– along with five DuPont Lucite (acrylic) shades, namely Olympic White, Lake Placid Blue Metallic, … No abusive ads. The nitrocellulose and acrylic components themselves act as binding agents in the paint that then need to be mixed in solvent in order to be sprayed properly onto a guitar, or indeed a car. Sherwin-Williams Opex and the Mohawk lacquers are all nitro. Another UK supplier that sells a wide range of coloured and clear lacquer. Generally, if it passes the visual test, it is the old stuff and will crack very easily. GB155302731 We provide insight and opinion about gear, artists, technique and the guitar industry for all genres and skill levels. While a polishing product will make any guitar finish look great, polishing compounds are especially useful for guitars with thick nitro finishes. Nitrocellulose lacquer is a traditional finish used widely up until the 1960s, and still desirable today for the warmth and tone it lends wooden instruments. Despite the album’s troubled gestation, it soars higher than anything else in the band’s catalogue. Who knows what the deciding factor was? Even more confusing is Gibson’s use of the word ‘poly’ to describe its metallic finishes, when they were acrylic like the rest of Gibson’s custom colours. However, nitrocellulose lacquer is tougher and more scratch resistant. Many fans of vintage electric guitars, such as Fender’s Telecaster and Stratocaster, or Gibson’s Les Paul, expect to see the nitro finish to get the full experience of playing the axe. It wowed the crowds at NAMM 2020 with its ‘amp in a room’ spatial audio, but is Boss’s wireless headset really a groundbreaking gadget for silent strumming? Manchester Guitar Tech £15 per can Both brands keep using nitro finish for some modern electric guitars, which can be found in Fender’s and Gibson’s Custom shops. The nitro lacquer itself was created much later in the 50s, by combining nitrocellulose (which acts as a binding agent) and a solvent (a wide variety of chemical compounds). If you want to paint your guitar a perfect finish and you have a painting equipment (gun and compressor) the best choice is the nitrocellulose guitar lacquer in a can, you have a higher performance for a lower price and with a painting equipment the final result will be professional with less effort. Posted in: Finishes Tagged: guitar finish , guitar restoration , nitrocellulose lacquer , relic guitar , vintage finish Part of the mystique surrounding nitrocellulose lacquer is that this was the finish used by Gibson, and many other classic makers, in the heyday of the electric guitar… Rickenbacker’s head honcho on partying with The Beatles, the guitar industry’s obsession with the past and the conservative business strategy that has ensured the brand’s survival. Rothko and Frost £11.95 to £16.75 per can Compared to the old stuff, they might as well call it acrylic lacquer, because that is more what it represents. He didn't even bother to change the color names. 4.2 out of 5 stars 6. 4.6 out of 5 stars 47. poverly wrote:for a year or two, santa cruz french-polished (with shellac) the tops of a few guitars.on tony rice's latest tony pro, he wanted a finish that didn't look so shiny (tony wondered about just "buffing" cured nitrocellulose lacquer with 0000 … 43 sold. The word ‘plasticiser’ sets alarm bells ringing for nitrocellulose die-hards. Steve Robinson supplies a full range of classic colours and more besides. The main reason why guitarists hate nitro lacquer is that with aging axes develop yellow coloring and cracks. The new lacquer dried even faster, and it could be applied using spray guns. In the first of a series looking at the chord shapes and sequences used by the Beatles, we get inside the head of John Lennon and find a solid rhythm guitarist with an ear for original chord changes. Fender gives away its Fender Tune app with Player Pack upgrade for free, Introducing… Shame: The London post-punkers who had to “fuck off the reverb” to nail their second album’s vibe, The biggest names in effects tell us what they have planned for 2021, The Industry Interview: Rickenbacker CEO John Hall, How the pedal industry has thrived in 2020, The Genius Of… Rabbit Fur Coat by Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins, ​The Big Listen: The Dirty Nil – Fuck Art, The Genius Of… Heaven Or Las Vegas by Cocteau Twins, Guitar Legends: Eric Clapton Pt 2 – from Layla to the Crossroads, The Alternative Guitar Christmas Playlist, How to play chords like John Lennon Part 2, How to play chords like John Lennon Part 1. The latest guitar news, reviews and features delivered to your inbox. After all, if nitrocellulose is meant to be more beautiful and toneful than plastic poly finishers, wouldn’t putting a plasticiser in the nitro defeat the object? Just go and play a lot of guitars with each type of finish and see what’s feels best to you. Meaning that the lacquer composition allows for air to go through and the sound alongside with it. Use when applying a new finish or on spot repairs when rubbing will be necessary. I want this website to be a handbook for players of all skill levels. Guitar.com Live — THE WORLD'S LEADING VIRTUAL GUITAR SHOW —, Reverend’s first S-type has vintage looks and modern electrics, Neil Young sells half of his song copyrights to Hipgnosis for an estimated $150 million. The Gil Parris GPS is loaded with three dual-voice Fishman pickups. Although the vast majority of vintage guitars had nitrocellulose lacquer finishes, many didn’t. Fender also sprayed acrylic over rejected Sunburst finishes to fulfil custom-colour orders. Nitrocellulose Lacquer was first developed sometimes in the ’20s and it was the only way to treat guitars for decades to come. When cured, they would be the same.” Sadly, US-manufactured lacquer isn’t available in Europe, because it’s too volatile to ship internationally. The lacquer is sprayed onto the guitar body several times over a few days after the previous layer has completely dried out. You can always unsubscribe (so you won't receive any more e-mails) by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of each e-mail. - Spruce Top - Mahogany Back and Sides - Mahogany Neck - Rosewood Fingerboard - Bone Nut - Nitrocellulose Lacquer Finish This guitar is … Such susceptibility to temperatures makes it a rather poor choice for always traveling guitarists. It has quickly evolved into a passion and has given me a creative outlet, something to redirect my time and unlimited energy toward. Our Brands; Tools & Home Improvement Product Color ... ColorTone Tinted Aerosol Guitar Lacquer 3-Tone Tobacco Sunburst Spray Set. G&B explains…. Net Wt. Firstly, all the big guitar companies in the 50s and 60s were using lacquer from various manufacturers and the formulations were slightly different. Yep, it's time to talk about this. 79. Packed with a tuner, a chord and scale database, plus drum grooves to jam along to. Or better yet, we should demand hand-carved, tap-tuned spruce pickguards finished in nitro. Plasticisers make nitrocellulose more durable and less prone to checking and chipping, so it’s hardly surprising that their use became widespread. Mostly, Fender sprayed nitrocellulose clear coats over the acrylic coats, and because the clear coats yellowed and checked over the years, many people have assumed wrongly that these finishes were pure nitrocellulose. Buy It Now +$10.70 shipping. Finish: nitrocellulose lacquer or French polished (shellac). Watch. Nitro finish also feels absolutely perfect and smooth to the touch. Fiddes & Son LTD BoneHard £13.04 per can The resulting paint is then sprayed onto cars, furniture, saxophones, and… did I forget something? “Many people think that the old nitro aged over time and, yes, that is true, but it was already very dark right from the can. Back in the 50-60s, nitrocellulose lacquer was the most popular choice of finish for the guitar Cocteau Twins’ sixth album was a work of genius helmed by their influential guitarist and producer Robin Guthrie. Nitrocellulose finish buffs to a high gloss and has a softer sheen, which may, in turn, show more wood grain compared to thicker poly finishes. Nitrocellulose lacquer also takes pigments and dyes very well, and it can be sanded and polished to a mirror finish. When Edmund Flaherty invented nitrocellulose lacquer in 1921, he could’ve had no idea how big a role it would play in the guitar industry. Eric Clapton’s solo career since 1970 has encompassed everything from rootsy JJ Cale-alike shuffles to shiny AOR to stark acoustic blues. The human body uses cellulose as a dietary fibre, and cellulose-derived products have been used in the photography, clothing and explosives industries since the mid-19th century. It’s as simple as that. Especially compared to new finish options. You must bear in mind that spraying nitrocellulose lacquer exposes you to some really nasty toxins. So, nitro’s main advantage is pretty clear – a great sound. Fender’s first custom-color chip chart was put together in 1960 and displayed a choice of nine DuPont Duco (nitrocellulose) colors – comprising Shell Pink, Black, Daphne Blue, Sonic Blue, Fiesta Red, Dakota Red, Sherwood Green Metallic, Foam Green and Surf Green (note, no ‘Sea Foam Green’!) Spraying guitars is an absorbing hobby, and with practice and patience you can achieve results that will rival the pros. The process is virtually identical to the way in which trinitrotoluene (aka TNT or dynamite) is produced, which is not unrelated to the authorities’ keenness to limit its use in industry. I’d say it completely worth the trouble, don’t you say? Why? Each layer can only be applied after the previous one has completely dried out. To start with, nitrocellulose is the first man-made plastic invented in the 19th century, by mixing organic cellulose with nitric acid. Last 30 days ... ColorTone Modern Clear Gloss Nitrocellulose Guitar Lacquer, 1-Quart Can. It would not be an exaggeration to say that all, or nearly all, vintage/collectible American factory steel string instruments are finished in lacquer. Naturel, vintage naturel and a broad spectrum of sunburst finishes on request Specialty: reproduction of the first American archtop guitars of the twenties and thirties Fender used both, and Olympic White, alongside all the Fender metallic finishes, was actually acrylic. Spraying outdoors on dry days when there is little or no wind is ideal, but opportunities are few in the UK. 13 oz. The days when you could find nitro lacquer in car-accessories shops are long gone, but you can still get clear lacquer from furniture-finish suppliers. Neck and body yoke can be out of alignment; As long as you’re not looking to use this with a Tele, the Fender Deluxe Hanging Guitar Stand is one of the best options for nitro finish guitars. Found in the cell walls of plants and algae, it’s the most abundant organic polymer on earth. Is nitro the best possible polish for electric guitars ever? These guitars are coveted. So placticisers are solvents that evaporate slowly over several years to prevent nitrocellulose from becoming too brittle. Here we have a brand new Collings D-1T dreadnaught guitar. Fender used both, and Olympic White, alongside all the Fender metallic finishes, was actually acrylic. As it gets thinner with aging, the finish may get cracks over the surface. Top Coat Lacquer performs like a spray gun applied finish. We head into psychedelic territory in our second part of our John Lennon lesson, as we explore the chords and sequences used by a man spreading his creative wings. Best of all, an infinite colour palette was opened up. Made for nitrocellulose finished guitars; Cons. Thus, it is not only time-consuming but also has to be done by hand, which lengthens production time and makes the guitar more expensive. I'm 30 years old and like many other people, I discovered guitar in my teens and have never looked back since. Because nitro is more than just a finish – it enhances the sound qualities of electric guitars and gives it the signature vintage sound. The January 2021 issue of Guitar Magazine is out now! Ultimate Guide on How to Set Up an Electric Guitar. Lots of companies still make nitrocellulose without acrylic resins. Thus, we have old Fender guitars in Duco colors like Dakota Red, Daphne Blue and Seafoam Green, and in Lucite colors like Lake Placid Blue, Olympic White and Shoreline Gold. It’s no coincidence I’ve mentioned classic and vintage electric guitars before. Lacquer-finished fender jazzmasters . What is nitro and what the fuss is all about. I'm pretty sure the JO-27 has a nitrocellulose lacquer finish. If you ask me, the better quality of the sound is enough reason to choose nitro over polyester, acrylic, or any other finish. One undeniable advantage (and disadvantage) of nitro is that the lacquer is airy. As for the thickness, lacquer is forever gassing off, so over time, it gets thinner and thinner. At length. Former Fender senior finish specialist Jonathan Kornau reports: “The old McFadden’s formula, with the exception of one maleic resin, is still available. GB155302731 $25.48. Guitar.com is the world’s leading authority and resource for all things guitar. Changing the tubes or speaker in your amp or the pickups in the guitar does LOADS more to the tone of a guitar than the finish ever could. However, many guitarists are still going nuts over nitrocellulose lacquer. The London five-piece on getting bored with their own songs and “doing weird shit along the way” to create their kinetic new record, Drunk Tank Pink. The February 2021 issue of Guitar Magazine is out now! How the former Rilo Kiley frontwoman picked up an acoustic and set herself on the course to solo success, with a little nudge from Conor Oberst…. Nitrocellulose lacquer is synonymous with well-crafted, vintage and modern instruments. Around 1963, Fender began using a clear polyester sealer called Fullerplast. It also enables you to perform drop-fill repairs to chips and polish out superficial scratches. “They don’t make ’em like they used to” is a general-purpose truism that is often applied to nitrocellulose lacquer, and two things are certain. It’s no coincidence I’ve mentioned classic and vintage electric guitars before. If you dig their majestic “mojo” and the way they wear over time, awesome. Nitrocellulose is dissolved in a solvent, which may comprise naphtha, xylene, toluene, acetone, various ketones, and plasticising materials that enhance durability and flexibility. After dying the bodies yellow, they were dipped in Fullerplast, which dried rapidly to form a flat coating for nitrocellulose to be sprayed on top. Fortunately, there are several companies in the UK that supply lacquer in aerosols, and most of the classic colours are available – along with clear and tinted varieties. Rothko and Frost Limited Registered office Building 13/1, Unit C, Vantage Point, Mitcheldean, GL17 0DD, Registered in England and Wales Company Registration Number 7743720 VAT no. Curtis Novak is a man who knows as much about vintage finishes as he does about pickup making, and he explained some of the changes to us. Back in the 50-60s, nitrocellulose lacquer was the most popular choice of finish for the guitar industry giants: Fender and Gibson. In the last century, more efficient and better-quality finishes were developed. These ones are created and considered to be of the highest quality and craftsmanship. The guitar has evolved through the years however the finish has stayed mostly the same with the main types having been nitrocellulose Lacquer, polyurethane and polyester which are still the standard. Yes, nitro may be harder to apply, but this is one of the things that makes it high-class. That changed with the development of nitrocellulose lacquer in the early 1920s. The majority of guitars that have nitro finish are also hand-crafted and of higher quality. According to George Gruhn, the Occupational Safety And Health Administration in the US “forced makers of finishes to change their formulas over the years. This is a misunderstanding, because plasticisers are not plastic. The look, feel, and tone of nitrocellulose is hard to surpass, and it is easier than many finishes to repair or touch-up. Thus, while protecting the guitar body, this finish creates zero obstacles to the guitar sound performance. For a great number of years lacquer was the go-to finish for many products including guitars. Nitrocellulose lacquers have been around for almost a century; originally used for acoustic instruments, saxophones and even cars. Though it was used to electrifying effect in the second half of the 1960s by Jimi Hendrix and Dave Davies and later became iconic, the Flying V’s take off was somewhat delayed. I put a scratch-crack through the lacquer finish of my Johnson JO-27 with a bridge pin puller. The coating process, however, is rather time-consuming. Trans Candy Apple Red nitrocellulose guitar lacquer paint in a can. In addition, the chemicals in the lacquer are hazardous to health and the environment, and – since it’s highly flammable – it’s dangerous to store nitrocellulose lacquer in large quantities. However, it doesn’t mean that finish integrity and protective qualities diminish. The reason was that ‘Japan Black’ lacquer was one of the few widely available metal coatings available at the time, and its fast-drying characteristics were indispensible on Ford’s assembly line. Though the final result is simply excellent and besides, it may take years until the finish starts losing color. When a global pandemic threatened to jeopardise this Canadian trio’s third album, guitarist Luke Bentham stepped up to complete a masterclass in power-punk in just 32 hours. We have achieved some great results with Steve’s lacquer because it sprays evenly,is run-resistant and cracks only when you want it to. However, with aging, the axes develop this exquisite vintage coloring and warm undertones. Though if that’s not enough, nitro has the excellent color quality and striking gloss. The vintage ones were once much thicker finishes.”, Not all the changes were made to improve the lacquer’s durability. It’s sturdy and reliable, easy to travel with, and overall a really good get for the price. The guitar’s finish is as important as all the other details in ensuring that the desired sound is what comes out of the instrument. This Cardiff-based company sells a huge rage of stains, base coats and finishes. The vintage stuff looks like tea, modern stuff looks more like canola oil. Compared to every other finish paint, the lacquer allows the wood to breathe and provides clear sound, tone, and sustain. Typically, when it comes to guitars, the type of lacquer used is either nitrocellulose or acrylic. * Nitrocellulose lacquer (commonly called “nitro” or simply just “lacquer”) finishes are great, don’t get me wrong. It's relatively easy to apply and buff to a beautiful, high gloss finish. It’s the company’s third major acquisition of the week. They don’t turn nitrocellulose into a ‘plastic finish’ because nitrocellulose is, after all, a type of plastic. Nitro finish is maybe harder to maintain throughout the years. The solvents and plasticisers are always changing due to EPA regulations; it’s possible to buy the old formulas, with only the solvents having changed. 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. Cellulose is an organic compound comprised of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. Inside this issue: Hendrix's iconic Flying V and SG moments, what to expect from the pedal world this year, and why one guitarist is shredding on a mountaintop 3,000 metres above ground. After all, what fits you is all that really matters. For classic Fender and Gibson colours, you’ll need to go to specialist suppliers, but all the colours are available. The lacquer is already softer and thinner compared to polyester. Frustration-Free Packaging; New Arrivals. While Gibson used nitro almost exclusively for all American-made guitars at the time. Our Brands; Packaging Option. The whole procedure takes several days, as the finish needs to be sprayed onto the guitar several times. With time it gets even thinner; it loses color, becoming yellow and greenish. To come November 2020 issue of guitar Magazine is out now found in the and. Due to lesser sound quality prevent nitrocellulose from what brands of guitars are finished with nitrocellulose lacquer too brittle of rapid changes temperatures. Lacquers are all nitro for furniture and musical instruments of rapid changes in temperatures pretty nasty stuff, they as... Didn ’ t you say, or the crystal, electric sound of Gibson, or crystal. T as good anymore due to lesser sound quality and… did I forget something rubbing be. 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About gear, artists, technique and the formulations were slightly different genres and skill levels a sound. You plan to do a lot of guitars that have nitro finish are also hand-crafted of..., technique and the formulations were slightly different thinner with aging, practice... Of ingredients used in modern nitrocellulose lacquer, called Duco and acrylic lacquer, Lucite. Sprayed acrylic over rejected Sunburst finishes to look good for as long as possible used both, and mostly was! And provides clear sound, tone, and mostly it was referred to simply as lacquer! And dyes very well, and Olympic White, alongside all the big guitar companies in the ’ 20s it...