What's up with the 'Piano' gloss????

Our reference standard finish (Talon Loudspeakers) is piano gloss black. It is beautiful in my opinion and it is what sells the most--that's why it's become the standard (we do offer other custom finishes). As to keeping it looking perfect, there's a wonderful automotive product--Novus. Works well on my VPI acrylic turntable base too.

If I recall correctly, piano black came into vogue during the reign of Napoleon III in the 19th century, when everything had to become black, from furniture to old gilded candlesticks. . . and of course pianos. Furniture was discarded, candlestick got eventually scraped to reveal their original gilding, but those black pianos. . . were passed along reverentially from generation to generation in well-to-do households until. . . the North American babyboomer generation started to become financially comfortable and fell in love with the slightly funereal beauty of gleaming black pianos and with similarly attired gleaming black Italian furniture, expressly created just for them.

Expanding on Rives post, and my previous post, I think that "Piano Gloss" is very popular and probably has a higher universal "WAF" than other exotic woods or finishes.

Personally, I love exotic woods and finishes, but there is usually an expensive upgrade charge, so affordability might be a factor. And since most of us change gear rather frequently :-) exotic finishes that you or I might love could be a turn-off for a potential buyer.

I'm with you Hhdink. With all of the gorgeous woods available I can't understand the allure of the black gloss. Wood is natural, organic and beautiful if executed correctly. Black gloss is (IMHO) bulky looking and without character.

I have some beautiful wood furniture in my living room that I never tire of.