Pukulele Pete
Well-known member
I'd really like to get a Mainland Concert mahogany but I'm not sure if I want matte or gloss. I've never seen one in person. What looks best, gloss or matte ?
Mainland - matte or gloss?
- Thread starter Pukulele Pete
- Start date
UKISOCIETY
Well-known member
Here's a pic of my Mainland brood, with the matte soprano 3rd from the left. I think it looks great.
Captain_Lovehandles
Well-known member
My Mainlands are both matte. I love the look. I think, that after years of play, you may develop some glossing where the forearm rests on it, but to me that's not a problem.
euchre
Well-known member
SailQwest
Well-known member
Gloss. It brings out the beautiful wood grain.
iDavid
Well-known member
do they sound different?
brickerenator
Well-known member
hoosierhiver
Well-known member
No descernable difference in sound.
Uncle-Taco
Well-known member
Well, the important decision is out of the way (Mainland!!); gloss or matte is just details. I've played both, have gloss, like both. His gloss finish holds up rather well, if that is worrying you.
Valerie
Well-known member
I think it's comparable to a matte or gloss photograph.
My personal observations:
Gloss finishes will look a little wet all the time (like you just polished them) but they also show fingerprints rather easily.
Matte don't have as much shine, but at the same time I think it gives them a more antique, classic look.
~Valerie
My personal observations:
Gloss finishes will look a little wet all the time (like you just polished them) but they also show fingerprints rather easily.
Matte don't have as much shine, but at the same time I think it gives them a more antique, classic look.
~Valerie
UKISOCIETY
Well-known member
I think this is an apt description of both.
phanzo
Well-known member
Both of mine are matte. Sometimes I wish I had gloss for my concert but I really LOVE the look and the smoothness of the matte, so no, I wouldn't change it. Matte is sweet. Gloss is pretty, but I think I like matte more.
Thumper
Well-known member
Here's a pic of my Mainland brood, with the matte soprano 3rd from the left. I think it looks great.
Alan, could you give us the rundown on what those are, left to right? I can identify the cedar, but I don't know what the ones on the far left and right are.
Thanks!
brickerenator
Well-known member
spazus_maximus
Well-known member
Not to hijack this thread or anything but does anyone have the mainland cut away mahogany tenor? I would love to see a picture of one....I think that's what I am going to try & get after I get my xmas shopping done!
UKISOCIETY
Well-known member
RevWill
Well-known member
Just call it a wild guess, but I'm betting it looks an awful lot like a tenor cutaway Jenny but with rope binding, by which I mean "better."
Thumper
Well-known member
Thanks!
Here's a funny question: do the cedar ukes smell like cedar? One of my family members is very sensitive to cedar - it irritates her lungs and affects her breathing, so if the cedar uke (which is currently on my wishlist) has a strong scent I'll need to choose another wood.
Here's a funny question: do the cedar ukes smell like cedar? One of my family members is very sensitive to cedar - it irritates her lungs and affects her breathing, so if the cedar uke (which is currently on my wishlist) has a strong scent I'll need to choose another wood.
UKISOCIETY
Well-known member
I'll sniff my ukes when I get home from work and let you know.
Never thought I'd ever say that!
Thumper
Well-known member
Oh, admit it: you're a uke-sniffer from way back. I can see it in your eyes.
It's time to come clean - and remember, the first step is admitting you have a problem.
