African Blackwood - is finish necessary?

[jazzizm]

I was talking to my luthier the other day, we were contemplating an OM guitar he is going to make for me. Sinker redwood top and african blackwood (Dalbergia melanoxylon) B&S, Manzer wedge, medium scale (636mm), Rocklite fretboard and bridge, EVO frets, Gotoh tuners.

He suggested to not have the body finished, only polished, like they do with clarinets and oboes (which are mostly made from that wood). The top will have some kind of a glossy (probably nitro) finish.
My question: is such an idea feasible? Will the wood suffer over the years? WIll there be handling noise with an unfinished guitar body (something I absolutely hate)?
Thanks for any thoughts!

[Howard Emerson]

Originally Posted by jazzizm

I was talking to my luthier the other day, we were contemplating an OM guitar he is going to make for me. Sinker redwood top and african blackwood (Dalbergia melanoxylon) B&S, Manzer wedge, medium scale (636mm), Rocklite fretboard and bridge, EVO frets, Gotoh tuners.

He suggested to not have the body finished, only polished, like they do with clarinets and oboes (which are mostly made from that wood). The top will have some kind of a glossy (probably nitro) finish.
My question: is such an idea feasible? Will the wood suffer over the years? WIll there be handling noise with an unfinished guitar body (something I absolutely hate)?
Thanks for any thoughts!

There's thousands of very old clarinets & oboes out there, right?

Now I don't believe they're being refinished as a rule, but they do get a lot less finger to finish contact given the nature of the beast, so you might keep that in mind.

For what it's worth my very first custom build was a spruce and African Blackwood OM built by John Monteleone.

For some reason the back literally self destructed; cracked in at least 7-8 places, so he replaced it with a Brazilian back. The sides never had any issues, and this was 1976, so it's hard to say if the issue was improper drying, etc.

I wised up and went to maple back & sides since then.

Regards,
Howard Emerson

[runamuck]

I'd suggest finishing it for no other reason that finish will slow down the transfer of humidity changes and lower to some extent, the chances of the back cracking.

[The Bard Rocks]

Originally Posted by Howard Emerson

There's thousands of very old clarinets & oboes out there, right?

Now I don't believe they're being refinished as a rule, but they do get a lot less finger to finish contact given the nature of the beast, so you might keep that in mind.

In certain areas, like where your thumbs go, they get a LOT more wear than a guitar, because the thumb is always there.

[Guitars44me]

I believe the wood is considerably thicker on a wind instrument.

I figure since almost all guitars are finished, there is probably a good reason.

I am most interested to hear what our fine Luthiers here have to say on this!

Have fun with the build


Paul

[Tim McKnight]

Originally Posted by runamuck

I'd suggest finishing it for no other reason that finish will slow down the transfer of humidity changes .

+1 to what he said.

[canuck7]

My AB/Carpathian Charis has a finish inside and out...both sides of the AB. The sound...breathtaking! Taking no extra chances...at 12 years of age it’s fine, albeit in a very humidity kind climate...I think what Paul said is true as well, the thickness and lack of stress on AB in a clarinet/wind instrument is different than a guitar.
Jeff

[Flat5]

Quoting Ervin Somogyi’s “The responsive guitar”, chapter 31:

______________

- A naked wood guitar has a limited future.
....
- The principal function of a finish is to protect the instrument against the elements, not the player. Period.

_______________


Of course, he recommends French polishing.

[jazzizm]

ok, that seems to settle it