Guitar finish claim that insults one's inteligence

[ken cierp]

"This new collection features our "Open Pore technology" This unique process uses an ultra-thin satin finish to allow the body wood to resonate freely, letting nothing but warm, natural tone shine through."

No kidding this is an ad for Tanglewood guitars -- hilarious!
And how does tone/sound shine through? Shining is a visual thing.
Of course this is only my opinion.

[Herman]

They sell MasterDesign guitars, with a capital M. That must be good.
A new term, suggesting superior technology, sells. Cannot blame them. And advertisers constantly insult our brain. Do not pay attention.

I for me like a thin glossy (visual!) finish. The others impress to me as cheap. (No offence to those who like them.)

So Ken, +1
Herman

[Woodyok]

I do not pore fill because I don't believe it is necessary or required for a good sounding guitar. Besides I'm basically lazy and it seems like another skill set I must learn. But "open pore technology" sounds like something an out of work marketing specialist might invent.

[Dave Bagwill]

I love that they call it a 'technology' LOL

[John Link]

"Open Pore Technology" sounds like negative technology, that is, in plain language, they don't fill the pores. Should not hurt anything, as long as they use some sort of finish so the wood does not build up a load of skin oil and environmental detritus.

Could be a clever way of touting leaving off a process as a positive Next New Thing that is worth extra money.

Myself I have always wondered if finish helps sound at all, except by fending off the process of letting the wood accumulate oily materials and dirt from human handling, which would hurt it. So when I see very expensive vintage guitars with finish worn off where the right arm rests on the sound board - and not replaced by at least a coat of shellac - I wonder. I especially wondered on one I saw recently where that spot had turned dark with oil and dirt from the player's arm.

I guess what I am saying is if Open Pore sells more gits, why not advance it to Open Everything? No finish at all might actually sound better - for a while, anyway. But that isn't new is it? That is called in the white.

[TonyinNYC]

Open pore technology sounds like a marketing term they thought up after the company big-wigs realized they could save time and money by not pore filling the guitars. My guitars utilize Open Door technology when applying lacquer. What I do is, I open the door to my garage when I brush on the lacquer, in an effort to mitigate the fumes building up inside of my garage. I suppose I also utilize "Active Fan" technology as well because I often put a box fan in the door, blowing the fumes out. If I forget to turn on the fan, it would be called "Passive Fan Technology" or "Fan Free Finishing". Nobody steal that. I am going to call it my "Triple F" finishing system. The gentle breeze helps to trap tone in the lacquer. $500 upgrade.

[Dave Bagwill]

I use a finely decorated and delicate Japanese fan made of an exotic paper with a peacock painted on it, and I fan BY HAND. This method gently persuades the finish, instead of coercing it.