Acoustic Guitar Construction

I struggle with the idea of trashing a guitar to make it look old

I agree. When I looked at their result, it seemed bizarre. Torrified wood may or may not achieve some of the sonic effects of aged wood, but messing up the finish is simply beside the point. But they say they will sell one with a normal finish, if the customer wants it.

well new distressed furniture (beat with a chain to look old) has been around for a long time, and people buy that so............

Crazy, if I get one little ding in my guitar, it drives me crazy. If I had one of those guitars, Id be in the looney farm for sure. :)

What that finish is, is Fake. Or Faux. Or both.

It is also common in the violin world where good luthiers make great violins with gorgeous finishes and then place them in a bag with screws rock and what not and shake it for awhile. It helps the sound!

Am I mistaken in my understanding that the checking in an old guitars finish helps with the its ability to vibrate more freely and contribute to its sound? Astatically I see no reason for the distressed look, but to each their own.
Jim.

I do not know and do not think that it helps the sound, I think it is done for the distressed look.

I could see where it might just loosen the sound board if the finish was applied thickly like the 60-70 Gibsons.