Polishing a 414CE so it's now glossy rather than matte (and other stuff)

[stepchildusmc]

i'm gonna attempt it with the 324 i think. again, thank you for the information !

[Paul60]

Just a question

Are you guys doing the top as well or just sides & back ?

Sorry, tried to read the whole thread but couldn't find mention of it.

[MexicoMike]

No, the top is gloss-finished from the factory, at least on the 414.  There is no need to touch the top.  If a matte-finished guitar had a matte soundboard as well as back and sides, I personally would not do this.  It would be much more difficult to get a nice, uniform, glossy finish on the top because of the bridge, the fretboard, etc.

[michaelw]

Steppy's 324 has a satin finish top -
glossed back & sides with a satin top could  make for a rather "unique" look

[MexicoMike]

Well, though I'm comfortable doing just about anything to a guitar as far as maintenance/adjustment/re-fretting/polishing, whatever. I would not attempt polishing a matte top because I just don't think it could be done properly unless you removed the fretboard and bridge.  But, as noted, a polished back/sides with matte top would certainly be unusual!  Who knows, in a few years manufacturers might be doing it/selling it as the latest "improvement" that you just HAVE to have. 

[Cindy]

The topic of glossing matte finishes has been discussed previously--either here or elsewhere. At the time, no one mentioned trying it on a 1xx series (I think that was the model) which had a different matte finish than the 3xx and 4xx. I'm not able to access Taylor's web site right now, but I haven't heard of anyone with a 1xx series who has attempted this. It's possible that it has been done, but I don't know--just a heads-up.

[MexicoMike]

That's a good point re the finish itself…regardless of the difficulty of polishing around the fretboard and bridge, if there is not enough finish material on the top to accept being polished, you'd end up trying to polish the wood itself.

[Paul60]

I have a GS Mini (Koa) & a 114 in Sunburst.

This thread got me thinking about what either of these guitars would look like polished.

But you'd still have a matt top. Interesting 'look' I'd imagine ?

[michaelw]

I have a GS Mini (Koa) & a 114 in Sunburst.

This thread got me thinking about what either of these guitars would look like polished.

But you'd still have a matt top. Interesting 'look' I'd imagine ?

varnish finish is used on the GSmini & 100 series & baby series too -
the spec is listed as being a matte 2.0 (mil), which is less than 1/2 the finish depth of the
300/400s satin back & sides, & top on the 32Xs, & 1/3 as thin as the gloss UV finish.
combined with the more "open-pore" style, there really is barely any finish there to begin with

[stepchildusmc]

No, the top is gloss-finished from the factory, at least on the 414.  There is no need to touch the top.  If a matte-finished guitar had a matte soundboard as well as back and sides, I personally would not do this.  It would be much more difficult to get a nice, uniform, glossy finish on the top because of the bridge, the fretboard, etc.

hmm... i hadn't thunk about that i assumed that you had done the whole thing. not that worried about the bridge and neck...heck, that's what a Dremel is for ! but the lack of uniform finish?  i guess a 324 with a camo finish would look silly if the polishing doesn't work out... maybe not...hmm..... 

[michaelw]

Well, though I'm comfortable doing just about anything to a guitar as far as maintenance/adjustment/re-fretting/polishing, whatever. I would not attempt polishing a matte top because I just don't think it could be done properly unless you removed the fretboard and bridge.  But, as noted, a polished back/sides with matte top would certainly be unusual!  Who knows, in a few years manufacturers might be doing it/selling it as the latest "improvement" that you just HAVE to have. 

removing the heel block label & the 3 neck bolts & masking the bridge with blue 3M painter's tape is not that difficult,
or if one would rather not remove the neck, painter's tape could be used on the edge of the fretboard extension as well -
i'd think there'd be more of a hassle removing the preamp & power supply on an ES model, but Steppy's is a pure acoustic 324

That's a good point re the finish itself…regardless of the difficulty of polishing around the fretboard and bridge, if there is not enough finish material on the top to accept being polished, you'd end up trying to polish the wood itself.

the satin finish on the 300 & 400s is the same, whether it's on the top, sides or back -
a hardwood top should  be similar to the back & sides but a spruce top, not so much

[Paul60]

I have a GS Mini (Koa) & a 114 in Sunburst.

This thread got me thinking about what either of these guitars would look like polished.

But you'd still have a matt top. Interesting 'look' I'd imagine ?

varnish finish is used on the GSmini & 100 series & baby series too -
the spec is listed as being a matte 2.0 (mil), which is less than 1/2 the finish depth of the
300/400s satin back & sides, & top on the 32Xs, & 1/3 as thin as the gloss UV finish.
combined with the more "open-pore" style, there really is barely any finish there to begin with

Just as well I didn't attempt to try this on my guitars.

I'd have been left with a neck, bridge & six strings

[dcarey]

I used Stewart MacDonald polishing products on my Larrivee OM-03R and a couple of other satin finish instruments with great results.
A buffing cone in a hand drill and some finger pressure in the tight spots and Boom! shine!

[mgap]

That turned out quite nice dcarey.  nice and shiney.  I believe it improved the overall looks.

[jerrytubes]

"Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana."

dcarey:  every time I see that, it breaks me up.  Thanks.