What Is a Nitrocellulose Guitar Finish?

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In this video, Sweetwater‘s Mitch Gallagher deep dives into nitrocellulose finishes and their history of use on the electric guitar. Though commonly seen on other instruments and items over the last century, nitrocellulose finishes became the go-to choice for popular guitar manufacturers like Fender and Gibson during the 1950s and ’60s. Many guitarists and luthiers believe the undeniable beauty of nitrocellulose lacquer is accented with its thinner texture, allowing the guitar‘s woods to “breathe“ in ways other finishes can‘t.
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[@sweetwater]

The magic of a nitro finish! What do you like most about a nitrocellulose finish? ✨

[@hkguitar1984]

I have been playing guitar since the early 1970s, as such I've owned guitars with both nitrocellulose lacquer as well as the more modern urethane poly finishes. After +20 years the lacquer guitars are aging very nicely and look their age while the urethane poly finished guitars basically look brand new but dull. The way nitrocellulose ages is in my opinion much more desirable. After 20+ years of use and wear I regret purchasing the urethane/poly instruments as had they been finished in lacquer they would look and feel much nicer than they do now. The lacquer ages gracefully indeed.

[@theflatulentfreddy1]

@Bloom Tik Bloom You were an idiot to buy a nitro finished guitar then.... To those that desire a nitro finish the wear and colour fade/change is part of the experience...

[@russellzauner]

When people refer to "letting the instrument breathe" they're not talking about literal air. The higher elasticity and low degradation qualities of modern poly finishes "dampen" (not make it literally moist with fluid, mind you) the instrument's body and in an acoustic guitar that will remove distinctiveness from the build and flatten the character so it sounds a lot more like every other instrument with its dimensions and finish. It's not the actual gaps in the finish that allow vintage instruments to have the tones they do, it's that the finish itself lets the instrument physically react more naturally to itself and allow the vibrations (including a much richer subharmonic voice) to not only escape but interact in ways that add to the rich sweetness of the raw output. Since a solid body guitar can't really expand/contract like a hollow or acoustic, it's not as noticeable until amplified and the affected tonality will be swamped out if preamps are used to regenerate the signal with excessive shaping, rendering it fairly irrelevant for many users who enjoy a broad sampling of onboard preamplification/filters. I hope to experiment with french polish and various natural finishes, such as shellac, in the future. :-)

[@hkguitar1984]

@@russellzauner Well said Russell What you described is exactly what I have observed over the years (2 or more decades). As the lacquer hardens and thins the body wood seems to age into a more brittle/resonant form. Not all guitars, but many. Wood is such that it all doesn’t react/age exactly the same, similar perhaps but not the same. In some respects each guitar can be as different as individual people (IMHO), there are good and there are bad.

[@j_music_8779]

I love the feel and smell of a nitrocellulose guitar. I also really like that it ages well and gives you that cool vintage vibe. 🙌🏻

[@sebastianmedina1234]

Really love this video format, please keep making these :) Mitch is a pleasure to listen to when he gives these cool lectures

[@mattkemerait]

I did not expect to learn this much in a 5 min video on a guitar finish. 10/10

[@rendyandrian7149]

Short, concise, and clear explanation. This is a rare thing in youtube nowadays. Keep up this kind of video sweetwater.

[@dmytrotarasov9477]

This is a very ignorant statement. Good video tho.

[@jamesdalzell6741]

Its the only finish when you open the case and get that new guitar smell and makes you want more.

[@moustachio334]

Now I know those were potentially hazardous fumes I was smelling lmao. My SG sounded great and me a little high everytime I opened the case. Makes sense looking back it when I first got it. I love that smell though.

[@melodica5407]

I can just put vanilla flavor in my case

[@howabouthetruth2157]

YEP!!! Only 1 of my 4 acoustic guitars ( all purchased brand new within 7 months of each other ) has nitro, and you can definitely smell the difference vs the newer UV stuff.

[@williammazzotta5595]

Being a Sweetwater customer I want to say Thank you for taking the time clearing up a lot of my own understanding of a Nitro finish.And hear I thought the wood could breath...What was I thinking!

[@boldcautionproductions9203]

I didn't know a lot of the applications you talked about, surprised it was used on metal for cars. The big use of it was airplane covering with silk - for model airplane enthusiasts it is known as dope. Gave a really nice finish on silk airplane wings and fuselages. Loved the smell growing as a kid...

[@ericwarrington6650]

The way it ages and checks is legend ☺️

[@erikberkemanvinnerborg91]

SAME PFP SAME NAME OH MY GOD

[@majorlee1]

After watching the Gibson factory tour it is very cool to watch this. 👍

[@moustachio334]

I wish more people would watch Gibsons factory tour videos. They’d understand why it’s impossible for Gibson to price their guitars more fairly.

[@blues61]

I love Mitch's videos. I always learn something new or get a deeper appreciation about the topic he's presenting. Thanks Sweetwater!

[@johnosborne3187]

This is the best video I've seen explaining finishes. Great job!!!

[@andrecosta9e]

Hat off guys, you're making a bold step to share in a clear and easy way, thank You!!👍👍🤙😎🙏🏻

[@AndrewSmith-lg8dj]

really informative, thanks for making this.

[@craigmoon3795]

Thanks for finally setting the record straight on nitro, it does not breathe, thanks 🙏

[@Factless_Wonder]

It's easy to do an antique with nitro too. Simple freeze the top and then immediately hit with a hot air dryer to achieve that old school look.

[@ruben8355]

I put nitro finish in most of the guitars that I build for me, just in one I use poly finish, and the ones with nitro resonate better to me imo. They feel better to the touch too

[@Poco50guitar]

I have been using nitro for quite a few yrs. on cabinets. I built a OM style guitar in 07 with a friend of mine and the finish still looks great. I like the way you can 2nd, and 3rd coat fairly quickly compaired to oil based finishes, and do repairs to it also. Now back in 07 when i built my OM guitar i was told by guitar suppliers that the nitro for guitars was different than cabinet makers nitro.,.i had my doubts but still bought it from them. I would like to really know if that was true or not....the instrument makers only sell there nitro for about 4 times the cost i could get nitro for cabinets...DAH. wasnt hard to figure that one out....anyway here is my 2 cent worth.

[@shayeasy]

this is great, thank you! makes me appreciate my guitar's nitro finish even more than i already did.

[@vladertx43]

I like this kind of content! More videos like this please 🤩

[@mr.jerrygarcia3281]

Nicely explained Sir! 👏🏻😎

[@JollyWillard]

Great! So many questions answered I've had for a long time.

[@greenfly1264]

Great video. Think I may have found something fresh to geek over 👍

[@seankent1807]

Great video! Mitch is the man! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@dennisflock3958]

The nice, thin,feel, for sure.

[@HoiPolloi]

Thanks for the video! Love the information and presentation!

[@mrfoogaba2005]

Is that why my guitar sounds so explosive?

[@JacksonAudio]

Phenomenal as always Mitch!

[@EdwardYasko]

Sweetwater Mitch just upped his game. Cool video!

[@michaelquillen2679]

Good video! Straight forward and down to earth! I'm doing a refin of a '63 Fender Musicmaster (previous owner tried to do a refin of the body and botched it badly). I'm going to go with nitro to give it Fender's solid Red Mahogany color of this model in late '63 to try and do justice to this old classic. ON the guitars I build, I use my own home-brewed varnish that can best be described as an an oil-based alkyd. Thanks for the video!

[@GabeCastle]

This is like Good Eats for music gear.

[@CC-te5zf]

Great job!

[@bondsongmusic]

Great video. Thanks for your insight Mitch.

[@ramencurry6672]

Mitch’s knowledge is incredible. He’s like an encyclopedia

[@cornbobrimlove7892]

He has the internet.....

[@CS-ru4xd]

@@cornbobrimlove7892 HaHa......I was gonna say the same!!

[@DelScully]

wish fender did more nitro finishes, as well as only use nitro and no poly undercoat when they do. I love my pristine guitars that have poly, but I am terrified of dinging them as it just leads to terrible chipping compared to nitro!

[@stevekobb3850]

An excellent overview. Many thanks.

[@DojoOfCool]

What I was told back in the day that made nitro finish was desirable from being thinner the wood of the guitar body can outgas moisture easier and age faster than when thicker finishes are used.

[@cornbobrimlove7892]

Not true. More folklore nonsense from the so called "vintage" guitar community....

[@DojoOfCool]

Easy to disagree but I don't see your counter explanation.

[@cornbobrimlove7892]

@@DojoOfCool Shouldn't need one....but.....The finish seals the wood "AIR TIGHT". No moisture will escape through the finish. This is why so much care and prep is taken in insuring that the wood is as dry as possible BEFORE any finish is applied or even anything built from said wood material. Sealing of the wood is in fact the whole and sole purpose of applying a finish to it in the first place. Acoustic instruments dry from the inside...not out through the finish..

[@DojoOfCool]

I still disagree moisture does continue to escape over the years and the thinner less dense the finish the faster moisture leaves. Even in the video he talks about how more plastic was add to even nitro later and then moving to the poly finish more and more plastic so much more dense slowing down the escape. Finish is a part of a musical instrument sound it affects resonance. Even today they are still searching for the secret to the finish Stradivarius used on his instruments. As a Jazz guitarist I get a lot in wood and how dry it is and the finish used but I started playing in the 60's and lots of Fenders and some Gibsons solid bodies so been talking about this topic with luthiers for a long time. So good to discuss this with you. Thanks

[@cornbobrimlove7892]

@@DojoOfCool It doesn't matter if you disagree. Water does not penetrate plastic. Do an experiment to educate yourself. Put some water in a ziplock bag....seal it up.....wait for 50 to 100 years.....see how much water is still in the bag.

[@DannerPlace]

Very well done video. Thank you.

[@howabouthetruth2157]

The highly desirable attributes of nitrocellulose lacquer on acoustic guitars, is the fact it can be applied SO thin ( when done correctly ), that it still looks good, affords protection to the wood, but above all, THE WOOD CAN MOVE/VIBRATE MORE FREELY than any other type of finish. This is where the confusion & myth about "the guitar can breathe better with nitrocellulose" comes into play. The guitar isn't "breathing better".......... instead, THE WOOD CAN MOVE & VIBRATE MORE FREELY......but ONLY if the nitrocellulose is applied properly. This is also why so many boutique builders and/or custom shops within various guitar manufacturers still use nitrocellulose on their finer guitars.......or for special orders where the customer is willing to pay more.

[@Dram1984]

As usual we worship the way they did things in the past even though they were primarily concerned with cost. I wonder if in 100 years people will want real "poly finishes"?

[@vedder10]

Well for one thing the poly finishes will look more like the day it was purchased than the nitro ones do. So depending on perceptions and ideas 100 years from now that may or may not be desirable.

[@Ottophil]

You think the world will exist in 100 years? Optimistic

[@vedder10]

@@Ottophil How about we meet back here in 2122 and catch up.

[@kennethchou4384]

@@Ottophil People usually live after you die man.

[@brucemerryman7365]

@@kennethchou4384 some might say we live after we die as well.👍🏻

[@chefbanjo8139]

This is awesome, more of this, please.

[@TheTrollMastah]

Historic Makeovers with that unplasticized lacquer is just… yummm

[@Asmuk]

That was very instructive, thank you.

[@maxvanderhoning8375]

Great video, very interesting and informative

[@mitchellferre1652]

I plan on Refinishing a Jackson Kelly from the mid 90s. I plan on using acrylic urethane base and clear automotive paint. I will have to see if there is a difference in tone .

[@steverix8181]

What a great and informative video!

[@gorlagOv]

Good video, this was very informative and interesting.

[@mattmanley7118]

Fascinating

[@PabloRomero1991]

This was awesome wow. Straight to the point. Thank you

[@Hyperlink1337]

where is the footage of spraying that razorback from? i thought they couldn't be produced when this video aired???

[@scottbagwell9144]

Pretty sure Mitch uses Nitro for hair gel. (Wish I could but my hair died 10 years ago)

[@hermenegild3511]

Please do one on Poly and shellac, on how they affect sound, in classical guitars VS steel strings 🤔

[@blindhtownkilla]

Nitro finished guitars age like fine wine

[@ashthegreat1]

Excellent

[@CaptainCraigKWMRZ]

Excellent information!

[@mtmusicgear]

What I like the most about a nitrocellulose finish: the taste.

[@marktheshark99]

4:23 is all I need.

[@briansmythe3219]

great Info thanks for that

[@annrhoads6808]

Yes it turns Yellow years later

[@Theend-ql3vc]

I like that you have one single speaker in your set

[@bradleymcdaniel8226]

so this stuff soaks into our skin when we play? nice

[@cdbrown30]

I didn’t know cars till the 50’s used nitrocellulose…that’s so interesting.

[@willman100]

Great video. Gibson’s use Nitro. Do they keep off gassing while we own the instruments? If it’s off gassing then we are breathing it in. What about health risks for the owner of the instruments?

[@nickp440]

Ive got some nitro cracks near the fretboard on my buckethead les paul. Scared the hell out of me at first.

[@seanrosedotcom]

Nitro sounds better. Satin better than gloss. The closer you are to the wood, the better it sounds. The checking is cool.

[@arsenije_wav8620]

guitarists really will believe anything

[@JohnMcNicholas]

Great video!

[@MACKHAWKSS]

like our music dad

[@ereimul1444]

what is gloss lacquer? i saw it on Japanese Made guitar

[@JeffGillis-lv1rz]

Can acetone be used to remove nitro from a guitar? Can you use stain over nitro? Can you use tru oil over nitro?

[@globalnova]

If a guitar is nitro, is the colour part also nitro or just the clear top coating?

[@jordanpratt9384]

Does anyone know why fender puts a poly undercoat under the nitro on their original series guitars? Seems to me it would check,and yellow like it should, but you could never where it down to the wood???

[@kerrynixon3968]

The word nitrocellulose, it's just cool as hell, whatever it does

[@powerswish]

How do you keep the nitro finish from getting white marks when something dings the guitar body?

[@alexduenas6991]

How long does it take to cure?

[@nostromo4269]

How can you tell nitro from a poly finish, or can you?

[@lundsweden]

Better watch my cigarettes with my vintage Fender Strat then!

[@gpzfan5272]

Smoking isn’t cool

[@lundsweden]

Next you will be telling me drinking a bottle of scotch during a set is bad for me too!

[@gpzfan5272]

@@lundsweden are you Ron Burgundy?

[@randall9000]

I would like to try a nitro finish, but I’d hate to find out that under the poly I have some bizarro 5 piece jigsaw body. It’s a 2014 MiM standard in case anyone knows. I’d change it to a color I’ve been seeing and liking on Volkswagens, tourmaline blue metallic

[@pugforce8315]

i mean if it’s a 5 piece body it’s always gonna be one whether you refinish or not, just do what you would like if you aren’t happy with the current finish.

[@randall9000]

@@pugforce8315 👍 I think what I’ll end up doing is getting some acrylic paint and doing my own designs, then put some sort of sealant over that. If I botch it then ya I’ll just scrap all the poly and find out what lies beneath

[@boshi9]

@@randall9000 Just be careful with nitro, that stuff can easily damage your lungs.

[@randall9000]

@@boshi9 👍 oh ya no, I’d have it done by a professional

[@ileutur6863]

@@randall9000 why does it matter? Unless its built out of some extremely unstable wood with uneven grain, there's nothing that could happen

[@orlandomorales5423]

Is it just me or do new nitro finished guitars have a sweet vanilla like smell to them. When I got my SG, it smelled sweet for months.

[@rutiger6901]

I would REALLY APPRECIATE advice regarding refinishing properties of nitrocellulose lacquer!!! If my beater has this finish from factory, can I ruff up the Nitro C and then spray on polyurethane rustoleum?? Or not? Please ob please tell me will Krylon rattlecan colors work? I think Krylon is lacquer based. I havecexperience with Rustoleum polyurethane so that is why I prefer it. Available everywhere.

[@bourbonick]

intro music too loud.

[@FoiMal123]

Is it a health hazard to own and play a guitar with a nitro finish? Because you said that it continues to vapor off after many years of applying..

[@bradt.3555]

On a new Gibson? has too many plasticisers. I get static from the neck of my R8 just like from the pickguard of my strat. Don't get it with my nitro PRS. Main thing is keep finish thin, then poly is just as good.

[@jordanpratt9384]

Three things that will survive the apocalypse.....K richards,cockroaches, and poly finishes.

[@David-pb6lz]

Gibson should have used a poly because I see tons of gibsons with tons of cracks in their finish.

[@BeeRumblin13]

Tons ? Thats alot of Gibsons with cracks

[@darkflash32]

Nitrocellulose is a type of plastic and purists be like, "I don't want to play poly finished guitars, it feels like plastic".

[@davemccall9594]

Though they are both technically plastic, they do definitely feel different from each other.

[@gabewilliams7462]

@@davemccall9594 exactly. I think nitro lets the wood vibrate much more intensely.

[@soundknight]

Shellac is superior sonically and in appearance

[@MrTuberguber]

Interesting I wish I knew more. I have an entry level Martin with no topcoat on the spruce. One of these days I might experiment.

[@JakelikejakefromSF4936]

I think it sucks. Every new Gibson guitar I’ve purchased has issues with static. Apparently it’s because of the nitro cellulose finish.

[@jamesnortonofficial1566]

It’s definitely louder and resonates louder when not plugged in over a poly guitar I will only use nitro they just sound better

[@cornbobrimlove7892]

nonsense...

[@Steinstra-vj7wl]

Hahahaha

[@iangray7410]

Very helpful. My only beef is the lazy phrase "...and more". But I'm just a retired and pedantic old fart.

[@angiewizefool]

👊‼️💎🎧💎‼️🤓🙌Coolness...😁✌️🖤

[@pritchettdan]

First rate video!

[@BOOLsheet]

Sounds like a very environmentally friendly chemical

[@jameshartwell4345]

Of course

[@mitchellferre1652]

If we were tree huggers we wouldn't be chopping them down to make Guitars 🤣

[@josephliptak]

All my guitars have nitro. I like the way it ages and how it looks on instruments. Can't stand those satin finish guitars.

[@Kami_81]

I absolutely hate nitro finishes, never again, I like my guitars to look new and keep their looks, it doesn't like leather, doesn't like sweat, any liquids, fingers prints, being rubbed on anything, it's crap! This Les Paul is going on Reverb...

[@ryangunwitch-black]

2:56 Oh, no! Lol That’s definitely NOT why I love nitro on guitars.

[@the_hero7801]

Is this the guy who narrates 60 minutes??

[@gigabrad4570]

This is like NileRed but for dummies.

[@user-qn1tw4nk1e]

Nitrocellulose finishes serve no tonal purpose on a solid body electric guitar

[@unstopology]

I thought this was going to be a diy video because of the thumbnail. 🤷

[@melodica5407]

If you listen closely on a guitar with nitro finish, you can literally hear an inhale-exhale sound coming out of it

[@kimdiedrich9712]

I was going to buy furniture with this finish. I don't think so now. I'm worried about the toxicity and the furniture is white, so this will not age well.