Satin Finish

[Skip Ellis]

For those of you who have owned satin finished Larrys for a while, how has the finish held up? Does it collect dirt/smudges any more than a gloss finish would. I prefer the gloss finish but there are a lot of good deals out there, especially the '03' level instruments. I'm particularly interested in an '00'.

[unclrob]

I own and play as my main guitar an OM03PA which is a sunburst satin finish and have no issue's with dirt or smudge's.A damp cloth is all I use to clean it of any sweat or finger prints.

[broKen]

The only issue with a satin finish is the shine that developes where my arm rests. Besides that it wears very well.

[George]

Skip, I have more 03 models than gloss finished ones (even though I have polished the satin to a nice luster on some of them), and I find the finish holds up well and is much easier to keep clean than the gloss finished ones.  I have gotten to the point that I really do not prefer one over the other, each guitar has its own character...

[kwakatak]

I've had my OM-03R for 11 years now and I love how its tone has become deeper and the sustain has bloomed over the years, so I haven't attempted to buff it to a gloss like I'd wanted to originally. It has not become gritty, discolored or rough save for one area where it got a nasty key crack when my son has a temper tantrum and threw it against an oak stair post, chipping away the finish in little translucent white flakes and exposing the rosewood beneath. I had to further sand it away in order to perform a DIY operation but thankfully my friend survived and has a scar that tells a story. Talk about a guitar "opening up!"

Still, as I said the guitar survived and sounds incredible. The dovetail neck joint did not slip at all and the guitar didn't even go out of tune. It just has that nasty scar that is now sealed with yellow Titebond I. I wish finish repair from damage were covered under warranty but it's not and I know it's a labor intensive and therefore expensive process. Such is life. I have similar scars on my body that I wear prouder than any tattoo.

[B0WIE]

I repair my own dings (I rarely cause them but used guitars I buy always have them) and satin fails in that regard.  You can't do quick, invisible repairs like you can with gloss.
However, I do like the fact that satin can be neglected and not look bad as quickly.  With gloss, every smudge bugs me so I clean every fingerprint and contact point after playing.  With satin, you don't see it so I just give it a quick wipe and stow it away.

FWIW, I've ended up glossing my satin rosewood guitars because I think rosewood deserves a nice gloss to bring out the depth.  Mahogany isn't affected as much so I've left my satin hog backed guitars alone.

[Danny]

I repair my own dings (I rarely cause them but used guitars I buy always have them) and satin fails in that regard.  You can't do quick, invisible repairs like you can with gloss.
However, I do like the fact that satin can be neglected and not look bad as quickly.  With gloss, every smudge bugs me so I clean every fingerprint and contact point after playing.  With satin, you don't see it so I just give it a quick wipe and stow it away.

FWIW, I've ended up glossing my satin rosewood guitars because I think rosewood deserves a nice gloss to bring out the depth.  Mahogany isn't affected as much so I've left my satin hog backed guitars alone.

I agree on the rosewood. Flamed maple looks nicer in gloss as well.