburst filled a need for a lot of wood that may have needed to be scrapped, or sprayed Ebony if it werent for a sunburst color.

 

[specflec]

I look at it from a production point of view, and I would break it down like this:

Ebony Finish - Use with C grade wood

Sunburst Finish - Use with B grade wood - (almost perfect but the outer burst color can hide a defect)

Natural Finish - Wood has to be Void free. A Grade wood

This criteria is different today, but back on the 20's-50's the sunburst filled a need for a lot of wood that may have needed to be scrapped, or sprayed Ebony if it werent for a sunburst color.

That makes sense. A burst could hide a blem in the wood but the blem would be minor? So Ebony Customs maybe lower grade wood on the top? Or maybe "lower" is not a correct term. "Not as pretty?" Is the grading of the wood mainly about cosmetics or is there sonic considerations?

Thanks for the thoughts on this. I find it interesting.

 

[Inside Guy]

That makes sense. A burst could hide a blem in the wood but the blem would be minor? So Ebony Customs maybe lower grade wood on the top? Or maybe "lower" is not a correct term. "Not as pretty?" Is the grading of the wood mainly about cosmetics or is there sonic considerations?

Thanks for the thoughts on this. I find it interesting.

Someone told me years ago (and I am paraphrasing here and I dont know if it's true) that years ago Fender had a saying: "We dont make Black guitars....they end up painted Black".

As far as Tone....If a piece of wood is ugly or has mineral streaks that doesnt mean it wont sound good, especially on a Les Paul.

 

[specflec]

Thanks to all who offered info. I find this to be really interesting - of all choices, why the burst pattern? I still think it has to do with the shape of the top - at least in part, but it's great to learn more about all this.

Cheers

 

[dpowell]

Long time listener, first time caller here. I heard the burst finish was originally developed to simulate the look of an old violin or other stringed instrument as the varnish on the edges darkens with age. The cherry sunburst on Les Pauls was a modernization of the old Gibson L-5 black-to-natural sunburst.