Nitro or poly?

[deff]

Nitro but the Am Pro II basses Fender makes now use a lighter coat of poly that brings out the tones that nitro can sometimes provide by allowing the wood to breathe.

No it can't.

 

[Marc DLarosa]

I gotta say... from experience... My avatar shows 2 1979 Pre EB Sabre's. The green one was originally (to Me) spray painted Pepto Bismol Pink back when I first got Her, in 1988. I sanded it down to the wood (yes, sanded), and then had it sealed, stained, painted burst, and a friend who owns a body shop... PUT A HEFTY COAT OF POLY ON HER. I'm not positive that this had anything to do with the way that She sounds, but... I've played over 10 Pre EB Sabre's, including My CLOSET QUEEN next to Her, and NONE sound as articulate/beefy/boomy/resonant as My BABY.

The finish?
I got lucky the first time?
Who knows? I'm not that knowledgeable. But... Just sayin'.

 

[J-boy]

Nitro. Love that beat to sh!t look after years of use. And that wood breathe thing

 

[Pilgrim]

Acrylic lacquer involves comparatively less hazards than nitro but acrylic lacquer certainly doesn't come without hazards and it does not come with none of the hazards of nitro lacquer.

The solvents are the same. They both involve health and environmental hazards, to varying degrees. Both types of lacquer finishes can react with the foam padding on guitar stands.

OK, fewer hazards.

 

[Spidey2112]

Nitro. Only because it wears nicely (to me).

I hate to admit it, but I definitely like poly finishes, especially on the body... but nitro on the neck will show yer playing the dang thing.

Screw it! On the body, too!

 

[packhowitzer]

I have both and I prefer poly. But only by a smidge. I like my nitro bass.

 

[Mastermold]

Nitro lacquer, or acrylic lacquer color coats with nitro clear.

The look and feel is much preferable to me.

Poly/urethane is an objectively superior material by most criteria.

And no, lacquer does not "breathe," nor is it inherently thinner. I just love the way it looks, feels, and wears.

I like when wood feels like wood, not plastic. So I tend to prefer nitro or natural finishes.

 

[halcyo]

It's aesthetics. If it's supposed to be a "vintage looking" bass, then the wear of nitro looks cool. If it's a "modern looking" bass, or you want your instrument to look like a vintage instrument that's brand sparkling new, then why not do poly so it stays that way?

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

 

[themickster]

If you could have your choice between nitrocellulose or polyurethane on a Fender "type" bass at the same cost, what would you choose and why?

I found this blog on nitro/poly. It says that some luthiers believe the two finishes to make a marked difference to the sound. Are they right, or is it another 'tone wood' load of skwit?

 

[5StringBlues]

carrot juice

 

[howlin]

Neither. Oil finish nullifies the arguement IMHE.

 

[DwaynieAD]

Can't be arsed to care

 

[Geogio]

Oh, it most certainly can and does. You've just been lucky enough to not see it.

I peeled a Jackson "hybrid" around the bridge and the PJ's, I wondered if it needed priming.

 

[TN WOODMAN]

Of course in true TB fashion the only answer is both. I have guitars and basses finished in both and enjoy playing them all.

I think on electric instruments the whole tone is better with nitro is overstated. Same with fretboard materials. Acoustics are a different case.

But that's just IME @ IMO.

 

[Acoop]

"Nitro sounds better " that's hilarious. What's next? "What type of shades do you wear when you play bass?"

 

[bassdude51]

I like both. Each one has it's advantages and disadvantages.

I read a long time ago here on TalkBass of one our members put some "OFF" mosquito spray on his arms and later on picked up has nitro finished bass and OFF really screwed up this finish.

Nitro is fairly easy to doctor up dings and nicks. Touch-up melts right in with the original finish.

Poly always looks new and shiny. But dings and nicks are like chips into glass. Pretty hard to doctor up. Although auto touch-up paint, if it matches can be put unto dings and chips and sometimes we can get a decent repair.

Nitro ages into that classic dull finish with cool cracking and classic "rub spots".

Poly just keeps on looking new and if it does get dulled up with micro surface scratches, it can be buffed to shiny new with Maguire's 205.

Thing with nitro is that it can take hours and hours and days and years to start getting that cool vintage look.

Just my opinion. IMHO and YMMV (I don't know if I like one better than the other.)

 

[fishdreams]

For a Fender style bass, i like the look of nitro better. But on any Fender style bass, as they all sound different from bass to bass, I'll take whatever bass sounds good to me.

 

[bassdude51]

"Nitro sounds better " that's hilarious. What's next? "What type of shades do you wear when you play bass?"

Wearing shades on a dimly lite stage has always amazed me............hazard!

If nitro sounds better, then linseed oil or Danish oil sounds even better yet and natural, no finished wood would sound the best................NAH!!!!!!

 

[SJan3]

Wearing shades on a dimly lite stage has always amazed me............hazard!

If nitro sounds better, then linseed oil or Danish oil sounds even better yet and natural, no finished wood would sound the best................NAH!!!!!!

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NOTE: I didn't ask which sounds better. I simply asked which you prefer and why.