Clear finishes?

Does anybody have any idea what the manufacturers are using as a finish over quilted or flamed maple to bring out the grain? For example, on my Ibanez SA160QMAM, it has an amber finish but with a touch of red to it, especially around the edges.

I have a friend who wants to use a similar finish on a dashboard made of some exotic reddish wood in his hot rod. He wants to capture the reddish color, which tends to fade to brown.

He's a pro body and paint man, so he can handle any paint, he just needs some hints in what direction to go. He was admiring the finish on my guitar, and that on the PRS Carlos Santana plays.