Open Pore (Satin) versus Full Gloss

Open Pore (Satin) versus Full Gloss




Perhaps a decade ago, we began to see “Open Pore”, or just plain “Satin”, finishes rise to some level of popularity. Now it has become a serious trend which leaves me wondering just how far the trend will go. The example guitar is a 2016 Larrivee L-40 Legacy Series guitar put out in an extremely limited run of just fifty. The guitar is alpine German spruce, or “moon-wood”, over rosewood and has features like a paddle headstock, beautiful torch headstock inlay, maple body and fiberboard bindings, and on. Other than Furch, I can’t think of another brand that had begun to lose the typically high-gloss top along with going open-pore on the neck, back, and sides, so far back in time. To actually promote the virtues of its proprietary, full pore finish, over those virtues we’ve historically related with a well-done, classic, thin nitrocellulose gloss finish…the glossier the better (so much so, that you could shave using your reflection in your favorite guitar…sorry, ladies!)

Being an “Old School” sort, I’m not completely sold on the idea, though I believe it does have its place. I think Larrivee chose a great opportunity to not only go open pore, but to add no tint to the lacquer on this moon-wood topped guitar, allowing us to enjoy the natural luster of the mood-wood itself. The grain is outstanding, both on the moon-wood and on the rosewood, which were master-grade material selections. When I play this guitar, I almost feel like I should be wearing a coat and tie, with the guitar having such a simple but elegant look about it. As a stand-alone guitar from an extremely limited run, it’s just as easy on the eyes as any of my full gloss guitars and is, to my eye, representative of the best in full pore, natural finishes. Of course, I’m a bit biased as it is my guitar and a statement like that is completely subjective.

Fast-forward to 2023/24 and we’re seeing a huge increase in popularity of satin-finished guitars. Brands are now using three finish choices dependent on the model and where it sits in the lineup. All three come in natural or burst. For more traditional guitars, we see either full gloss throughout, or a full gloss top combined with satin back and sides, and on other model types, we see complete satin (or, full pore).

For a variety of reasons, I really like a full pore finish. I’m not going to get into the sonic aspects of full gloss versus open pore, as that is a lengthy subject in and of itself or should really be opened as a separate topic. I’m only talking maintenance, feel, and aesthetics here. While I do like a full pore finish in certain applications, I fear the manufacturers may be making the shift too quickly and too all-encompassing (it could very well become the primary means of finishing a guitar). I have have a bit of angst with this possibility because I will always enjoy a full gloss aesthetic, and, push come to shove, would choose it over all-satin. To be able to pick and choose between the two is right where I’d prefer things to stay. For instance, Gibson has done this on a given model, the ‘50s J-45 which, I believe, came out in 2020. I have a 2022, full gloss version. I think it was in just this past year that they began to offer this model in a uniquely different burst with an all-satin finish, at what I believe is the lower price of $2,499 where the gloss model is $2,799. Intuitively, I would think a full gloss finish would be the more expensive of the two, as would be indicated by this example. But that may not be the case with all satin finishes. I am certainly not an expert on the subject. Furch’s proprietary open pore finish as seen most frequently on its “Vintage Series” doesn’t appear to be less expensive than its full gloss siblings. And, not to be outdone on any level, I believe Martin is now offering a satin finish as an option with its standard lineup. I know at least that it’s an option on the D-18 and am pretty sure about the D-28. I could obviously look it up, buy suffice it to say that if they haven’t already done so, it would appear that that’s the direction they’re going in. Anyway, I’ve drifted away from the more global, overall question, and that is where is this all headed?

Are we in the midst of the demise of full gloss finishes? Is this just a trend or something that’s going to be with us from here on out? Or, will we continue to see a mix of the two, giving us the chance to keep more traditional finishes alive, particularly with the more traditional guitars we’ve all come to know and love.

Many brands have already separated our beloved pre-war designs into well-delineated “Traditional Series” guitars. I’m thinking that demand will see to it that full gloss remains as the primary finish specification for these guitars, while other, more contemporary designs will be seeing even more of satin, full pore finishes. The trend toward slightly antiqued finishes such as with Gibson’s “Historic” line and Martin’s “Authentic” series is likely to stay. Personally, I really like what Martin and Gibson have done with these more expensive models within their model lines. Collings has its “Traditional Series”, as do the other top-tier luthieries and top independent builders.
It’s a pretty interesting topic and I was wondering how others here at the AGF feel about it.

Larrivee L-40 Legacy Series Limited EditionPerhaps a decade ago, we began to see “Open Pore”, or just plain “Satin”, finishes rise to some level of popularity. Now it has become a serious trend which leaves me wondering just how far the trend will go. The example guitar is a 2016 Larrivee L-40 Legacy Series guitar put out in an extremely limited run of just fifty. The guitar is alpine German spruce, or “moon-wood”, over rosewood and has features like a paddle headstock, beautiful torch headstock inlay, maple body and fiberboard bindings, and on. Other than Furch, I can’t think of another brand that had begun to lose the typically high-gloss top along with going open-pore on the neck, back, and sides, so far back in time. To actually promote the virtues of its proprietary, full pore finish, over those virtues we’ve historically related with a well-done, classic, thin nitrocellulose gloss finish…the glossier the better (so much so, that you could shave using your reflection in your favorite guitar…sorry, ladies!)Being an “Old School” sort, I’m not completely sold on the idea, though I believe it does have its place. I think Larrivee chose a great opportunity to not only go open pore, but to add no tint to the lacquer on this moon-wood topped guitar, allowing us to enjoy the natural luster of the mood-wood itself. The grain is outstanding, both on the moon-wood and on the rosewood, which were master-grade material selections. When I play this guitar, I almost feel like I should be wearing a coat and tie, with the guitar having such a simple but elegant look about it. As a stand-alone guitar from an extremely limited run, it’s just as easy on the eyes as any of my full gloss guitars and is, to my eye, representative of the best in full pore, natural finishes. Of course, I’m a bit biased as it is my guitar and a statement like that is completely subjective.Fast-forward to 2023/24 and we’re seeing a huge increase in popularity of satin-finished guitars. Brands are now using three finish choices dependent on the model and where it sits in the lineup. All three come in natural or burst. For more traditional guitars, we see either full gloss throughout, or a full gloss top combined with satin back and sides, and on other model types, we see complete satin (or, full pore).For a variety of reasons, I really like a full pore finish. I’m not going to get into the sonic aspects of full gloss versus open pore, as that is a lengthy subject in and of itself or should really be opened as a separate topic. I’m only talking maintenance, feel, and aesthetics here. While I do like a full pore finish in certain applications, I fear the manufacturers may be making the shift too quickly and too all-encompassing (it could very well become the primary means of finishing a guitar). I have have a bit of angst with this possibility because I will always enjoy a full gloss aesthetic, and, push come to shove, would choose it over all-satin. To be able to pick and choose between the two is right where I’d prefer things to stay. For instance, Gibson has done this on a given model, the ‘50s J-45 which, I believe, came out in 2020. I have a 2022, full gloss version. I think it was in just this past year that they began to offer this model in a uniquely different burst with an all-satin finish, at what I believe is the lower price of $2,499 where the gloss model is $2,799. Intuitively, I would think a full gloss finish would be the more expensive of the two, as would be indicated by this example. But that may not be the case with all satin finishes. I am certainly not an expert on the subject. Furch’s proprietary open pore finish as seen most frequently on its “Vintage Series” doesn’t appear to be less expensive than its full gloss siblings. And, not to be outdone on any level, I believe Martin is now offering a satin finish as an option with its standard lineup. I know at least that it’s an option on the D-18 and am pretty sure about the D-28. I could obviously look it up, buy suffice it to say that if they haven’t already done so, it would appear that that’s the direction they’re going in. Anyway, I’ve drifted away from the more global, overall question, and that is where is this all headed?Are we in the midst of the demise of full gloss finishes? Is this just a trend or something that’s going to be with us from here on out? Or, will we continue to see a mix of the two, giving us the chance to keep more traditional finishes alive, particularly with the more traditional guitars we’ve all come to know and love.Many brands have already separated our beloved pre-war designs into well-delineated “Traditional Series” guitars. I’m thinking that demand will see to it that full gloss remains as the primary finish specification for these guitars, while other, more contemporary designs will be seeing even more of satin, full pore finishes. The trend toward slightly antiqued finishes such as with Gibson’s “Historic” line and Martin’s “Authentic” series is likely to stay. Personally, I really like what Martin and Gibson have done with these more expensive models within their model lines. Collings has its “Traditional Series”, as do the other top-tier luthieries and top independent builders.It’s a pretty interesting topic and I was wondering how others here at the AGF feel about it.