Why does Gibson's Wine Red color appear blotchy on maple?

[crunchee]

This has always gotten my curiosity going, especially when I see a lighter color factory Trans Cherry finish on a LP...Trans Cherry tops look great, Cherry Sunburst tops look nice, but I've always thought that Gibson's Wine Red looks blotchy and uneven on maple, on no matter what model guitar. I've even tried to take into account that Wine Red might have been used more often on 'lower grade' maple tops, as far as wood grain goes, but even that doesn't seem to explain the unevenness of the color sometimes, IMO. Is there some type of wood staining involved during the finishing process, that makes this more evident with Wine Red, and not with other colors? Does anybody know, or have noticed this, too? BTW, Wine Red makes mahogany look darker than a Trans Cherry finish, but I've never seen the blotchiness on mahogany that shows up on maple. TIA!

[Feynman]

I don't know the answer to your question, but I have always thought that's the only red I like on guitars. Wine Red LPs are a good look to me.

[DaveL]

I think it's the tops. I am going to guess that even if a model, say a studio, uses the same grade top,

they probably will choose the one with the lesser top to shoot in wine...

[Len]

Not sure ... what do you guys think?

[Feynman]

I think it's perfect.

[crunchee]

There's some dark areas on the maple IMO, but camera flash doesn't necessarily help.

[Armitage]

Maple can be hard to stain evenly... is the wine a stain or a colored finish?

[gtone]

Imagine it's stain as some woods just don't "take" stains very well. Maple and poplar come to mind in that regard.

[tomteriffic]

Not sure ... what do you guys think?

OK, $351, but that's it.

[Hfan]

Not sure ... what do you guys think?

I like it..what model is it? I have a Wine Red 93 Studio that has a more opaque finish, can hardly see the grain. Great guitar though, need to take a picture of it one day.

[Len]

1975 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe ... Mini Hums changed out for a pair of Smokin' P90's from a GCS R4 ... 10lbs 4oz

[cmatthes]

Imagine it's stain as some woods just don't "take" stains very well. Maple and poplar come to mind in that regard.

Maple can be hard to stain evenly... is the wine a stain or a colored finish?

It's not a stained finish. Trans Wine Red color and clearcoat.

[Armitage]

Ok... I'm having trouble figuring out what you're saying there... I think you're saying; it IS a stain then a clear coat... but I'm not sure.

[Steve Haynie]

Chris said it is not a stain.

Those finishes do look splotchy to me, too.

[ptm1diver]

Is it grain filler, base clear, red wine tint, clear top coat, or just a crappy finish job.

[crunchee]

I don't think it's grain filler, as you shouldn't have to use it on maple...and the splotchy appearance of Wine Red ONLY seems to show up on maple, IMO.