Matte Finish Mandos

[MWM]

I'm considering a matte finish mando but concerned about the finish holding up under heavy playing. Who's happy or not happy with the matte finish after a lot of playing time? How do you clean it? My forearm is generally in light contact with the top - no I don't want an armrest. I'm talking matte finish like the Collings MT or Gibson F9. I'd appreciate any comments. Thanks.

[Dolamon]

I have a few Matte finished instruments and they do get shinier where they are touched. The neck seems to be the best playing / feeling surface(s) of any of my instruments and the top - well it bothered me at first and then finally I got used to the smoother, almost mottled look. After asking the same question here which you did - I found a little light work with OOO steel wool - and or - wiping the top with Naptha to remove any accumulated oil brought the finish back to matte. But the reality is, they seem to look better with the flat matte to shiny matte contrast on the top.

Plus, if you're playing it, you can't see it. You can keep your instrument pristine ... or you can play it, and the matte finishes are a LOT easier to take care of.

[Walter]

I'm not familiar with naptha. Can you explain what it is, and how it is applied?

[Rosebud]

Yea i have a matte finish Weber. I really love what it does for my neck. I think you have to know your sweat glands. Ask yourself do you sweat a lot when you play. My hands sweat. So those polish finishes just don't work for me. but that matte finish is liek butter.
As for the top. well it isn't as protective. only two years into owning my mandolin and its all dinged up. But heck I play it you know.
Some peopel think it sounds better than the high gloss finishes. I would say your mandolin sound has more to do with the quality of the mandolin.
happy pickin'


p.s. are you really sure you want one of those gibsons?

[JohnD]

I have an F9 and like Rosebud says, the matte finish isn't very protective. I've only had mine a few months and the top already has lots of scratches - just from fingernails touching in the picking area. I wish the F9 (A9) woulda had a plain gloss top with the sides and back being matte (like some guitars). The top wouldn't have to be fancy - just have a harder finish for protection. If you get one, you need to learn very quickly not to plant those fingers if you want to try and keep it looking new.

Other than that, hey I love my F9, I'm not really knocking it - it has it's faults but is still a great Mando.

[mandroid]

Matte finished Godin A8 got shiny on the parts of the top I touched often.
Gibson A/F 9s dont have a very thick lacquer #layer intentionally,Part of the nice tone, no doubt, you can get a cumberlandacoustics pickguard, he makes them for those 9s.
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