Joha Guitar Varnish – Oil or Spirit?
The Right Choice for Every Need

Joha offers two high-quality varnishes for guitar making: Guitar Oil Varnish and Spirit Guitar Varnish – developed for perfect surfaces and optimal tonal characteristics.

The oil varnish is especially user-friendly, dries slowly, and allows for easy corrections. It forms a durable surface, supports the instrument’s tone, and creates a natural, classic appearance – ideal even for beginners.

The spirit varnish dries quickly and delivers a brilliant, smooth finish with visual depth. It is best suited for experienced users who value precision and high gloss.

Whether traditional with spirit varnish or modern with oil varnish – Joha offers the right solution for every guitar finish.

Company Vacation from August 22, 2025 to September 5, 2025


Dear customers,  we're taking a short break!

Our company will be closed from August 22 through September 5, 2025 . During this time,
there will be no shipping and no customer service. Orders can of course still be placed – shipping will resume on September 9, 2025 .

Thank you for your understanding and patience!

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Guitar spirit varnish, colorless
Size: 100 ml
JOHA Guitar Spirit VarnishPure Shellac-Based Spirit Varnish Tradition meets tone: For a refined finish and authentic sound. The JOHA Guitar Spirit Varnish is a high-quality spirit varnish made from 100% pure natural shellac – free from synthetic resins, oils, or plasticizers. Specially developed for the needs of guitar making and fine stringed instrument finishing, it combines a traditional formula, premium raw materials, and excellent workability. Ideal for achieving a natural, resonant surface with brilliant visual depth. Application Areas Whether for building new instruments, restoring vintage guitars, or performing touch-ups: JOHA Guitar spirit Varnish is the preferred choice of luthiers, restorers, and dedicated hobbyists. Application – Flexible & Precise Brush application: The varnish spreads smoothly and evenly with a fine brush. It dries quickly, making it perfect for layer-by-layer builds with visual depth. French polishing: Thanks to its purity and consistency, it is perfectly suited for the traditional French polish technique. Multiple thin layers can be built up to create a deep, warm shine without forming a synthetic film. Key Features ✔ 100% pure shellac – no synthetic additives or resins ✔ Sound-friendly: Does not dampen the instrument’s resonance ✔ Brilliant, transparent finish – enhances wood grain and color ✔ Natural gloss – from satin to high-gloss (depending on polish) ✔ Traditionally proven – perfect for both historical and modern guitars ✔ Fast drying – allows efficient further processing Why JOHA? For decades, JOHA has been synonymous with top-quality instrument varnishes. Our spirit varnishes are based on time-tested formulas and are developed in close collaboration with violin and guitar makers. This specific guitar varnish is tailored to the unique needs of acoustic string instruments. Available Sizes: e.g. 100 ml, 250 ml, 500 ml, 1 L Color tone: Natural amber (slightly warm, transparent)

€10.10*
CLP-/REACH-Notice
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Flame: Flammable
Hazard Statements
Highly flammable liquid and vapour.
Precautionary statements
If medical advice is needed, have product container or label at hand.
Keep out of reach of children.
Read carefully and follow all instructions.
Keep away from heat, hot surfaces, sparks, open flames and other ignition sources. No smoking.
Use explosion-proof [electrical/ventilating/lighting/] equipment.
Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection/hearing protection/.
IF ON SKIN (or hair): Take off immediately all contaminated clothing. Rinse skin with water [or shower].
Store in a well-ventilated place. Keep cool.
Dispose of contents/container to .
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Guitar oil varnish, colorless, quick drying
Size: 100 ml
JOHA Guitar Oil VarnishDurable Oil Varnish for Guitars & String Instruments Robust, fast-drying, beginner-friendly. The JOHA Guitar Oil Varnish is a particularly durable and user-friendly finish, specially developed for guitar making and restoration. It is based on a balanced blend of natural resins and high-quality synthetic resins, providing excellent application properties and a resilient surface. Easy to Use – Also Suitable for Beginners This varnish is ideal for anyone seeking a satisfying result – even without much lacquering experience. Thanks to its special formulation: it dries significantly faster than traditional oil varnishes, can be easily applied with a brush, and forms a stable, durable coating. This makes it especially suitable for guitars that are played frequently or subject to wear. Key Benefits ✔ Beginner-friendly – forgiving and easy to apply ✔ Brush application – allows controlled layer building ✔ Excellent adhesion on wood surfaces ✔ Fast drying – much shorter waiting times than with traditional oil varnishes ✔ Improved protection against scratches and wear – ideal for everyday instruments ✔ Acoustically optimized – protects without muting the tone Who Is It For? Guitar makers and instrument restorers Hobbyists with little finishing experience Musicians who want to care for and protect their instrument themselves Workshops seeking a tough finish with minimal effort Conclusion The JOHA Guitar Oil Varnish combines traditional lacquer quality with modern ease of use. Thanks to its short drying times and simple application, it delivers convincing results – even for less experienced users. Ideal for new builds, refinishing, and repairs.

€11.60*
CLP-/REACH-Notice
Symbol
Flame: Flammable Exclamation Mark: Health hazard/Hazardous to the ozone layer
Hazard Statements
Flammable liquid and vapour.
May cause drowsiness or dizziness.
Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects.
Precautionary statements
If medical advice is needed, have product container or label at hand.
Keep out of reach of children.
Read carefully and follow all instructions.
Keep away from heat, hot surfaces, sparks, open flames and other ignition sources. No smoking.
Use explosion-proof [electrical/ventilating/lighting/] equipment.
IF ON SKIN (or hair): Take off immediately all contaminated clothing. Rinse skin with water [or shower].
Store locked up.
Dispose of contents/container to .