Do you guys know why most plywood basses have those real tacky finishes, sunbust etc.like the Englehearts with the violin corners are good looking basses, and they play well when set up right, but what's up with that sunburst, arrrgh!

I hear you, man, those Engelhardt finishes are heinous. My EM-1 has a retina-searing orange-ish finish with a brown sunburst effect that cuts diagonally across the corner of each bout. Protected, of course, by super-hi-gloss varnish that looks as if it were sprayed from a can. Truly hideous. I did tame the gloss by buffing out the varnish with a scotchbrite pad.

I hear you, man, those Engelhardt finishes are heinous. I bought an EM-1, and not only is it a retina-searing orange-ish finish, the brown sunburst effect cuts diagonally across the corner of each bout. Protected, of course, by super-hi-gloss varnish that looks as if it were sprayed from a can. Truly hideous. I did tame the gloss by buffing out the varnish with a scotchbrite pad.