Chameleon Cobra S?

[robberns]

Just checking to make sure I am not losing my mind.
I just purchased a used Hollow Cobra S off ebay from a very nice fellow in PA. Description from the ad and the SN search (05-17-03N) says it is Dark Cherry Burst with Binding. Pics from the seller make it look that way.
I picked it up at UPS and opened the case. It does not look like Cherry Burst at all. It would be Honey Burst in my mind (looking at the finish examaples on TAG website).
Don't get me wrong, it is a wonderful guitar. I'm just perplexed at the color change between the images the seller provided and when I received the guitar.
I'm wondering if the SN plate could be incorrect?
Ebay image on left, my image on right.
Thoughts from the peanut gallery?
http://s34.photobucket.com/albums/d103/robberns/Guitars/?action=view&current=CobraS.jpg&refPage=&imgAnch=imgAnch1

[Suriel Zayas]

the grain and flame are identical. :confused: this is as perplexing as guitarzan's radioactive glowing guitar. :eek:

[olectric]

the ebay image is the one that is way off. looks lke they either used a funky setting on their digital camera (like tungsten lighting or something) or hit the "enhance" button on a cheap photo application (like iPhoto).

yours looks like a true dark cherry burst to me. put the images next to one from the TAG guitar gallery (http://www.andersonguitars.com/newsite/gallery.cfm). the seller's pic looks way too orange to me to be dark cherry burst.

make sure you select DARK cherry burst and not just cherry burst from the guitar gallery finish list. those are very different.

[tom]

the ebay photo is a bad photo. our dark cherry burst is not as red as the regular cherry burst. your photo looks pretty good on this computer. screens vary greatly.

[robberns]

Thanks to all for the feedback.
I agree, the ebay photo must have had a white balance problem. You can see it in the pickup rings, which should be cream, not white.
In any case, a beautiful guitar to keep my other 3 TAG's company.

[the lace]

Could just be the age old flash/natural light phenomenon.....

I've had that on many andys and PRS. Flame and colour are very difficult to capture in pics with high end guitars, as the best of them have that 3D thing going on where they look completely different from different angles

[dannopelli]

I have had that happen too. It is REALLY hard to capture a Fireburst properly.

Regardless, that sure is one purty geetar!

[andersonguy]

The difference between using a flash or not perhaps?
Flash seems to bring out the reds in a guitar top...

RC

[robberns]

I don't even think it is a flash issue, because the image I took was taken with flash.
I think it is a white balance issue, i.e., color of white.
Either way, it's a nice axe!