Lets hear what you think on Gloss/Flat/Satin

[Keith Newell]

I'm finishing (like in polishing and fitting the bridge ect.) my latest mando tomorrow and just wondered others thought about the gloss finish, or lack of. I have taken the finish to a nice satin smooth finish and am about to polish it to a high gloss...maybe.
Do you think that a satin or non-reflective finish makes a nicely colored instrument look cheap, rich, mass produced or something custom?
I want to do a nice satin on it and figure this one I'm keeping unless finances call for me to sell it (better check with the Boss) or someone just has to have this combo of color, style and inlay.
I have heard that some people think that a satin or matte finish is a cheaper instrument because it doesn't take as long as one highly polished but I tend to dispute that. I go through all the stages that my high gloss ones do except the final buffing then I spend alot more time doing a 0000 steel wool and then a mild liquid polish that makes it have a sheen.
Anyone have thoughts on this? I noticed more instruments are coming from manufacturers like Collings, Gibson etc. that have a matte or satin finish.
Keith Newell
http://www.newellmandolins.com

Well, since the satin finish is generally associated with a cheaper instrument A9, F9, MT, MF, Quartz, A Natural. I think most of us associate a gloss finish with a higher quality instrument. Unless it's one of the Pacific Rim "dipped" gloss finishes.

[ShaneJ]

Regardless of price, I really like the looks of a satin finish. #As Dale said, gloss can be "overdone" sometimes. I love the workmanship and everything about the Webers I've seen and played, but I just don't like their extra-thick gloss finish.

[Bob Sayers]

My Wayne Benson artist model--not a cheap mandolin--has a dark red satin finish. The satin finish is one of the features that sold me on it--it's quite handsome.

Bob

Satin feels better if you ask me. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[Ken]

Lately I've been liking satin and even flat just as a cosmetic change of pace from all the gloss out there, but I've sure seen a few really tasty mandolins with gloss finishes too.
Ken

[tiltman]

My vote is also for a satin finish.

[Keith Newell]

Well, after thinking about it Dale is right. I'm going gloss............
Stay tuned for pics late today or tomorrow.
Keith

[mrbook]

I have instruments with gloss finishes and satin finishes, and I like each in their way equally. Gloss has always been associated with higher quality instruments, but the increasing number of good instruments with satin finishes has changed that. Most of the cheap instruments I've seen just have cheap gloss finishes. When I'm playing, it doesn't matter at all.

[JiminRussia]

I know of at least one performer that will not do a TV spot with a gloss instrument. His take is that the bright lights flashng off of the high gloss finish are a distraction from his playing. Personally I prefer the high gloss, but I do like the flat finish the way that the Collings folks do it.

[mandodebbie]

Why not a mirror finish? Or a glitter finish? How about painstakingly gluing tiny tiles or glass beads all over it? Make it an "art" mandolin!!! Hmmm... I'd better lay off this flu medication for awhile.:)

[Ted Eschliman]

Do not adjust your monitor:

http://members.aol.com/teesch/images/RigelFlame.jpg

Purple metalflake with "flame" detail.
(Oops, wouldn't be very original; it's already been done...)

[Eric F.]

Yep, show up with THAT at your next bluegrass jam and see what happens when you take it out of the case. Yowser!

[Rob Powell]

Sorry I'm wading in late but here's a mando to lust for in a satin finish...

Davis (http://www.massstreetmusic.com/show_indv.php?item=01775&img=1)