Bigwave101
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I am thinking of getting a Pono acacia tenor. Any opinions on satin vs gloss? Mainly, does satin really sound better? does gloss really hold up better? Thanks
every uke is different, whether satin or gloss. Phil has it. Go with what you like best aesthetically is my advice.
Good luck at getting this debate settled. Short answer.....thickness of the finish more important than whether satin or gloss!
Question for the luthiers regarding gloss finish: Does it make repairing cracks more difficult/labor-intensive? I would think so....
A satin finish will hide many construction flaws. Imperfections often won't show up until the ukulele progresses in the finishing process to the glossy stage. A glossy finish will show every flaw, mistake and imperfection in the wood. For this reason glossy finishes can be much harder to repair damage than satin finishes. If a glossy finish is done poorly it will often look much worse than a satin one.
With lacquer (and many other finishes) , satin is achieved in one of two ways. Usually, a flattening agent is added to the lacquer to reduce the sheen. In fewer cases it can be done mechanically by knocking back the sheen with something like steel wool or a scuffing pad.
There are also big differences between glossy finishes too. On most inexpensive and many production instruments, glossy lacquer is simply shot on the instrument and left to dry. These finishes will sometimes be pore filled but more than likely not, leaving the finish looking a bit rough but shiny upon very close inspection. If a mirror finish is the objective, then many more steps are involved including pore filling and multiple sanding and buffing steps. This process is very time consuming and can add considerably to the cost of the instrument.
A satin finish will hide many construction flaws. Imperfections often won't show up until the ukulele progresses in the finishing process to the glossy stage. A glossy finish will show every flaw, mistake and imperfection in the wood. For this reason glossy finishes can be much harder to repair damage than satin finishes. If a glossy finish is done poorly it will often look much worse than a satin one.
With lacquer (and many other finishes) , satin is achieved in one of two ways. Usually, a flattening agent is added to the lacquer to reduce the sheen. In fewer cases it can be done mechanically by knocking back the sheen with something like steel wool or a scuffing pad.
There are also big differences between glossy finishes too. On most inexpensive and many production instruments, glossy lacquer is simply shot on the instrument and left to dry. These finishes will sometimes be pore filled but more than likely not, leaving the finish looking a bit rough but shiny upon very close inspection. If a mirror finish is the objective, then many more steps are involved including pore filling and multiple sanding and buffing steps. This process is very time consuming and can add considerably to the cost of the instrument.