Question about guitar finish colors

seeirwin · January 2011

Most builders these days seem to give their guitars an orangish or amber vintage-colored finish (not a distressed finish) on their spruce-topped guitars. I'm guessing the original Selmers, Busatos, etc. had more of clear finish and the guitars were more the white color of the spruce. Was that the case?

If so, how long does it take a guitar to acquire the darker patina in its finish (and why does it happen)?

Also, will today's guitars that have a much darker "vintage" finish color look silly in 40 years as the finish further darkens?

Thanks in advance.