Warning For Nitro Laquer Owners

[leemelone]

For all the owners of basses finished with nitrocellulose lacquer, be careful of using guitar stands with rubber parts that touch the finish. I found out the hard way that the rubber will actually melt the nitro finish just by sitting in the stand. Luckily the bass in question is my Road Worn P Bass so it doesn't matter too much. I'm just glad I found before my brand new 62 Jazz RI was damaged. I've had these same stands for years and they never damaged any other bass before but none of those were finished with nitro cellulose lacquer.

[Rama]

Yep, there are black markings on my white '62 RI and even some bubbles and red markings in the finish...

[Caca de Kick]

There's quite a few reasons I never leave basses always sitting out on stands, and thats one of them.
But for a stand during gigs, I have one of those fold open tolex cases that holds 3 basses, and it has the same plush interior as a regular bass case.

[LeonD]

Sadowsky uses nitro on their necks. They caution against the rubber on stands.

As a precaution they sell (on their web site) protectors for guitar stands that guard against this happening.

[bass71]

Top tip for this. Wrap some parcel tapeover the rubber..won't hurt the nitro.

[Spinal Tapper]

Yep! have a black stripe across the neck of my 1962 P

luckily the neck has already been refinished long ago

[MrRobert]

Uh oh. I have a highway on p, so I put sone cling wrap on the foam parts of the stand... Anybody know if this will 'burn the finish' also?

[dlenaghan]

I'm always laying a microfiber cloth across the top of my stand (Gladiator? Goliath? Can't remember the name..) so there's no contact. Seems like a simple fix..
Now, is it rubber specifically? A lack of breathability? A chemical reaction? Sheer pressure of what's basically a soft and often very thin finish?

What's the cause?

[FunkyMan]

wow i'm impressed how the companies that make stands haven't realize this?? which other material will be apropiate?

[MrRobert]

Actually, I haven't been able to find out what material can cause this. Is it latex? Foam rubber? Actual rubber? Synthetic plastic rubber? My highway one has been continuously on one stand or another with the foam arms for about a month now, minus an hour here and there of play time. There aren't any marks on it... Yet?

[Tanner5382]

I just throw an old t-shirt or polishing cloth over the rubber. Works for me.

[treekiller]

Are we talking about the yellow-orange rubber on guitar stands? IIRC that is neoprene which will break down & deteriorate over time. What I've done is replace the neoprene with a clear nylon tubing(like the kind used to drain ac/furnace condensation) which is available at most plumbing/heating supply stores. It is a bit stiffer and a bit slicker, but I have used it for years with no problems(although I don't have any nitro finished instruments).

[Rene]

Originally Posted by leemelone

For all the owners of basses finished with nitrocellulose lacquer, be careful of using guitar stands with rubber parts that touch the finish. I found out the hard way that the rubber will actually melt the nitro finish just by sitting in the stand. Luckily the bass in question is my Road Worn P Bass so it doesn't matter too much. I'm just glad I found before my brand new 62 Jazz RI was damaged. I've had these same stands for years and they never damaged any other bass before but none of those were finished with nitro cellulose lacquer.

Nitrocellulose lacquer is the worst finish to put on a bass or a guitar.

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I used NITRO to finish my acoustic and electric instruments for 10 years and my conclusoion for stopping are:
1) Hard to work with and apply because hard to create a build up to fill the grain (one coat will melt the previous spaying)of the wood and takes for ever to cure
2) Easy to go through the finish when you sand between spraying
3) Easy to dent, get very soft when it is hot and crack when it is cold and NItro finish tarnish very easily and doesn't last
4) Gets gummy,sticky loose is texture or color over the years
5) Was use in th 50's 60's and begening of the 70's because nothing else existed. Most of the companies don't use NITRO today on electric guitars and basses
because better products are available
Some Companies created a myth that NITRO improve the sound of the instrument just to increase the price and boost the sales same as the vintage instrument
and they do it on special order and the charge you an arm and a leg for it. So it is only a question of ''MONEY"
I did somes experiment with electric basses finish with NITRO and URETHANE and my ear did notice any difference in sound or tone. So I quit using ''NITRO''
But it is not the same for Acoustic Guitars which should be discussed in another thread
I respect everybody's opinion and this is mine as being finishing electric basses and guitars for many years

[MrRobert]

Originally Posted by Rene

Nitrocellulose lacquer is the worst finish to put on a bass or a guitar.

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Cool opinion, bro. I like the finish more than any of my poly finished instruments, probably for the same reasons you think it's the worst finish. That's my cool opinion.

[treekiller]

Originally Posted by Rene

Nitrocellulose lacquer is the worst finish to put on a bass or a guitar.

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Oh no you didn't.....

[elgecko]

Originally Posted by Rene

Nitrocellulose lacquer is the worst finish to put on a bass or a guitar.

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Your link didn't explain why nitrocellulose lacquer is the worst finish to put on a bass or a guitar.

[Ava Starfire]

Anyone know what sort of finish is on a MIM Fender P and an Ibanez SRX300? Both my stands are newish with a foamy-ish rubber on them, but I am totally clueless what sort of rubber/whatever it is, or what sort of finish my basses have... dont want them to get damaged.

Thanks! Now im all nervous

[Etchbass]

Originally Posted by elgecko

Your link didn't explain why nitrocellulose lacquer is the worst finish to put on a bass or a guitar.

Yeah, I agree... that's just a link to a bunch of basses that I would never buy.

[BassDudeSA]

I certainly believe nitro is the best finish to put on a guitar, and I like the "duller" nitro finish such as on the Road Worn and Highway Ones more than the shiny nitro finishes that are on the AVRIs. What is the difference between the dull and the shiny nitro anyway?

And, someone mentioned he doesn't know why the stand companies haven't pointed this out. At least one has. I don't remember which one specifically, but I was reading through a MF catalog or similar and read the description of one of the stands, and it did specifically state that the stand in question is not usable with guitars that have nitro finishes. The stand companies do know. But often stands are sold loose, outside of packaging materials. My guess is that there are warnings somewhere. They should do a better job and put a sticker on the stand or something like that as a warning that cannot be missed.

[cybersnyder]

Originally Posted by elgecko

Your link didn't explain why nitrocellulose lacquer is the worst finish to put on a bass or a guitar.

Shameless self promotion.