TA color accuracy

[cfrogan]

A word of caution:
I ordered my Atom based on colors that I saw on the TA website, in the Guitar Gallery. I ordered translucent cherry, all the guitars featured on the website in this color were gorgeous. When I received my Atom, I was surprised and I must admit a bit disappointed to find see that the color was nothing like the color on the website, it was many shades darker, a burgundy.
Granted, it is beautiful, plays great, sounds great but ordering guitars sight-unseen is risky, even from TA.
I suspect flash photography has something to do with making the colors look brighter but, let the buyer beware!

[akivisuals]

Are you sure your monitor is calibrated? If you're looking at an uncalibrated monitor whatever you view is subject to the interpretation of your monitor.... Not really a basis for color accuracy. Before calling out TAG you might want to make sure of what you're viewing.

[SonicGator]

Gotta agree with Akivisuals here. The colors I see on the web site are the same as I see in the stores and what my TAG had.

[dannopelli]

Same here. I have five now. Have been through 11. Ordered a few too. Never had a mismatch. And if I pair up any of mine to my Macbook screen they look dead on.

[mdrs]

Both of my TAG's are the same as I saw on my puter.

If the color balance if off on your computer screen, you're in trouble.

[drsmith]

I must agree with cfrogan. I also ordered/have an Atom special in translucent cherry and agree that the actual color is darker, i.e. less translucent than the Atom special in the gallery would lead one to believe. However, I am pleased with it anyway.

[LearnedHand]

I am going to have to agree with mrds, danno, sonic, akivisuals ... they look like they do on the TAG site and I have two GoTWs. Check you computer calibration. Also, red is a color that is hard to capture correctly when photographing.

[pipedwho]

I had a trans purple on quilted maple DT and thought I'd get a Cobra S in the same colour, but with a burst on flamed maple. When the guitar came in, it was more of a plum/purple than the royal purple I was expecting. Tom did warn me that the flamed maple is a little harder and doesn't take the dye as easily as the quilt so the colour may appear a little different (even though they use the same dye).

Don't get me wrong, both guitars are beautiful. In fact, this thread needs a picture to illustrate the point. :D The DT is trans purple, and the Cobra S is trans purple burst.

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/7658/p1010672qb9.jpg

[Mister T]

The colors on the site and the colors on my Andersons are pretty much identical.

[dannopelli]

Same here. I have five now. Have been through 11. Ordered a few too. Never had a mismatch. And if I pair up any of mine to my Macbook screen they look dead on.

To be honest, the Fireburst color is pretty tough to capture. Mine never did look like the site. Had a heck of a time getting it close when I let it go to ebay.

[LearnedHand]

I had a trans purple on quilted maple DT and thought I'd get a Cobra S in the same colour, but with a burst on flamed maple. When the guitar came in, it was more of a plum/purple than the royal purple I was expecting. Tom did warn me that the flamed maple is a little harder and doesn't take the dye as easily as the quilt so the colour may appear a little different (even though they use the same dye).

Don't get me wrong, both guitars are beautiful. In fact, this thread needs a picture to illustrate the point. :D The DT is trans purple, and the Cobra S is trans purple burst.

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/7658/p1010672qb9.jpg

For all those that like purple :o

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc154/LearnedHand_album/guitars092.jpg

[pipedwho]

I love me some purple!! :D

cfrogan, was yours an Atom Special, or a maple topped Atom? Post some pics too! :)

[sylvanshine]

First off, sorry that you are disappointed.

But even looking at the gallery images should have prepared you. There are only 2 guitars in there and the Cobra looks vastly different depending on the light.

http://www.andersonguitars.com/images/guitarImages/03,03,2000_12-21-24.jpg

http://www.andersonguitars.com/images/guitarImages/03,03,2000_12-23-22.jpg

[Thoth105]

I had a trans purple on quilted maple DT and thought I'd get a Cobra S in the same colour, but with a burst on flamed maple. When the guitar came in, it was more of a plum/purple than the royal purple I was expecting. Tom did warn me that the flamed maple is a little harder and doesn't take the dye as easily as the quilt so the colour may appear a little different (even though they use the same dye).

Don't get me wrong, both guitars are beautiful. In fact, this thread needs a picture to illustrate the point. :D The DT is trans purple, and the Cobra S is trans purple burst.

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/7658/p1010672qb9.jpg


Those are beauties!
The same thing is visible in my two Burnished Orange Burst TAG's. One is flame, the other curly. The flame maple topped on is much lighter and more orange, while the curly one is more reddish.
They're both awesome.

[LearnedHand]

Tom did warn me that the flamed maple is a little harder and doesn't take the dye as easily as the quilt so the colour may appear a little different (even though they use the same dye).


I was looking at a non-TAG quilted top guitar today and notice because of the mineral content in the wood the blue dye did not take as well in a certain area. I not saying it was defective. I considered it more like a pair of blue jeans after washing them a few times ... they develop character from the dye being released in certain areas and staying in certain areas. I think any translucent color is going to be affected by the wood's grain and density.

[tom]

quilt always stains darker than flame. it has more soft areas where the stain sucks in deeper. flame has more harder areas where the stain will be lighter. wood of all species has a range of color, some more extreme that others. mahogany is a pretty good one for color, but even it has a range. transparent paint both has a range from the mfg, and the person spraying has to decide when to stop. these can add up to a noticeable variation. all these together don't come close to the error that can happen in photography starting at the camera and finishing at the monitor. roy spends countless hours in photoshop with the guitar at his side trying to match the real thing to the photos we publish. i am sorry you are disappointed in the cherry finish but i think the two photos above show a range of color in different lighting.

[cfrogan]

I cannot figure out how to get the jpeg files on here but what I have is a flash picture that was taken by TAG of my Atom before shipping--in this pic it is almost identical to the color that was in the Guitar Gallery. The other picture (that I cannot attach) is of me playing outside on a flatbed truck and it shows the actual color of the guitar. My contention is that the Guitar Gallery pictures are taken with artificial light and what you see there may not be what you get. Might not be wise to get your heart set on a particular hue when ordering a custom guitar.
Don't get me wrong -I ain't complaining. As I said the guitar is great, an Atom the color of an old SG is still at the top of my most played list.

[cfrogan]

I cannot figure out how to get the jpeg files on here but what I have is a flash picture that was taken by TAG of my Atom before shipping--in this pic it is almost identical to the color that was in the Guitar Gallery. The other picture (that I cannot attach) is of me playing outside on a flatbed truck and it shows the actual color of the guitar. My contention is that the Guitar Gallery pictures are taken with artificial light and what you see there may not be what you get. Might not be wise to get your heart set on a particular hue when ordering a custom guitar.
Don't get me wrong -I ain't complaining. As I said the guitar is great, an Atom the color of an old SG is still at the top of my most played list.

[akivisuals]

To get jpeg files posted, open up a photobucket account and link the files here.

About your Atom color.... If the photos of your Atom look like the same color as the guitars in the gallery then I don't understand your complaint. It is not Anderson's responsibility to shoot photos in whatever light you are going to view your guitar with. The use of flash/strobe lighting is absolutely a standard when doing studio photography. Roy does a fine job of shooting the guitars, better than most non-professional photographers IMHO. Almost all flash units have a color temperature that is daylight balanced. That means it is designed to have a color temperature of daylight. If you look at your guitar in a darker room lit with a low wattage lightbulb it will look different than if you took it outside in full daylight. The photos that Anderson provides do a great job in showing their guitars. Saying that it's "what you see is not what you get" is off base IMHO. They are not doctoring photos to give you more quilt or to change the color. Granted, there are always tweaks needed to get color in photos more accurate to the real thing such as tweaking color balance, white balance, exposure, etc., but Roy does a fine job of this.

[tom]

if you're after the sg color, i'd order t red. cherry is more like the back of sunburst les pauls.

[dannopelli]

Let's take a CSI view here:

Painted/stained woods are going to vary from lot to lot or piece to piece. We all agree to that.

Most of the folks who posted here and have had custom orders done, (including me, I have two), have not had an issue with the color not matching or close to as depicted in the web site. But at least three of the postings, (including Tom and me) have pointed out that some colors may vary a bit. I spoke about how a Fireburst HDT I used to have did not really look like the one on the site.

Mr CFROGAN is happy with the guitar and its color. It might not match what he thought it was going to be, but he stated he is not complaining. He has the guitar in his hands and it does not look like the pictures he is looking at. Could be his screen. That is possible. But it is also possible that there are other folks preparing to order guitars that the screens may differ. Colors on my brand new MacBook are very slightly different than on my wife's brand new HP notebook. His warning therefore, is warranted. Many of us may not like it because our experience is different. But that does not, based upon the evidence, make it not possible.

So based upon the evidence, it is factual that the color of the guitar a person is holding MIGHT not match the web site that they are looking at. Tom even agreed to that. But it is also factual, based upon the evidence, that most of the Anderson guitars in use DO match.

Mr CFROGAN stated he is happy with his guitar. His exact words are he "is not complaining." It appears that based upon the number of posts he has that he is new here. So hopefully CF, we are not giving you the impression that we are "piling on" or not believing you. (Hopefully we are not!)

So welcome to the forum! We are different than any other forum you might be on. Most of us are members of few, almost all are on Gear Page and whatever amp we own, (Dr Z for me), and almost everyone says that this one is heads over them all. And we LOVE our Andy's and this forum too. It is like a brotherhood, (and sisterhood too!)

Good to have you around CF! Been a while since we had a such lively discussion!

Again, as I always say, when building a custom Anderson, Call Roy! I am sure will take this experience and add it to his memory bank for future reference.

[tom]

i love you danno. you always know the right thing to say.
jay, you're the man too. your only misconception was that the collings carve top is what a carve top made by us would be. i still love you too.

[akivisuals]

My apologies for the complaint remark...

But it is always a crapshoot when you are trying to match the color of an object to something you see on a computer screen. I work as a graphic designer/photographer and it is a constant battle to achieve color accuracy in print design and in photography. Matching color on the press to a computer monitor or printed proof is very difficult even on a properly calibrated monitor. There are companies that exist for the sole purpose to calibrate what you see on a computer screen to what you see in print. Even then, there are colors that are achievable on screen that aren't achievable on press (or guitar) or vice versa. The reason why I am so pointed in my remarks on the subject is that from the first post it seems as if the problem was directed at Anderson not matching the requested color. Sure, the OP is happy with his guitar and that is great. But I'd take issue with the fact that he pointed out Anderson not matching the color on his screen when it could very easily have been his screen that was improperly calibrated.

[guitarzan]

This all reminds me of the first day I went to pick up my first custom order from the Anderson World Headquarters. I remember thinking of how much money this guitar cost me (er... cost my mother, RIP) and I remember opening the case there in Tom's front office. Opening the case, I thought to myself, "good night, it's so dark..." I really wanted it to be a rich royal blue, but the Deep Ocean Blue Burst on the flame top HDTC was closer to navy and steel blue. I loved the guitar just because it was my first custom order and it signified my arrival as a real sideman :) but the color was darker than I wanted. I drove from Tom's shop back South through LA to my house in Orange County with the case in the back seat and the guitar laying across the passenger seat and my lap. Right when I was winding through downtown the sun shone in through the passenger window and lit that guitar body up like you wouldn't believe. The change in color took my breath away- and it was exactly what I'd wanted. I kinda get choked up thinking about that moment... I'm kind of a chick that way.

Yes, mos def... the flavor and amount of light changes everything.

[dannopelli]

Thanks Tom. I appreciate the comment.

Just trying to be logical.

[bud]

Just trying to be logical.

Danno, are you part Vulcan?:D Nice way to bring closure to a contentious topic.

Zan, your story got me misty thinking about picking-up my first Anderson.

Group hug everyone!

[pipedwho]

Danno, are you part Vulcan?:D Nice way to bring closure to a contentious topic.

Zan, your story got me misty thinking about picking-up my first Anderson.

Group hug everyone!
+1 LOL! :D

[dannopelli]

Thanks guys.

I just re read my post. I REALLY got to work on that whole PRONOUN usage thing!

[sylvanshine]

jay, you're the man too. your only misconception was that the collings carve top is what a carve top made by us would be. i still love you too.

I love you too Tom. But now I'm paranoid and more than slightly :o . Who did I talk to that squealed on me? I just excluded the usual suspect.

[tom]

you posted it on the forum here complete with pics:eek:

[sylvanshine]

Oh, that. :o Now I get it. I blame the Boston Market frozen entree I had for lunch for my slow uptick. 88% of your daily saturated fat will do that to a brain.

Those Collings are long gone. Haven't had a chance to play a CT yet. Waiting for the Floyd version. ;)

[cfrogan]

http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/qq126/cfrogan/Fredsaxe.jpg
http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/qq126/cfrogan/EssentialsIPC.jpg

OK, getting a picture here is obviously not my thing even with the helpful suggestion I received about PhotoBucket.
Yes I was starting to feel that I was in a literal cobra pit and thanks to those who came to my rescue.
The Fredsaxe picture(if you can see it) is of my actual Atom on the floor of the TA shipping department, this was forwarded to me by Jon from Wide World of Music in Nashville before I actually had receipt of my Atom. This color looks the same as the color on the TAG website that I originally selected (mahogany/translucent cherry Atom Special)
The EssentialsIPC is a picture of me gigging with the very same Atom. The color in this picture is the same as the guitar is in real life.
As you can see (I hope) it ain't about my monitor being out of calibration. I think the difference is flash photography versus natural light.
No, my Atom is not the color I thought it was going to be, not very close even. Would I want to send it back? No, while somewhat subdued in color, it plays and sounds great.
I would be interested to know if everyone who got a translucent cherry has one as dark as mine (almost the old burgundy SG color) or if I have a unique one-off.
Thanks for all the interest from this passionate community of TA lovers!!
fr

[cfrogan]

Wow, those pictures did show up! I did not think that was going to work--anyway--I think my post still make sense even though I did not think the pictures would be there.
regards
fr

[tom]

i'll stand by my suggestion that if what you really really want is the color of the flash pic, trans red would get you there. your guitar does look darker than most, but i wouldn't say one off(unless you want it to be one off;) )

[kccheers]

That guitar is Smokin'!

[dannopelli]

I think the real question here is,

DUDE! WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH THAT SHIRT! :D :) :D

BTW, Cool Geetar!

[dannopelli]

BTW, do you realize you got 37 posts, including this one, on this thread!

[marsodude]

I just ordered a two pup Atom with a Bigsby in Sage Green Metallic.

Yours looks RICH!

[cfrogan]

but trans red was not the color on the TA website--look in the guitar gallery at the Atom that is very similar to mine in configuration, it does not have the natural binding, but it is listed as Mahogany/Translucent Cherry. Most anyone, without getting into designer colors, would say that that Atom Special in the guitar gallery is red--that was what I was looking for as far as color, and that was what I ordered--I would not have known that translucent cherry is really burgundy and to get that color you have to go with some other name of red.
I do not mean to come off sounding angry--I am not. Still just trying to make the point that when you are buying a $3000 guitar and color matters, there ought to be a better way. (I will say that a Hollow-T that I ordered 10 years ago was spot on as far as color.)
that's all I'm going to say about that.
fr

[ConnemaraGuitar]

I get it! He wants to guitar to match his sneaks!

In all seriousness, I know it's disappointing to get something different than what you expected. My Cobra does not look exactly like I expected, but then I didn't custom order it. The glorious thing about my Cobra is the figure of the wood is absolutely amazing, which never seems to get captured in photos.

So, fr, I hope you enjoy your new guitar and can appreciate it's fine qualities aside from the color being different than you expected. I too, think it looks really rich, and actually prefer the "live" color to the "studio" color.

And if you wear a white shirt you might brighten it up a bit.

I like the photo of you and your band...it's a great shot!

[tom]

we do the best we can. red on mahogany is reddish brown, cherry is redish brown on a reddish brown wood. anything red is hard to get a good photo of so it tends to get lit up.

[ConnemaraGuitar]

And then, there are different types of mahogany, which stain way differently from one another. I have a hollow strat body made by USA Custom Guitars with a highly figured mahogany top on a mahogany back. Alas, they must be different species ("flavors"?) of mahogany; my first 5 attempts at getting a nice golden color were disastrous...the top would be perfect and the back would be very red. Or the back would be perfect and top would be brown. I wound up tinting the lacquer to get the color I wanted...