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Does this P bass really has a nitro finish?

emilythemartian

emilythemartian

Nov 2, 2010
26
42
#1
I'm interested in buying a 1993 Fender '51 RI P-Bass. The seller claims it has a nitro finish. Do you guys know if Fender were doing these in Nitro in the 90s?

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#2
I'm no expert but as far as I remember, and from what I can see in the photos, it's a poly finish.

This series of bass was only available and I think only the Custom Shop versions ('55 RI I think) come with nitro finish. Also in one of the picture you can see where the finish has cracked off. From my experience, Nitro dings but is less prone to parts flaking off, which has been common on my poly basses.

As per usual, YMMV.
 
#4
yeah, that was the picture I referred to. I dropped one of my cheap P basses with a poly finish and a huge chunk came out of the arm rest.

By all means it's a good bass, if the poly finish isn't a deal breaker for you, though I feel it's a little steep for the condition it's in (what do I know, I'm Australian).
 
#10
Not nitro, but you know that by now.

BTW, the other finish from that MIJ '51 RI line is a beautiful transparent Ivory Cream color, not at all like the Mustard Yellow of the current '51 RIs. FWIW, I think max $750 with a good case or deluxe gig bag, given current economic conditions.

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#14
Josh Pelican said:
Polyurethane is used on many guitars/basses.
Click to expand...

Can you tell me of any?

I'm at a loss here for any maker that uses it at the moment.

I know Warmoth uses some -urethane, but they use -ester first to establish a solid surface, and in many (not all) cases, they use -urethane only as a color coat.

WHAT FINISHING MATERIALS DO WE USE?

Urethane is our primary finishing material though we do use several thin coats of polyester as a base coat to fill the wood grain. The process is first to fill the grain, then the color coat is applied. Finally the top coats are laid down before final sanding and buffing. If the body is dyed, these colors are put on the raw wood prior to the base coat application. There seems to be much controversy about finishing materials and poly seems much maligned...Without sinking into the depths of this debate, let us just say that our finishes seldom exceed twelve thousandths on an inch in thickness. For the lacquer fans, there are others that spray this material though the cost is generally at least double for a very questionable sonic difference.
Click to expand...

Actually - there may be a lot of 'custom' builders who use -urethane as it's not as finicky as -ester to apply.

But - in my estimation, any builder that uses -urethane is not putting on a surface that is substantial enough for me - as it always is softer and more prone to surface integrity failure factors.

Paint a car/truck with it and it's OK. I should know as I've shot quantum gallons of it when the good-er paints were all banned in Tree Hugger Land (California).

Dulux, Centari and Imron were soooo good that they had to go I guess. With the spread-the-misery attitude here, I can see where the confusion lies.
 
#17
Jazz Ad said:
Most instruments on the market are finished with polyurethane. I'll be conservative and say 9 out of 10.
Pick any bass with a clear coat of solid finish and it's likely to be polyurethane. You can't miss the smell of it.
Click to expand...

That's where I'm somewhat confused.

I KNOW the smell of -ester as I've built many-a surfboard and I know the aroma of the clear coat on my Fender and Squier jazzes BOTH were polyester when I was sanding them off for binding and new clear coats.

So I'm still not sure of the -urethane link.

It might be so, but not in my limited experiences so far. I can learn something new today - I still have time.

BTW: I cruised the whole Fender site, and nowhere does it give a hint of the material for the guitar's surface, clearcoat or painted colors.
 
#18
Oh yeah and I don't understand the appeal for nitro, unless you want to relic the instrument.
Polys offer a much better protection, they're easier to work with, they don't dissolve with rubber or sweat and you can get them to be glossy, matte or satin with minutes of polishing.
 
#20
KillerPenguin said:
Maybe it has nothing to do with the finish, but all nitro instruments ive played, you can really feel them resonate, compared to poly.


But it may be just the instrument in general and it had nothing to do with the finish, so I dont know.
Click to expand...

I think its more psychosomatic than anything else. I've got poly instruments that resonate like there is no tomorrow and have had nitro ones that are like dead fish. Personally I don't care what an instrument is finished in. I also one of those people who gets wood for looks rather than tone. Its an electronic instrument.;)
If it was an acoustic, I'd be inclined to agree with you.

Most nitro instruments aren't finished in just nitro. Not even those 60s Fenders.

There is the sealer coat which is quite hard, then the under coat, then the acrylic overcoat, and then the top clear coat would have been nitro.

I also think this is a fair price for such a bass considering it has free shipping. :)
 

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