What a difference a finish makes

[sirdoh]

I've been passively thinking about picking up guitar again. Its been a decade. I was more of a bass player (several decades) and more recently I've been playing Cavaquinho (think aggressive Brazilian ukulele).

So looking at The Elipihone Casino. Personally I like a bit of wood and was never attracted to sunburst. The colored finishes are much cheaper than the natural. What is the reason for that? Is it a Lennon thing or does the colored finish hide poor wood?

[Bob Womack]

Most of the highest-priced string instruments in the world are finished in a sunburst or violin-type shaded finish. It is perfectly fine for you to not like them - I didn't for years.

Bob

[Brent Hahn]

Originally Posted by sirdoh

The colored finishes are much cheaper than the natural. What is the reason for that?

Mainly that you can see the color and grain through a clear, burst or translucent finish. Most solid guitar bodies are two or three pieces of wood joined together, and if the pieces aren't close to the same shade to start with, it'll look weird under the finish and the joins will be obvious. Also, under an opaque finish the wood can have knots and dents and gashes (which they fill) and you can't tell. It takes some time and a worker with a good eye to match up pieces for a burst or translucent finish; for an opaque-finish body, the pieces only have to be big enough.

[J Patrick]

If you follow this link you will find the currrent pricing for a new Epiphone Casino is exactly the same for a sunburst or natural finish….the used market may be different because most people prefer the natural finish…I know I do..

https://www.sweetwater.com/c591--Hol...E&gclsrc=aw.ds

[Mandobart]

I'm a weird kinda guy. I like coffee flavored coffee (no cream, sugar or punkin spice), I like beer flavored beer (no tangerine, raspberry or other) and I like wood colored wood. I've had a few luthiers tell me they find blonde finishes more difficult than colors or bursts. You can't tell me a big old 2" black band around the top doesn't help hide something.....

[Brent Hutto]

Originally Posted by Mandobart

I'm a weird kinda guy. I like coffee flavored coffee (no cream, sugar or punkin spice), I like beer flavored beer (no tangerine, raspberry or other) and I like wood colored wood. I've had a few luthiers tell me they find blonde finishes more difficult than colors or bursts. You can't tell me a big old 2" black band around the top doesn't help hide something.....

Preach it, brother. Amen!

[Jimbo00]

Meh, I have yet to see a guitar made from the perfect piece(s) of wood for wood grain patterns. If there are dents & repairs for tear out, solid paint hides those flaws. Also hides sanding marks. I tend to think of wood grains as I would a sunrise or sunset with clouds. Each different, each beautiful in their own unique way.

[sirdoh]

Originally Posted by J Patrick

If you follow this link you will find the currrent pricing for a new Epiphone Casino is exactly the same for a sunburst or natural finish….the used market may be different because most people prefer the natural finish…I know I do..

https://www.sweetwater.com/c591--Hol...E&gclsrc=aw.ds

The "Worn olive drab" is $200 cheaper. Same spec as far as I can tell.

[Glennwillow]

Originally Posted by J Patrick

If you follow this link you will find the currrent pricing for a new Epiphone Casino is exactly the same for a sunburst or natural finish….the used market may be different because most people prefer the natural finish…I know I do..

https://www.sweetwater.com/c591--Hol...E&gclsrc=aw.ds

Wow, that is a good looking guitar for $699. Not that I need another guitar!

- Glenn

[sirdoh]

Thanks for the replies. I have a used one onboard now. It sounds like .... wood.