SHELLAC/FRENCH POLISH
A French polish finish is a traditional/durable way to protect an instrument and will last many years. But like all finishes it’s prone to certain weakness. Out of the box a hand rubbed finish will not appear like a store bought instrument, instead it might have small imperfections, micro-scratches, very small abrasions and perhaps slight unevenness in it’s application. It can take a months for a French polish to fully harden so particular care needs to be taken in it’s initial usage.
Also because of it’s more delicate nature it’s normal for a french polish to take on small scratches and to dull in some areas and shiny in other areas with use. A quick repolishing, by a local luthiery can remove scratches and bring the shiny finish back.
Also alcohol, some skin lotions, hand sanitizers and other chemical solutions that come in contact with the finish can remove a French polish on contact and these damages are not covered by the warranty. For care, wipe your ukulele/guitar off with a soft cloth to get the sweat and body oil off of it everytime after you play. Don’t use any abrasives, strong cleaning products or try to re-polish your finish. Take it to a professional.
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