Members Hoddy Posted March 3, 2007 Members Share Posted March 3, 2007 What is the definitive way to tell if your guitar has a nitro or poly finish? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JorisBlack Posted March 3, 2007 Members Share Posted March 3, 2007 burn it... if the flames turn green it's nitro, if orange/red it's poly lol I'm just kidding, I haven't got a clue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ra_ Posted March 3, 2007 Members Share Posted March 3, 2007 I think they rub a solvent on it.If it eats the finish, it's Nitro, if not, it's Poly.Naptha maybe? The Poly usually looks a bit thicker and feels kinda rubbery to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Gochaz Posted March 3, 2007 Members Share Posted March 3, 2007 Smell it, nitro smells fruity. That's the main reason it's good to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Wyatt Posted March 3, 2007 Members Share Posted March 3, 2007 It's pretty easy to spot the difference once you been exposed to enough guitars that use either. It's much easier to just know what guitar and year it is. If it's not a Gibson (or a few olther high-end companies), or made are 1970 or so, chances are about 90% it's poly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rhat Posted March 3, 2007 Members Share Posted March 3, 2007 The best way is to know who made the guitar and their process. rat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ThomasD Posted March 3, 2007 Members Share Posted March 3, 2007 if you are willing, remove a small flake of finish from someplace inconspicuous (like under a pickup ring or a bit of overspray in a body cavity, etc) then place in in some lacquer thinner. True nitrocellulose will dissolve or at least get really really soft and gummy. Modern 'nitro' finishes from the big name manufacturers are catalyzed to speed up the curing process - this makes them a polymer of nitrocellulose, and alot more impervious to lacquer thinner, so they may not even soften. Then you just have to look to the manufacturer based on the model and year it was made. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ajcoholic Posted March 3, 2007 Members Share Posted March 3, 2007 if you are willing, remove a small flake of finish from someplace inconspicuous (like under a pickup ring or a bit of overspray in a body cavity, etc) then place in in some lacquer thinner. True nitrocellulose will dissolve or at least get really really soft and gummy. Modern 'nitro' finishes from the big name manufacturers are catalyzed to speed up the curing process - this makes them a polymer of nitrocellulose, and alot more impervious to lacquer thinner, so they may not even soften. Then you just have to look to the manufacturer based on the model and year it was made. Thomas is correct in this - a catalyzed nitrocelluslose lacquer (whaich is what I use) will indeed be much more resistant to softening with lacquer thinner. But it will eventually do so. Poly will NOT at all disolve or soften in lac thinner or acetone. But regular lacquer will instantly, and even catalyzed lacquer will soften in a little bit of time. AJC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Funderbunk Posted March 4, 2007 Members Share Posted March 4, 2007 Place it on the ground and detonate a nuclear weapon over it. If the finish isn't affected at all, it's poly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitarNed Posted March 4, 2007 Members Share Posted March 4, 2007 Here's what I do: Dim the lights in the room. Hold the guitar in playing position, sitting or standing with a strap. Run your hands over the instrument, neck and body, while concentrating mentally. Allow the sense perceptions from your hands to go straight to your mind. Use controlled breathing techniques. Now, does the guitar feel cheap and crappy, even icky? It has a poly finish. Does the guitar feel smooth, rich, vibrant, alive? Nitrocellulose. Do you feel like plugging in to an amp and playing, right now? Nitro. Feel like getting out of that dark room and watching some good TV? Poly. Always glad to help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Ratae Corieltauvorum Posted March 4, 2007 Moderators Share Posted March 4, 2007 Here's what I do: Dim the lights in the room. Hold the guitar in playing position, sitting or standing with a strap. Run your hands over the instrument, neck and body, while concentrating mentally. Allow the sense perceptions from your hands to go straight to your mind. Use controlled breathing techniques. . Then you go down on it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GarysBlues Posted March 4, 2007 Members Share Posted March 4, 2007 Dab a cloth into an accelerant and touch either guitar inside the control cavity or Trem Cavity. Lacquer will melt Poly won't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members One-armed Alec Posted March 4, 2007 Members Share Posted March 4, 2007 Leave the guitar in your kitchen for at least an hour. If, when you come back, there is at least one used teacup in the room, the finish is definitely not nitro. Why? Because poly put the kettle on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ra_ Posted March 4, 2007 Members Share Posted March 4, 2007 Then you go down on it? Those rough fret ends are murder on the tongue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Ratae Corieltauvorum Posted March 4, 2007 Moderators Share Posted March 4, 2007 Leave the guitar in your kitchen for at least an hour. If, when you come back, there is at least one used teacup in the room, the finish is definitely not nitro.Why?Because poly put the kettle on. Alec:cry: For that, you should be caned. PS. Please reinstate the tea cosy sig:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members One-armed Alec Posted March 4, 2007 Members Share Posted March 4, 2007 PS. Please reinstate the tea cosy sig:) The clips are really that bad? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LoboR1 Posted March 4, 2007 Members Share Posted March 4, 2007 Easy way to tell...Play the guitar for one of many unnamed "Tone Gods" on the forums here, over the phone ,and they will be able to spot the massive tonal difference immediately! They will tell you what you have!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members warriorpoet Posted March 4, 2007 Members Share Posted March 4, 2007 Then you go down on it? I just spit coffee all over my monitor. Then, when I was sure it was safe, took another swallow... ...at which point it came out my nose Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitarcapo Posted March 4, 2007 Members Share Posted March 4, 2007 If it dissolves from my had sweat and leaves a mark where my hand rests on the face of the guitar after a year or so of playing, it's nitro. I can feel the difference pretty easily. Poly feels more like plastic and nitro has a more glassy feel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members One-armed Alec Posted March 4, 2007 Members Share Posted March 4, 2007 I just spit coffee all over my monitor. Then, when I was sure it was safe, took another swallow... ...at which point it came out my nose Nothing like a bit of respiratory-propelled hot beverage. Even more fun with fizzy drinks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ged LST Posted March 4, 2007 Members Share Posted March 4, 2007 Ach Sean, you can't beat a bit of shite patter - I'm going to make a great dad some day with banter like that . The clips are really that bad? I'll pay the joke. I liked it. - Ged Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members One-armed Alec Posted March 4, 2007 Members Share Posted March 4, 2007 I'll pay the joke. I liked it. - Ged Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Ratae Corieltauvorum Posted March 4, 2007 Moderators Share Posted March 4, 2007 The clips are really that bad? I didn't mean that:cry: I just miss the sig, the only sig that has ever made me weary of going into rooms with tea cosies, cause I know now that my life will never be the same....and that I will have to try one on:confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members One-armed Alec Posted March 4, 2007 Members Share Posted March 4, 2007 Please reinstate the tea cosy sig:) Done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Ratae Corieltauvorum Posted March 4, 2007 Moderators Share Posted March 4, 2007 Done "coZy"? United States of Scotland? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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