Do finishes fade with time?

[PeterVV]

The only one aspect of my baja that I am not psrticularly fond of is the buterscotch colour. It is just a little dark for my liking. Would it fade over time if i left it out of its case, or would it stay the same, or even ( god forbid ), get darker as varnish does?

 

[EsquireOK]

It will get darker. It will do it slowly, since it's poly, but it will get slightly more yellow over time.

Some old-school pigments (reds) were unstable and sensitive to UV, and they bleached out over time. That's how many three-color sunbursts became two color sunbursts or "tobacco" sunbursts, it's how many SGs turned brown or red-brown instead of their original cherry red, and it's how the classic Gibson "honeybursts" came to be; they were actually cherry sunbursts on which the red had bleached out. However, nowadays, red pigments have been "improved," and will no longer fade like that.

That's just a side note, though. Your guitar will not get lighter as it gets older.

 

[Telemarkman]

It will get darker. It will do it slowly, since it's poly, but it will get slightly more yellow over time.

In theory that would be correct. However, I took off the pickguard on my BSB '52RI (nitro over polyurethane) and Oly White 60's Classic (polyester) just now. They have been exposed to sunlight for more than 7 years, located on stands just inside my living room windows.

The '52RI shows no difference between the exposed parts of the body and underneath the pickguard, neither between the front and back.

The 60's Classic is in fact more yellow underneath the pickguard! And the back of the guitar (away from the sunlight) is very slightly yellower than the front.

I don't know if that is against the laws of nature, but it's nevertheless a fact!

 

[EsquireOK]

And OTOH, my 2005 MIM Strat's neck has developed a distinct line between the heel covered by the neck pocket and the rest of the neck, spending all of its life either in a case or next to my bed (not near any windows). The pick guard has yellowed too; you can see it when you pull off a knob. Who knows what accounts for the differences.

 

[Telemarkman]

The pick guard has yellowed too; you can see it when you pull off a knob.

My aftermarket all-white Warmoth pickguard has yellowed too, so the contrast with the body is getting lesser all the time. It was the same with my WD pickguard - maybe even more.

I'm not sure these guards are even finished, so it's probably the plastic itself that yellows ...

 

[PeterVV]

It will get darker. It will do it slowly, since it's poly, but it will get slightly more yellow over time.

Some old-school pigments (reds) were unstable and sensitive to UV, and they bleached out over time. That's how many three-color sunbursts became two color sunbursts or "tobacco" sunbursts, it's how many SGs turned brown or red-brown instead of their original cherry red, and it's how the classic Gibson "honeybursts" came to be; they were actually cherry sunbursts on which the red had bleached out. However, nowadays, red pigments have been "improved," and will no longer fade like that.

That's just a side note, though. Your guitar will not get lighter as it gets older.

Oh bugger!

 

[Telemarkman]

Oh bugger!

If you read my post you'll find that maybe there's a chance it won't darken after all. The modern polys have a UV protector, so there's no reason to be depressed just yet ...

 

[Robert H.]

Leave it by the window--do you get sun in South Wales...?

 

[Cymro14]

All finishes will fade or change with time, no matter what they are made of. Even metals change colour. The poly finish on a Baja is thick and is more resilient to sun damage. Having said that, during the summer months I leave my Baja in full view of the sun...all day, covering up the neck and finger board. It will fade to a lighter colour but will take substantially longer than the nitro finish. My Baja is changing now to a lighter yellow than the original. Proof...I take off the pg and check against original colour.

 

[Telemarkman]

It will fade to a lighter colour but will take substantially longer than the nitro finish. My Baja is changing now to a lighter yellow than the original. Proof...I take off the pg and check against original colour.

The original formula nitro definitely yellowed/darkened over the years, the new formula not so much.

But the Baja is all poly, and my experience, as well as yours, is that it fades to a lighter shade.

I guess that's good news to the OP.

 

[boris bubbanov]

I don't know if that is against the laws of nature, but it's nevertheless a fact!

Aurora Borealis, Man!

 

[Telemarkman]

Aurora Borealis, Man!

I admit that I have seen it, but I don't think it has affected the color of my guitars ... But then you never know.

 

[Toto'sDad]

My 2008 Olympic Whitie Strat is turning a really nice creme color as it ages, I like it! The neck is getting darker too, which is also ok with me.

 

[SwampFuzz]

Without going for some road-worn beat up look, poly just doesn't seem to age well. Be careful about leaving it in direct sun...you might damage other parts (binding for example) while trying to "age" that finish. I did read somewhere that putting it in a tanning bed will fade the color but I wouldn't be one to try that. IMHO I'd just leave it and get another Tele with a faded finish that you like.

 

[BradL]

I've seen plenty of posts on Gibson instrument forums where people sun bath their guitars (almost exclusively Lesters) to fade them. I thought though that was because the red (in sunburst) faded the quickest and in many respects left yellow behind. I don't know how much you could fade yellow.

 

[PeterVV]

The original formula nitro definitely yellowed/darkened over the years, the new formula not so much.

But the Baja is all poly, and my experience, as well as yours, is that it fades to a lighter shade.

I guess that's good news to the OP.

Yipee!