caring for a polyurethane coated guitar

I think lacquer was used when instruments started becoming mass produced because it was the best product available at the time to easily get a smooth, self leveling finish that could be wet sanded and polished to a mirror finish. Over time, they yellow somewhat and can check. That's what vintage snobs like. A worn looking guitar.
BTW wood doesn't breathe. It's DEAD once it's cut down, moisture is dried up, and is re purposed as a piece of furniture, a house or a guitar. It can, however, absorb and release moisture according to environmental conditions.
New manufacturing techniques and products are developed all the time. Poly probably doesn't require the lengthy cure time as lacquer therefore has become a popular product. As far as I know, it probably helps a lot with the uptake and release of moisture, is practically bullet proof, looks great, and feels good to the hand on the neck. What's not to like?
 
Col. Mustard,
Love the Wilshire. I bought one in cherry, used for $100 off CL from an old guy with "HANK SR" on the tag of his beat up Chevy truck. He said he had so much pain in his fingers he couldn't play guitar anymore.
It's got a poly finish and feels great after cleaning up and a little scotch brite on the back of the neck. Swapped the pickups for a used Dimarzio Super D and a Dimarzio PAF pro. It already had Grover 18:1 tuners. I changed the bridge for a Gotoh. Changed the volume pots to 1 meg. About $200 invested. It's a little screamer and a blast to play.
 
flatrockmobile said:
I think lacquer was used when instruments started becoming mass produced because it was the best product available at the time to easily get a smooth, self leveling finish that could be wet sanded and polished to a mirror finish. Over time, they yellow somewhat and can check. That's what vintage snobs like. A worn looking guitar.
BTW wood doesn't breathe. It's DEAD once it's cut down, moisture is dried up, and is re purposed as a piece of furniture, a house or a guitar. It can, however, absorb and release moisture according to environmental conditions.
New manufacturing techniques and products are developed all the time. Poly probably doesn't require the lengthy cure time as lacquer therefore has become a popular product. As far as I know, it probably helps a lot with the uptake and release of moisture, is practically bullet proof, looks great, and feels good to the hand on the neck. What's not to like?
Click to expand...
 
flatrockmobile said:
I think lacquer was used when instruments started becoming mass produced because it was the best product available at the time to easily get a smooth, self leveling finish that could be wet sanded and polished to a mirror finish. Over time, they yellow somewhat and can check. That's what vintage snobs like. A worn looking guitar.
BTW wood doesn't breathe. It's DEAD once it's cut down, moisture is dried up, and is re purposed as a piece of furniture, a house or a guitar. It can, however, absorb and release moisture according to environmental conditions.
New manufacturing techniques and products are developed all the time. Poly probably doesn't require the lengthy cure time as lacquer therefore has become a popular product. As far as I know, it probably helps a lot with the uptake and release of moisture, is practically bullet proof, looks great, and feels good to the hand on the neck. What's not to like?
Click to expand...

My conjecture is that if electric guitars were just invented within the past decade, some sort of poly finish would have been the immediate choice and no one really would have considered lacquer.
 
What smitty said... Lacquer is traditional, and the old guitars that were finished in lacquer sound so good
that Gibson mustn't change any detail, or they will HEAR ABOUT IT FROM ALL OF US!

Except me. I don't care much. I have some experience with finishing wood, as an amateur.
My varnish of choice is Tung Oil, because it's easy to use, it doesn't irritate me in any way, and
it looks lovely and wears well. It's easy to scratch, but it's easy to repair.

Polyurethane is superior in many ways, harder... more durable perhaps, less susceptible to damage
from moisture or stains. But it gives me a headache when the can is open. So I only apply it outside with a wind going,
to carry away the fumes somewhere else. This is an anti social notion, a polluter's POV. I've used it on interior
woodwork, and been glad I did later... but my method indoors is to open the windows and doors, turn on a big
fan, apply the Poly quickly and then leave the building. And not come back for a weekend or more.

I've never used lacquer. Don't know why I ever would. I've never seemed to need it for anything.
 
Col Mustard said:
What smitty said... Lacquer is traditional, and the old guitars that were finished in lacquer sound so good
that Gibson mustn't change any detail, or they will HEAR ABOUT IT FROM ALL OF US!

Except me. I don't care much. I have some experience with finishing wood, as an amateur.
My varnish of choice is Tung Oil, because it's easy to use, it doesn't irritate me in any way, and
it looks lovely and wears well. It's easy to scratch, but it's easy to repair.

Polyurethane is superior in many ways, harder... more durable perhaps, less susceptible to damage
from moisture or stains. But it gives me a headache when the can is open. So I only apply it outside with a wind going,
to carry away the fumes somewhere else. This is an anti social notion, a polluter's POV. I've used it on interior
woodwork, and been glad I did later... but my method indoors is to open the windows and doors, turn on a big
fan, apply the Poly quickly and then leave the building. And not come back for a weekend or more.

I've never used lacquer. Don't know why I ever would. I've never seemed to need it for anything.
Click to expand...

But lacquer breathes which must mean it has good lungs giving your guitar a good vocal range. Make sure your lacquer doesn't smoke in case of lung cancer.:wink:


;>)/
 
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