I've noticed that in that vid he mentions acrylic paints together with poly as different then nitro. I wonder if the two go together as I do tend to use a lot of acrylic paints in my builds.
I have used lacquers on builds in the past; but, as easy as that stuff is to apply and polish out, it’s not hard-wearing, there is a lot of shrinkage, and it takes real-time to gas-off.
For the last bag-full of years I have used AU on the bodies and front of the headstock, and a couple of really-thin coats of shellac on the neck – barely enough to just seal the wood. And all more for feeling than anything else.
I don’t personally buy into the whole “paint adds to tone” theory – not in a way that is meaningful anyway, as we are talking about something that is microns in depth. We may as well debate the types of glue used on the drop-top. Yeah, it’ll make a difference.. :0) if we are gonna get technical about it :0) .…But nothing you would hear if you weren’t told there were different glues used between builds.
Same with paint in my estimation. It’s just too thin to do much more than resonate with the wood.
I use Acrylic Urethane – a 2K system, same stuff as they use on cars. It sets-up very-quickly, cures to almost a glass-like finish – I have skated steel drill-chucks off that stuff, not a scratch. Hard as nails. Provides a cool-feeling, super-slick finish, and as near-zero friction on forearm and palm-heel contact as I can get (which I prefer). The very-thin coat of Shellac on the back of the neck is more about sealing the wood - put on very thin, it allows certain physical aspects of the wood to come through – namely, a nice amount of dry friction without it being too grabby – which I like.
Nitro, … Each to their own and all that .. But, in my opinion, it’s a poor quality finish that doesn’t give much in the way of uniform performance. Under some circumstances – it gets sticky – it provides varying amounts of friction (for example). I have heard of people saying that they have left thumb prints on their nitro finishes after sweating all over it in hot weather.
How is that good?
I guess it all comes down to personal preference. But hosing down a piece of wood I would come in contact with? ..living in a hotter climate - I know that Nitro is a cool concept and all that. But, for me, it’s the wrong material for the job.
I have used all kinds of different systems over the years. ..Took a while, but I'm happy with the system I use now.
Everybody has their own preferences though, so I get that some people prefer their nitro .. It’s a different finish that brings different attributes to the party is all. Some prefer it for one reason or another, others do not.
I do think it would be wrong to prefer it, thinking it would be better than any alternative just because "that one guitar builder sez", or "that cool-famous dude swears by it!" - as that cool famous dude is just one person with an opinion is all.. And that guitar builder is singing praises, to some degree, to sell his guitars.
We all have opinions and preferences. We should then make choices based on what we like, not what others might like, or what something is advertised to do by somebody selling that expensive something.
I like a cool feeling super-slick-zero-drag body, and the dry friction of wood on the neck.. Personally. So, no surprise then for my choice of materials when it comes to builds.
..Each to their own, though.
