CSB Fade

[BatUtilityBelt]

I understand to some, this will be heresy, but I'm not a huge fan of CSB. I do, however, like many of the naturally faded CSBs I've seen in vintage years. So this AL-3001 is something of a problem child for me. Its action could not be better and its tone is just perfect for much of my music, so it is my default Les Paul, also having SS frets so I know I won't wear them down, but the burst... It's just not my fave.

I've sought advice from not Agilians, and as a result, this guitar has been on a stand directly facing the morning sun for over 2 years because a couple of people told me that would fade it. Nope, that doesn't work on the Agile CSB finish apparently, or I'm not close enough to the sun. I'll never trade this one because its other virtues are too great. Short of a refin, does anyone have any experience calming down such a burst? Thanks in advance.

[Partscaster]

Window glass does block a lot of UV-b light, which is the stronger "fade" causing UV. UV-a can do some, but apparently, not as well. You may need to put the girl outside in the direct sun for hours and days and months. I could have it backwards, but I just looked it up.

[mickey]

Know anyone in Death Valley? You could send it to them and let them put it outside for a few years?

[motowntom]

You need to "scotch brite" it. I have done 4 guitars, 3 Agiles and an Epiphone, it makes the guitar look much better without the Plastic look of the poly. There is plenty of info out there in regards to the process, or hit me up here if you need to.
Cheers

[BatUtilityBelt]

Window glass does block a lot of UV-b light, which is the stronger "fade" causing UV.

Now that you mention that, I've heard or read that before and must have forgotten it. Maybe I could find a cheap UV light and lock them in a closet together.

[mighty_duck]

Add a pickguard? You'll be able to hide about 20% of that burst.
Replace the knobs with something more eye-catching?
Or do what I did, and learn to live with it. Your burst is on the good side of CSB's, it could have been much more clown-like.
Look at a bunch of old Jimmy Page photos, and think how cool you look.

[Partscaster]

Window glass does block a lot of UV-b light, which is the stronger "fade" causing UV.

Now that you mention that, I've heard or read that before and must have forgotten it. Maybe I could find a cheap UV light and lock them in a closet together.

make sure your Blue Suede Shoes arent also in there,...or anything too flammable...just to be safe. I bet it could get pretty hot.

[Razzle]

I think the burst is gorgeous. Rathar than mess it up trying to tone it down, just sell it, and then go get what you want. Agile guitars like everything are going up and up. You can find what it is you're looking for.

[BatUtilityBelt]

I think the burst is gorgeous. Rathar than mess it up trying to tone it down, just sell it, and then go get what you want. Agile guitars like everything are going up and up. You can find what it is you're looking for.

It sounds like you're not familiar with a lefty perspective on this market. It might be as easy as you suggest to find such an alternative in the righty world, but lefty, no. That's why I said I won't be selling/trading this one - I have a near zero chance of finding a lefty 3001 (or other SS fret LP) with a different finish but otherwise equal to this one.

[tobijohn]

It sounds like you're not familiar with a lefty perspective on this market. It might be as easy as you suggest to find such an alternative in the righty world, but lefty, no. That's why I said I won't be selling/trading this one - I have a near zero chance of finding a lefty 3001 (or other SS fret LP) with a different finish but otherwise equal to this one.

I've got one of the exact same and I'm pretty sure both yours and mine came from a "one and done" run. I purchased mine new in May 2014, it was the last one in stock and I've never seen another one since, either on Rondo's site or in the used market. It was the second Agile I ever bought (the first was a CSB Harm, a month earlier). It also has in it the first set of @Buddha Pickups pickups I ever bought, based upon a strong recommendation from @MichaelR...

[Partscaster]

It sounds like you're not familiar with a lefty perspective on this market. It might be as easy as you suggest to find such an alternative in the righty world, but lefty, no. That's why I said I won't be selling/trading this one - I have a near zero chance of finding a lefty 3001 (or other SS fret LP) with a different finish but otherwise equal to this one.

I've got one of the exact same and I'm pretty sure both yours and mine came from a "one and done" run. I purchased mine new in May 2014, it was the last one in stock and I've never seen another one since, either on Rondo's site or in the used market. It was the second Agile I ever bought (the first was a CSB Harm, a month earlier). It also has in it the first set of @Buddha Pickups pickups I ever bought, based upon a strong recommendation from @MichaelR...

Do you remember when a batch of Agile csb's came out with flame that looked wide like tiger stripes? Those sure where beauties IMO.

[BatUtilityBelt]

I've got one of the exact same and I'm pretty sure both yours and mine came from a "one and done" run. I purchased mine new in May 2014, it was the last one in stock and I've never seen another one since, either on Rondo's site or in the used market. It was the second Agile I ever bought (the first was a CSB Harm, a month earlier). It also has in it the first set of @Buddha Pickups pickups I ever bought, based upon a strong recommendation from @MichaelR...

How am I not surprised you have its twin?
I basically stole this one from GC Used for $250 in 2018. Their picture made it look tobacco burst, you'd never know it was the same guitar:

But after I played it, I knew I could not return it, such a keeper. I have never seen another lefty 3001 for sale since then.

[tobijohn]

I basically stole this one from GC Used for $250 in 2018. Their picture made it look tobacco burst, you'd never know it was the same guitar:
Listing.jpg
But after I played it, I knew I could not return it, such a keeper. I have never seen another lefty 3001 for sale since then.

I'm surprised I missed that one, back then I was checking the GC Used site almost every hour...

[TVvoodoo]

Remember old agf member tsuykiyomi? is that right, somehow managed to take his burst into dirty lemon territory,
I believe by extra light and careful sanding away of the top burst layer, with very fine sandpaper.
The orange burst is applied over a yellow stained finish, and usually there is a clearcoat between the two layers.
I can't say for sure this is how yours was done, but the orange/red burst around the edges was certainly applied
last. So, if you are not faint of heart, theoretically with some elbow grease you could remove that orange finish
and reburst it if you have the HVLP gun and tinted poly/shellac etc.

But just toning down what you have? I don't know how that could happen. Maybe scotchbrite the whole thing to
take the shine off first and see if that pleases you? that is a reversable, you can gloss them up again if you want

[BatUtilityBelt]

Remember old agf member tsuykiyomi? is that right, somehow managed to take his burst into dirty lemon territory,
I believe by extra light and careful sanding away of the top burst layer, with very fine sandpaper.
The orange burst is applied over a yellow stained finish, and usually there is a clearcoat between the two layers.
I can't say for sure this is how yours was done, but the orange/red burst around the edges was certainly applied
last. So, if you are not faint of heart, theoretically with some elbow grease you could remove that orange finish
and reburst it if you have the HVLP gun and tinted poly/shellac etc.

But just toning down what you have? I don't know how that could happen. Maybe scotchbrite the whole thing to
take the shine off first and see if that pleases you? that is a reversable, you can gloss them up again if you want

Thanks. I'm sure you're right about the red being on top. I just don't trust my meager finishing skills to do a guitar top. I've tung oiled and poly finished a few things I've made, but they were not guitars.

[mighty_duck]

Remember old agf member tsuykiyomi? is that right, somehow managed to take his burst into dirty lemon territory,
I believe by extra light and careful sanding away of the top burst layer, with very fine sandpaper.
The orange burst is applied over a yellow stained finish, and usually there is a clearcoat between the two layers.
I can't say for sure this is how yours was done, but the orange/red burst around the edges was certainly applied
last. So, if you are not faint of heart, theoretically with some elbow grease you could remove that orange finish
and reburst it if you have the HVLP gun and tinted poly/shellac etc.

But just toning down what you have? I don't know how that could happen. Maybe scotchbrite the whole thing to
take the shine off first and see if that pleases you? that is a reversable, you can gloss them up again if you want

You would need to sand the poly down almost to bare wood before you reach the dye. Not for the faint of heart.
Tsu refinished not one, but two of his AL's. I wonder if we can dig up that old thread on momo.

[tobijohn]

bare wood before you reach the dye. Not for the faint of heart.
Tsu refinished not one, but two of his AL's. I wonder if we can dig up that old thread on momo.

I remember that thread and tried finding it on the old site but no luck. The back end is a mess, the search feature is a disaster and navigation defies logic and common sense. Some of the sub-forum content was transitioned to the MOMO site but several were not. By searching using my username, I could find some of my old threads but not all. Some member posts are available and some are not, seems to be hit or miss. I could find references to him in a couple other threads but any responses he might have posted are missing I think if a request was made to delete your account, then it seems that all your posts went too

[Longblacktie]

Both of Tsuki’s were awesome refins.

Refinishing is quite a bit of work. It’s not hard, but it is an art unto itself. If you put the time in you can get good results. I did a few myself but it’s not what I want to spend my time on, I’d rather be playing guitar.

[TVvoodoo]

He's still a member of mylespaul, shows up once in a while, if anyone cares to track him down

[nomadh]

I understand to some, this will be heresy, but I'm not a huge fan of CSB. I do, however, like many of the naturally faded CSBs I've seen in vintage years. So this AL-3001 is something of a problem child for me. Its action could not be better and its tone is just perfect for much of my music, so it is my default Les Paul, also having SS frets so I know I won't wear them down, but the burst... It's just not my fave.
CSB.jpg
I've sought advice from not Agilians, and as a result, this guitar has been on a stand directly facing the morning sun for over 2 years because a couple of people told me that would fade it. Nope, that doesn't work on the Agile CSB finish apparently, or I'm not close enough to the sun. I'll never trade this one because its other virtues are too great. Short of a refin, does anyone have any experience calming down such a burst? Thanks in advance.

I too have a viceral hatred for csb after living through the 70s and 80s. Of all the classic looks that's the 1 I skip. But I got to admit when it's right and subtle it can look damn good

[King Lerxst]

Assuming the top coat is a polyurethane, just exposing it to sunlight will not provide the fade you want, at least not for a while. As opposed to other topcoats (i.e. nitro cellulose) polyurethanes are UV-stable so they are not readily affected by sunlight. Of course eventually the topcoat will be degraded but the length of time depends upon the intensity of the sunlight the thickness of the topcoat itself.

[nomadh]

I think the burst is gorgeous. Rathar than mess it up trying to tone it down, just sell it, and then go get what you want. Agile guitars like everything are going up and up. You can find what it is you're looking for.

It sounds like you're not familiar with a lefty perspective on this market. It might be as easy as you suggest to find such an alternative in the righty world, but lefty, no. That's why I said I won't be selling/trading this one - I have a near zero chance of finding a lefty 3001 (or other SS fret LP) with a different finish but otherwise equal to this one.

At the very least don't sell till you buy the replacement first. That ought to keep you busy shopping

[nomadh]

I understand to some, this will be heresy, but I'm not a huge fan of CSB. I do, however, like many of the naturally faded CSBs I've seen in vintage years. So this AL-3001 is something of a problem child for me. Its action could not be better and its tone is just perfect for much of my music, so it is my default Les Paul, also having SS frets so I know I won't wear them down, but the burst... It's just not my fave.
CSB.jpg
I've sought advice from not Agilians, and as a result, this guitar has been on a stand directly facing the morning sun for over 2 years because a couple of people told me that would fade it. Nope, that doesn't work on the Agile CSB finish apparently, or I'm not close enough to the sun. I'll never trade this one because its other virtues are too great. Short of a refin, does anyone have any experience calming down such a burst? Thanks in advance.

Did you ever scotchbright it? I hink that can go along way to giving you that vintage gibson look.
I'm not a fan of csb either but that is a damn good looking guitar. Maybe call it Orange burst or lava burst to get past it.

[BatUtilityBelt]

Did you ever scotchbright it? I hink that can go along way to giving you that vintage gibson look.
I'm not a fan of csb either but that is a damn good looking guitar. Maybe call it Orange burst or lava burst to get past it.

No, I haven't done anything beyond play it and leave it in the direct sunlight. It hasn't changed a bit. I agree as CSB go, it's a good looking guitar. And the way it plays and sounds, I don't want to take any chances on liking it less because I tried something that didn't work out. So I can live with it. For "pretty", I can put it next to this lemon top that looks great but doesn't come close to how it plays and sounds.

[jtcnj]

If its the tits except for the finish / color:
Dont look, play man, just play.