Does lacquer affect guitar tone?

Recently it has been found out that the sound quality is largely dependent on the lacquer that was originally used. Instruments that are lacquered with these artificial substances, look very good, have a durable finish, but sound just like crap. The tone does not come through, it is damped in the plastic.

How much does it cost to lacquer a guitar?

So, How Much Does it Cost to Refinish a Guitar? A solid color finish will start at around $200, which goes up as you add custom colors and designs. Varnish and Lacquer can probably cost you around $300-400 just for the finish itself.

Can you lacquer an acoustic guitar?

Nitrocellulose lacquer This is traditionally the most common finish used on steel string acoustic guitars. It is very durable and resists scratching. applied well and not too thickly, this is still a very good finish for acoustic guitars.

How many coats of lacquer should I put on a guitar?

An easy answer to the question would be that there is only one coat, since subsequent layers melt into and fuse with previous layers when they are sprayed. I do have an approximate count of the number of times I point my spray gun at the guitar, so I could tell people that there are 15 to 20 coats of lacquer.

Is acrylic lacquer the same as lacquer?

“Acrylic” always refers to solvent based paints, what hobbists refer to as Lacquers. That plus the fact there are multiple different types of lacquer paints out there, using the term Acrylic Lacquer also instantly indicates to the user what type of paint it is and how best to handle it.

Does refinishing a guitar affect its value?

Refinish is NOT good to the value of the guitar, desk or chair, etc. It generally just kills the worth of the piece since the originality is gone. In some instances, some restoration work greatly enhances the value of the item, such as a restored automobile.

What’s the difference between lacquer and clear coat?

Clear enamels dry and cure on top of the painted surface. They contain solvent agents that evaporate once the surface is dry and cause a chemical reaction with the surface that makes the surface hard. Lacquers, on the other hand, dry but technically speaking, they do not cure.

What kind of lacquer do they use on guitars?

Solvent-based nitrocellulose lacquer has been the dominant finish used by U.S. musical instrument factories for steel string guitars, archtop guitars, banjos and mandolins since the 1920’s. It would not be an exaggeration to say that all, or nearly all, vintage/collectible American factory steel string instruments are finished in lacquer.

Does lacquer change the tone of an instrument?

With the thinner finish some also believe that the natural resonance of the instrument is not altered to the same degree as with the newer, thicker finishes. It is hard for us to weigh in on the effect lacquer has on the tone of an instrument, however there definitely is a subtle beauty to a perfectly aged nitrocellulose finish.

Why are so many guitar builders ditching the lacquer finish?

With this in mind it is not surprising that a lot of guitar builder’s have ditched the lacquer finishes of yesteryear in favor of some of the newer finishes, though with this switch not everybody is completely happy to see the the older finishes fall by the wayside.

What kind of paint do you use to paint a guitar?

Guitar Paint and Lacquer A range of nitrocellulose lacquers, cellulose paints and appropriate sealers for the finishing of guitars and musical instruments. Nitrocellulose lacquer is a traditional finish used widely up until the 1960s, and still desirable today for the warmth and tone it lends wooden instruments.