Is this a nitro finish?

[astrozombie]

...on my 78 fender mustang? a drop of water had fallen on the guitar and i didnt notice for a little while. when i went to wipe it off the spot had created a stain in the finish (its black, stain looked white or gray) that didnt come off, i ended up trying to scratch it off with my fingernail but ended up scratching the surface of the guitar instead!

the finish also wont polish at all.

[astrozombie]

Re: Is this a nitro finish?

come on guys!

[Powdered Toast Man]

Re: Is this a nitro finish?

I believe Fender/CBS switched to poly finishes around '69. So, it's almost surely poly.

Unless it's been refinished by someone over the years...?

[BrianS.]

Re: Is this a nitro finish?

The moisture basically soaked through the finish...you can't scratch it off. There are very few finishes that are 100% waterproof.

[Coma]

Re: Is this a nitro finish?

That sounds heaps dodgy. I've got a guitar with satin (non-clearcoated nitro) finish, and I've rubbed some seriously dubious stuff on it (shoe grease, lemon oil etc, not to mention years worth of sweat exposure) and nothing ever really stained it. Like Powdered TOast said, maybe someone repainted it at some point?

[David Collins]

Re: Is this a nitro finish?

Blushing. It happens, nitro, acrylic, all sorts of finishes. On nitro it will eventually migrate to the surface, where it can be rubbed off with a modest rubbing compound like Meguiars #2 or #9, Virtuoso polish, etc. Some acrylics can be a bit more stubborn in giving up the moisture they've absorbed, though if you give it some time in a dry environment you should hopefully be able to eventually rub it out.

[bluesbend]

Re: Is this a nitro finish?

Try making a loose paste of ashes and water, rub it in a circular motion. I've used this to remove water stains from furniture before.

[jcthejester13]

Re: Is this a nitro finish?

...on my 78 fender mustang? a drop of water had fallen on the guitar and i didnt notice for a little while. when i went to wipe it off the spot had created a stain in the finish (its black, stain looked white or gray) that didnt come off, i ended up trying to scratch it off with my fingernail but ended up scratching the surface of the guitar instead!

the finish also wont polish at all.

Road wear! Rock the **** out of it!

[JOLLY]

Re: Is this a nitro finish?

Try making a loose paste of ashes and water, rub it in a circular motion. I've used this to remove water stains from furniture before.

That's interesting.