Instead of asking the usual questions about the sound and playability of different makes and models, I thought I'd inquire about the various cosmetic finishes that seem to be available.....

1) Do the faux-woodgrain finishes on some plastic recorders wear away with heavy use/handling?

2) Do matte finishes, such as the matte-black "ebony" look of certain Woodnote/Smart recorders, show fingerprints more readily than glossy finishes?

I know nobody buys a musical instrument just for its looks. But it's always nice to have the knowledge necessary to choose Finish A over Finish B when the options present themselves.

Just buy whatever, let's face it, it's a cheapo plastic instrument and you will not be happy with its looks until you get a real wooden recorder.

That being said, one thing you can do is buy a glossy recorder and blunt the finish with steel wool. This does make it look a bit more serious. And yes, the faux finishes wear off.