PSA: Cool P-90 Special on ebay

[specialk]

Not mine and no affiliation:

http://cgi.ebay.com/1992-Hamer-Special-USA...5#ht_500wt_1182

[DavidE]

: FYI, the finish color is called T.V. yellow, and really not too rare on that model also the area on the underside of the neck where the finish is coming off is commonly called Hameritis not trying to be anything but helpful Mar-08-10

A: Hi, The finish is greenish in color and is not TV yellow. Limed mahogany was a finish option for this guitar. Regards, Steve

[specialk]

Thanks for the info, David. The back of the guitar was making me think TV Yellow. The front, if it is/was TVY, is sure faded to the point of being almost gone.

[DavidE]

Thanks for the info, David. The back of the guitar was making me think TV Yellow. The front, if it is/was TVY, is sure faded to the point of being almost gone.

Oh no, that's not me. That's what the seller said when someone called him on the color.

I don't think I've heard of "lime mahogany" and I've heard of lots of the tv yellow P90 specials turning green. So, my first reaction is that the seller is talking out his ass, but maybe someone here can set the record straight.

[specialk]

"Limed Mahogany".

[cynic]

Here's another one with the same story on the limed mahogany....different serials. Maybe it's legit?

Limey!

[Jim Browne]

When Gibson came out with the Les Paul TV models, they described the finish as "limed mahogany".

I have a TV Yellow '93 Hamer Special, and it looks more like a semi-translucent olive green. The actual color of the mahogany comes through the finish very strongly, as well, so there's a kind of rusty tan mixed in.

I also have two mahogany dressers from the fifties that look almost identical to this.

That's the trend in furniture finishes that Gibson was emulating at that time.

[Nathan of Brainfertilizer Fame]

From an unaffiliated website:

TV Yellow was developed in the 1950s to solve the problem of the color white, under the glare of bright television lights, overpowering the black and white television cameras.... One contributor to the story of TV Yellow relates a visit he made to the filming of a medical show in the fifties. He recalled being surprised to see all the "Doctors" wearing yellow medical smocks. "TV Yellow" smocks I suppose? Gibson developed the color for Les Paul's frequent television appearances although it is believed he never played a TV Yellow guitar (at least not on television).

The color appears slightly lime green but the unique feature of the finish is that while the finish appears to be opaque the grain of the wood grain shows through. The TV Yellow finish is limed but still very yellow. Do not confuse it with Limed Mahogany which is more lime green than yellow. In researching how the finish was applied I heard from two reliable sources that the finish was applied as follows. After the guitar was carved and sanded the wood was then misted with water to raise the grain. After drying and without sanding the guitar was sprayed with an opaque lime green lacquer. After drying the finish was lightly sanded and then clear coated.

[mirrorimij]

Its Hamer's TV Yellow any way you slice it. It doesn't matter what Gibson called it back in the day.

The newer Hamer TV finishes are more accurate in my opinion. The early to mid 90's TV yellow varied quite a bit but they were all supposed to be the same color. This happened with other finishes as well. My two Korina guitars (built one year apart) are technically the same color (called vintage Korina). Clearly you can see that they are not - the Standard has a bit of Aztec Gold in the recipe.

I'm aware of at least 3 other korina Standards from that era that look like mine.

[specialk]

Wow. Thanks for that, NOBF. I knew the story behind the TVY development, but didn't know there was such a thing as "Limed Mahogany". Guess I'm the idiot.

Still the Special looks cool to me.

[specialk]

Under an hour left for your chance at Limed Mahogany...

[cmatthes]

Hamer never offered a "Limed Mahogany" finish, not that it matters.

That is a TV Yellow or "TV Blonde" Special.