French Polish on Guitars

[webberink]

There is a real interesting thread over on the AGF under custom guitars about David Wren, a well known world class luthier who is among several excellent Canadian luthiers who apprenticed with JCL in the early days. He is french polishing his guitars and he has some real interesting comments about what this brings to the table re tonal qualities of acoustic guitars.  So it raises the question, has Larrivee ever done this form of finishing on say any of their presentation level guitars for example?  And has anyone here ever had a Larrivee refinished with a french polish???  The pictures of the french polish on the David Wren guitar are absolutely stunning.
Dave

[sawdustdave]

Can't say that I can see FP as adding to the sound of a guitar. FP is, in it's simplest form, thin coats of finish, usually laquer, but perhaps shellac, with the final coat sanded with pumice and rhottenstone. This produces an almost glass-like finish. But it's all about the abrasives used, and the coats of finish being first applied in such a way as to provide a true, flat, surface.

Just my 2 cents...

[unclrob]

I like french polish because it goes over anyother finish when repairing a finish though I no longer do any finish work.As for Larrivee's I believe that the mandolin's at least some of them use french polish.

[webberink]

Hi sawdustdave,
The procedure you describe doesn't sound like the one David Wren describes on AGF.  Here is the link if you are interested (if the  allow me to do this ... some one will no doubt try and shoot me for trying this).  It is response #23 on the second page. http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=281854&page=2
Dave 

[Kazels]

I know from my work with antiques that French polishing is very hard to do. It takes the right ratio of shellac to oil, a proper applicator, and a skilled hand to achieve the final finish. When done properly it is stunning. I think shellac would make a great finish, benefitting tone and great as long as moisture/water is avoided.

[GA-ME]

This gives a good overview: http://www.milburnguitars.com/fpbannerframes.html 

[ducktrapper]

Okay so which is it? French or ... Polish? I slay me. 

[webberink]

I guess I should have known better and done the dictionary thing with this post for the benefit of ducks.  I definitely meant pol-ish, not Po-lish.  You are not the only one you slay duck. 
Dave

[sawdustdave]

My understanding of French Polishing is based upon 30 years of woodworking, and ww books and the like on finishing. Lots of elbow grease, not physical pressure, but lots of rubbing the built up finish.

[dream deferred]

webberink,

Love my Larrivees!

[hadden]

I've had a couple French polish guitars and found the finish too fragile. I am not really a top abuser either.

[webberink]

Hadden,
That's what I was kinda wondering about.  With this in mind I guess the question then becomes a saw off between possible tonal improvement vs durability???  I wonder....
Dave

[jeremy3220]

It doesn't have to be a French polish to be an ultra thin finish. Joe White does poly finishes that are super glossy and just as thin. I think there's a misnomer that poly finishes must be thick and that isn't true. In fact, a poly finish can be thinner and still provide the same (or better) protection. With poly you can go down to .002-.003". FP and nitro is fine but there are better options now.