Should you wax a nitro cellulose finish?

[tastybasslines]

I am setting up my new Highway One P and thought while I have the strings off, that I could wax the finish.

Does anyone know if you could use... http://www.amazon.com/Gerlitz-Number.../dp/B000EEHJS8 on a nitro finish?

Even if it doesn't hurt the paint, I am concerned that it will "seal" the finish and not let the bass breathe...

Any opinions/advice?

[Pilgrim]

Why not use a musical instrument polish? Virtuoso is great stuff and GC carries it.

[stratovani]

I don't know about this "breathing" business. Your bass is sealed with a hard coating, I can't see how air would penetrate it. But at $7.43 for a tin of this wax I'd give it a try. What's the worse that would happen - your bass gets real shiny? Maybe I'm wrong, but I can't see wax harming a hard finish.

[Jim C]

+1 for using a dedicated guitar polish or use McGuiars Mirror Glaze #7
It was widely used with acrylic lacquer automotive finishes back in the day; it can make a dull lacquer finish really shine although I am not sure about allowing the paint to breath; can't imagine and polish or chemical coating would help in that regard

[mdogs]

Highway 1's have nitro finishes?

[darkstorm]

Back when I had nitro finish stuff long ago I used johnsons wood paste wax on them. A tin would last long long time.

[precision punk]

I used a violin polish that made my highway one look great!

[panama]

Originally Posted by mdogs

Highway 1's have nitro finishes?

yep.

[OldDog52]

http://m.guitarcenter.com/Item/Defau...=1133324&urx=1

Gibson Polish

[bassbenj]

Originally Posted by tastybasslines

I am setting up my new Highway One P and thought while I have the strings off, that I could wax the finish.

Does anyone know if you could use... http://www.amazon.com/Gerlitz-Number.../dp/B000EEHJS8 on a nitro finish?

Even if it doesn't hurt the paint, I am concerned that it will "seal" the finish and not let the bass breathe...

Any opinions/advice?

I've got some nitro instruments and since the finish is thin they vibrate well and sound great. I however do not buy all that wood "breathing" talk. My experience with Carnauba wax is that it's an excellent wax to use for both looks and protection. The big problem with nitro comes from painted neck (which I presume you don't have). For some people (me!) they have a very "sticky" feel to them. It's hard to eliminate except by simply letting the finish age. People recommend lots of "cures" such as Pledge or talcum powder but none work very well. Just keeping the neck waxed worked about as well as anything. The hard carnauba wax works much better than the gooey Pledge.

[Eric Swanson]

The problem with any wax or silicone-including polish is not now, but in the future.

Most professional wood finishers cringe when they hear that anyone has used these products; it makes touch up work very tough.

Every wood finisher I have met recommends Guardsman polish, as the only readily available (as in hardware store available) polish. It doesn't have anything in it to make a finisher's life bad...down the road.

Of course, the instrument polishes listed above will also do the trick; they are just a bit harder to find and cost a touch more...

[GeneralElectric]

Meguiers polish is the best I've used honestly.