Nitro or poly finish?

[Jono Bolton]

I've recently contacted the guys at guitarbuild.co.uk about a new P Bass body for my bitsa. They give you various options in terms of 1, 2, or 3 piece bodies, which wood you'd like, pickup layout and custom options and then CNC the body and sand it down. They don't do finished bodies, but put me in touch with someone that they recommend for applying a finish. I emailed him explaining what I was looking for, and he responded asking if I wanted a nitro finish.

Now, I'd never really given this any consideration before. I'm aware of nitro finishes, but never had a bass or guitar with anything other than poly, if that's even the right term. I'm after a natural finish, would one of these lend itself better to a natural finish? What are the pros and cons of nitro vs poly?

[JPJ]

Poly is 'generally' thicker and harder wearing than nitro. Purists like nitro finishes because they are thinner and therefore are supposed to allow the wood to resonate more than poly and also because this was the finish used on those classic 50's & 60's instruments.

Personally, I prefer nitro on natural bodies as you don't get that 'G Plan furniture' type appearance that Fender seemed to go for with thick clear poly on their mid-seventies guitars and basses.

But, poly can be applied thinly too, so I guess its down to personal taste.

[Geek99]

Nitro is very old school, fender went over to acrylic in the early 70s I think so any "original" natural finishes (which I think most naturals were produced) would be poly ?

[PlungerModerno]

AFAIK most fender bodies were poly / or acrylic painted underneath the nitro to save costs on drying time and spoiled finishes.

Some of the 50's guitars may not have the tougher under-layer.

FWIW the only definite advantage of nitro is that it can age beautifully (crazing and the like) whereas a good plastic coat will just very slowly change colour.
I know nitro has all sorts of special storage and cleaning do's and dont's.