I'm struggling to find a suitable guide wrap color to go against a Mahogany blank. I am just getting started and am sure I will eventully buy numerous colors to have on hand and can then just lay out the thread against the blank to see what I like. Until then I need to minimize my purchases (darn wife!). Has anyone found a good contrasting colors on a previous Mahogany blank? I'm going for a quiet/classy look as opposed to a "wow" look.
Also, does anyone know if there are shows around the South Coast in Massachusetts? Thank you.

garnet and gold

Quiet and classy ... try Gudebrod Red Bronze Metallic. Looks stellar on that blank.

I'm going to try and get Karen Campbell to pen an article on thread colors and aesthetics for RodMaker based on the seminar she gave this past weekend at the ICRBE. The room was packed and she held everyone's attention. Her approach, from what little I was able to take it, is to let Nature be your guide. Nature has already put together good color combinations and if you find animals or plants with the base color of your blank, you can often see how other colors have been added with that to make combinations that are pleasing to the eye.

.............

Roger,
I've used dark green with metallic gold trim. This works well against the dark plum color. Havinh said this, I will also add that color appreciation is very personal. What appeals to one person, may not appeal to another. You've already seen that from the first responses you have received.

Tom K., I look forward to seeing that article in Rodmaker magazine-- we can use all the help we can get. My own sense is that the color of an animal's fur or feathers is for two reasons. First, to blend into its surroundings to avoid detection from predators. Second, the bright colors of the male (usually) is to attract a female to his" bed." I think biologists would say that it is to propagate his genetic material to the next generation.

Mike Blomme

Will you be using CP? As mentioned Garnet-Gold orSilver-Blk......Gudebrod Chestnut 5274 matches the blank very closely. Garnet-Tan-black-Silver is classy looking. Would encourage you to do some test wraps with the colors against each other. Its like mixing differnt colors of paint. For example, when garnet is wrapped next to cobalt, the garnet will appear brighter as opposed to garnet next to tan, where the garnet will look darker. Have no idea how many wraps i've cut off because i was too lazy to do the test wraps.

Gudebrod #206 is a good complimentary color. Their gold metallic trim makes a nice accent for such a rod; there are three golds, in different shades of brightness, but I like the one that has a more "antique" look for this spplication. Take a look at their online color chart. Also, check out the Madiera thread - they too have excellent colors for this rod.

Fish Hawk has some very nice metallics that might add a "pop" to the stick as well, but their silks might give a nice subtle look to it, almost like the old flyrods.

Uncle Russ
Calico Creek Rods

Something that I find extremely helpful is the Madeira Poly Neon Thread Card, available from Mark at @#$%&.
It's $6.95 and includes an actual thread sample of every color in the Poly Neon line. That way you can hold your rod blank next to the various colors and see what tickles your fancy:

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(scroll to the bottom of the page)

And when Andy's new color preserver is released (real soon now), the thread colors won't change at all when you coat them!


Walt

Colors boil down to two choices. You either complement a color or contrast it. Go to a hobby shop and get a color wheel. It will help greatly in choosing colors.

Regards......Doug@
TCRds

I'll second Jim Gamble's metallic red with metallic copper trim. . .I put it on an 8 wt GL3 in that color and it looks sharp. Garnet and green (non-metallics don't look bad together either). Good luck,

Brian

I have gone with chestnut without CP and really liked the stealth look that it provided, it blended almost perfectly with the Loomis crankbait rod that I build. I have also done garnet tipped with copper metallic and liked that look as well.

I understand what you are talking about. I have a couple of SCV's that I am trying to work up a color scheme for right now. I am almost to the point of stripping the coating!!!

Tom Kaufmann,
GySgt USMC