How does a varnish finish compare to a lacquer finish?
Varnish is a softer and therefore more flexible finish material. While there are subtle tonal advantages to the varnish finish, this option is not for everyone. Unlike lacquer, the process for applying varnish is not conducive to “finish touch-ups”, meaning that we cannot repair some minor imperfections such as small pinholes, bubbles, or sinks. While we’ve always taken pride in our high standard for fit and finish, we cannot produce varnish instruments to the level of cosmetic “perfection” as we can with our lacquer finish instruments. The varnish finish has a beautiful, rich luster, but may include very small imperfections when put under close examination.
