| Finishes for Ukuleles -- There are numerous ways | | | | hand made today. It is a most highly-prized and |
| to finish ukuleles, guitars, and stringed musical | | | | desired finish for both its visual and tone |
| instruments. There are musicians who claim bold | | | | enhancing characteristics. The luster, texture and |
| claims that one way is better than another in the | | | | color of the wood are all noticeably enhanced |
| way the instruments sound. There are conflicting | | | | under an expertly applied French polish finish. The |
| opinions on which finish is best for your musical | | | | cured shellac film is also very thin and flexible and |
| instrument. This article tries to explain about the | | | | is believed to produce the clearest and most |
| basic differences and let you make a better | | | | natural sound from the vibrating wood of the |
| decision as to which ukulele finish you prefer. | | | | ukulele especially the soundboard. Achieving a |
| Modern High Gloss Finishes -- Modern gloss lacquer | | | | professional quality French Polish finish is highly |
| finish have a beautiful, high sheen, mirror glow | | | | dependent on the practiced skill and experience of |
| that which greatly enhances the color and grain | | | | the finisher. Multiple polishing sessions are required |
| patterns of the woods. And these finishes are | | | | over many days or weeks to achieve the best |
| tough also. The labor required for application and | | | | results. Only a few custom builders offer French |
| buffing of the gloss finish is more expensive than | | | | Polish finishes on ukuleles due to the labor required. |
| satin finishes because of the polishing required to | | | | So what? What kind of finish do I want on my |
| produce the gloss. We think we see a trend in | | | | ukulele? -- All finishes used in the manufacture of |
| more or our customers preferring the gloss finish. | | | | ukuleles can produce excellent tone and volume in |
| Both gloss and matte lacquer finishes produce | | | | the ukulele. Although there are those that do not |
| excellent tone and volume in the ukulele. | | | | agree with my opinion, In a darkened room... with |
| Satin or Matte Finishes -- Satin finish has a soft, | | | | a professional player at the other end... I can not |
| matte appearance that some customers prefer | | | | detect the tonal difference in finishes. |
| for a more 'natural' look. This is a nitrocellulose | | | | The bottom line is select the instrument that |
| lacquer finish. As the satin finish can be easier to | | | | pleases you in appearance of the wood and the |
| apply, it is more often seen with the lower priced | | | | feel of the instrument as you play it and don't |
| instruments. Most of the vintage ukuleles from | | | | worry much about the finishing. Some of the |
| years gone by had a satin finish.... simply because | | | | fine vintage instruments have such a fine "feel" |
| the modern high-gloss lacquer type finishes were | | | | about them that you just like to be in the same |
| not invented yet. | | | | room with them. |
| Varnishes -- French polishing is a method of | | | | Remember, all finishes need respect and care... |
| applying finish to wood by hand with a cotton | | | | they all can be scratched and dinged-up. Rough |
| pad. Many violins are finished with French | | | | picks and sharp fingernails can do a lot of damage |
| polishing. In the stringed instrument world the | | | | to your ukulele. Every good uke deserves a polish |
| term 'French polish' is understood to be a shellac | | | | cloth to help care for the finish. One word of |
| spirit varnish that has been applied by the French | | | | caution, do not use any polish on your ukulele that |
| polishing method. Most of the fine old musical | | | | has silicone in it. The makes any latter refinishing |
| instruments made in Europe were French polished, | | | | or touching up the finish very difficult. |
| as are a majority of fine classical guitars being | | | | |