Electric guitar finish, French Polish?

robgilmo

I know people do acoustics, I know its not a very durable finish, but it does look lovely, and Ive done quite a bit of French polishing through antique furniture refinishing and can get a very high quality finish, so why dont people use it on electric guitars? 

Kalimna

Durability, i suspect. You may find it on highend jazz guitars, but thats just a guess.

Adam

Schnozz

It's my favourite finish and more common on basses. Frames do it as they're linked to Warwick, but their neck profiles are all horrible.

NorthernGooner

Eastman do on their top range electrics. The SB59 Les Paul style and their semi hollows.  I've got a T64 which is an 
ES 330/casino type all hollow with P90's. The finish is antique amber violin finish. The french polish finish seems to put about a £300 upcharge on the price of the instrument but is beautifully done. It looks killer and they're nice guitars.

ICBM

robgilmo said:

I know people do acoustics, I know its not a very durable finish, but it does look lovely, and Ive done quite a bit of French polishing through antique furniture refinishing and can get a very high quality finish, so why dont people use it on electric guitars? 

Because electric guitars are a product of the industrial age and are best finished in something durable which can be sprayed on and buffed with a wheel.

A long time ago someone I knew had an SG refinished in French polish. It looked an absolute mess after a short time, and not in a good 'old worn nitro' way.

vasselmeyer

"French polishers? It's just possible you could save my life!"

Sassafras

A decent French polish finish is far harder and more time consuming to apply than a spray paint job. It's not very durable either, although that might suit the relic brigade

jellybelly

Tru oil is a good shout for this - really natural thin feel but super hard wearing and easy to apply (especially in the summer!!). My knockoff Costello Jazzmaster is still looking great 7 years and dozens of gigs and hundreds of rehearsals later. 

Corvus

Not common because it takes ages, limited colour schemes and general fascination with nitro.

I did it on my first build, had no way of spraying at the time and was persuaded by the guys that helped me, LA guitars. it looked smooth & glossy but the years (since about 89-90) have made the shine go off and its sunk into the grain. But time's made it tough, doesn't dink at all easily, there's very few on it and it's not been babied.
I didn't like it from the off because of the tint, it made the maple yellowy and the body grain looked much nicer before the shellac went on.

http://alleykat.co.uk/images/stuff/gretsch/pics/iolaire_1.jpg

BeardyAndy

robgilmo said:

I know people do acoustics, I know its not a very durable finish, but it does look lovely, and Ive done quite a bit of French polishing through antique furniture refinishing and can get a very high quality finish, so why dont people use it on electric guitars? 

Quality shotguns are usually french polished and they are out in all weathers being dragged through hedges and god know what!

With a french polish you can steam out dents and repair scratches without having to refinish the whole thing so arguably better than lacquer with regards maintenance, trouble is it takes bloody ages to do. I grew up in a family of gunsmiths and would spend days, even weeks getting a decent finish. 

guitarmangler

Corvus said:

Not common because it takes ages, limited colour schemes and general fascination with nitro.

I did it on my first build, had no way of spraying at the time and was persuaded by the guys that helped me, LA guitars. it looked smooth & glossy but the years (since about 89-90) have made the shine go off and its sunk into the grain. But time's made it tough, doesn't dink at all easily, there's very few on it and it's not been babied.
I didn't like it from the off because of the tint, it made the maple yellowy and the body grain looked much nicer before the shellac went on.

http://alleykat.co.uk/images/stuff/gretsch/pics/iolaire_1.jpg

I have a custom neck on my ibanez rg made by LA guitars about 15 ish years ago. It’s mahogany which has been French polished . It’s pretty rock solid .