Need Help Color Matching

[Philip Secrist]

Thanks to all of you who helped me with getting the stubborn neck off of a 1940s Gibson L-00. While the reset is underway I need to be thinking about how to address a damaged area on the back (see pic). Does anyone have color matching tips on an old guitar? The back is mahagony with a deep translucent wine red color finish. The color appears to be sprayed on (not stained with a clear coat applied). I can't tell if it was stained first.  I have heard that early martins had the grain filler applied without sealing the wood first. Did Gibson also do this?  Is anyone familiar with the Gibson coloring and finishing process back in the 40's?  Any tips on the best way to get a reasonably close match on the color?

[Philip Secrist]

Here is a closeup. The bare spot is flat.

[FRANK]

matching for me any way is hit and miss I am using aniline dyes and I mix in a clean cup and test until I am gonna go with what I got this could be the first time or the tenth time mixing color and testing . Air brush is a good way to test sample the mix I have made some great cracks disappear with an air brush even tackling classical guitar tops with success .I know you would like more specific info which I don't have just my experience good luck .

[Philip Secrist]

I am not real experienced at color matching finishes. It looks like the lacquer is colored to me. It is a very deep translucent reddish brown, almost wine colored. I am not sure but I don't think the mahogany underneath was stained. I assume it was at least sealed first and then grain filled or the reverse. What I am currently doing is making up a color blending board on a piece of mahagony that I will apply several coats of different ratio shades of red and brown lacquer on squares of the board to see if I can come close to the color (similar to Dan Erliwine's blending boards he describes in his finishing book). I figured I could use a board like this anyway. Is this the right approach? Any other suggestions or tips?