The difference a Nitro finish makes!

[twoheadedboy]

So, i just got my new Gibson Les Paul Junior back from my tech yesterday. He set it up properly and did a little work on the nut. I have to say, that I'm amazed at how much more resonant this guitar feels than many other similar set neck mahogany slab guitars I've played. I've played a ton of mahogany set neck guitars, all of which had poly finishes, and compared to this, they all felt dead. This body shakes and rattles and I can feel it in my left hand and against my hip bone when I hit a chord. I'm not sure how many Gibsons are finished with nitro, but this is the first time I've played a quality nitro finished instrument, and I'm really really into it. Is this just a nice piece of wood, or do most nitro finished guitars respond this way?

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Not so much the nitro as the thin layer most spray it with, plus it sinks into the wood in another way, being woodbased stuff
But yes nitro can be applied in a much finer way, thus makingthe wood more able to "breathe".
Sounds like good one.

[theodie]

So, i just got my new Gibson Les Paul Junior back from my tech yesterday. He set it up properly and did a little work on the nut. I have to say, that I'm amazed at how much more resonant this guitar feels than many other similar set neck mahogany slab guitars I've played. I've played a ton of mahogany set neck guitars, all of which had poly finishes, and compared to this, they all felt dead. This body shakes and rattles and I can feel it in my left hand and against my hip bone when I hit a chord. I'm not sure how many Gibsons are finished with nitro, but this is the first time I've played a quality nitro finished instrument, and I'm really really into it. Is this just a nice piece of wood, or do most nitro finished guitars respond this way?

I have poly finished guitars that do that!!!!

I think you just have good wood in that thang!!!

[JeffB]

Is this just a nice piece of wood, or do most nitro finished guitars respond this way?

Combo of the two...but mostly I'm sure you got a nice piece of wood and "connections". Like Rid said, it's thin..that makes the diff...it's like comparing a MIM strat to a Custom shop or Sig series....big piece of plastic or nice thin finish.

Glad ya like it.. those are cool little axes!

[mnbaseball91]

My Schecter, which is finished in a very thin satin poly, resonates as well as any sub-$1200 guitar I've ever played. All things equal, nitro will resonate better than poly, but that's rarely the only variable.

[That90'sGuy]

It all depends on the thickness. A thick coating of anything will ruin the sustain. It's impossible to top a thin layer of nitrocellulose lacquer though

[some_dude]

I think it has more to do with having a nice piece of wood than how thick the finish is.....

[Lewguitar]

Not so much the nitro as the thin layer most spray it with, plus it sinks into the wood in another way, being woodbased stuff
But yes nitro can be applied in a much finer way, thus makingthe wood more able to "breathe".
Sounds like good one.

I agree...but I think the thin finish thing is most noticeable with acoustic guitars. With electrics I think it's mostly in the wood itself and less in the finish. Some of my MIJ Strats that I love the most have fairly thick body finishes. But I'm sure a thin nitro finish does help the tone a little even on electric solid body guitars. Also, sometimes a proper set-up will really improve the resonance and tone of a guitar. Just getting the bridge and tailpiece set up right and intonated and new strings and all. Anyways: Congrats! Glad you're loving your guitar! Lew

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Yep I agree Lew
I have an old Kramer, even with that old 80's finish it is still very fat and alive.
And my HW-1 strat has a very thin finish, that one is defently alive

[shredaholic]

well if the wood is allowed to "breathe", that means it will age and sound better with time. if it's trapped in a poly finish, the wood will sound just like it did before it was painted, long after you've gone.

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Nah it will dry over time, but as Lew pointed out, it is really most on acoustics that you really can tell the difference.

[kherman]

Just just can't stand the sticky feel of nitro.
Tried again today.
Played a few Gibby LPs.
A couple had a very nice fit and finish.
But, after a couple of minutes of playing that nitro was heating up and feeling sticky on the back of the neck.

Kent

[twoheadedboy]

Just just can't stand the sticky feel of nitro.
Tried again today.
Played a few Gibby LPs.
A couple had a very nice fit and finish.
But, after a couple of minutes of playing that nitro was heating up and feeling sticky on the back of the neck.

Kent

Yeah I am absolutely loving the Junior to pieces, but the back of the neck can be a little sticky for certain applications. I'm considering trying some of the Micromesh that some guys use to take a sticky gloss finish down to sort of a satin feel. Do any of you guys know if this works better on poly or nitro?

[mnbaseball91]

^I take the gloss off my necks with 000 and then 0000 steal wool. Try just the 0000 first, and if that isn't enough then go down to the 000 before coming back up.

[octavedoctor]

I think you just have good wood in that thang!!!

Echo that...