It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 11:18 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 11 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: Ageing of Nitrocellulose
Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2018 1:54 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Nov 14, 2018 1:38 pm
Posts: 4
Hi there!

Just picked up a 60th anniversary Fender Jazzmaster in Daphne Blue, looks gorgeous and sounds even better! The guitar is coated in quite a thin layer of wonderful smelling nitro lacquer. Got home, sat down and just played for 3 hours straight.

I noticed that on the back of the guitar there were little black specks that must have come from my shirt. Is this normal??? I have never owned a nitro lacquered guitar and am just wondering about ageing and wear over time.

Cheer! this is my first post on the forum! :D


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Ageing of Nitrocellulose
Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2018 6:43 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2012 6:56 am
Posts: 1677
Location: Coastal Bend, Tx.
If you were wearing a black shirt it is normal, a red shirt would be abnormal.
Is the surface sticky at all or glass smooth?
You mentioned the smell of Nitro, presuming it may still be curing if your able to smell it. Be careful with it, it will mar easily until fully cured. I would recommend storing it outside of the case to allow it to cure, perhaps in a closet out of the way of any traffic. Be careful though of synthetics, plastics and surgical tubing: they do not play well with nitro and some are completely incompatible and will melt the finish. Use cardboard when possible to rest the body/headstock on while curing.
Just my .02, welcome to the board and enjoy playing your new guitar!!!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Ageing of Nitrocellulose
Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2018 8:01 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2009 7:13 pm
Posts: 19025
Location: Illinois, USA
Welcome to the Forum Strandox. Congratulations, enjoy your new Jazzmaster!

_________________
you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Ageing of Nitrocellulose
Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2018 10:54 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Sat Mar 22, 2008 10:38 am
Posts: 12975
Location: Canada
Welcome, Strandox. Daphne Blue, huh? That was the colour of the first Fender I was introduced to. Pictures don’t do the colour justice, but pictures are always welcomed all the same. Nice 60th Anniversary Fender.

To understand the difference between curing and drying I found this to let you know that while it is true to make sure the item, in your case the guitar, has enough time to settle in with the finish, curing and drying are quite different, and drying applies to your finish. It all depends on how long the finish was applied, and this video is likely talking of a recent hands on job rather than a supplied factory finish. Aside from the promotion, I think this will be of use:



You may or may not find the finish will change with aging and perhaps give a cracked / checking appearance. That will be a common occurrence with nitro cellulose. Not to worry though, as some of the finest instruments around have seen this fate. In fact many reproductions are purposely made to give the appearance of a well played or owned instrument. Tip: This can be introduced with bringing the guitar in from outside with temperature changes. Let your Jazzmaster sit in the case for time to come to room temperature if you can and that will be helpful, particularly in extreme temperature change.

As for your question, perhaps, cleaning and polishing is in order. Before you do though, I would talk to a tech that has experience with Fenders and nitro finishes or, at the very least, first follow Fender’s cleaning suggestions, and if not, do the next best thing. Otherwise, leave it alone.

It’s on the back, so that is a good thing and should be less concern either way. :wink:
Enjoy that fine guitar.

FSB

Note: Make sure you prevent a chemical reaction with your stand. Often the rubber around the neck, back, or butt. Guitar butt. :lol: This is often the culprit. Not all stands are compatible with nitro cellulose, although most are today. You still need to know, however, and those that are will usually promote “good or safe with all finishes” or something like that.

_________________
Hello, big guitar. Meet my little fingers.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Ageing of Nitrocellulose
Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2018 11:29 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Nov 14, 2018 1:38 pm
Posts: 4
Wow! What a warm welcome! Thanks everybody. :D

I will take all of your advice into account. Ideally I want it to naturally relic because I love guitars that have seen a fair few battles! Don't want to get it reliced by some professional though, sounds a bit like cheating to me :D

Anyway here are a few shots of the guitar in its current mint condition. Cheers guys :)

Image

Image

Image

Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Ageing of Nitrocellulose
Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2018 12:22 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Wed Oct 29, 2014 1:50 am
Posts: 5667
Location: Arizona USA
She's a beauty, Strandox. Congratulations and welcome. As you have seen, there are some really awesome people here. Enjoy!

_________________
Marky

Remember the music is not in the guitar


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Ageing of Nitrocellulose
Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2018 3:53 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Sat Mar 22, 2008 10:38 am
Posts: 12975
Location: Canada
You are welcome, and thanks for your pictures, Strandox. Pretty nice.

FSB

_________________
Hello, big guitar. Meet my little fingers.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Ageing of Nitrocellulose
Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2018 9:42 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2012 6:56 am
Posts: 1677
Location: Coastal Bend, Tx.
Most likely what your smelling is the case, leave it open for a few days and let it dry out as its absorbed the gas off the guitar. If the guitar is gassing out and it will for a good while it builds up in the case. As long as the exterior isn't soft or sticky, it hasn't come into contact w/ another product that it reacts adversely with(silicone).
Here is a link to the Fender Lacquer finish: precautions and care instructions that should have come w/ your guitar. http://poldermeester.nl/gitaar/page.php?id=88 Unfortunately I couldn't find a copy of this on Fender's support area even though it is referenced in the current owners manual.

As far as the cure or dry debate I'll pass, as most guitar owners use the words interchangeably and are not concerned w/ molecular chemistry.

Great pics, a beautiful color...


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Ageing of Nitrocellulose
Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2018 3:03 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Sat Mar 22, 2008 10:38 am
Posts: 12975
Location: Canada
sfceric64 wrote:
As far as the cure or dry debate I'll pass, as most guitar owners use the words interchangeably and are not concerned w/ molecular chemistry.

Great pics, a beautiful color...
Me too. I was good in Chemistry, but I don't have the formula, and I ain't no scientist. Sticky and not sticky, wet or dry werx for me. :P After all, I still have to remember to spell nitrocellulose as one word. Just remembering at my age is an accomplishment. Sheesh! :lol:
FSB

_________________
Hello, big guitar. Meet my little fingers.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Ageing of Nitrocellulose
Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2018 12:36 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Feb 13, 2018 10:28 pm
Posts: 1594
Location: SoCal, US
Yep... Wet, sticky, dry (but marred by the case carpeting)....

Technically, any single-part (non-catalyzed) paint is "drying" through evaporation of solvents, whether the solvent is water, alcohol, other VOC, or peanut butter.
They tend to flash off quickly, and "dry" quickly, but they continue "drying" for months depending on the environment. This is where the "Never wax a new car" myth came from.
This is also why you can take a 50 year old guitar and repair a chip by drop filling with a matching color... the solvent in the fresh "drop" will soften the original paint and it will blend right in.

"Curing" is the chemical reaction of a resin with a catalyzer/hardener. If the paint needs to be mixed with anything other than reducer (solvent) or flow-out additives, it "cures"

_________________
-- Rich


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Ageing of Nitrocellulose
Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2018 4:58 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Sat Mar 22, 2008 10:38 am
Posts: 12975
Location: Canada
Good post, Rich. Thanks. Yeah, I knew about the touching up with nitrocellulose. Definitely a plus. Don't ever ask me about the Varathane I inherited on old school custom mahogany kitchen cupboards. Some things are sacrilegious. Then again, in the early 60s I and a mate took a mahogany door, made a coffee table with newly introduced Varathane and, well, it turned out pretty good as the crow flies.

FSB

_________________
Hello, big guitar. Meet my little fingers.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 11 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: