I'd like to add that I'm not anti-nitro. I've got poly and nitro guitars. A guitar shouldn't be judged on it's finish. It should be judged on sound and playability. Nitro doesn't automatically mean that the guitar will have some magic tone that poly guitars can never have. Advertising literature would have you think otherwise.

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Obligatory gear list: Fender, Rickenbacker, Gibson, Gretsch, Vox, Martin, and more Fender.

I prefer Polyurethane. Its durable, and its shiney.

It also ages nicely too. Everything does. I have a NOS '93 Strat Plus in Carribean Mist that has a weird tinge to it because the finish has aged slightly. Same with my Ultra- it is slightly darker on the burst.

Nitro is more expensive to spray as several coats are needed between sanding and buffing. Poly on the otherhand is easier to shoot, less preparation and sanding & buffing.

Can I also add this: How is it that something like dried dead wood can breathe when it is coated in a 'sealer' and multiple coats of laquer? If I covered someones face with a plastic bag- they couldnt breathe. How about multiple bags for example?

like packing food with plastic, lacquer is there to stop it from deteriorating, and to make it attractive and durable.

Now a strat/tele in a grand piano black type of finish/laquer would be really nice!!

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True my strat is finished it poly and its starting to show some wear. I prefer the poly finish because its strong and you dont have to worry about denting it and ruining the finish. Although i guess thats why people like nitro finsihes.

My 57 AVRI has nitro over a urethane undercoat. So I guess I like both ^^

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I traded my car in for a microphone.

I have both and I have sprayed and worked with both and I like both. Poly is bulletproof, but sometimes in some colors (Sunburst comes to mind), I find it almost too plasticy. On the other hand, I REALLY like the depth of poly with solid colors like white, red, pink, even black. I like the feel of lacquer - feels more organic, natural or woody to me vs poly. Lacquer does get beat up very easily, it's just not very durable so it's hard to keep a lacquer guitar mint. I try not to get too neurotic about keeping my guitars "Pristine" cosmetically because I like to play them. I don't abuse them but a nick or dent here or there - I try not to get crazy about it. Sometimes that first ding/dent hurts! But at the same time it's almost liberating... "NOW, I can really play this thing!"

Nitro all the way....... Mike

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The blues ain't nothin but a good man feelin bad.

Nitro for me...

Hmm .... That article has me thinking. A few years back, I had a '78 P-bass in a natutal finish. One day I noticed a rather large part of the finsh on the back looked like some liquid had spilled on it, and in those spots, the finish had softened to the point that I was able to easily scratch off the finish with a fingernail. I had surmised, that, at around that period of time I was into drinking shots 120 proof Yukon Jack, at some time I had spilled some on it without realising it, and maybe that was what had happened to the finish. What do you think? Does alcohol soften Nitro?

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'08 Fender Am. Std. Jazz bass, maple fretboard, charcoal frost metallic finish
'10 Squier VM Jazz bass, maple fretboard, natural finish
Ampeg BA115
'09 MIM standard Strat, maple fretboard, sunburst finish
Fender Super Champ XD

Nitro can easily be touched up (if you aren't going for that relic look)...

My poly (-ester and -urethane) guitars all tend to have a slightly "too shiny" appearance to them.

doesn't matter either way to me

Perhaps... I dont know for sure. but remember, urethane was used in that time period

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Hi. if both poly and nitro are thick coats. does this trap tone.is this why they make thin skin finish on some guitars. i have both a 89 std and a mark konpfler. i love them for what are great guitars.

Love the Wildwood Thin Skins............ Mike

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The blues ain't nothin but a good man feelin bad.

I prefer Poly. All my guitars are Poly.

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"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, I won't be laid a hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them."-John Wayne

Anyone know what kind of finish was used on MIJ strats in the early-mid 90's??