So Nick let me in on one of the things he's been cooking up on weekends. And it is something that he has quite literally been cooking: Nick had been experimenting with, and perfecting his own recipe for oil varnish. He sent me a short video of the result in its thickened state. It looks like some kind of black sludge, but as it thins it has a beautiful amber tone that imparts an incredible warm tone to the wood.
Link to the video
https://vimeo.com/user106562669/revi...277/00ef3c3d77
The board behind the guitar is the test board. The guitar top should end up that color with a few more coats. It hasn't yet been sanded or buffed.