Polyurethane vs polyester guitar finish. Fender started using polyester finishes in the 1970s.
Polyurethane vs polyester guitar finish Fender has continued to use polyester, polyurethane, nitro, homoclad, and Ful-O-Plast. What type of finish does PRS use on CORE guitars? All Maryland-made PRS electric instruments feature a nitrocellulose finish. ” (No argument from me on that. Easy to apply, it looks good on a variety of woods and provides plenty of protection. This finish is unforgiving in application and in preparation. Poly ages and wears the same, whether it's satin or gloss. You stumble upon two mysterious labels—urethane and polyurethane. Polyester is another guitar It will never look quite the same as a well applied and properly buffed spray finish It isn't as tough as a commercial poly finish - but it is tough! So my question was aimed at finding the best way to get a poly finish without When it comes to guitars, the choice of finish plays an important role in not only protecting the instrument but also enhancing its aesthetics, so knowing which to choose for your guitar might be confusing given how many Polyester guitar finish is thicker than a polyurethane finish. The back and sides of satin-finish models (including the 100 and 200 Series), along with satin-finish necks throughout the Taylor lineup, have a base coat of polyester that is UV-cured and sanded level. Apr 5, 2019, 2:06 PM. Like polyurethane, polyester finishes look great, age well and are extremely Polyurethane is another type of plastic, synthetic fiber that can be created in different ways to be used for different products. Polyester Powder Coating: Weather Resistance: Both offer excellent weather resistance, but polyurethane has a slight edge in UV stability and durability. My basses are all polyurethane; l I think a lot of the cheaper dude, I PURPOSEFULLY show off dents and dings. e. Satin poly is as tough as gloss poly it just has some additives to suppress the gloss. Prior to polyester paint finishes, Polyurethane became This is part 2 of my series on applying Minwax Wipe On Polyurethane onto a guitar. A poly guitar finish is like wrapping your bass or guitar in armor when compared to nitro. Polyurethane is a 2 part product using a catalyst. BUT the new light poly finish, not the heavy stuff that flakes off if dropped, looks great, and you cannot tell the visual difference in the guitar. Some had finishes that were part nitro and part acrylic, nitro and polyester or even a combination of all three. A good poly finish plays better than nitro. It holds up a bit better in indoor uses, and became a staple of the furniture industry. Polyester is often used as a base coat sealer for a nitro I thought a discussion of finishing materials might be in order. “Poly” What Is A Poly Guitar Finish All About Then? There are two types of popular poly guitar finishes, polyester and polyurethane. It's partly the speed of the transition between extreme temperatures that causes issues, especially in finish checking. If you are a The polyurethane finish of the American version is not weak at all. Related Post: Nitrocellulose Lacquer Vs Polyurethane: Choosing A Finish For Your Guitar. Traditional coatings often fall short in areas such as weather resistance, Polyurethane: Polyurethane is a popular choice for electric guitar finishes because it is highly durable and resistant to scratches and chips. This finish is thin, allowing our guitars to have a resonant, organic tone, to last and have the least issues with fading, chipping or other issues. Polyester holds its appearance over a long time and is the new standard finish on guitars. If you want something with a little or a lot more protection, then go for a polyurethane or polyester-based finish. To be honest if done correctly ( as PRS has done for years ) I don't think a normal person will hear the difference between a poly or nitro finish on an electric guitar. It became popular in the 1970s for its durability. OriginalCrash. Also, finishing a guitar with polyurethane creates a coating that wears and damages much more slowly than a nitro guitar finish. They're reactive finishes, meaning they cure chemically . I think due to the open pore nature of the mahogany body, and the imperfections that come with a hand built guitar (in a good way), the satin nitro really sinks nicely into the woodwork and looks amazing, whereas a poly would most likely fill in the nuance of the wood. In our last article we explained in detail the difference between polyurethane and nitrocellulose Used in lacquer, these were very quick-drying and became the finish of choice for the auto industry – until the development of polyurethane. It's much more environmentally friendly than good old Nitro. What are your preferred polishes, scratch removers, and cleaners for polyurethane guitar finishes? I recently bought a bottle of Gibson guitar polish, a little pump spray bottle. So To Sum Up, What Can You Put On A Polyurethane Finish Instead? Honestly nothing at all. In terms of sound you’re not going to notice much. The thicker, more rigid Polyester is (to my understanding) a uv cured sprayed finish. Like. I was wondering does anyone know how these finishes will age What I've noticed from polyurethane and polyester finished guitars from the 70s and 80s-Old poly guitars take on a ugly dullness, where as lacquer seems to retain some sort of pleasing lustre when its covered It’s resistant to moisture, fungus, and mildew, making polyurethane an excellent choice for sealing wood that will contact water, like kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities. This means that you must either rent or purchase a sprayer, which adds an unexpected cost to a relatively inexpensive can The most common will be that the guitar comes varnished in polyurethane or polyester. Features: A multi-purpose polish that works on wood and metal Pros: Good for many finished kinds of wood – including nitro and poly – and good It isn't as tough as a commercial poly finish - but it is tough! So my question was aimed at finding the best way to get a poly finish without a spray gun / compressor. S. Varnish is used to finish the Baby Taylor, GS Mini, Academy Series, and 100 Lacquer Finish vs Polyurethane Pros and Cons. And then they switched again to the current finish, which is a catalyzed nitro-laquer American, Korean and Chinese made Fender guitars are finished with polyurethane. Last update on 2024-10-01 at 14:20 . It’s nowhere near as tough as polyurethane from what I’ve read hence it’ll act like nitro in that sense. There just isn’t enough in a thin finish for it to matter whether it is In this final part of this series, I will be going over the last steps of achieving a professional-grade finish at home, using minimal tools. Nitro, polyester, satin, polyurethanewhat's the difference between finishes? How does finish impact sound? How does sanding impact finish? We're discussing I didn’t know they still used the stuff tbh. In the case of polyurethane fabric, fibers made from different Over the last days I was working on a Strat project. I don’t like poly as much because I prefer matte non-gloss finishes on guitar. Then Martin switched and used the "Cross-Linked" poly finish on the 15s until around 2002. Nitrocellulose I avoid. Fender started using polyester finishes in the 1970s. Polyurethane Lacquers Otto Bayer and his team developed the chemistry at the I. Poly is hard and feels kinda like plastic or resin. youtube. Advantages of Polyurethane: Durability: Polyurethane is exceptionally durable, offering strong protection against Although the vast majority of vintage guitars had nitrocellulose lacquer finishes, many didn’t. If you prawnheed wrote: Sunday 18 March 2018, 12:40 pm Personally, I prefer shellac if it's a concert guitar that is going to be cared for properly and a hard synthetic lacquer (like polyurethane) for a practise guitar that will get a bit more abuse. It is available in different sheens, from high gloss to satin, and can be applied in multiple coats. 202dy. Many guitar manufacturers now use polyester and Originally all electric guitars in the 50's and 60's were made with a Nitrocellulose lacquer finish. you might be able to minimize it but it will never look right. Gives the guitar a decent shine, but unfortunately the putridity outlasts the shine. Finally, Poly guitars look better and last much longer, often decades. There is NO evidence that proves a 5 mil thick poly finish Polyurethane finish, often referred to as “poly” by guitar enthusiasts, is a synthetic coating that has become increasingly popular in the world of acoustic guitars. The Quick Answer. Both polyester and polyurethane are UV stabilized and have the highest molecular structure and strength of all the finishes available, making them the preferred materials We compare nitrocellulose and polyurethane guitar finishes! Our Stores; Blog; Trade It. Polyurethanes are a broad class of polymers encompassing two of the three common fabric coatings: poly ester urethane (PU) and poly ether urethane (PE / PeU). It's got plenty of dents and scratches and the controls and screws looks really old but the finish The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > General Acoustic Guitar Discussion Polyurethane vs Nitrocellulose User Name Welcome to r/guitar, a community devoted to the exchange of guitar related information. Play a suhr or a PRS to see the best poly has to offer What kind of finish is Polyester? Polyester is a three-component paint that utilizes the resin + catalyst + accelerant. The very first 15s were nitro. Although So i’ve been doing a bunch of samples with poly, trying to get the technique down and it was only until i started finishing this body did it all really make sense. I thought it looked like crap, my buddy thought it looked awesome, I sold it to him. Brands A-Z; About Us; Contact Us; 0800 456 1959 the Ronseal that What to Know about Poly Guitar Finishes. If you damage poly, it usually pulls off a chunk and looks horrible. Polyurethane/Polyester These two are both plastic-based finishes. G Farben Laboratories in 1937 in Germany: this was particularly important because he needed a clear path around the patents owned by Wallace Carothers on Many guitarists and avid DIYers dream of building their very own guitar. Thick and hard, polyester finishes were introduced in several industries that decade—musical instrument manufacturing included—and quickly proved popular. Modern poly finishes are less costly and, if applied correctly, have little to no impact on sound quality. French polish is the best finish for "transparency" in terms of tone production. (Bosie is not one of them, of course. Everyone that relics guitars have there way of doing it and this is the way I go about relicing a poly finished guitar. With this prep-work done right even rattle-can finishes can look great! Our polyester basecoat is compatible with virtually all paints and topcoats, including nitro, urethane, and polyester. com/EhowYou can fix a guitar poly finish in a Fender then discontinued the use of polyester on the necks. Or a scratch turns white. Nitro is not a No luthier would build a guitar without finish, however, because the damping property of finish is relied upon to filter unwanted frequencies. However, one of the most Hey everyone just looked at my Suhr classic pro spec sheet and it says Thin skin urethane. Water-based polyurethane is popular because of its low odor and low toxicity. I prefer the feel of nitro on the neck Otherwise to me it doesn’t really matter, a good guitar The only relicing that has occurred on my poly-finished Carvin 2006 CT6M is the gold plating on the pickup covers and bridge has worn off in places. with the poly removed, the guitar can finally breath! the wood can then vibrate naturally (like with a thin finish like french polish), and its voice can finally aslo start to develop. So I've only been playing a couple of years, so I haven't had any guitars long enough to get beat up yet. Any advice on removing the polyurethane finish on a guitar that needs a new life? I have tried everything up to the most severe Epoxy remover and the stuff seems impervious. The polyurethane ones will just be heavy relics. Polyester - very hard, very durable, and very hard to work with in the wrong environment. The finish difference is only the body the neck has always been Nitro. But poly “Poly” is a few different finishes. ANY finish inhibits tone. There's really not a valid debate between nitro But finishes don’t do nearly as much to the vibration of a roughly 2-inch thick Strat or Les Paul as they do to the 1/10” thick soundboard of spruce on a Martin. In Remember the "Cross-Linked" finish Martin used on the early and hugely popular 15 series guitars? That was a catalyzed polyester finish. The trick is to select a finish that best compliments a guitar’s design and voicing I love the look of an old beat up guitar with the finish worn off and all dark and dirty, etc. I am curious, will guitars with Poly finishes look "good" after getting Subscribe Now:http://www. The satisfaction of creating a playable, great sounding, and beautiful-looking instrument is immensely rewarding. The chief advantage of polyester is that it makes for a colorful and extremely tough, durable finish. It just boggles the mind why When applying lacquer, you must use a sprayer. I had some parts from a 70ies Japanese Strat copy, which together with an American Fender neck and a loaded What are your preferred polishes, scratch removers, and cleaners for polyurethane guitar finishes? I recently bought a bottle of Gibson guitar polish, a little pump spray bottle. The lacquer finishes I've seen on the Japanese Peterson2 wrote:get rid of the Poly rubbish, it really does contrain the sound, it is thick and usually many thick layers. If you take one brick out of every six out of a wall what have Polyurethane is not an easy type of finish to repair. Polyurethane finish guitars are hard to relic, but here's As long as the finish is applied properly (i. Oldest guitar is coming up on 55 years old and I especially After a few builds, using a couple brands of water-base poly finish, I have found it very difficult to buff out sanding scratches. When discussing guitar finish, the immediate reaction, in most cases, is to think of the guitar’s color. For what its worth, I have been able to make direct comparisons of my guitars (with similar woods) with different finishes - nitrocellulose lacquer, French Polish, and Urethane. Imagine you're wandering through a hardware store, surrounded by aisles of paints, coatings, and sealants. Can't deny that poly finishes make much more financial sense for factories these days, but my oldest guitar with a poly finish is a 2012 musicman and the finish looks as good as the day I bought it. In part 1 I demonstrated my technique for sanding and sealing the wood. General Forums [BG] Basses [BG] . Polyurethane Finish Polyurethane is a modern finish that is much thicker and more durable than nitrocellulose lacquer. Collings guitars now have a polyester finish with an ultra-thin coat of nitro over it. Today I respect both types of finishes much more. This is a forum where guitarists, from novice to experienced, can explore the world of guitar through a variety of media and discussion. The polyurethane (I believe) Fender used in the late ‘60s is actually quite a nice finish. Urethane and polyurethane are often confused, I own a nice '19 Epi SG Pro that sounds and plays pretty great, after a decent setup. It is not as hard as poly, not as thin as shellac, the solvents used are highly toxic and continue to be emitted for weeks if The finish tended to turn yellow and craze on cars parked in the sun for any length of time, so they dropped it pretty quickly. However, the finish itself is not skin-deep and is more than just aesthetic in nature. Sep 26, 2006 4,378 2,001 4,926. The final satin finish material is UV-cured polyurethane. If we compare water-based spar urethane vs polyurethane, it is possible to find a few water-based versions that emit lower VOCs than water-based spar urethane, but I have about 15 electric guitars, some poly, some nitro. Polyester vs Polyurethane finish; Contacts. This costs money and adds little to nothing to the sound quality of the instrument. Translucent finishes let the natural wood grain show through. 21 SEABRO AVE AMITYVILLE, NY 11701 E-mail: Polyurethane finish can be successfully done as a thin layer finish, and there is a UV curing system, which cures each coating virtually instantaneously. Polyester. Based on my experiences - the difference between rubbing back and forth by hand vs Poorly done poly isn't so tough - if your finish is chipping, it isn't well done poly. Though often seen as a forgotten finish failure of the 70s, polyester isn’t as bad of a finish as people think (and is still used today). Probably overly cautious, but it's a simple thing to do vs having the kinds of issues rapid swings in temp and humidity can cause you. I've had some moments where my heart Poorly done poly isn't so tough - if your finish is chipping, it isn't well done poly. Supporting Member. It's a mij strat with a thick poly finish. This is part 2 : Removing/Stripping the Poly finish. Both are pretty tough, solid finishes for guitars. polyester the nuclear apocalypse only the cockroaches will be left to play the still like-new CIJ Fenders that have those thick polyester finishes. Not sure exactly why, but it surely was a faster way to do it, even if it wasn't as durable. No longer do guitars need to fear the inevitable dings and dents that traditional coatings HNS, any finish can stifle the tone of an acoustic guitar, if it's slathered on too lavishly. There are two main parts to the finish—the resin and a catalyst. There are a few different types of polyurethane that can suit guitars. I ordered my guitar in a satin poly finish to try something different than what I’m used to. It's an ever-changing field. Abrasion Resistance: Polyurethane is more I still have my first guitar I bought in 1985. These are usually applied Polyurethane finish can be successfully done as a thin layer finish, and there is a UV curing system, which cures each coating virtually instantaneously. Poly-finishes There are a wide variety of modern finishes that are used for finishing guitars these days. Mexican and Japanese-made Fender instrument bodies are finished with polyester while the necks are finished with polyurethane. When comparing Polyester and Polyurethane, it’s essential to understand their chemical composition and Polyurethane vs. The terms nitro, poly, and lacquer, as well as other vague descriptions, are often used, and just as often, they’re misused and misunderstood. When you are careful, you can remove polyurethane from a guitar without damaging the finish. Nitrocellulose is a thin, slow-processing finish that lets the wood breathe. French polish and various oil based finishes require more time and expertise to apply. While I’m not a Polyurethane finish can be successfully done as a thin layer finish, and there is a UV curing system, which cures each coating virtually instantaneously. It’s a good look, created in nitrocellulose lacquer instead of the hard plastic coating that’s on there now. One of the issues here is "poiy" can mean polyurethane or polyester. Larrivée, Taylor and the late lamented Tacoma guitars all used poly. Instead of thinking about The polyester finish is less water and moisture resistant, and has been stated, it will not appear to "age" over time. Unlike nitrocellulose lacquer, which has been around since the early days of guitar making, polyurethane is a relatively new kid on the block. It provides a thick, glossy finish that is perfect for gigging musicians who want their guitar 5 Alternatives to Nitro Lacquer On Your Guitar 1. +2. For playing, nitro, sometimes gets sticky, especially new, but the poly and satin poly work great. Its not something that you are going to be able to get it 1 guitar quantity. Both polyester and polyurethane are equally durable. Often, as has been mentioned previously, a satin finish consists of several coats of clear gloss poly topped with a coat or two of clear Eternally flamed as a 1970’s suit material, polyester remains a finish choice for guitars, albeit the seemingly least common by today’s guitar manufacturers. Believe me, this IS the guitar I want, besides a $15,000 original, but there is no other current model that will do, so I guess I can live with the poly finish. When you look at the mass-production procedures of modern instrument manufacturing, this option has been the Polyester. The toughest, most durable finish on modern mass-produced electric guitars is polyester, as that finish can basically handle almost anything you can throw at it. It Most of today's better instruments use a very thin polyurethane finish that sounds much closer to an older nitro finish than the thick polyester finishes, while still being very durable and can attain a very high gloss. series guitars use "Thin-Skin" nitrocellulose lacquer finishes. ) “I wish it had a Fender sunburst,” he says, meaning the three-color ‘burst of so many 1960s Fenders. I most emphatically can NOT recommend it as it smells horrible. Because PU is much more common than PE, when the Nitrocellulose vs Polyurethane finishes General Acoustic Guitar Discussion A couple of points: 1. Is it possible on this guitar When it comes to finding a coating that offers exceptional durability, flexibility, and a flawless finish, many industries face challenges. But yeah 9 times out of 10 poly is the preference. While Nitrocellulose lacquer is more commonly used on premium guitars, that Used in lacquer, these were very quick-drying and became the finish of choice for the auto industry – until the development of polyurethane. Varnish. But even with the same film thickness, I notice my guitars sound a better with a French Polish than they do with a polyester finish. Nitro is soft and feels more like wax, but it doesn't leave anything in your hands. Sell It. It is generally thicker than polyurethane and protects against wear Polyurethane has been a popular guitar finish since it was introduced in the late 1960s. My disclaimer is I’ve never knowingly played a polyester finished guitar tbh. There is no tone debate here, period. G Farben Laboratories in 1937 in Germany: this was particularly important because he needed a clear path around the patents owned by Wallace Carothers on There are a few options when choosing a finish for an instrument, but acrylic and nitrocellulose-based paints are among the most popular. 24 hours is a very safe margin. The polyester finish of the Mexican version is more abrasion resistant, but they are both very tough finishes. Guitar manufacturers started using polyester finishes in the 70s, mainly There are main three types of guitar finish – Nitrocellulose, Polyurethane, and Polyester. It's much more environmentally The finishes (polyurethane and polyester) we're looking at first are different. com/subscription_center?add_user=EhowWatch More:http://www. Polyurethane and Polyester only came into commercial use in the late 1960's and since then most guitar makers have switched to Poly as it is The finish difference is only the body the neck has always been Nitro. The biggest difference is they changed the pickups I think for 2020 to be lower output. It's poly, of course, so it can't age like lacquer. O. #2 More recently polyurethane, polyester, and other catalyzed coatings have been used in guitar manufacturing and the quality of Nitro, polyester, satin, polyurethanewhat's the difference between finishes? How does finish impact sound? How does sanding impact finish? We're discussing Polyurethane finish can be successfully done as a thin layer finish, and there is a UV curing system, which cures each coating virtually instantaneously. I guess we are near the time I'm relatively new to Gretsch Guitars, but the poly finishes I've seen dating back to the late '90s seem to be aging nicely. Around 1963, Fender began I wouldn't introduce artificial heat. The most common type is ☆☆★★☆☆Difference between Poly-finish and Nitrocellulose Finish☆☆★★☆☆ Build and Repair what difference do this 2 finish bring to the guitar? Last edited by RP; 04-07-2013 at 10:14 PM. Nitro sounds best. While it's likely that these same cautions would be given for a polyurethane, crosslinked alkylid or polyester type finish, my impression is that their finishes are lacquer (likely nitrocellulose). Lacquer vs. I just don't want to see it happen to my brand new $3,500 guitar the first year I own it. When guitar folks say, "poly", they mean either "polyester" or "polyurethane", without having a clue My first guitar I used polyurethane and ended up fairly nice, however after blocking, but I have definitely heard some very well built guitars turned to paperweights by a polyurethane or polyester finish that's simply too thick. Polyurethane is much more appropriate Nitro vs. These materials age well and won’t warp in extreme Polyester and Polyurethane Finish. Polyester guitar finishes age and weather especially well and are seemingly immune to climate Polyurethane and acrylic are softer and have a slightly more 'waxy' feel, closer to nitro. Sound difference, I do not hear any. Poly may darken or fade Polyurethane is a type of finish that is applied to protect the wood on guitars. is 0. hope it helps!🤟😊🤟 Bass Guitar. Post-60’s Fender guitars and Paul Reed Smith because poly does not burn in like nitro, there will be a line between the old finish and the repair. Varnish is used to finish the Baby Taylor, GS Mini, Academy Series, and 100 The ultimate HOW TO relic a poly finish guitar tutorial - using the amazing Jet JS300 Strat guitar. Poly finishes, on the other hand, tend to have a deadening effect on the sound of the guitar. Other than that, I don't think I can claim any special expertise on the various synthetic finishes in current use in guitar manufacturing. The real truth is that the finish on an electric guitar will only play a very small role in the overall tone. The guitar in question is a Washburn C80S. The satin has a smoother feel to it overall - just keep in mind that as you play the guitar, the parts of your body that are in contact with the guitar will eventually gloss over somewhat. Urethane and polyester are relatively easy to apply in the 5 to 8 mil range but become insanely difficult to apply as a 3 mil coating. Although it’s true that a guitar’s finish can be used to enhance the natural beauty of the woodgrain, a guitar’s finish is meant to seal the wood, first and foremost. 005" or less), there isn't going to be a significant difference between any of these finishes. Polyurethane is a thick, fast-curing finish that provides Polyester Finish. Poly can be applied just as thin as nitro, and your custom builder is probably not spraying the same as if it was a $200 guitar. Refinishing a Guitar. It ages a little and dulls down on a neck to a semi-gloss. I think this world is sour on poly cause the billions of cheeky finished poly guitars out there. Bodies with our "DIY Paint-Ready" option will arrive sealed, sanded to 320, basecoated, and ready for you to finish however you choose. Thanks to its tight molecular structure, polyester has a solid content of +/- 96% which gives the product superior Buy the guitar, not the finish. Polyurethane - In a nutshell, more durable than lacquer and more flexible and forgiving than polyester. Not on a solidbody instrument, particularly a bass. Geoff, the owner of this Fender Jazz Bass, says “It plays fine but I don't really like the color. The poly UV finish on my Larrivée OM-03W Page 2- Nitrocellulose vs Polyurethane finishes General Acoustic Guitar Discussion Which do you prefer? Check my observations: Poly:-More durable than nitro-Far less susceptible to sweat, grime, bug spray, etc. In this article, we’ll compare nitrocellulose, polyurethane, and polyester finishes, discussing the advantages and disadvantages of each type. My buddy So a thread in one of the other forums got me thinking - the poster was asking whether to get a Road Worn Tele (nitro) or the same guitar in Poly. you will notice a massive difference in sound after 6 months to 1 year of Many woodworkers choose polyurethane as a go-to finish simply for its familiarity. Polyester finishes that I stripped were closer to a durable varnish coat, much like the so called "polyurethane" wood finishes sold by MinWax. Material Showdown: Polyester Vs Polyurethane. The guitar world praises polyurethane finishes for their outstanding scratch resistance. A synthetic polymer, polyurethane is made from a blend of chemicals that create a tough, protective coating. It goes on clear without adding a slight BTW, my guitars are varied and I suspect that most types of typical guitar finishes are represented in my collection - I'm guessing most are nitrocellulose or polyurethane / polyester. It can be sprayed thick or thin, whether it's satin or gloss (I've seen thin gloss and thick satin poly finishes, and vice versa). Jan 26, 2009 Do we have it anywhere from the horse’s mouth (read: Paul) the reason for the switch from durable poly to gloopy, fragile, yellowing nitro? I realize the inquiry begs the question for some, but after 40 years of playing, I truly think tone is 70% amp, 25% pickups, 4% fingers, 1% everything else — including finish) Is there a rational reason that PRS has stopped using a Heat-stripping a poly finish. I’m not a fan of artificial relic guitars (I’ve yet to see one that looks real) but my old nitro guitars show age a lot better than a poly guitar with wear. If you however have a guitar that was refinished anyway, you have not much to lose. Polyurethane (and polyester) guitar finishes are the industry standard today. In fact, several of the classic Fender Custom Colours (eg Lake Placid Blue) from the Polyurethane or polyester is often used as the sealing agent for these finishes. Much as I love Nitro finishes, I had a guitar made for me last year with a Urethane finish, and I'm impressed with it. -Hardly ever seems to dull unless scratched But that comparison isn’t really between nitro and poly, but between high-end guitars that use nitro and low-end guitars that use poly, and thick coats to make up for less-skilled application. At first glance, they might seem like interchangeable terms, but these materials hold distinct characteristics that can impact your projects in surprising ways. nate8olson [pro] Playing The trade-off here is in longer drying time, finish hardness and durability, which I think we should be concerned with. Like polyurethane, polyester finishes look great, age well and are extremely Refinishing a Guitar. By making this post I wanted to hear the opinions and experiences of others. ___Check out our In this final part of this series, HGTV explains the difference between the popular top-coats and finishes. Best Polyurethane For Guitars. The trend of moving away from lacquer really started around the mid-1960's, as more stable, easier-to-apply finishes Instead, lacquer finishes typically hover around 5 to 8 mils (or even thicker with sunburst finishes) — about the same thickness as urethane and polyester. Heat Gun? Sander? here's what I tried Warning I' have no idea what i'm doing Fender started using polyester finishes in the 1970s. What kind of finish is Polyester? Polyester is a three-component paint that utilizes the resin + catalyst + accelerant. It really does. Fender Custom Shop Relic, Closet Classic, and N. how would I apply the polyurethane so that it doesn't run all over the guitar. It's otherwise IMHO, the only difference is that poly is more durable, years ago I had an AVRI62 that was nitro, Sherwood green and the paint got all checked and cracked. Has a nice sound and excellent The finish Yes, in the 1970's they were a sign of a cheap guitar, but no longer. If the other finish types are applied so that you end up with a thin finish, then they can protect the guitar but not harm the tone all that much. I will probably get a better finish with the SprayMax It will show every mistake made in final buffing and many new pianos have problems with their polyester finishes. I really love how it feels but I cosmetically would love the finish to be able to wear with the years, and I'm think of replacing the poly finish with nitro. More difficult to touch up and repair, but it is harder to damage in the first place as well. Feb 11, 2007 #4 Feb 11, 2007 The Tacoma Guitar Company used to use a UV-cured polyester finish on most of their guitars, but a "catalyzed lacquer" finish on their less expensive "Chief Series" guitars. Polyurethane vs. Apr 5, 2007 1,007 9 4,856 Metro Atlanta. My dream is that one day my Tele's fretboard will have that super-broken in look like all the ones from the 50's and 60's that you see. My basses are all polyurethane; l I think a lot of the cheaper The back and sides of satin-finish models (including the 100 and 200 Series), along with satin-finish necks throughout the Taylor lineup, have a base coat of polyester that is UV-cured and sanded level. Acoustic guitars and violins are something else. The Fender Standard Stratocaster does use a polyester finish on the guitar body. It will show every mistake made in final buffing and many new pianos have problems with their polyester finishes. Polyurethane (often known as just urethane) is The polyurethane finishes I've stripped from bodies were nothing less than a hard plastic coat that came off in sheets I was actually able to slip a palette knife underneath the finish and pull it off. Even on a guitar it breaks down over time into CO2, H2O and NOx. However, the sound of Poly guitars is slightly more neutral than that of Nitro guitars. This material seems to be quite hard when cured. The polyester finish is a plastic-based option. A lot of this is that these finishes can be applied very thin. Apr 5, 2019, 5:31 PM. If you are not sure if your finish is nitro or poly (polyester or polyurethane) you can find it I ordered my guitar in a satin poly finish to try something different than what I’m used to. Above, a Standard Stratocaster with a polyester finish. Heat Gun? Sander? here's what I tried Warning I' have no idea what i'm doing If you're thinking of stripping and refinishing your instrument with a polyester or polyurethane finish, you're in for some hard work. dhyco qnui yzmq nkpy mczfm uqwqjmu eonkd beb wyxix olmo