Finish Integrity Index
Finish evaluation uses R-10 UV lighting to reveal original lacquer integrity and distinguish factory from post-factory refinishes.
We capture high-resolution reflectance and autofluorescence under R-10 UV lighting—wavelength 365 nm—at 12 standardized angles per body face. Original nitrocellulose lacquer exhibits consistent patina with age-appropriate yellowing and subtle surface cracking; overspray appears unnaturally uniform, with sharper fluorescence transitions or inconsistent orange-peel texture. This technique detects even partial refinishes under pickup rings or backplates.
Critical zones are cross-validated: neck pocket seal, bridge base perimeter, and control cavity edges. Mismatched UV response in these joints confirms factory vs. post-factory separation. We correlate UV findings with visual inspection under raking light and side-by-side colorimetry to confirm lacquer type and age. No finish is marked intact unless both techniques concur.
We exclude UV images from public listings unless original finish is claimed, but retain them in the audit trail for provenance verification. This prevents misattribution from dealer error or misgraded inventory elsewhere. When overspray is confirmed, we note layer count and approximate refinish era from lacquer chemistry clues—e.g., polyurethane over nitro indicates post-1970s work.
