Some people say they can hear the finish; logic tells me it's gonna show up on on air-filled guitars, not solid bodies. OTOH, older solid-bodied instruments also have different-quality (usually heavier) hardware with heavier plating, and the wood of the bodies and necks is aged...this will make the tone different. How much of that tone difference is paint is hard to say.paologregorio wrote:Ah, interesting. I know from previously asking you that nitro is a more delicate finish, but I've also read that some players swear by it for its purported tonal effects on guitars. I probably wouldn't know either way. I have an old Gretsch Tennessean, which has a nitro finsh, as well as three new Terada made reissues. My Japanese Reissue Gretsches sound just as good as my old one, if not better. They are definitely made much more precisely, and play wonderfully. Evidently you prefer the non-nitro finishes.
Is a nitro finish really cheaper-material-wise? It's more time consuming to apply, yes?
Acrylic lacquer is a bit more durable than nitro, but not a whole lot.
Nitro is cheaper in general, very easy to apply, buffs up nicely with a minimum of flatting and color sanding; generally is not clear-coated. Much less labor-intensive than a typical polyester or polyurethane finish.
What's not to like? Take less time, charge more money. and it
