back paint removal
Posted: Sun May 24, 2015 10:05 am
Hi all,
I think I read, somewhere, that the back of the zither is the primary vibrating membrane as opposed to a guitar. This led me to think about the finish or paint on the back.
Guitars usually sound best when the top has a very thin or hand rubbed oil finish. I've experienced this with, some guitars having a very thick finish sounding dull and, fine handmade guitars having a very thin finish sounding better. The finish on my great sounding Santa Cruz OM acoustic guitar is so thin one can feel the grain.
Now back to the zither. I was thinking of lightly sanding the back to remove the black paint and re-finishing it with a hand rubbed french or very thin nitrocellulose finish. Has anyone pursued this path and are the best sounding zither backs unfinished, lightly finished or the natural color of spruce?
Thanks,
henrylrjr
I think I read, somewhere, that the back of the zither is the primary vibrating membrane as opposed to a guitar. This led me to think about the finish or paint on the back.
Guitars usually sound best when the top has a very thin or hand rubbed oil finish. I've experienced this with, some guitars having a very thick finish sounding dull and, fine handmade guitars having a very thin finish sounding better. The finish on my great sounding Santa Cruz OM acoustic guitar is so thin one can feel the grain.
Now back to the zither. I was thinking of lightly sanding the back to remove the black paint and re-finishing it with a hand rubbed french or very thin nitrocellulose finish. Has anyone pursued this path and are the best sounding zither backs unfinished, lightly finished or the natural color of spruce?
Thanks,
henrylrjr