New Fender Classic Series High Gloss Nitro Laquer

Fender recently added five new guitars to their Classic Series.  These new releases are coated with their high gloss Nitrocellulose finish.  Nitrocellulose lacquer (“nitro”) was the finish most often used during Fender’s original 1950s and ’60s golden age, although acrylic lacquers were also used.

Here is an overview of the latest additions:

'60s Stratocaster 

The Classic Series '60s Stratocaster Lacquer evokes that golden chapter in Fender history with an authentic nitrocellulose lacquer finish on its sleek alder body. Other features include a "C"-shaped maple neck, 7.25"-radius rosewood fingerboard with 21 vintage-style frets and vintage-style ivory-dot inlays, three vintage-style single-coil pickups with five-way switching, multi-ply pickguard, aged control knobs and switch tip, vintage-style synchronized tremolo bridge and vintage-style tuners. Tweed case included.

'50s Stratocaster

The Classic Series '50s Stratocaster Lacquer epitomized the instrument in the era of its origin, with an authentic nitrocellulose lacquer finish on its alder body. Other features include a "soft V"shaped tinted maple neck, 7.25"-radius maple fingerboard with 21 vintage-style frets and black-dot inlays, three vintage-style single-coil pickups with staggered alnico pole pieces and five-way switching, single-ply white pickguard, aged control knobs and switch tip, vintage-style synchronized tremolo bridge and vintage-style tuners. Tweed case included.  

'60s Jazz Bass 

The Classic Series '60s Jazz Bass Lacquer evokes the instrument in the decade of its origin, with vintage style and an authentic nitrocellulose lacquer finish on its sleekly offset alder body. Other features include an ultra-slim "C"-shaped maple neck, 7.25"-radius rosewood fingerboard with 20 vintage-style frets and white-dot inlays, dual vintage-style single-coil alnico pickups, four-ply brown shell pickguard, four-saddle American Vintage bass bridge, and vintage-style reverse tuners. Tweed case included.

'50s Telecaster

The Classic Series '50s Telecaster Lacquer evokes the instrument in the decade of its origin, with an authentic nitrocellulose lacquer finish on its ash body. Other features include a "C"-shaped maple neck, 7.25"-radius maple fingerboard with 21 vintage-style frets and black-dot inlays, dual vintage-style single-coil alnico pickups with three-way switching, single-ply white pickguard, knurled chrome control knobs, vintage-style string-through-body bridge with three chrome “barrel” saddles, and vintage-style tuners. Tweed case included.

'50s Precision Bass

The Classic Series '50s Precision Bass Lacquer delivers the distinctive 1950s-era look, sound and vibe of those first Fender basses, with vintage style and an authentic nitrocellulose lacquer finish on its alder body. Other features include a "C"-shaped maple neck, 7.25"-radius maple fingerboard with 20 vintage-style frets and black-dot inlays, vintage-style split single-coil pickup, gold anodized pickguard, four-saddle American Vintage bass bridge, and vintage-style reverse tuners. Tweed case included.

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Overview of Guitar Finishes

With the release of Fender's new Nitro Lacquer Classic Series last week, there have been lots of inquiries about what the differences are between the three mainly used coatings: Nitrocellulose, Polyurethane, and Polyester finishes.

It is our belief that a guitar receives much of its character from its finish.  In aim to help you get to know your guitar better, we put together a complete guide on finishes.  Although the science behind guitar finishes is heavy in technical content, don’t be alarmed.  It is easy to understand.  Let’s jump right into it:

Finishes and Wood

A guitar’s finish isn’t as influencing on a guitar’s sound as its wood.  But, a guitar’s finish does impact overall health, sustainability and durability.  It’s worth noting that a guitar is produced from once-living plant matter; namely, wood.  Therefore, since a finish is applied to a substance as sensitive as wood, the guitar finish is also receptive to changes in climate, treatment and age.

Purpose of Guitar Finishes

The principle purpose of a guitar finish is to protect the guitar from external elements.  But also, finish does provide slight nuances in the tonal colour of the guitar as well as a personalized visual element.

History

Nitrocellulose Lacquer was originally developed by DuPont Chemical Company in the 1920s, initially intended for use in the auto industry.  DuPont deliberated for it to be used as a sealant against harmful forces caused by nature.  Nitro was formerly used in the ‘50s and ‘60s by the music-making industry, although acrylic lacquers were also used at that time.

Polyurethane was invented in Germany in 1937 and was introduced into the music industry in the 1950s.  Polyester finishes were first used in the 1970s.  Both finishes are plastic based.

Nitrocellulose Lacquer

Nitrocellulose Lacquer (nitro) is made out of the nitration of cotton.  What makes nitro finishes so distinguished is that it is an evaporative finish and mainly that it is very thin.  This thin seal does less to get in the way of the natural vibrations of wood, making your guitar sound more open and full-bodied.  It allows the guitar’sbody to resonate more and thereby giving it more depth in its tone. Since they are evaporative finishes and also very thin; age, sudden exposure or change in temperature and humidity can cause the finishes to become more brittle.  This results in small hairline cracks, called ‘checking,’ and also causes the guitar to yellow.  Some guitarists find these characteristics extremely appealing.  

Polyurethane and Polyester

Polyurethane allows a glossier and easier and more even finish.  In liquid plastic resin form, it made an extremely fast-drying, tough and durable finish (also used for dance floors and bowling alleys) that formed a much harder and abrasion-resistant layer around a guitar than nitro, while still allowing good wood resonance. Further, urethane ages well—it doesn’t check, crack and yellow as nitro finishes do. If you aren’t a fan of the beat-up look, a urethane-finish instrument is probably for you.

 

The chief advantage of polyester is that it makes for a colorful and extremely tough, durable finish. Polyester guitar finishes age and weather especially well and are seemingly immune to climate and injury—they are highly resistant to scratching and checking, and colors remain remarkably pristine. Sonically, you get tones that are more purely those of the pickups rather than other elements of the instrument’s construction, which many players prefer.

 http://www.fender.com/news/finishing-touches/

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