difference polyester/polyurethane finish??

[Ingemar]

Whats the difference between polyester (Fender MIM Jazz basses)/polyurethane (Fender MIA/AS Jazz basses) finish??

[saxnbass]

Look, feel, hardness, and cost/labor.

[62bass]

They're both hard and tough coatings with a different chemical makeup for the resin. Neither one will strip off with normal paint and varnish removers. It won't touch the stuff. Polyester is probably a bit harder than the polyurethane.

Note- the polyurethane used in these finishes is not at all like the brush on stuff used as a varnish and sold at home centres and paint stores. That's soft by comparison and will come off with chemical strippers.

If you're thinking of stripping and refinishing your instrument with a polyester or polyurethane finish, you're in for some hard work. Some people sand it down and it's very laborious. You start with very coarse sandpaper and sand the finish off with that then gradually work up to the finer grits until the wood is smooth enough for the new finish.

It's faster to remove the bulk of the finish and speed things up if you remove the finish with an electric heat gun and a scraper. You should do this outside because of the smoke and toxic fumes. Even after that, you'll still have a lot of sanding to do. I've done it on a few basses. On a Fender P it took a full day of work to get the body in shape for a new finish.

And for your other question--I don't think it will change your sound to any noticeable degree. There are many out there who claim they can hear the difference between a nitro finish and a poly finish. I've been playing an awful long time and I can't tell. Not on a solidbody instrument, particularly a bass. Acoustic guitars and violins are something else.

[202dy]

Originally Posted by 62bass

And for your other question--I don't think it will change your sound to any noticeable degree. There are many out there who claim they can hear the difference between a nitro finish and a poly finish. I've been playing an awful long time and I can't tell. Not on a solidbody instrument, particularly a bass. Acoustic guitars and violins are something else.

Hey 62-It is probably the awful long time that interferes with your ability to hear the difference more than anything else .

At way closer to forty years of playing than thirty, I can't hear the difference either. But I have come to respect those that claim they can. I can still hear the difference in tone woods, and suspect there was a time that I might have been able to hear the difference in finishes. But any difference is going to be subtle at best.

[62bass]

Originally Posted by 202dy

Hey 62-It is probably the awful long time that interferes with your ability to hear the difference more than anything else .

At way closer to forty years of playing than thirty, I can't hear the difference either. But I have come to respect those that claim they can. I can still hear the difference in tone woods, and suspect there was a time that I might have been able to hear the difference in finishes. But any difference is going to be subtle at best.

You may be right, and if someone claims he can hear those things, and isn't on drugs, why argue with him? Unfortunately, too many of the guys I've run into in person that claim such golden ears aren't yet able to tune their instruments, but still, it makes for a lively discussion.

[p5string]

I don't even think you can buy polyester, in the grade I believe you are think of, in small quantities (for one off's). I've never found anyone willing to sell it in small quantities in any event. It's also more flammable than polyurethane and shipping it as a highly flammable product is really difficult.

[Turnaround]

Originally Posted by 62bass

You may be right, and if someone claims he can hear those things, and isn't on drugs, why argue with him? Unfortunately, too many of the guys I've run into in person that claim such golden ears aren't yet able to tune their instruments, but still, it makes for a lively discussion.

Maybe some can hear the difference. I'll allow for that. But can anyone hear the difference in the mix? When's the last time you listened to a recording of a bass and said "Oh, just listen to that polyester". Let alone hearing that difference at a gig.

[Ingemar]

Thanks to all of You.

Probably no BIG "hearing" differences but sertainly Some "feeling" differences to different finishes (poly,nitro, oil e.t.c), then.
(though I couldn't see/feel any big diff's when I tested one MIM and one AS.Hearing any diff's wasn't fair enough cause of diff's in stringbrands,pups and hardware.)

[62bass]

Originally Posted by Turnaround

Maybe some can hear the difference. I'll allow for that. But can anyone hear the difference in the mix? When's the last time you listened to a recording of a bass and said "Oh, just listen to that polyester". Let alone hearing that difference at a gig.

Exactly, even in the mix on a recording. Live, no way.

I'm at 45 years of playing bass now. Yes, the ears are not as good as when I was 20, but I recently had them tested and they're not bad at all. For sure they're better than a lot of younger guys now who are playing at earsplitting volume because of guitarists who need all that volume "so I can get my sound".

[saxnbass]

Originally Posted by 62bass

Exactly, even in the mix on a recording. Live, no way.

I'm at 45 years of playing bass now. Yes, the ears are not as good as when I was 20, but I recently had them tested and they're not bad at all. For sure they're better than a lot of younger guys now who are playing at earsplitting volume because of guitarists who need all that volume "so I can get my sound".

Yeah, and these guitarists probably have never heard of an attenuator. Do they make attenuators for bass? I've only seen them for guitar.

[62bass]

Originally Posted by Ingemar

Thanks to all of You.

Probably no BIG "hearing" differences but sertainly Some "feeling" differences to different finishes (poly,nitro, oil e.t.c), then.
(though I couldn't see/feel any big diff's when I tested one MIM and one AS.Hearing any diff's wasn't fair enough cause of diff's in stringbrands,pups and hardware.)

I'm with you on the difference in feel. There's also the slightly different look. And the differences in durability, ease of application, etc.

For a home do it yoursefer you are a bit limited in what you can use.

But getting back to the original question, those factory finishes are very tough to remove. If you're going to refinish in a transparent finish you don't know how good the wood underneath will look.

There is also the option of sanding the existing finish perfectly smooth and putting on a solid colour over the top. If the existing finish is in good enough condition that can be done. The add on finish would not be as durable though.

[vtwo]

if you want polyester, try melting your clothes! lol

[202dy]

Originally Posted by 62bass

But getting back to the original question, those factory finishes are very tough to remove. If you're going to refinish in a transparent finish you don't know how good the wood underneath will look.

There is also the option of sanding the existing finish perfectly smooth and putting on a solid colour over the top. If the existing finish is in good enough condition that can be done. The add on finish would not be as durable though.

+1 on that. If they painted it at the factory odds are it won't have the best looking grain pattern underneath. Most manufacturers tend to clear coat the pretty ones.

Given that, if a solid color will suffice sand with some 220 and start shooting.