Guitar Finish/Polish

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HolyEvil

Posts: 1240
Joined: Nov. 6 2008
From: Sydney, Australia

Guitar Finish/Polish

Hi there guys, just checking in about guitar finish.

Everyone here talks about French Polish, Laquer(gosh I can't spell) and Nitro Cellulose(spelling?). French Polishing being up there in the ladder of guitar finishes.

I have a dreadnought by an Australia company called Cole Clark, which came out of Maton, and the finish is, in their words, satin finish. This is like they just made the guitar real smooth to touch, and without and with a nice matt finish.
Wouldn't this be the really good for the guitar's tone other than FP(for it's look) when compared to other finishes?
This is the website for the company.
http://www.coleclarkguitars.com/product_fl1.asp

I don't normally see classical/flamenco guitars in this natural finish.
Anyone can comment on why? (especially the luthiers?)

cheers

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 28 2009 16:37:51

Ramón

Posts: 440
Joined: Feb. 23 2005
From: La Jolla, Ca

RE: Guitar Finish/Polish (in reply to HolyEvil)

Most higher end guitars are simply the French polish technique of hand-rubbed layers of shellac. It's easier to repair, too - I'm told - as I have not yet had to do that.

Some of the newer flamencos are actually using lacquer on everything save the soundboard. The lacquer holds up better to body oils and sweat, and is a bit tougher for the harder use a flamenco sees vs. a classical player's 'abuse'. The tops are still shellac'd, allowing for better (generally) sound qualities.

'Matt' finish is generally a lacquer term, simply not as glossy, but one could go through successively higher grades of finish sandpaper, with either shellac or lacquer (you can go to 12000 grit!), which leaves the guitar more 'matt'.

Correct me if I'm wrong, builders with more experience. :-)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 28 2009 17:28:32

kovachian

Posts: 506
Joined: Jan. 30 2008
From: Americanistan

RE: Guitar Finish/Polish (in reply to HolyEvil)

Funny that you mention this, as my blanca has a satin nitro finish on the neck and I'm wondering how to replicate this satin look on an old dreadnought. I figured some really fine sandpaper would do the trick, but if a luthier knows of a sure-fire way to pull this off then I'm all ears.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 28 2009 17:50:26

Stephen Eden

Posts: 914
Joined: Apr. 12 2008
From: UK

RE: Guitar Finish/Polish (in reply to HolyEvil)

french polish guitars should always be shiney! the technique for adding the poilish and flattening it makes it shiney. and the mark of a really good french polish is great depth to that shine.

as for the mat finish. im sure there are polishes out there that finish matt. I've use some polish called master gel, a wipe on cellulose i think, that finishes matt. most of the spray on polishes have to be sanded back and the buffed up with some form of compound thats sands the polish in to a high sheen.

I have heard, not tried, polishes can be sanded back with 0000 wire wool to get that matt look. I wont try it though because i like shiney!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 28 2009 23:49:48

krichards

Posts: 597
Joined: Jan. 14 2007
From: York, England

RE: Guitar Finish/Polish (in reply to Stephen Eden)

quote:

I have heard, not tried, polishes can be sanded back with 0000 wire wool to get that matt look. I wont try it though because i like shiney!

Yes this works well on shellac, brushed, sprayed or french polished, and produces a very nice matt, if you like that sort of thing.

I'm with you, I like a traditional deep shine french polish. I think Anders has said many times, its the appropriate finish for a hand made instument. Spray Lacquers are essentially an industrial technique and in any case shellac smells good.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 29 2009 0:43:48