How to tell

How can I tell if a finish is Nitro or Poly? I have this bass that is getting really dinged up and looking old at the age of 1 year. My tele that has a poly finish only has one ding and that's from dropping it in a parking lot.

So how can I tell what kind of finish is on it? It's a trans red Schecter stiletto extreme-4. I can't find any info on it online!!

First find an inconspicuous spot, like under the pickguard. Your thumbnail should be able to make an indentation in nitro without too much pressure, but not on a poly finish. To be absolutely sure, try a tiny amount of acetone (nail polish remover). Acetone will dissolve nitro, but it won't touch poly.

You should be able to tell just by looking at the existing dings in your bass. If it's nitro the laqueur just sort of indents but if its poly it will be cracked like sugar candy

You should be able to tell just by looking at the existing dings in your bass. If it's nitro the laqueur just sort of indents but if its poly it will be cracked like sugar candy

That's not necessarily true. It depends on the hardness and thickness of the finish.

The're are also water based finishes out there that are different than nitro or poly

I find nitro to have a different shine, softer if you will than poly or water based both of which, to me look less deep than nitro.

Mt two cents, best of luck,

Gary

In an inconspicuous spot, denatured alcohol (with a Q-tip) will soften nitro and possibly turn it white. If the finish is poly-anything (polyester or polyurethane) then alcohol shouldn't affect it much. It might soften water based coatings a little bit. Acetone is stronger medicine and will outright dissolve and strip nitro.

If the finish has started to shrink and let some of the wood grain unerneath print through, that's a good sign that it's nitro (all finishes do this but nitro does it the most).

Well, the dents are smooth and don't crack. Where the different pieces of wood come together on the back, there is a dip in the finish, and it doesn't shine as well as my poly finished tele even after a good polishing. On the belly cut and a few other areas, the finish (or wood underneath) seems to have gotten lighter. Also around every knob (4), there is scratches that will not buff out.

I'm thinking it's a nitro finish based on what you guys have mentioned. Thanks for all the input!!!! I have decided to just let it age and not mess with trying to fill the larger dents and belt rash.

I would assume that unless a guitar is advertised as nitro finished that it is poly. Just my guess though.

How can I tell if a finish is Nitro or Poly? I have this bass that is getting really dinged up and looking old at the age of 1 year. My tele that has a poly finish only has one ding and that's from dropping it in a parking lot.

So how can I tell what kind of finish is on it? It's a trans red Schecter stiletto extreme-4. I can't find any info on it online!!

How did we all miss the important clues right in the original post? No budget guitar is finished with nitro. It's very labor intensive (which makes it expensive to manufacture), and much more easily damaged than polyurethane (which means lots of warranty issues). Virtually every budget import guitar is finished with polyurethane.

Thinlineggman, if you bought it new you may have a valid warranty claim.

Looks like this one, right?

http://static.musiciansfriend.com/derivates/6/001/303/379/DV019_Jpg_Regular_528006.127_black_cherry.jpg

How did we all miss the important clues right in the original post? No budget guitar is finished with nitro. It's very labor intensive (which makes it expensive to manufacture), and much more easily damaged than polyurethane (which means lots of warranty issues). Virtually every budget import guitar is finished with polyurethane.

Thinlineggman, if you bought it new you may have a valid warranty claim.

Looks like this one, right?



Yup, that's my baby! So such a weak stock finish would be a warranty claim?

EDIT: it's over a year old I believe. I'll have to look for a receipt because I got it right before school last year, and school is starting again soon...

And the body looks like it was dragged behind a bicycle.... I think that they'd laugh at me if I sent it in for a swap:P

Although I did push on it with a pen cap on the back and it dented.... Also the un-even finish over the wood joints is rather ridiculous... Has anyone ever heard of sandpaper?! Whatever, other than the weak finish it's an awesome instrument and my main player.

I don't know what Schecter's warranty is, but most major brands have a lifetime warranty on the finish. You might be able to make a case that it looks like it was dragged behind a bicycle because of the soft finish.

Sinking with the wood over time is pretty common, particularly over wood joints, but it usually doens't happen in a year. One of the pieces of wood expanded or shrank more than the other. It was probably perfect when it left the factory.

Well, is it really worth the fight? I feel like I would be without my main player for a long time if I tried to pull a warranty claim on a finish problem..... Although I'm not the kind of guy to refuse a new bass :D

I guess I'll give Schecter a call today or tomorrow and see what the policy is and if I can make a claim.

Maybe someone who has specific experience with a claim like this will chime in, but here's what I expect will happen:


You'll take the guitar to an authorized dealer or repair shop, they'll take a look at it and say "Are you crazy? You beat the **** out of it."
You'll say "Well, maybe a little, but not as much as you'd think and look at the way you can see the seams and the discolorations.
Repeat 1 and 2 for a while.
If you're adamant, they'll ultimately relent and agree that the finish should have held up better.
It will be referred to some sort of district rep/warranty center/etc.
Repeat steps 1 and 2 for a while.
If they ultimately agree that the finish is a warranty issue, they'll likely replace the bass with a new one. I don't think there's a chance that they'd spend so much money to refinish a guitar that cheap.

I emailed Schecter tech support and also called (to no avail of actually reaching a human being) the "contact us" number. Hopefully the email will be received and looked over!

Thanks for your help Koko!

Maybe someone who has specific experience with a claim like this will chime in, but here's what I expect will happen:


You'll take the guitar to an authorized dealer or repair shop, they'll take a look at it and say "Are you crazy? You beat the **** out of it."
You'll say "Well, maybe a little, but not as much as you'd think and look at the way you can see the seams and the discolorations.
Repeat 1 and 2 for a while.
If you're adamant, they'll ultimately relent and agree that the finish should have held up better.
It will be referred to some sort of district rep/warranty center/etc.
Repeat steps 1 and 2 for a while.
If they ultimately agree that the finish is a warranty issue, they'll likely replace the bass with a new one. I don't think there's a chance that they'd spend so much money to refinish a guitar that cheap.


That would probably be my reply as well.

Beat up guitars are cool, I say roll with it!

Just spoke to the tech guy and Finish problems are not covered by warranty! So I guess I'm stuck with the soft finish:/ oh well, she plays like a champ and that's all that matters:P I guess some people pay for a beat up finish and I got it for free and unintentionally haha.