Wood, colours and finishes
In this guide, I help you choose the perfect wood and finish for your instruments and accessories. Sonata Custom products employ structural woods like beech and pine, and decorative woods such as oak, cherry, wenge, and sapele, each with its own unique characteristics. Additionally, you can select from a variety of finishes, allowing you to customize your piece according to your aesthetic and functional preferences.
Structural woods
Structural woods are mainly used in parts that are typically painted or remain hidden in the final piece. These woods are strong and stable, making them ideal for providing the solid foundation that any instrument or accessory needs.
Beech It is a dense and durable wood characterized by its white-pink color and fine, uniform texture. Highly valued for its dimensional stability, it is an ideal choice for structures that require great strength and durability, such as instrument frames or bases. Its surface can be easily treated, and its satin finish enhances its natural beauty without compromising the strength it provides to the piece. This wood is used by default for the internal structures of pedalboards.
Pine, on the other hand, is a lighter and more affordable wood, with a yellowish or white tone and generally straight grain. While it doesn't have the same hardness as beech, pine is suitable for structures that won't be exposed to extreme wear. Additionally, it is very easy to work with, allowing for easy customization of pieces. Due to its softness, it tends to be more prone to scratches, making solid colour or glossy varnish perfect for protecting its surface. This wood is used by default for the outer casings of MIDI pedalboards.
Birch, especially used for acoustic drum shells, is a lightweight wood with a smooth texture. While it is not as dense as other woods, it offers excellent resonance, making it ideal for crafting parts of instruments that require lightness and a clear sound. It is a popular choice in drum manufacturing due to its ability to produce a bright tone with good projection.
Decorative woods
Decorative woods are used in the visible parts of instruments and accessories, where their beauty and texture play a key role in the final aesthetics of the piece. In addition to being durable, they provide a strong visual impact, standing out for their unique colors, grain patterns, and finishes.
Oak is a classic and highly versatile wood, with tones ranging from light browns to deeper shades, always accompanied by a pronounced grain pattern. Its strength and stability make it an ideal choice for frequently used parts and decorative elements in musical instruments. The satin finish preserves its natural look, enhances the grain, and provides a warm, balanced feel. With a glossy finish, it gains greater depth and contrast, bringing out the colors and offering long-lasting protection, ideal for pieces that require a more striking and durable finish. By default, it is used for the white keys on pedalboards.
Cherry is another highly valued wood for its warmth, as its color gradually changes over time from a light reddish tone to a more golden hue. Its texture is uniform and fairly easy to work with, making it ideal for decorative details and surfaces that don’t require extreme hardness. A satin finish is excellent for enhancing its color without losing its natural appearance, but a glossy lacquer finish can also be chosen for a more sophisticated look. It is used by default for the badges on drum shells.
Wenge is an exotic wood with a very dark, almost black color and a highly distinctive grain pattern. Its deep tone and coarse texture add character and presence to any piece. With a satin finish, wenge retains its natural depth, slightly softening the intensity of the color while allowing the grain to stand out elegantly. A glossy finish enhances the contrast and provides a luxurious, refined look, perfect for pieces that aim for a more striking visual effect. By default, it is used for the black keys on MIDI pedalboards.
Sapele, similar to oak but with a warmer tone, features a rich reddish hue that varies in intensity and a highly defined grain pattern. This African wood adds character and visual presence to any piece. With a satin finish, sapelli retains its natural appearance, allowing the grain to stand out elegantly while providing a pleasant feel. A glossy finish enhances the color depth, accentuates the grain, and offers long-lasting protection, making it perfect for pieces that require a more striking and durable finish. By default, it is used for bassoon handrests and keys.
Colours and finishes
Wood finishes not only provide protection but also enhance the wood’s natural character and beauty. Each treatment contributes its own qualities to the piece, enhancing its appearance, feel, and visual presence while adapting to the purpose of each work. These finishes have been carefully selected to offer a balance between protection, functionality, and aesthetic expression, allowing each type of wood to express itself in a unique way.
Water-based satin finish provides a balanced, natural look, designed for those who appreciate the wood in its natural state. Its sheen is soft and subtle, just enough to protect the wood and enhance the grain without making it the center of attention. The result is a pleasant feel and a discreet, elegant visual presence.
This type of finish particularly preserves the texture and character of the wood, maintaining an organic, warm feel. It is an excellent choice for instruments with a sober aesthetic, natural finishes, or pieces where the shape, material, and sound are meant to speak for themselves without visual embellishments.
The images on the left show wenge and sapele pieces with this finish applied.
Glossy two-part finish is intended for more expressive, high-impact visual results. It provides a very smooth surface with a deep shine that reflects light and creates a strong sense of depth. This type of finish intensifies contrasts, enhances colors, and highlights any previous wood treatment.
In addition to its aesthetic effect, it is an especially hard and durable finish, suitable for instruments subjected to heavy use or more demanding conditions. It is the ideal choice for lacquered surfaces, charred finishes, or vibrant colors, and for those seeking an instrument with strong stage presence and a long-lasting finish.
The images on the left show wenge and sapele pieces with this finish applied.
La Paint provides a smooth, glossy finish that completely covers the wood, delivering an intense and consistent color across the entire surface. This treatment makes the color the absolute focus, giving each piece character and visual presence. In addition to its aesthetic appeal, the paint creates a durable, hard-wearing surface that can maintain its shine and tone over time. It is ideal for pieces where a bold, defined, and high-impact effect is desired, with the color and overall look taking center stage.
The oil finish enhances the natural beauty of the wood, penetrating the surface to highlight the color and grain without covering them. This treatment adds warmth and depth to the touch, leaving a smooth, pleasant feel while maintaining the authentic appearance of each piece. In addition, it subtly protects the wood from everyday wear without creating a rigid surface layer, allowing the natural texture and character to remain the focus. It is ideal for those seeking a refined, organic finish where the elegance and expressiveness of the wood are highlighted.
Special finishes
For drum shells, special finishes are available that completely transform the instrument’s appearance.
Lacquered is a finish that dramatically enhances the natural grain of the wood. To achieve this effect, a base color—usually black—is applied first, penetrating the pores of the shell. Multiple layers of clear or tinted varnish are then added, resulting in a highly defined grain with strong visual presence.
El acabado Charred finish is achieved through a controlled torching process of the wood, followed by the application of a clear varnish. This treatment creates an organic, one-of-a-kind gradient, giving each shell a unique character.
