What's wrong with shiny finishes?

[George700DL]

I know this is a very general question, and one of personal preference. But from reading this forum, other instrument websites, and from the opinions of my musical friends, the general consensus seems to be that flat/satin finishes are by far preferred over glossy ones. Why is this?

One reason that I suspect is the charm of very old instruments, which often have beat-up, worn down finishes, and perhaps people want to re-create that aged look.

Personally, I don't care either way. When using oil-based varnish (without flattening agents added by the manufacturer), its natural cured state is glossy. It takes and extra step to dull it, and I typically don't bother taking that step. My own take is that if I make a new instrument, I'm the first one to apply varnish, I'm not going to pretend that it's an antique. If it's going to age gracefully, then time will take care of it. Of course I don't make basses for customers, and if I did, I would try to make the product look exactly how the customer wanted it.

I made a custom viola bow for myself and let a friend try it. The first reaction was: "It feels good, but why is it so shiny?".

Just wondering where the overall dislike for shiny finishes came from.

George

[forester]

"chrome don't gitcha' home" he said...

my junk yard dog is worn,weathered,and wears multiple coats of finish that were the fashion statement of times past,it does not escape the aged look, it does however have the sheen of a florsheim wingtip imperial i only have one word to say: french polish

shine is a good thing..it's a matter of taste, and in some respects the lack thereof.

[HATe410]

man i recently bought 2 new instrument in flat finishes an Ibanez SR755 BSF and an Ibanez RG5EX1 BLKF and the #1 thing i regret is their lack of clearcoat.....every other bass/guitar I own is glossy and if they get fingerprinted up, it only take a once ovrr with a microfiber cloth and they are looking beautifull....not my brand new flat finished girls...they almost always look weathered and dirty.....i already wanna sell em, just to pick up glossy models, ive learned a valuagle lesson....

[sirero]

...you know this is a Double bass question. Flat/satin finished instruments vastly outnumber glossy finished basses over hear. I dunno why, but for me personally I equate Glossy finish with cheap. I know I shouldn't assume the quality of the bass based upon its finish but I do, i don't know why, I just do.

[bassics1975]

I find high lustre finishes problematic because they are so easily mucked-up with rosin and scratches etc. Satin finishes suppress the wear and tear more effectively than lustrous finishes. They reflect light more than a satin finish and distract the eye from the beauty of the wood grain. You would have to be more careful with a high lustre finish. There are great instruments with glossy finishes and there are just as many people who would rather have a bass with such a varnish job. Me personally, I would rather a satin finish.

[arnoldschnitzer]

High gloss is associated with cheap instruments finished directly from a lacquer spray gun. Rubbing out varnish effectively is as difficult as applying the stuff, and a good rubout shows off the finisher's skill. Even if a maker wants a high-gloss finish, rubbing out is still a big part of the process.