Root Beer Finish Help

[axemannate]

Hey, I'm converting my Ibanez 1570 into a Root Beer JEM. The only problem is I am not sure of the right way to do the finish. LGM told me it's just a dark stain over basswood, but I'm still convinced there's burning involved, or both. Does anyone know what the "right" way to do it or have any ideas?

[bigdguitars]

burning?

what do you mean by that?

if you stain black then send back then add the brown that might give you the desired result.

this right?

[Scott Rosenberger]

There is a flame involved but it's not really burning. When you pass a flame over basswood it makes the grain show up. Get a scrap piece and quickly pass a propane torch with a flame spreader back and forth over it and you'll see the grain start to show up. if you do it too much it'll end up looking like a BSB Body or one of the Burnt Blue Satriani guitars. There's a fine line

[axemannate]

So I hit it with the flame to bring out the grain. And then what? Straight Clear? Or do I need to stain it and then clear? Also, what if I burn it, I mean pretty dark, and then sand it down? I'll test those ideas tonight and see what happens.

[duo2]

I would burn it, stain it, and then clear coat.

[Scott Rosenberger]

If it were me, I'd burn it then use a brown tinted clear to give it some depth