Re: Varnish vs. Lacquer?
I have hand-applied spirit varnish on my best mandolin. I have very thin hand-sprayed nitro lacquer on my (only) guitar. Both look nice although the varnish is shinier than the lacquer.
After a year of daily play the guitar's finish showed a very slight clouding where my forearm rests. After a year of daily play the mandolin's finish shows no effect from where I touch it.
That said, both finishes are somewhat delicate compared to a good catalyzed lacquer or poly finish like you'd find on many factory instruments. Even thinly applied the poly is nigh bulletproof. If staying pristine is important to you it's hard to beat the modern poly stuff.
In a conversation recently with a noted instrument buider, I asked if he considered the ability to retouch a varnish finish after a few years of picking up the inevitable dings and wear marks to be a big advantage. He asked "If after a few decades the finish on your mandolin showed some wear, would you really want to wipe all of that away and make it look new"? I thought a moment and realized I would not. Honest wear on a working instrument is not a bad thing IMO.
The first man who whistled
thought he had a wren in his mouth.
He went around all day
with his lips puckered,
afraid to swallow.
--"The First" by Wendell Berry
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