White guitar yellowing?

[BrunoNP]

Hi, I just bought an Olympic White Squier Classic Vibe 60s Jazz Bass and was wondering if it will turn yellow over time.

If yes, how can I prevent this from happening?

Thanks in advance

[Munjibunga]

It'll probably yellow. That gives it mojo. You could have it refinished if you don't like mojo. I don't know of any way to prevent it.

[DiabolusInMusic]

If you are going to get it re-finished one day the cheaper option is to just buy another one now and keep it vacuum sealed in a bag in your basement. A Squier is not worth the cost of a good re-finishing, unless you are planning to re-ranch (?) it yourself. Especially if you buy the Squier used.

[Sid Fang]

I don't know what kind of finish they use these days, but if it's one where the white yellows over time (as was the case with my pre-EB MM Sabre, my only white axe) I don't think there's much one can do about it, other than refinish the guitar every 20-30 years.

But more to the point, *why* wouldn't you want it to look authentically vintage?

[Sid Fang]

Originally Posted by DiabolusInMusic

If you are going to get it re-finished one day the cheaper option is to just buy another one now and keep it vacuum sealed in a bag in your basement.

But that's just it - I don't think keeping the instrument away from air or light is going to make a difference. The pigment layer is already sealed underneath a pretty significant transparent over-coat. My Sabre spent at least 95% of its life in a dark and temperature-controlled environment, but it darkened just the same - not so much yellow as a beige cream color. The discoloration appears to be a chemical reaction between the pigment, the wood, and the lacquer.

[pocketgroove]

Mine yellowed a ton, even though it's not a Squier. It's a cream color now, as opposed to that bright white, but I like it, although it's very white under the pickguard. There really is no way to stop yellowing, so the best options are learn to like it, pick a different color, or as others have said, plan on a refinish someday. Here's my bass:

[NOVAX]

Nicotine white? My favorite color on the planet.

[LWagner]

The sun with rise in the morning and fender oly white will yellow . Nothing can be done about either one of 'em. But most cats ( myself included) dig the yellowing it adds mojo.

[megafiddle]

I don't think the pigment itself yellows so much as the polyurethane that carries it,
or a clear coat.
But it's not going to yellow like nitrocellulose lacquer.

[BrunoNP]

Originally Posted by megafiddle

I don't think the pigment itself yellows so much as the polyurethane that carries it,
or a clear coat.
But it's not going to yellow like nitrocellulose lacquer.

Ok so there is not much I can do (maybe just covering from light), but it will not yellow to much anyway?

[FretlessMainly]

Almost every bass I've seen like this with the pickguard off shows nice original finish under the guard. From this, one could infer that keeping the bass out of the light would help to reduce yellowing.

[Diesel Kilgore]

Just ask my white Chevy pickup. As a whole it doesnt appear to be yellow(er). But after 17 years I would dread removong any trim. Still looks great and still shines though . If you love white you love the creamy buttermilk it becomes.

[Bongolation]

Originally Posted by Sid Fang

But that's just it - I don't think keeping the instrument away from air or light is going to make a difference.

It certainly does.

My '72 Precision is about the color of a banana now. Under the pickguard, it's not that far off the original white.

It seems unlikely that modern paints have this pigment shift unless they are specifically intended to.

[Munjibunga]

Originally Posted by BrunoNP

Ok so there is not much I can do (maybe just covering from light), but it will not yellow to much anyway?

Resistance is futile.

[hsech]

My Olympic White Am Std Precision is now more of a light cream color. I think it looks good and wouldn't change a thing.

[trimslinger]

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

Resistance is futile.

I just bought a 2006 mim jazz in arctic white,removed the pickguard (3 ply wht/blk/wht ) to install a brwn tort one.
There is no yellowing of the original finnish,it looks as new,
must have spent its whole life in a case

sorry, no camera no pic,no bass..no yellowing

[colcifer]

Is there a finish that doesn't change over time? Learn to love it, my friend.

[Sartori]

With white instruments, yellowing is just part of the deal.

[millsbass5]

White guitar yellowing?=Cool