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Gibson also use a lot more plasticiser in their modern nitro than they did in the old days, resulting in finishes which check less, feel different and are more prone to stand marking…
Also, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS "POLY".
There is polyester, and there is polyurethane. They are different finishes and they react differently to damage etc. There is also acrylic. Or should that be "acry"?
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
@icbm
In the opening line, you mean 'Fullerplast?' Do you happen to know the years this was used? I'm sure it's under the nitro of my 61.
*An Official Foo-Approved guitarist since Sept 2023.
It is not just about the nitro finish itself as the 'filler' and base coat need to be taken into account
It is generally accepted by many luthiers that a thinner finish is preferred as a thick finish will further dampen the guitars natural vibrant properties - If in doubt about this then strip your guitar down to bare wood and listen to the voice of the raw finish - Not to long ago I acquired a mid 60's SG Special that had a poor home refin with Dulux Gloss - looked poor as hell - Stripped it down and instantly the guitar had a more natural vibrant voice
I think there is a strong debate as to modern finishes not sounding inferior to nitro and I won't go in to this, but the boutique builders who favour a modern finish still prefer a thin finish so as not to dampen the natural vibrant qualities of the wood - I've heard on more than one occasion from various luthiers and big companies that the guitar sounds better before any finish is applied, as such keep your finish thin - A similar scenario adapted by violin luthiers and acoustic guitar builders
I've also seen and heard on many occasions of players wishing to delve into their own refin and amazed how much the debris weighs after stripping down a modern finished production guitar
Thanks Gassage, I'll look into it.
It's also worth noting that quite a few of the custom colours (eg Lake Placid Blue) were actually acrylic, not nitro.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Is a preference for nitro entirely driven by users? Given its potential fragility and the unpredictable way it can age - sometimes looking 'charming' and other times just flaking off - could dealers (especially of older instruments) also be hyping the perceived value of a nitro finish? After all, it seems relatively few nitro finished guitars will reach old age without finish problems or a refin, making the charmingly aged survivors even rarer and more desirable, a bit like dealers are able to charge a huge premium for toys that still have their boxes with them.
Feedback
Mark,
Go and think about what you've done please.
*An Official Foo-Approved guitarist since Sept 2023.
*An Official Foo-Approved guitarist since Sept 2023.
Apparently that's Dakota Red "nitro". Looks more like polyurethane to me (must be a lot of plasticiser in it!)
https://i.imgur.com/pz2Itqp.jpg
• Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@Goldeneraguitars
A lot of well respected people in the guitar building industry do think finish affects tone - although from the people I've talked to, and the stuff I've read, it's the thickness of it that is important, not what it is made from.
As @guitars4you said, it's easy enough to check if you have the time and inclination. Just get a guitar, play it, remove the finish, and then play it again and see if it sounds different.
Whether or not it does affect tone, nitro definitely ages better than most poly finishes. I've seen poly finished Strats with great big horrible cracks. The crazing you get with nitro looks a lot better. I had an early 90's PRS with a poly finish, and where that got dinged it didn't look good either.
Does anyone know what the newer PRS V12 finish looks like a few years in when it has got some dings?
No.
Pre CBS strats.
*An Official Foo-Approved guitarist since Sept 2023.
Mark
Any idea where one might get this? I have one guitar that's got no laquer whatsoever on the neck.
*An Official Foo-Approved guitarist since Sept 2023.
There are no set advantages using nitro over polyurethane, as such. This is based on what YOU prefer. If you prefer a thick and protective surface then polyurethane is your answer. If you want a finish that is thinner than a strand of human hair, expands, contracts and wears with you then nitro is perfect.
• Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@Goldeneraguitars