Best color for maple

[jkm]

Any thoughts on the best looking finish/color for maple?  Have been considering a custom build.  I have an affinity for natural maple, but some of the finishes really bring out its character.  I'm leaning towards the older-style 600 series with the honey burst or the new brushfire.

[zeebow]

Any thoughts on the best looking finish/color for maple?  Have been considering a custom build.  I have an affinity for natural maple, but some of the finishes really bring out its character.  I'm leaning towards the older-style 600 series with the honey burst or the new brushfire.

transparent blue looks awesome, ask michaelw

i personally like the brown sugar stain

[timfitz63]

I tend to fall into the same category as you, "jkm:"  my overall preference on a guitar is for a natural finish, but I've seen some 'legacy' 600-Series Taylors with colored finishes that really give it some nice visual appeal.

A Honeyburst finish has always caught my eye on a Maple guitar -- probably more so than Brushfire or the Brown Sugar stain used on the current 600 Series, although both are very nice-looking as well.  I've seen a 'legacy' 614 done in a dark cherry color that was quite nice; and as "zeebow" mentions, the blue stains that Taylor has used in the past seem right at home on their Maple guitars.  The colors that have looked out-of-place to me on Maple acoustic guitars are green and purple.  They're different, for sure; but they weren't different and interesting to me...

But I think if I was commissioning a Maple BTO and wanted to have a colored stain on it, I'd personally probably lean most toward Honeyburst.

[TaylorGirl]

If I get a vote, I vote for honey burst. 

(I am not big on bursts...I prefer the natural look of wood (let nature show its beauty), but Taylor's honey burst is my favorite, if I had to pick one. I also love Taylor's shaded edge bursts.)

[woodnut]

I'm not fond of changing the natural color of wood, especially beautifully figured Maple.
It was the main reason I did a custom build.
Do what works best for you.

[Strumming Fool]

I'm partial to tobacco burst:





But don't discount the new western burst:

[Edward]

I am partial to honeyburst.  It shows off the grain but isn't so dark that it obscures the that beautiful figuring. These are less than great shots, but this may give you some idea:






Edward

[zeebow]

I'm partial to tobacco burst:





But don't discount the new western burst:

wowweeeee

is your sinker edge burst?

i like honey burst too!

[TaylorGirl]

I am partial to honeyburst.  It shows off the grain but isn't so dark that it obscures the that beautiful figuring.
Edward

A great point. I think that is why I'm more accepting of honey burst, since I love to see the wood grains.

[Strumming Fool]

I am partial to honeyburst.  It shows off the grain but isn't so dark that it obscures the that beautiful figuring.
Edward

A great point. I think that is why I'm more accepting of honey burst, since I love to see the wood grains.

I agree that honey burst does not obscure the grain.  Western burst has the same effect, but its color is more of a brown to tan (earthy) than the honey burst, which is more of a red to gold

[Strumming Fool]

I'm partial to tobacco burst:





But don't discount the new western burst:

wowweeeee

is your sinker edge burst?

i like honey burst too!

No, my sinker/ovangkol has a straight natural finish.

[TaylorGirl]

I am partial to honeyburst.  It shows off the grain but isn't so dark that it obscures the that beautiful figuring.
Edward

A great point. I think that is why I'm more accepting of honey burst, since I love to see the wood grains.

I agree that honey burst does not obscure the grain.  Western burst has the same effect, but its color is more of a brown to tan (earthy) than the honey burst, which is more of a red to gold

Yes, the western sunburst is another nice one.

[jkm]

Thank you to everyone for all the replies and input.

I love the new western sunburst, though I don't have much sense for how it would look on maple.  I have only seen it applied to the tops of the new 700 series; it doesn't appear to be applied to the rosewood back/sides.

A western sunburst top with a honey burst on the back/sides is an intriguing idea.

[tenbender]

One of the first finish options for maple was called Honey Glaze I think, it was always my favorite.

Wade