I hate polyurethane!

[keewa]

I thought I heard somewhere that some people's body chemistry makes nitro feel sticky, and others get away fine with it.

it's definitely the rory gallagher effect, where his sweat ate nitro

 

[Bubba Love]

I agree with the OP, I HATE POLY!!! It's a ridiculous finish. Mind you, if Fender kept nitro as standard we'd all be banging on about how they didn't make their basses durable enough.

That said, I think I'm going to get my MIA deluxe Jazz refinished in Nitro almost as soon as I get any kind of major ding on the front. They've all been confined to the back so far and they look awful. It looks as if my bass has spots. I think any kind of touring/working musician who can't afford to baby their instrument has to reconcile themselves to the fact that their poly instruments will look horrible after a while.

Actually, come to think about it, if we're talking about how bad Poly looks when it's dinged then it obviously isn't that durable! At least Nitro looks good even if it doesn't protect, Poly apparently does neither.

 

[Tumbao]

I wish Fender would offer its basses in other finishes, because then I would consider buying one of their basses

Maybe the Highway One model is for you. I like mine!

 

[spiritbass]

Polyurethane is fine for the body. I'm more particular about the neck. Oil & wax only for me. I won't own a bass with a painted neck.

Ken

 

[bigblondeafro87]

Yeah, a painted neck quickly drives me insane, because it just makes the bass feel like a toy. I've never tried out satin poly, but I guess I'll have to check it out.

 

[Bryan316]

Hmmm.

Y'all have some interesting beliefs in here.

 

[Brad Johnson]

This has a painted neck. It's been described as almost too fast.

It's not necessarily the materials, folks... it can be how they're applied.

Three year old poly finish, still looks like new, including the board.

 

[spiritbass]

It's not necessarily the materials, folks... it can be how they're applied.

True, very true. Nice bass, Brad! My statement on neck finish for my instruments was strictly in regards to my preference. It's the ONLY area where I am the expert.

Ken

 

[Brad Johnson]

True, very true. Nice bass, Brad! My statement on neck finish for my instruments was strictly in regards to my preference. It's the ONLY area where I am the expert.

Ken

Agreed.

I've found the satin finish to be like oil in feel, with less drag

 

[tribal3140]

wow! there need to be a fact check here.
"nitro dosent age" WHaT? you can make oil just as shiny as poly..
go over to the luthiers corner and ask this question to builders to get better.. well i'll say
damn you might have just MADE a fact....

 

[DigthemLows]

yeah, I hope people realize the opinions stated are just that, not facts........

 

[billbass1]

I refinished my Guild M-85 II and my Hagastrom HII B necks
both with poly-satin and with just a touch of polish,
they feel Soooooooooo Nice........................

 

[MobileHolmes]

Fender, 50 years ago

+1. All of the fender custom colors were car colors first.

 

[82Daion]

Both of my basses have poly finishes of some variety, on both the neck and body, and I can't say I mind them-it takes a lot to do any damage to either, and they're both from the 80's, so it's helped keep them in good shape. The glossy finish on the neck doesn't really bother me because I tend to play towards the middle of the neck rather than slide all over the place, and my thumb doesn't sweat much, so it doesn't stick to the neck.

I guess I'm weird that way.

 

[WoodyG3]

A GOOD poly finish looks nice, is NOT sticky, and wears well. I prefer a HIGH QUALITY gloss neck over an oiled one. The key is that the finish has to be a good one, and some aren't so great. Anyway, all this is only my opinion, but I'm right...

 

[Johnny Crab]

Oh I do. I hate nitro. My Les Paul is nitro, and it's like flypaper. I hate it. I stick far less to poly......

+1 IF they are new.

A nitro finish from 1989 looks ok and has chips missing

BUT the neck doesn't act like flypaper, it is VERY nice(see avatar). A nitro from the 1960's looks like my skin is starting to look at 5 decades plus....they call it "checking", I call it aging. I really sometimes wish the 2006 Gibson T-Bird had a poly or other-than-nitro neck. I use a fingerless glove like this
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
at outdoor/humidity>45% gigs to keep my left hand from sticking to the neck if I play the Gibson.

They also work REAL good for those gigs in winter weather(no more ice-hands).

 

[BellBottomBlues]

I prefer a nitro finish. In my opinion, the wood resonates more and it sounds better, and it feels better. When you play a bass with a poly finish, you can't feel the wood vibrate when you hit a string.

Most of my basses are nitro, natural (aka formerly nitro), or an oiled finish.

I hate poly +1,000,000,000

 

[Mr_Dave]

I don't mind the poly finish on my Sadowskys - its thinner than other basses i've seen.

I do really love the nitro finish on old fenders and the fender custom shop basses - i like the way they age

 

[ehque]

I prefer a nitro finish. In my opinion, the wood resonates more and it sounds better, and it feels better. When you play a bass with a poly finish, you can't feel the wood vibrate when you hit a string.

dont understand this part.

my graphite necked - gloss polyed Zon is the only bass i can practice on un-amped.

 

[Munjibunga]

Poly rules. RULES!