Satin finish

A finish flattened to a low sheen, most familiar on the back of a neck.

A satin finish is the same coating as a gloss one with a matting agent added, or a gloss surface mechanically flattened, so it scatters light instead of reflecting it. It is most familiar on the back of the neck, where the reduction in tackiness matters more than the looks, and it also appears on whole bodies where a quiet working-instrument appearance is wanted. It is commonly described as sounding identical to gloss, since the difference is surface texture rather than film thickness. Its drawbacks are practical and cosmetic: a flat surface burnishes to a shine where the hand rubs it most, it shows greasy fingerprints, and a scuff cannot be polished out without leaving a glossier patch.

Example: A satin-finished neck stays fast in a humid room where a glossy one would feel sticky, and it slowly polishes smooth wherever the hand sits.

typical use: Necks, and whole bodies on instruments sold with a matt look.

Satin finish

See also