
Nitrocellulose is considered to be more porous than polyester or polyurethane, with a thin, smooth and somewhat slippery texture that isn’t quite as solid or constrictive. This is then hand-buffed and sanded until a glossy finish is achieved.
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After full application, the solvent chemicals are left to fully dissolve leaving a dry resin-like texture. This process eliminates the need to sand between layers. The solvent used is acetone a highly-flammable substance that ultimately forms the shiny lacquer.Ī nitrocellulose guitar finish is applied multiple times over several days, with each coat essentially melting the previous one. The nitrocellulose element serves as a binding agent, which is then mixed with solvent to enable a conventional spray finish. Regarding its content, nitrocellulose lacquer is mostly solvent-based and comprised of plant-based substances like cotton, mixed nitric and sulfuric acids. Fender also experimented with acrylic during this period, but nitrocellulose was generally favoured for finishing guitars as it could form a nicer gloss. This finish later became a popular choice for Fender and Gibson in the ’50s and ’60s, who used it almost exclusively for their electric guitars. Nitrocellulose lacquers have been around for almost a century originally used for acoustic instruments, saxophones and even cars. Explaining their advantages and disadvantages, as well as the effect that they have on the sound of a guitar we hope that by the end of this article you’ll have a greater understanding of their differences. In this piece, we’re going to shed some light on these two types of guitar finish. But there are many guitarists that prefer poly finishes, as they are more resistant to wear and have a glossier look. Traditionalists find the former more appealing, as nitrocellulose was used almost exclusively on vintage instruments from the golden era of guitar production.

Two main sides split this debate those that favour old-school nitrocellulose lacquers, and those that are content with modern polyester and polyurethane finishes.

Although most players aren’t too concerned about the type of finish that’s been applied to their guitar, for some players and luthiers – it’s actually quite contentious.

And believe it or not guitar finish types is one of them. There are many subjects that split opinion among guitarists.
