[maplebaby]

Originally Posted by ChrisN

Now that I think of it, it might be a thickness thing, rather than the material. I know Taylor used to use a 6 mil poly gloss finish, and they were derided for sounding smothered, dead, lifeless, etc. (I have 3 6 mil Taylors, which says something about Taylor, or me).

The lower end guitars have thick poly coats, and I assume that's for nick protection in shipping, keeping moisture out, it's cheap/easy to apply, etc. Taylor's now cut its poly finish thickness in half, to 3 mil, and they advise there may be finish "thin" spots on the guitar, so it's likely harder to do a light poly coat, than a heavy.

I have a Mike Lipe strat copy that is finished in thin poly. It wasn't a $4k guitar, but it wasn't cheap. Mike could use any finish at his price point, but he chose poly.

great info...if you make a lot of guitars and pay a lot of people cheap and easy are two great words!