#1
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Buffing from satin to semi-gloss
Hey all.
Owner of a Larrivee Forum III LS guitar with the polyurethane satin finish here, hoping to get rid of the “shh” or hiss sound so I can install a k&k trinity in the guitar. The internal mic would pick up a lot of noise I reckon if I don’t smooth it out somehow. I’ve seen a few folks have had moderate success polishing their satin guitars to a nice “lowden/Mcilroy/Avalon” hand-polished look. My Forum III already has a small crack on the bottom devaluing it and it’s sort of my outdoor/campfire/beater guitar anyway so any devaluing pointers aside, what’s the best way to get a nice, even sheen going for the top and b/s? Thanks!
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Dustin Furlow -Award-winning songwriter/guitarist, Visual storyteller -D’Addario, G7th and K&K Sound Artist -Music on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube: www.youtube.com/dustinfurlow -New album "Serene" (Oct '23) and tablature available at www.dustinfurlow.com |
#2
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The first step in glossing (or semi-glossing as it would be) is lightly using 0000 steel wool. I think you will find that step alone will get rid of a lot of the swoosh sounds.
That has been my experience. The rest of the process is very time consuming and it never comes out very evenly. There will be areas around the neck heel and the bridge that you just can't get at like the surfaces that are more exposed.
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"One small heart, and a great big soul that's driving" |
#3
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Quote:
In both cases, abrasive sheets and/or abrasive compounds will give a better, more consistent result. |
#4
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3M pads
I prefer the grey 3M pads to steel wool, no worry of fine steel particles. The gray pads will put a muted sheen to the finish (stay with the grain) that may be enough. Smoother yet? 2000 grit automotive wet or dry paper followed by the rubbing compound of your choice. Know that the satin effect is caused by fine particulate matter in the finish so you'll never get a true gloss finish and over time, the sheen will die back in areas that don't receive hand or arm contact
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#5
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I'm pretty certain that Lowden guitars are sprayed with a gloss lacquer that is then knocked-back to satin by hand-rubbing with extremely fine steel-wool. This is unlike, for instance, the satin finish on a Martin - that being a lacquer which itself produces a 'satin' finish.
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John Brook ‘Lamorna’ OM (European Spruce/EIR) (2019) Lowden F-23 (Red Cedar/Claro Walnut) (2017) Martin D-18 (2012) Martin HD-28V (2010) Fender Standard Strat (2017-MIM) |
#6
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I've done this on a couple guitars, including my Larrivee L-03, and mostly it just takes time. Personally I would avoid steel wool, as the minute iron powder these put out can get into little cracks/seams and oxidize. If you go that route I think BRONZE wool would be the way to go, but I've had pretty good luck just using 1500 grit wet/dry paper and spit, very lightly, just to knock down the "tooth" a bit, then follow up with an automotive polishing compound like McGuire's (but nothing at all that has any silicon in it) that is made for hand-polishing. Follow up with a good guitar polish to clean off any residue or chems from the polishing compound.
This will not give a perfect gloss, more of an nice satiny gloss, kinda like on a Lowden. It definitely reduces that hissy, sussurant handling noise though, and reveals the nice grain in the wood. Above all, whatever you do, don't go through the existing finish, down to bare wood...just be careful & conservative with it & you should be fine.
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Larrivee L-10 Custom Larrivee DV-10K Larrivee L-03 Taylor 412K ('96) Yamaha LL16-12 (SOLD) PRS 'Studio' (SOLD) Rickenbacker 660-12 (SOLD) Fender USA Deluxe Strat Fender USA Roadhouse Strat Fender MIM/USA Partscaster Fender MIM Nashville Tele Kelsey Custom Hardtail Strat Fender MIM P-Bass |
#7
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It is tough to go up in sheen. Flattening agents are added to the finish to bring it down from full gloss to the desired sheen. You won't help yourself at all with 0000 steel wool, probably just introduce a scratch pattern that you don't like. Buffing compound will give it more shine, but only so much.
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Schenk Grand FingerStyle, Richard Gilewitz signature Emerald X7 Taylor 555 |
#8
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I can't speak to the Larrivee you are planning to buff out, but I did this on my Martin 000-15sm. Let's just say I still regret doing this, three years later, and leave it at that.
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"I've always thought of bluegrass players as the Marines of the music world" – (A rock guitar guy I once jammed with) Martin America 1 Martin 000-15sm Recording King Dirty 30s RPS-9 TS Taylor GS Mini Baton Rouge 12-string guitar Martin L1XR Little Martin 1933 Epiphone Olympic 1971 square neck Dobro |
#9
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All three of my guitars are satin finish naturals, and I greatly prefer satin to gloss. I honestly don't think there's any way of avoiding the shiny spot where the arm rests, and I've grown to accept this as the hallmark of a well-played guitar. When I'm performing, nobody sees that spot anyway.
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1 dreadnought, 1 auditorium, 1 concert, and 2 travel guitars. |
#10
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I had seen some specimens of buffed out 000-15s that came out gorgeous, and I really liked that shiny look. By for some reason, the finish on mine is much too thin to allow any buffing without sanding right down into the wood. Which is what I did (out of ignorance).
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"I've always thought of bluegrass players as the Marines of the music world" – (A rock guitar guy I once jammed with) Martin America 1 Martin 000-15sm Recording King Dirty 30s RPS-9 TS Taylor GS Mini Baton Rouge 12-string guitar Martin L1XR Little Martin 1933 Epiphone Olympic 1971 square neck Dobro |
#11
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There's just one more caveat with this, that I forgot to mention in my earlier post. Usually on satin finish guitars they don't do as careful & detailed a job on the sanding prior to finish, reckoning, I suppose that any swirls, cross-grain scratches, etc will be covered up by the satin and saving time & expense on prep. This is why satin finishes are generally less expensive.
You will reveal some of this if you polish & there's no way to deal with it without going through the finish. I expected it, so I wasn't too disappointed and it only shows on very close inspection, but just be aware that this stuff will show up. I still think it looks better than it did and the noise is much reduced.
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Larrivee L-10 Custom Larrivee DV-10K Larrivee L-03 Taylor 412K ('96) Yamaha LL16-12 (SOLD) PRS 'Studio' (SOLD) Rickenbacker 660-12 (SOLD) Fender USA Deluxe Strat Fender USA Roadhouse Strat Fender MIM/USA Partscaster Fender MIM Nashville Tele Kelsey Custom Hardtail Strat Fender MIM P-Bass |
#12
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Don't do it,I tried it on a Martin dsr and regretted it
It just doesn't look good David
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Guild dv52 |
#13
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http://micro-surface.com/index.php/m...ndividual.html
Micro-Mesh produces abrasive products that will promote a more even finish. The pads will do most of the large areas. Then there's different shapes that can get into corners. |
#14
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Dustinfurlow, I polished my Forum lll (and several other guitars) to a lovely soft sheen with Virtuoso cleaner followed by their polish and soft cloths. I have even done a Martin 00-15, despite all the naysayers and hand wringers who have answered here. Just be patient and all will be well.
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#15
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Quote:
I wasn't speaking abouit the "sheen" part of it, but getting rid of the swoosh the easiest way possible. It will still look pretty much the same, but it won't sound the same in regard to the rubbing during recording.
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"One small heart, and a great big soul that's driving" |