Late 1950s and 60s guitars were finished with a water-based sealer coat. The products used for this were extremely hazardous and are no longer available in their vintage forms. However, functionally and chemically, extremely similar products are still readily available. We combine these with an optional undercoat, nitrocellulose color (where available) and clear coats to create the smoothest, most opaque and durable nitrocellulose finish you can find. This is our standard finishing method, and is calculated in the base price of the
The sealer coat of this finish is water-based, and this may have a slightly different tone than a nitrocellulose equivalent, however, it does not render the wood dull or lifeless, as is the case with most mass produced guitars today. The water-based acrylic sealer we use goes on in thin coats and becomes a part of the top layer of the wood, sinking in and hardening instead of creating a thick layer on top of the wood, the way a Polyester finish does. After this, the nitrocellulose lacquer lends it's unique shine, look, and feel to the instrument. This is the way every Fender® guitar from approximately 1956 onward was finished, and guarantees vintage accuracy and tone.
The Nitro Thin is the most lively, breathable finish you can get on a guitar. For this finish, we use only grain fill, 2 thin coats of nitrocellulose sanding sealer, 3-5 thin coats of nitrocellulose color coat, followed by the thinnest possible nitro clearcoat. The Nitro Thin finish is wetsanded at each stage to give the maximum smoothness while keeping the skin thin.
The benefits of a Nitro Thin finish are that the body's wood is not as coated by finish and is more free to resonate with the strings' vibrations, subtly increasing harmonic sustain and altering the tone. Guitars with thin nitro finishes tend to have a more airy, clear tone than guitars with thick poly finishes.
The compromises to a thin nitro finish are twofold. The first is its durability. A thinner finish will wear more easily as you play. For some this is a drawback; for others, this is a benefit! If played hard (if your stage outfit includes studded belts, for example, and you do 8-hour outdoor summer sets), the finish will eventually dull and wear through to the wood. This "relic" look is prized by many. The second caution with a Nitro Thin finish is that some of the natural characteristics of the wood may show through, depending on the particluar piece of wood and color used. In some lighting conditions, wood grain may be visible as a texture or even as slight color variations. We work very hard tomake the Nitro Thin finish look every bit as good as our other finishes, but some compromises are inevitable. We feel these slight irregularities add to the character of the instrument.
Combining the best features of the Nitro Thin and the Vintage finish styles, we can create a finish that is both durable, smooth, and breathable. The Thick 'n' Thin finish uses the same all-nitrocellulose coats as the Nitro Thin, only in greater quantity. We apply up to 4 coats of sealer, along with 8-10 coats of clear.
For the demanding connoisseur, the Thick 'n' Thin finish provides all-nitrocellulose purity with a durability that equals that of our Vintage finish. To create a finish of this calibre requires an immense amount of work, patience, and skill. However, it's a labor of love, and for some, it's worth it.
We love metallic finishes, however, the sparkle and depth of a beautiful metallic finish has its demands. A metallic nitro finish requires more clear than a standard color, and much more polishing and care to be perfect. Therefore, an additional charge is necessary for metallic finishes. Also, the Nitro Thin finish is not available in metallic, as it requires many more clear coats than a non-metallic color.