Nitrocellulose Paint

[Bainzy]

Is this worth the hype? Can you guys notice the difference in tone between a nitro finished guitar and one in poly, and even if not, is it true about what they say about nitro guitars sounding better with age because they "breathe" better?

[necrovore]

I'm not so sure I buy into the hype between N/C and Poly finished guitars. N/C finish is what was used before the invention of polyurethane finish. The companies that used it at the time that are still around, still use it. I want to think for nostalgia reasons more than anything. I own several guitars which are in excess of 20 years old which have a poly finish on them. They sound good today as they did when i bought them. I also own an acoustic which has a poly finish on it which is 15 years old and sounds as good as the day I bought it.
N/C is a softer finish which is more delicate than a poly finish. But poly when damaged will chip off. It does not wear out like N/C does so the finish will last longer over time.

Most of the argument seems to come from the standpoint that the wood will be able to dry better when using N/C because it breaths. Well same goes for Poly finished guitars. You cannot fully paint a poly guitar unless you dip the guitar in the finish. So both have means for moisture to escape. Another argument to refute the N/C is superior is that Luthiers who are competent do not use green wood. All wood used on guitars is dry, either by kiln or aging. BEFORE it is laid out to cut into pieces that will be used to assemble a guitar.

The only argument that I will blindly accept for N/C being a better finish is that it takes a lot more care for prep and application. The painter must be skilled in the application process of nitro-cellulose as compared to a poly finished guitar which takes less attention to detail to use that as s finishing method.

N/C is more expensive to apply as for the reason in the previous paragraph which is another reason why it is claimed that it is superior. Look at some of the finishes that were done to BC Rich guitars(the vintage ones), as well as the graphics that were painted on guitars by Jackson and GMW. These were poly finishes which really cannot be done with N/C.

Like everything it boils down to the guitarists preference.