Hi guys: can anyone tell me for absolute definite what the finish is on the back of the neck of a Gibson Les Paul Standard Faded, please? I'm guessing it is urethane but I'm not certain - and I suddenly need to know.

Obviously, I've tried finding out for myself, but I find the Gibson website unfamiliar and hard to navigate at the best of times. All I can discover there is that the Standard Faded has a "hand rubbed satin finish", which is charming but not entirely informative. I need chemistry.

Naturally, I could go through all the hassle of signing up to the Gibson forum and asking the nice folks there. But I have a strong feeling in my bones that someone amongst the even nicer folks on the Fender Forum probably knows the answer too.

So I'm asking my friends first!

Cheers fellas - C

_________________

hi ceri , i'm pretty sure that they are stained and a thin coat of nitro or two , i hope this helps mate , cheers
Alan

_________________

That's all I've seen on the net. A couple of coats of colour ontop of grain filler. No clear coat.
Not what my hands tell me after handling one.

Signed up to the darkside to try and get the info.

http://forum.gibson.com/index.php?/topic/75074-2007-standard-faded/

_________________
No no and no

From what I've heard of the Gibson forum, we should be having a pool based on the amount of time it takes for someone to make a rude reply.

_________________
Rated "M" for meaty.

Hi gents, thanks very much for the input.

Mrs C has finally dug out some nail varnish remover for me and a drop bravely placed on the back of the neck does not dissolve the finish. So I suppose it can't be nitro.

But it is very thin indeed with the pores in the mahogany showing through very clearly, which is uncommonly delicate for urethane, so that's a bit confusing too. It sure as heck isn't polyester, that much we can say for certain.

I guess it can't be an oil finish... Can it?

I happen to know Mr Ninja owns a Standard Faded, but it seems he's spent his time playing it rather than worrying about technical nonsense. Very wise.

Hey anyway: if all else fails I could always try some household emulsion. That might look cool...

Cheers guys - C

_________________

There are several ways to contact Gibson Customer Support on this page: http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Support/

They are usually very helpful.

_________________
Chet Feathers

Authorized TonePros Dealer
Authorized WD Music Products Dealer
F/A Official Southpaw Compliance Certification Tester http://faamps.com/

http://www.facebook.com/cafeathers


I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

Edit by me. HA! I didn't read the post properly!

Andy

_________________
Pending Greatness

I think a magnolia neck would look the bees knees.

Anyhow the story off the Gibson boards is Cellulose.
It'll burn into Urethane anyway, won't it?

_________________
No no and no

Rock'n' roll! Wondering what you're up to...

Cheers

Nutter

Well perhaps my reputation for a surly demeanor has got around. One reply so far. Place seems dead to me.

_________________
No no and no

The specs say the finish is nitrocellulose, 1 to 1.5 mils.

http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/Les-Paul/Gibson-USA/Les-Paul-Studio-Faded/Specs.aspx

Wait! I might have the wrong model here.

Gentlemen, thank you so much for your help.

Although the page Steve linked to is about the Studio model I strongly suspect the finish spec is the same, so that is most useful. I have no idea why I couldn't find that page - I came up with something completely different. D'oh! This page even tells us the glue used on the neck joint: now that's what I call informative!

Just to double check I have sent an email to the address Chet found and I'll let you know what I hear back. But it is looking like Alan had it right straight out the trap.

Which is odd, because I tried both cellulose thinner and nail varnish remover in small doses on the finish and neither of them had any effect - which they should have done if it is nitrocellulose. So that is very confusing...

However. I have urethane, nitro and several other finishes to hand, so I'm equiped to act upon whatever Gibson finally confirm - and frankly, what you all came up with ahead of them.

Thanks again, guys. You rock! Much appreciated.

Cheers - C

_________________

when my buddy bought his it smelled allot like tung oil or true oil to me. but that smell could have been from the case. I think hand rubbed means its an oil type finish. but i know squat about gibson

_________________

I think it has the same type of finish as my sg. Which would mean that it's a satin finish...

_________________
"Speak the truth, and speak it ever,
cost it what it will
for he who hides the wrong he did
did the wrong thing still."
-Miss Uel