
Currently, Gibson still use nitrocellulose gloss and satin finishes for both the necks and bodies on most of their guitars, whilst Fender typically only use them on custom shop models. Nitro finishes are more time-consuming and labour intensive to apply.
Is nitrocellulose a good finish on a guitar?
Mar 30, 2022 · Nitrocellulose is an evaporative finish. The solvents flash off quite quickly initially, and subsequent coats can be applied with less delay. Because of these solvents, subsequent coats actually melt into previously applied coats and bond together. It's possible to end up with a thin finish, in easy fashion, from a spray gun.
Does Gibson use nitro finish on guitars?
Apr 03, 2020 · A lot of vintage guitars (and vintage re-issue guitars) have been finished with nitrocellulose lacquer. It’s usually applied fairly thinly, so you can still kind of feel the grain of the timber underneath. There’s an argument that not encasing your instrument in a thick layer of poly allows it vibrate more freely.
Is nitrocellulose the same as Nitro of the 1950s?
Aug 31, 2016 · That changed with the development of nitrocellulose lacquer in the early 1920s. The new lacquer dried even faster, and it could be applied using spray guns. Best of all, an infinite colour palette was opened up. Nitrocellulose was adopted quickly by the car industry and remained the finish of choice through to the late-1950s.
Are nitro-finished guitars still available?
Nitrocellulose finish buffs to a high gloss and has a softer sheen, which may, in turn, show more wood grain compared to thicker poly finishes. A brand new guitar with a nitrocellulose finish will be shiny and beautiful, but over time as the guitar is played the finish will begin to age – for example; swirl marks created by sitting the guitar on different surfaces or just holding it and …

Does Fender still use nitrocellulose?
Do Gibson guitars have nitrocellulose finish?
Does Gibson still use nitrocellulose lacquer?
When did they stop using nitrocellulose on guitars?
What brands of guitars are finished with nitrocellulose lacquer?
What are Gibson guitars made of?
How do you paint nitrocellulose guitar?
- Day One: First 3 Coats of Colored Nitrocellulose Lacquer.
- Day Two : Even out the finish by sanding and spray 3 more coats of colored lacquer.
- Day three : sanding and spraying 4 coats with clear lacquer.
- Day four : sanding and an additional 4 coats of clear paint.
What paint does Gibson use?
Gibson Color | Paint Type | Car Make |
---|---|---|
Cardinal Red | Acrylic | Oldsmobile |
Polaris White | Acrylic | Oldsmobile |
Golden Mist Poly | Acrylic | Oldsmobile |
Silver Mist Poly | Acrylic | Oldsmobile |
How do you care for a Les Paul?
How do you fade a nitro finish?
What is the difference between cellulose and nitrocellulose?
Does nitrocellulose need a clear coat?
Do they make nitrocellulose lacquer like they used to?
“They don’t make ’em like they used to” is a general-purpose truism that is often applied to nitrocellulose lacquer, and two things are certain. Firstly, all the big guitar companies in the 50s and 60s were using lacquer from various manufacturers and the formulations were slightly different. Secondly, the balance of ingredients used in modern nitrocellulose lacquer has changed substantially from what it was back in the day.
When was nitrocellulose lacquer invented?
A DuPont employee called Edmund Flaherty invented nitrocellulose lacquer in 1921. Nitrocellulose is dissolved in a solvent, which may comprise naphtha, xylene, toluene, acetone, various ketones, and plasticising materials that enhance durability and flexibility.
Where is cellulose found?
Found in the cell walls of plants and algae, it’s the most abundant organic polymer on earth. The human body uses cellulose as a dietary fibre, and cellulose-derived products have been used in the photography, clothing and explosives industries since the mid-19th century.
What is cellulose used for?
The human body uses cellulose as a dietary fibre, and cellulose-derived products have been used in the photography, clothing and explosives industries since the mid-19th century. In 1862, Alexander Parkes treated cellulose with nitric acid and a solvent to create the first man-made plastic – nitrocellulose.
Can you spray nitrocellulose lacquer?
You must bear in mind that spraying nitrocellulose lacquer exposes you to some really nasty toxins. Ideally, you should set up a booth with a proper extraction fan if you plan to do a lot of spraying. It is also essential to wear a breathing mask that can block out vapour as well as airborne particles.
Who made the first plastic?
In 1862, Alexander Parkes treated cellulose with nitric acid and a solvent to create the first man-made plastic – nitrocellulose. The process is virtually identical to the way in which trinitrotoluene (aka TNT or dynamite) is produced, which is not unrelated to the authorities’ keenness to limit its use in industry.
tkjtkj
the topic says it all .. A new 'stand' from Musician's Friend ('Guitar Gear' tag) warns not to use it for any
Dennis G
Don't quote me but, I think all Gibby's have a nitro finish. That said, I won't trust any stand that has foam on any of my guitars, regardless of finish. I've had "burns" in a tung oil finish neck, the back of my MIM Strat neck, etc. I wrap every piece of foam with a couple of layers of cotton gauze tape. Not really pretty, but it works.
crust
No, it does not have a Styrofoam (polystyrene) finish, I believe you meant a "poly urethane " finish, BIG difference!
Chris Browne
I thought I read somewhere that the Epi 339s are nitro, or nitro over poly maybe - could this be true?
capmaster
No, it does not have a Styrofoam (polystyrene) finish, I believe you meant a "poly urethane " finish, BIG difference!
wiggy
Agree on these statements, but I think it's bad when some expensive stands were offered as nitro-safe, and later appeared to be not, regardless what country of origin.
Ed Zeplin
the topic says it all .. A new 'stand' from Musician's Friend ('Guitar Gear' tag) warns not to use it for any
Is nitrocellulose lacquer good for guitars?
I'm not saying Nitrocellulose Lacquer finishes aren't good finishes, and aren't good for a guitar's tone, but they DON'T allow the wood to " breathe".
What is nitrocellulose made of?
Nitrocellulose is made from cellulose, which is also what all plant cells are made of. BUT, The manufacture of nitrocellulose rarely uses cellulose, or plant cell material, from trees, but rather cotton.. which is much more easily nitrated. But that's not the worst part of this statement.
What is the finish of an electric guitar?
The real truth is that the finish on an electric guitar will only play a very small role in the overall tone. The pickups, bridge, neck wood, neck thickness, nut material, body wood, body shape, string gauge and the player himself will each have at least as much to do with the tone as the finish, if not considerably more.
What is acrylic resin?
Acrylic resin is a synthetic, colorless, transparent thermoplastic, obtained by the polymerization of derivatives of acrylic acid. Polyurethane ( PUR and PU) is a polymer composed of a chain of organic units joined by carbamate (urethane) links.
What are the advantages of polys?
The other advantage that the polys had, was that they were very durable and shiny. they were also impervious to the plasticizers in your hand oils, so they were much less sticky feeling to the touch, and they didn't yellow, weather check or chip as easily as Nitrocellulose.
