A while back I posted an article on my website explaining the cost of refinishing a guitar. This text is taken from the original article which can be found here.
Your guitar’s finish is not just there to make it look pretty. It actually does one of the most crucial jobs - Protecting the wood of your guitar!
Moisture is the main culprit behind wood damage, and the the best way to protect your wood from moisture is to coat a thin layer of finish over your instrument.
For this reason, and also to minimize any accidental damage to the wood surface, having a proper finish is vital for the long-life of your guitar.
But what finish is right for you?
I’ll answer that in the next 300 words.
Here are all the popular finishes used on guitars and other instruments, along with their advantages and disadvantages, so you’ll know exactly which one is right for YOUR guitar!
Oils and Waxes are the old-school methods of protecting instruments, and have lost most of their applications to the newer methods.
But that doesn’t mean they’re bad!
Oil and Wax is very lightweight and is excellent at retaining the natural tone of the instrument, hence they’re quite popular to use on acoustic instruments.
These finishes are simple to DIY, don’t require special equipment like varnish or lacquer, and are simple to replace (simply sand it off).
Shellac is a natural substance secreted by the worm lacquer. It’s fairly easy to apply and has been in use for centuries in the furniture industry.
A very similar finish to Oil and Wax, Shellac is known for enhancing the natural wood grain of instruments. Thanks to its beautification properties, it’s widely used among classical instrument luthiers.
It’s slightly glossier than oil, and is also harder. It’s application prodecure consists of applying multiple layers of the finish by brush or polishing pad, and then letting it dry up and settle for a few days.
Nitrocellulose, as the name suggests, is a mixture of a nitro-solvent and a cellulose-material. When it’s sprayed on the wood surface, the nitro-based solvent evaporates leaving the cellulose behind.
Gibson and Fender used nitro extensively during the ’50s and ’60s. It’s still the preferred finish for vintage or high-end guitars, simply because of its beauty and the patina associated with an old guitar.
Keep in mind that the lacquer vapors are poisonous, and should be applied with a gun/spray in a ventilated environment.
Nitro is prone to discoloration and can acquire a warmer tone with time. Luckily, it can be patched up in the areas showing signs of wear.
Poly is the current standard used by most luthiers, simply because it’s much more safe and durable than nitro. It’s also cheaper and requires less number of coatings.
These finishes are less prone to wear and aging, and will retain a shinier aesthetic over time. In fact, polyester finish is so good that it’s used in the furniture industry and even floors of wooden gymnasiums.
Initially, Poly used to be much thicker than what it is now, which led people to argue that it affects the tone of the guitar. Fortunately, they are much thinner now and are significantly tougher.
I hope this short guide has educated you on the different types of finishes and their use cases.
The choice of finish will depend upon factors like how cost-effective do you want to be, how lightweight the finish should be, whether you want a vintage look on your guitar, etc.
If you have any queries or suggestions, drop them in the comments and I’d be happy to answer them!
Pranshu Nigam
https://harmonyvine.com/