What is a poly guitar finish?
The synthetic resin leaves virtually no solvents during curing. Poly finishes completely harden and solvents cannot break them down, Poly finishing is very resistant to cracks, dulling and scratching while also being durable.
Does polyurethane wear on guitars?
Pros & Cons of Poly Guitar Finishes Polyester and polyurethane guitar finishes are also more resistant to general wear, meaning that scratches and dings are harder to see and inflict. Poly finishes can remain shiny even after decades of use, and don’t fade away in the areas that you’d typically make contact with.
Does poly finish affect tone?
But the real problem for tone on a solid body is not whether it’s nitro or poly, but how well it’s applied. The incredibly thick poly coatings from the Sixties and Seventies that are still used on many budget guitars is heavy enough to affect resonance and have given these finishes a bad reputation.
What year did Fender switch to poly?
It was the decision of Bob and another gentlemen at Fender in 1968 to change to Aliphatic Urethane Coatings (aka “Poly”) on the guitars.
Does poly finish crack?
Does Poly Finish Crack? Poly finish is extremely durable and will not crack or wear out with regular use. However, accidentally dropping it or applying a strong enough force can definitely crack a guitar with poly finish.
How do you break a poly guitar finish?
Poly finish is extremely durable and will not crack or wear out with regular use. However, accidentally dropping it or applying a strong enough force can definitely crack a guitar with poly finish.
When did Fender switch to Poly finishes?
Fender introduced polyurethane finishes (often shortened to “urethane”) on its instruments in the late 1960s; allowing a glossier, more even finish by replacing multiple layers of nitro clear coating with a mere two layers of aliphatic urethane.
What type of finish is used on Gibson guitars?
nitro-cellulose lacquer
Gibson instruments are finished with several coats of a high-quality nitro-cellulose lacquer. This finish is hand-buffed to a high-gloss, mirror-like surface. Unlike other less expensive finishes, nitro-cellulose does not detract from the tone of the instrument and ages beautifully.
Does Fender still use nitrocellulose?
Fender still uses nitrocellulose lacquer finishes on a select group of instruments (Road Worn™ and American Vintage series, various artist models).
What type of finish does Epiphone use?
What Type Of Finish Do Epiphone Guitars Have? While Gibsons are finished with old-school nitrocellulose lacquer, Epiphone guitars are covered with more conventional polyester and polyurethane finishes.