French Polish

Some classical and flamenco guitars are finished by French Polish method using some combination of shellac, gum resins, varnish, etc. These finishes are very lovely and refined, but they are extremely delicate as well.Many guitars over $3,000 sold by GSI utilize this type of finish. It is generally considered the most desirable finish, except by some concert artists whose guitars experience a lot of wear and tear. It is far more expensive and difficult to apply requiring hundreds of very thin coats applied with an alcohol-damp rag dipped in the finish solution. In the original method, pumice is used to fill the pores, although in the U.S., many builders use an alternative method by spraying or brushing on some kind of filler, which they sand, then apply the shellac by French Polish method. This saves time and works very well.

Regardless of how it is initially applied, this finish needs to be treated with great care to preserve your fine guitar. It should not be cleaned with any cleansers, rubbing compounds or other agents unless made for use with French Polish finishes. I have seen a couple of fine guitars ruined by scrupulous owners who "polished" their vintage guitars with Lemon Oil or Pledge. These finishes, particularly when old, are very thin and porous. They protect the wood from general handling, but not from direct exposure to such agents. Any polish should beapplied to the rag first, then to the guitar. Nothing should be sprayed directly onto your instrument.

Moreover, this type of finish is susceptible to fingernail scratches and direct hits especially to the soundboard. When tying the strings behind the tie-block on the bridge, you should use caution not to damage the finish with your fingernails. One way to protect the finish from this kind of damage is to place a piece of cardboard behind the bridge before beginning to tie the strings. Light masking tape can be used to keep it in place, but is not necessary. In fact, just being aware of the problem normally is adequate to prevent damage behind the bridge,even with very delicate French Polish finishes. Buttons and buckles will similarly damage the finish of French Polished guitars and need to be avoided. General caution when playing your instrument is recommended.

If your finish becomes dull at or near the point of contact with your body, this is normal. We advise people not to expose their bare skin to a French Polish finish because it dulls over time. If you are wearing a short sleeve shirt, wear a sock over the portion of your right arm that makes contact with the guitar. When wearing short pants, use a soft cloth on your left thigh. French Polish can be restored to its original luster by an expert repairman with very little difficulty and expense (if he is familiar with the method of finishing). New finish is normally applied to the old without removing it. This is one of the great advantages of French Polish over more common lacquer or catalyzed finishes. Normally these need to be removed completely before refinishing. In summary, it is possible to restore the finish of a vintage classical or flamenco guitar without complete refinishing.