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Post subject: Nitro or Poly?
Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 9:28 am
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Some guys swear by Nitrocellulose Lacquer, they say it lets the wood resonate better. Other guys say its too expensive and doesn't really make that much of a difference, so they opt for Polyurethane. I would like to know what all of you think.


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Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 9:31 am
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It makes no difference. A preference for nitro is just another example of that "whatever they did in the 50s must be best" thing, but it makes no difference in tone. People who think it does are listening with their eyes, ie., "wow, that finish is beat up, it must sound real good."

If Leo Fender could have purchased pine cheaper than alder and if water borne polys were available in 1952, people would be swearing right now that only a 2-piece pine-bodied Tele covered in Fullerplast and nine coats of polyurethane sounds "good."

Word to your mother.


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Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 11:02 am
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To me, like jim says, it's purely an aesthetic thing. Personally I love the matte nitro finish, the HWY1s look beautiful!


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Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 11:17 am
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I disagree with the statement made about wood, different woods create different tones.


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Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 11:29 am
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You misunderstood me. Yes, body wood does have a subtle effect on guitar tone: but if Leo had used pine, everybody would think of pine as the unalterable "vintage" standard, and demand it in their specs.

Truth is, I would defy anybody to tell me the difference between pine, alder, ash or basswood, all things being equal (finished body weight, neck, pickups, etc).


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Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 11:43 am
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It's all alchemy to me. Nitro lets it "breathe", so over time it could be dried out. So over time, and in different environments, it will change. Poly encapsulates all the carefully monitored climate control work at the factory. This adds weight, sustain, and a much tougher and easier to care for finish. Its pratically unphased by the things thay would change a nitro's tone (humidity) or ruin a nitro finish (rubber stands, straps, etc.). However, it is a bit more difficult to repair a Poly finish but, we live in an era where scratches and dents are battle scars and add character to the guitar.

Luckily Fender still gives us the choice of the finish in different models and price ranges. So it is really as much a preference as strats to teles, or C necks to V necks. 8)


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Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 11:56 am
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tone is in your hands....

not the guitar or amp or pickups or strings.....

its all in your hands

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Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 1:05 pm
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Style is in your hands.

Tone is in a really good amplifier.


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Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 1:59 pm
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For what it's worth, my vote is for a very thin nitro finish. It allows for better resonance and it ages better. Not that a thin poly wouldn't resonate better also.I just don't like having a guitar encapsulated in a thick coat of plastic which is the case with how poly is used today. I don't want my guitar to look brand new 10 years from now. Guitars don't need a bulletproof coating.

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Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 4:32 pm
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I don't think there's much of a difference these days because poly finishes are getting thinner and thinner. The finish thickness is what seems to matter.

However, I still prefer nitro. I like the way nitro finish ages on Olympic white (my strat). That, and a nitro finish on the neck can wear away faster, allowing for a better feeling, quickly playing neck.


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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 8:46 am
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I prefer the Look and Smell (Yes... Smell) of a nitro guitar, nothing smells as sweet as opening up a brand new gibson with tons of nitro haha, it almost has a sweet smell to it.
But then again to go with everyone else on here , " Its not the wand its the wizard"

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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 9:55 am
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If you wanna smell some funky nitro, get a rickenbaker, lol.


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Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 11:52 am
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Gravity Jim wrote:
It makes no difference. A preference for nitro is just another example of that "whatever they did in the 50s must be best" thing, but it makes no difference in tone. People who think it does are listening with their eyes, ie., "wow, that finish is beat up, it must sound real good."

If Leo Fender could have purchased pine cheaper than alder and if water borne polys were available in 1952, people would be swearing right now that only a 2-piece pine-bodied Tele covered in Fullerplast and nine coats of polyurethane sounds "good."

Word to your mother.


I disagree totally. Finish does make a difference. It isn't the type but the thickness of it. People tend to like Nitro better because it is thinner and does help resonate better. That being said I like all finishes and don't care one way or the other. The most important factor is the body and neck and the rest is minimul. You will find poly guitars that resonate better than nitro and vise versa.


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Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 4:03 pm
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There was a time when I would swear by nitro,
but after playing and buying polys, I could care
less what its coated with as long as it has great tone.
I have a 25 year old strat elite in perfect condition
and I'm glad its that way.


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Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 4:08 pm
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I don't even know the difference.


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