My Emerald Green Martin D curly maple I had built for me back in 1999 has faded into somewhat of a Yellow-Green-Olive color over the years (underneath on the bottom it's Green as the "Grass at Home"). Since I have used my Walnut Martin C on mostly all my Gigs, this one sits on a shelf in my well-lit recording studio (no direct sunlight, though) mostly all the time. Although I am getting used to (& even liking) the "new color" my D-Box has evolved too, I was wondering if any one else has encountered this with any of your "Colored" boxes ? Funny thing, the Amber curly maple Bb Box Jr. made me in 2000 doesn't seem to have faded at all, & it has sat on the same shelf as my D-box for the same period of time. Is color-fading of these Boxes dependent on the particular type of color I wonder ? Thanks.

Likely cause is that they use an alcohol or water based analine dye with no UV inhibitors and no UV inhibitors in the clear finish.

Goes along with butted joints.

Thanks for the reply - I wonder if through experience, the builders have since improved on this fading thing. Although I have grown to pretty much like the more "Vintage" Yellow-Green/Olive look my D Martin Box has now, whenever I look underneath where the original Green color is still intact, I get a little queasy, cause I had my heart set on that beautiful Emerald Green color. Serves me right to keep it out of its case all the time. However, the Trade Off is that the box gets practiced on regularly, being that it is out in the open in plain sight, right ?
Yeah, the "Butt-Joint" thing has always puzzled me - especially since my little beater Ariette-C (Chy-na) box is beautifully Mitred, both front & back. However, after thinking long & hard about this, I think I finally figured it out. Perhaps "Butt-Joints" on Cajun Accordeons have proven to be stronger than Mitred, so's that they can hold up to "Standin' On 'Em", like Marc once proved.

Some folks have also used food dyes, which fade quite a bit over time.