Gloss vs Satin vs Matte Guitar Finish: Which One to Choose?
Gloss vs Satin vs Matte Guitar Finish: Which One to Choose?
The sheen is the last decision of a paint job, and the one you see every day. A gloss finish shines like a mirror, a satin guitar finish has a soft low glow, and a matte finish is flat with no shine at all. This guide compares the three on looks, feel, durability and repairs, and shows how each one is made.
What gloss, satin and matte actually mean
All three can be the same clear coat. The difference is how much light the surface reflects. Makers measure it in gloss units with a meter at 60 degrees: roughly 80 and above is gloss, 20 to 50 is satin, under 15 is matte. Satin and matte lacquers contain tiny particles (matting agents) that break up the reflection; a gloss lacquer has none, and is then sanded and polished to a mirror.
Gloss vs satin vs matte: the comparison table
| Gloss | Satin | Matte | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Look | Deep, wet shine; colour and wood figure pop | Soft glow, vintage and relaxed | Flat, modern, understated |
| Shows | Every scratch, swirl and fingerprint | Small marks a little | Fingerprints hardly; oily spots a little |
| Feel | Smooth, can feel sticky on a sweaty neck | Smooth and fast | Dry, slightly velvety |
| With wear | Fine scratches, polishes back | Rubs shiny where you touch it | Rubs shiny where you touch it |
| Repairs | Easiest: sand and buff the spot | Harder: the sheen must match | Hardest: usually respray the panel |
| Work to make | Most: wet sanding and buffing | Less: spray and leave | Least: spray and leave |
Gloss: the deep, polished shine
Gloss is the classic finish of most production guitars. It gives a solid color its depth, makes a sunburst glow and shows a flamed or quilted top at its best. The price is the work: the clear coat has to be wet sanded flat and buffed (see wet vs dry sanding), and every flaw underneath shows. It is also the easiest to repair, because you can sand and polish a scratch out. Spray it with a gloss nitrocellulose lacquer or a water-based clear gloss lacquer.
Satin: the soft, vintage glow
A satin guitar finish sits between the two: a low, soft sheen that looks relaxed and vintage and feels smooth under the hand. It hides small marks better than gloss and needs no buffing, which makes it a favourite for home finishers. With use, the places you touch most slowly polish up and get shinier. A satin nitro spray gives it in a few coats.
Matte: flat, modern and understated
A matte guitar finish has no shine at all. It looks modern, especially in black or white, and fingerprints hardly show. Like satin it burnishes where your arm and hand rest, so a well played matte guitar gets a few shiny patches. Spot repairs are hard to blend, so a deep scratch usually means respraying the whole face. Use a matte lacquer or a water-based clear matt lacquer.
Gloss vs satin on the neck
This is where sheen changes how the guitar plays. A gloss neck looks great but can feel sticky when your hand gets warm. Satin and matte necks feel dry and fast, which is why many players sand the gloss off the back of the neck. A common choice is a gloss body with a satin neck. Our guitar neck finishing guide shows how to do it; or order a custom guitar neck in gloss, satin or matt, from $168.
How to get each finish
- Build the coats first. Whatever the sheen, the colour and most of the clear coats go on the same way. Many finishers spray all the build coats in gloss and only the last one or two in satin or matte (see spraying a clear coat).
- Gloss: let the finish cure fully, wet sand from 800 or 1000 up to 2000 or 3000 grit, then buff with polishing compound. Our guide to polishing a new guitar finish covers it.
- Satin and matte: spray the last coat evenly and leave it: do not sand or polish it, or the sheen turns patchy. Shake satin and matt lacquers well, the matting agent settles at the bottom.
- Oil: Tru Oil goes from satin after a few coats to a soft gloss after many.
Spray one more light, even coat of the same lacquer over the whole surface. Do not try to polish it: polishing makes satin and matte shinier, never flatter.
Nitro, poly, water-based or oil: does it change the sheen?
Every type comes in gloss, satin and matte. A nitro guitar finish is thin and ages with the guitar, a polyurethane guitar finish is thick and very tough, water-based lacquers are easy to use at home with little smell, and oil gives a natural feel (Tru Oil finishing). Choose the type for how you want to work and how you want the finish to age, then pick the sheen. All of them are in our guitar finishing products.
Prefer not to spray at all? Our painted guitar body comes in black or white, gloss or matt, finished in our workshop, from $183.
FAQ
Which is better, gloss or satin?
Neither is better. Gloss looks deeper and is easier to repair; satin feels faster, hides small marks and needs no polishing. Many players like a gloss body with a satin neck.
Is matte or satin more durable?
They are equally tough when made with the same lacquer. Both get shiny spots where you touch them, and matte is harder to repair invisibly.
Can you polish a satin finish to gloss?
Not well. The matting agent stays in the coat, so polishing gives a patchy shine. For gloss, spray gloss lacquer and polish that.
Does the finish sheen change the tone?
No. Sheen is only the surface. The type and the thickness of the finish matter more than gloss or matte.
Why does my matte guitar have shiny spots?
Your arm and hand polish the surface where they rest. It is normal on every matte and satin guitar.
