[Donnychops]

Has anyone ever tried to recreate this finish?

I’m aware of Vai’s recollection of how it was done. I’m aware of Scot Schwestska’s account of it. My question is just whether anyone has tried to replicate it, or knows of someone who has.

Both accounts agree that Bruno was once a regular multicolour Universe. Interestingly, Bruno is front-routed. This is inconsistent with regular multicolour Universes. Nothing to be read into that, just an observation.

 

[vy100]

Are you sure Bruno is front-routed? Universe MC had clear pickguards to show the whole swirl, but they were rear routed. I always thought it was a black/mirror pickguard installed to match Hendrix’s burnt strat that is now Dweezil’s.

Also the PMC prototype Thomas McRocklin used on The Audience is Listening vid had a black pickguard, but I don’t know if it was front or rear routed. No one knows what happened to that interesting guitar. Just dissapeared.

 

[Donnychops]

Yes.
I’m certain Bruno is front routed 😉

Has anyone attempted to reproduce the finish or know anyone who has? Can you post an image? Or tell a story?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Kyle am I]

Ibanez tried to replicate it in 2015, there are no photos publicly available of any of the attempts that I’ve seen

The original was a color combination sample- notice the blue on the back which didn’t make it to the UVMC.

 

[Rich]

Doing a run of Bruno was kinda crazy from the start. EVO is easy compared to Bruno.

 

[Donnychops]

Ibanez tried to replicate it in 2015, there are no photos publicly available of any of the attempts that I’ve seen

Oh, wow, I never knew that!
It would have been an incredible run if they’d been able to do it.

I have seen or read in an interview with Steve that “all attempts to recreate this finish have been unsuccessful”. This must have been what he was referring to.

The original was a color combination sample- notice the blue on the back which didn’t make it to the UVMC.

Oh, that’s interesting.
The red/blue looked to me like they were applied after the burn but then I watched that video of the 777DY barbecue, and so much of that yellow survived despite the hardcore scorching it got!

Kyle, thanks so much. This was great info!

Don.

 

[JsXLine6]

That is stunning! It looks like an extremely oneoffish sort of finish. It reminds me of a slab of granite. I know we are talking about recreating the finish... Which even if you know how it was done could still be a daunting task. I am curious to see if anyone even knows the process because that seems to be vastly different than any dip style finish I've ever seen.

 

[Donnychops]

That is stunning! It looks like an extremely oneoffish sort of finish. It reminds me of a slab of granite. I know we are talking about recreating the finish... Which even if you know how it was done could still be a daunting task. I am curious to see if anyone even knows the process because that seems to be vastly different than any dip style finish I've ever seen.

There are at least two accounts of how it was done but, by his own admission, Steve says he can’t recall what the true story is. He says he thinks he remembers taking a blowtorch and wire brush to a regular MC (it was not a regular MC as it was front routed - see above). Burning wood and following up with a wire brush is an ancient Japanese art known as Shou Sugi Ban. Steve was into it. It can be seen on the Root Beer and BSB Jems.

 

[Donnychops]

It’s probably not the case but it sometimes seems to me like there’s something floral under there, rather than swirled.

And the way a section is broken away to the wood is similar to a patch on an old BFP I used to have. It’s the way the laquer cracks over the paper and then the paper tears, exposing the wood.

Here’s a 360 video of Bruno.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1168625807415218178

 

[jono]

I thought that "we don't talk about Bruno"!

Or is it just me who can't get that song out of their head?

 

[Donnychops]

I thought that "we don't talk about Bruno"!

Or is it just me who can't get that song out of their head?

haha, yes.

We need to talk about Bruno.

 

[Leviathus]

I'm kinda surprised someone on here hasn't sacrificed an MKR to attempt a Bruno-esque clone by now. Maybe @Zoot could whip one up from scratch one weekend if he had a 7 string body around he wouldn't mind torching.

 

[Donnychops]

I'm kinda surprised someone on here hasn't sacrificed an MKR to attempt a Bruno-esque clone by now. Maybe @Zoot could whip one up from scratch one weekend if he had a 7 string body around he wouldn't mind torching.

There must be a failed swirl somewhere in the ranks, ready to take a torch in the name of research.

 

[Kyle am I]

It’s probably not the case but it sometimes seems to me like there’s something floral under there, rather than swirled.

And the way a section is broken away to the wood is similar to a patch on an old BFP I used to have. It’s the way the laquer cracks over the paper and then the paper tears, exposing the wood.

Here’s a 360 video of Bruno.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1168625807415218178

View attachment 20260

a clear coat finish was applied after the burn for the obvious reasons. It’s possible the clear over the existing finish made it react this way

 

[Donnychops]

a clear coat finish was applied after the burn for the obvious reasons. It’s possible the clear over the existing finish made it react this way

I found a new Bruno pic.
Do you have some insider info, Kyle?
I don’t think I see a clear coat here.

 

[Kyle am I]

I found a new Bruno pic.
Do you have some insider info, Kyle?
I don’t think I see a clear coat here.

View attachment 20387

it has a clear coat. it’s stated somewhere on the website. Obviously if it didn’t it would have smelled like burnt guitar, the paint would have continued peeling, would have smelled up the studio & clothes etc.

i worked/interned for Steve & co for a few years in high school before going to college. no other insider info however about this guitar other than being an avid jem/UV fan for around 10 years at this point.

 

[Ad_Astra]

Any pics what the Bruno looked like before BBQ?

 

[Donnychops]

it has a clear coat. it’s stated somewhere on the website. Obviously if it didn’t it would have smelled like burnt guitar, the paint would have continued peeling, would have smelled up the studio & clothes etc.

i worked/interned for Steve & co for a few years in high school before going to college. no other insider info however about this guitar other than being an avid jem/UV fan for around 10 years at this point.

That’s amazing. Great experience, you’re a lucky guy.

Once you wire brush everything, you could stabilise the remainder with several products.
Clear coat does make sense. This guy does a great job and takes the clear back from gloss to matte with steel wool and minwax. I think this is the approach I would take.

 

[Donnychops]

Any pics what the Bruno looked like before BBQ?

None that I’m aware of.

 

[Donnychops]

Somebody burned this 7 string prestige but it’s pretty tame compared to Bruno. Sealed with matte clear coat, too.

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