poly vs nitro

RocknRoller · 11-26-2008, 03:48 AM

wat do ppl perfer?
Im pretty sure epiphone use poly finish on their guitars. but can sumbody confirm this if they kno for sure.

Akahito · 11-26-2008, 10:02 AM

Yes, Epiphone uses polyurethane lacquer on all their instruments, even the Elitist series. The good sides of nitrocellulose lacquer is that it dries thin, is relatively easy to repair and lets the wood breathe. The downside is the nitrocellulose compound's combustible nature, making it hazardous to work with, and even in dried state it can still light quite easily.

FennRx · 11-26-2008, 10:05 AM

nitro for me any day.

loverockkid · 11-26-2008, 10:08 AM

nitro 4 me also

sasquatch · 11-26-2008, 12:02 PM

Polymer fer me cuz it's all my poor lil' hick ass can afford!
And it ain't no lie
so don't even try.
"Dirt Cheap Took it cuz it was 25% off the sale price.
So What?"
Keep that sticky neck-hand stoppin' Nitro!

Yogi · 11-26-2008, 01:09 PM

It doesn't make any difference to me. I've played both Poly and Nitro, and I sound the same on both. IMO, Electronics and hands plays more of a part in the way a guitar sounds than what type of finish is used. Some people swear by Nitro, but I can't hear any significant difference in tone. It does feel different than poly to the touch, but once again I couldn't qualify it as better or worse, just different

alligatorbling · 11-26-2008, 01:28 PM

i like the worn look that nitro gets with time, mine is starting to dull from the sweat off my right arm lol... mojo baby, mojo!

Iceman0124 · 11-26-2008, 01:34 PM

Poly doesnt allow the instrument to age gracefully, it will get dinged and pitted, but it still stays bright and shiny, you dont get the natural worn look of a vintage instrument without intentionally giving it the relic treatment. IE natural finish wear, checking and fading.

diceman · 11-26-2008, 01:54 PM

Poly doesn't age gracefully, yes. Nitro feels better and looks better, yes. That said, some GREAT instruments use Poly finishes. PRS among them.

I MUCH prefer Nitro, but I don't hate poly - some of my favorite guitars (my MIJ Epis) are Poly finished...

Darkburst · 11-26-2008, 01:57 PM

I like nitro. I learned to play guitar on my step dads 60's Gibson acoustic, so that's what feels right to me.

Extremerocker827 · 11-26-2008, 04:08 PM

Nitro is probably the best for me, but I definitely prefer poly when I'm buying a guitar cuz a lot of the price of a nitro guitar goes to putting the nitro on, and so the poly is a better value.

alligatorbling · 11-26-2008, 05:05 PM

only thing about nitro finish guitars.... the neck.... eck. i cant stand the sticky feel on the neck lol.... you can polish it yes but it comes back, so you polish again, id polish with a micro cloth yada yada anyways, i sanded mine, much better now.... =D

steamboat willy · 11-26-2008, 05:25 PM

I love the way Nitro ages but can I tell the difference in sound between a poly or nitro guitar? Hell no, if I could i'd insure my ears for £20 million. I assume it would be virtually impossible to strip of the poly finish and apply nitro without ruining the colour finish underneath?

JasonC · 11-26-2008, 06:20 PM

Poly is much more durable and will protect your instrument better, as well as retain the original color much longer. It tends to need to be sanded a bit on the neck though, or it really seems to grab your fingers and slow you down.

If I wanted a nice shiny guitar and wanted it to stay that way, I'd go with poly. People say it affects tone, but I doubt that's substantial. Anyway, I do prefer the look of aged nitro, the yellowing just looks really cool to me, as do the points of wear from years of playing. I'm really not into perfect shiny instruments anymore.

Yogi · 11-26-2008, 07:45 PM

Poly only affects tone if its caked on like some of the Fenders from the 70's

inxs996 · 11-28-2008, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JasonC

Poly is much more durable and will protect your instrument better, as well as retain the original color much longer. It tends to need to be sanded a bit on the neck though, or it really seems to grab your fingers and slow you down.

If I wanted a nice shiny guitar and wanted it to stay that way, I'd go with poly. People say it affects tone, but I doubt that's substantial. Anyway, I do prefer the look of aged nitro, the yellowing just looks really cool to me, as do the points of wear from years of playing. I'm really not into perfect shiny instruments anymore.

+1,

i agree, too much hype with this Nitro vs Poly crap, as someone else said, the electronics and setup is what really makes the most difference...

guaranteed in a blind fold test people wouldn't be able to differentiate between the two...

and as someone else pointed out, PRS guitars uses the Poly finish and anyone who has a slight bit of knowledge of guitars, knows they make some F'ing good guitars...

overdriver · 11-28-2008, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yogi

Poly only affects tone if its caked on like some of the Fenders from the 70's

Yeah just like the guitars Blackmore and Robin Trower used , what were they thinking. Terrible tone those guys had

KP Willits · 11-28-2008, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by overdriver

Yeah just like the guitars Blackmore and Robin Trower used , what were they thinking. Terrible tone those guys had

and Hendrix and Clapton and Jeff Beck and Dave Gilmore.... all lousy tone, right???

overdriver · 11-28-2008, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KP Willits

and Hendrix and Clapton and Jeff Beck and Dave Gilmore.... all lousy tone, right???

Yes lame shit tone eh! Although Jimi 68s are nitro and Claptons blackie & browny nitro also and Gil. used nitro as well, Jimi's 69s were polyester and Clapton sig is not nitro , well I think a person would be hard pressed to hear the diff.

inxs996 · 11-28-2008, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by overdriver

Yes lame shit tone eh! Although Jimi 68s are nitro and Claptons blackie & browny nitro also and Gil. used nitro as well, Jimi's 69s were polyester and Clapton sig is not nitro , well I think a person would be hard pressed to hear the diff.

the only reason people hear a difference with the Nitro is cause the headstock says Gibson....gotta justify the money they just threw away....

diceman · 11-28-2008, 04:53 PM

I think that it is more about feel and looks than it is about tone.

Its much harder to maintain, thats for sure.

I'm not sure where I stand on whether or not the guitar "ages" (the wood) better w/ Nitro - and what if any difference that makes...?

11-26-2008, 03:48 AM	#1 (permalink)
RocknRoller Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 18 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	poly vs nitro wat do ppl perfer? Im pretty sure epiphone use poly finish on their guitars. but can sumbody confirm this if they kno for sure. __________________ 08 Gibson Les Paul Studio - Wine red, chrome 01 MIK Epiphone Les Paul Standard - HCSB 03 American Deluxe Stratocaster - 3T SB 04 LTD KH-202 02 Monterey strat copy (first guitar) ?? Encore Stray copy with scalloped Frets (home job)

11-26-2008, 10:02 AM	#2 (permalink)
Akahito Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Turku, Finland Posts: 262 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: poly vs nitro Yes, Epiphone uses polyurethane lacquer on all their instruments, even the Elitist series. The good sides of nitrocellulose lacquer is that it dries thin, is relatively easy to repair and lets the wood breathe. The downside is the nitrocellulose compound's combustible nature, making it hazardous to work with, and even in dried state it can still light quite easily. __________________ I - am - a - DRU..DUR...DUUMM...

11-26-2008, 10:05 AM	#3 (permalink)
FennRx Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,535 Thanks: 7 Thanked 7 Times in 2 Posts	Re: poly vs nitro nitro for me any day.

11-26-2008, 10:08 AM	#4 (permalink)
loverockkid Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Margate,Florida Posts: 491 Thanks: 13 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: poly vs nitro nitro 4 me also __________________ Epi Les Paul Ultra II Line6/Bogner Spider Valve 112 Fender R15 Cry Baby DS-1

11-26-2008, 12:02 PM	#5 (permalink)
sasquatch Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Charlotte, N.C. Posts: 183 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: poly vs nitro Polymer fer me cuz it's all my poor lil' hick ass can afford! And it ain't no lie so don't even try. "Dirt Cheap Took it cuz it was 25% off the sale price. So What?" Keep that sticky neck-hand stoppin' Nitro! __________________ Epiphone Les Paul Plus Epiphone SG Custom Epiphone Firebird Studio Fender HSS Std. Stratocaster Marshall HDFX 100/a Digitech RP-250

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11-26-2008, 01:09 PM	#6 (permalink)
Yogi Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 177 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: poly vs nitro It doesn't make any difference to me. I've played both Poly and Nitro, and I sound the same on both. IMO, Electronics and hands plays more of a part in the way a guitar sounds than what type of finish is used. Some people swear by Nitro, but I can't hear any significant difference in tone. It does feel different than poly to the touch, but once again I couldn't qualify it as better or worse, just different __________________ Fall mountains... just don't fall on me...

11-26-2008, 01:28 PM	#7 (permalink)
alligatorbling V.I.P. Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Somewhere between here and there. Posts: 4,510 Thanks: 20 Thanked 35 Times in 9 Posts	Re: poly vs nitro i like the worn look that nitro gets with time, mine is starting to dull from the sweat off my right arm lol... mojo baby, mojo! __________________ "Last time I called shotgun, we had rented a limo... so I fuxked up." -Mitch Hedberg The greatest effort is not concerned with results. insanity is genius in disguise http://www.myspace.com/cheapmaltliquor aim alligatorbling

11-26-2008, 01:34 PM	#8 (permalink)
Iceman0124 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chattanooga TN Posts: 403 Thanks: 4 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: poly vs nitro Poly doesnt allow the instrument to age gracefully, it will get dinged and pitted, but it still stays bright and shiny, you dont get the natural worn look of a vintage instrument without intentionally giving it the relic treatment. IE natural finish wear, checking and fading.

11-26-2008, 01:54 PM	#9 (permalink)
diceman V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 7,434 Thanks: 32 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Re: poly vs nitro Poly doesn't age gracefully, yes. Nitro feels better and looks better, yes. That said, some GREAT instruments use Poly finishes. PRS among them. I MUCH prefer Nitro, but I don't hate poly - some of my favorite guitars (my MIJ Epis) are Poly finished... __________________ 1969 Gibson Deluxe / 08 Gibson R8 / Epi Elitists: Standard & Custom / Epi Custom & Studio Goth - '65 Fender Jaguar My Band: www.comeupswingingmusic.com or www.myspace.com/comeupswinging

11-26-2008, 01:57 PM	#10 (permalink)
Darkburst Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 492 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: poly vs nitro I like nitro. I learned to play guitar on my step dads 60's Gibson acoustic, so that's what feels right to me. __________________ My Studio My Site My Gig Posters

11-26-2008, 04:08 PM	#11 (permalink)
Extremerocker827 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 501 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: poly vs nitro Nitro is probably the best for me, but I definitely prefer poly when I'm buying a guitar cuz a lot of the price of a nitro guitar goes to putting the nitro on, and so the poly is a better value. __________________ GEAR: Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plus Top(Cherry Sunburst) Dunlop GCB-95 Wah Pedal Fender Super Champ XD(15 watts) Digitech RP200A MultiEffects Pedal(For Sale) A 13 year old's soundclick(guess who) http://www.soundclick.com/bands/defa...?bandID=908565

11-26-2008, 05:05 PM	#12 (permalink)
alligatorbling V.I.P. Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Somewhere between here and there. Posts: 4,510 Thanks: 20 Thanked 35 Times in 9 Posts	Re: poly vs nitro only thing about nitro finish guitars.... the neck.... eck. i cant stand the sticky feel on the neck lol.... you can polish it yes but it comes back, so you polish again, id polish with a micro cloth yada yada anyways, i sanded mine, much better now.... =D __________________ "Last time I called shotgun, we had rented a limo... so I fuxked up." -Mitch Hedberg The greatest effort is not concerned with results. insanity is genius in disguise http://www.myspace.com/cheapmaltliquor aim alligatorbling

11-26-2008, 05:25 PM	#13 (permalink)
steamboat willy Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Birmingham, UK Posts: 193 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 2 Posts	Re: poly vs nitro I love the way Nitro ages but can I tell the difference in sound between a poly or nitro guitar? Hell no, if I could i'd insure my ears for £20 million. I assume it would be virtually impossible to strip of the poly finish and apply nitro without ruining the colour finish underneath?

11-26-2008, 06:20 PM	#14 (permalink)
JasonC Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,339 Thanks: 24 Thanked 3 Times in 1 Post	Re: poly vs nitro Poly is much more durable and will protect your instrument better, as well as retain the original color much longer. It tends to need to be sanded a bit on the neck though, or it really seems to grab your fingers and slow you down. If I wanted a nice shiny guitar and wanted it to stay that way, I'd go with poly. People say it affects tone, but I doubt that's substantial. Anyway, I do prefer the look of aged nitro, the yellowing just looks really cool to me, as do the points of wear from years of playing. I'm really not into perfect shiny instruments anymore.

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11-26-2008, 07:45 PM	#15 (permalink)
Yogi Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 177 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: poly vs nitro Poly only affects tone if its caked on like some of the Fenders from the 70's __________________ Fall mountains... just don't fall on me...

11-28-2008, 04:53 PM	#21 (permalink)
diceman V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 7,434 Thanks: 32 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Re: poly vs nitro I think that it is more about feel and looks than it is about tone. Its much harder to maintain, thats for sure. I'm not sure where I stand on whether or not the guitar "ages" (the wood) better w/ Nitro - and what if any difference that makes...? __________________ 1969 Gibson Deluxe / 08 Gibson R8 / Epi Elitists: Standard & Custom / Epi Custom & Studio Goth - '65 Fender Jaguar My Band: www.comeupswingingmusic.com or www.myspace.com/comeupswinging

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