Varnish

A resinous film finish that predates lacquer, still used on hand-built and period-style instruments.

Varnish is a film-forming finish of resin dissolved in oil or spirit, used on violins and stringed instruments long before sprayed lacquer existed. Modern instrument varnishes range from oil-resin blends to phenolic and polyurethane-modified products, applied by brush, pad or spray. It is commonly described as producing a warm, slightly softened tone, since the film is flexible and adds a little damping compared with a hard catalysed finish. It is slow to apply and slow to cure, it checks and crazes over decades, and repairing a varnished surface invisibly is harder than touching up lacquer.

Example: A small-shop archtop in hand-applied varnish has the soft, warm finish associated with older instruments, and it asks for more care than a sprayed body.

typical use: Bodies, necks and soundboards on hand-built and period-style instruments.

Varnish

See also