Tony L
Administrator
You might find that matt vs. gloss has an impact on the sound, as well as looks/durability. Worth checking out.
I get the impression cheap gloss finishes have a seriously adverse (deadening) impact on the sound, hence the amount of mid-priced guitars with a sealed matt finish as it is lighter and resonates better. Spend more cash and gloss starts to reappear, but in a high-end French polish or whatever form rather than a heavy polyurethane finish. I obviously want it to sound nice, but I don’t want to be so afraid of marking it I don’t play the hell out of it. As such I’m willing to pay more for an instrument I feel will be with me for the rest of my life. I want to get this decision right rather than later regret not spending a few extra £hundred or whatever.
I tend to be very good with instruments in that I tend to wear clothes without obvious buttons, belts etc so never leave buckle rash and just playing at home I don’t put dinks or dents in anything. Everything has its stand or case. My Shergolds have the odd mark here and there, but they were there before I owned them plus Shergolds are notorious for body finish cracking (mine are way, way better than most). My real star is the recently aquired 1978 Yamaha SC1200, a very rare guitar that is in an astonishing almost mint condition, it really looks like it was kept unused under a bed in its beautiful fitted case for 40 years. I’d be so far beyond mortified if I ever stuck a dent in that one! I love that thing, kind of like a hard-tail Strat, but way better IMO. Best guitar I’ve ever owned by miles.