poly and nitro finishes

I believe there are hand rubbed poly finishes available if you want to try that

 

* Also ask in the luthier forum, you'll get answers from people who do this on a regular basis rather than players like myself who are just opinionated

 

First, brush finish will probably not be good, second, the clear you use id determined by the base you use , what kind of finish do you have under the clear?

 

Based on personal experience, I'd go with nitro. It's easier to fix mistakes or build up thin spots in a way that looks good, and it basically melts into itself when you apply a new coat. I've had a good outcome from applying several thin coats, allowing to dry and then dry sanding every few until finishing it up with wet-sanding and automotive polish.

 

Isn't nitro notoriously difficult to work with, and a big reason why most companies don't use it? If that's true, as a beginner, I wouldn't want to start with it.

 

If you are going for a brush on I recommend Minwax wipe on poly . I love it and the satin is my favorite finish for a neck . I use fresh made shellac for a wash coat then a few coats of MW wipe on , then wax . It's super easy to use . Here are several done with Minwax wipeon