My Strat Is Back from the Finishing Shop...Can I Get Your Opinion?

[JordanM82]

Re: My Strat Is Back from the Finishing Shop...Can I Get Your Opinion?

Man the whole situation just really sucks bro, sorry you may have to dish out again for re-finish. Honestly, if it is THAT brittle, something is seriously wrong. I am of the same mindset as John Suhr on finishes, it's not the finish type, but the thickness which affects tone. He uses poly on some of the finest guitars built in this country to date, they just do it RIGHT.

 

[JordanM82]

Re: My Strat Is Back from the Finishing Shop...Can I Get Your Opinion?

Also, I want that rosewood neck.... bad.

 

[Jeremiah]

Re: My Strat Is Back from the Finishing Shop...Can I Get Your Opinion?

A lot of people on the Warmoth forums think that flat black is one of the hardest finishes to get right.

Don't know if it's to do with the number of clear coats you normally get over the top of the coloured coat on a standard gloss finish - these all tend to protect the colour from flaking off.

But I think it's harder to do with a flat finish because all the extra clear coats tend to make it glossy when you sand them down, so there will be fewer coats on a flat finish, so there won't be as much protection.

But I've never tried using nitro myself so it might be BS.

 

[uOpt]

Re: My Strat Is Back from the Finishing Shop...Can I Get Your Opinion?

A lot of people on the Warmoth forums think that flat black is one of the hardest finishes to get right.

Don't know if it's to do with the number of clear coats you normally get over the top of the coloured coat on a standard gloss finish - these all tend to protect the colour from flaking off.

But I think it's harder to do with a flat finish because all the extra clear coats tend to make it glossy when you sand them down, so there will be fewer coats on a flat finish, so there won't be as much protection.

But I've never tried using nitro myself so it might be BS.

Black must have perfect clear coats to shine.

I wonder how many clear coats these people put on?

 

[SabbathFan0220]

Re: My Strat Is Back from the Finishing Shop...Can I Get Your Opinion?

Thanks for the compliments on the neck. I agree...gorgeous. I saw it in the Warmoth showcase and it called to me.

This thread turned into a bit of a poly/nitro debate, which is fine, because I'm always on the fence about it. I'm certainly not an elitist about nitro. Most of my guitars are poly and I'm cool with it, but I figured just in case there is an audible difference between the two, I would go with nitro. I also like the way nitro feels.

I guess I assumed it would be like my SG. It picks up scuffs easier than my other guitars but nothing significant. That would have been fine.

If all aftermarket nitro finishes are going to be this fragile, I'll have Marty Bell finish it in poly. If there's a good chance that RS can do a more durable nitro finish, I'll go there next. That's the decision I'm playing with now.

P.S. I emailed the shop and told them about the problems I was having (trying to get a refund). They basically said they did everything right and any damage is my fault. An excerpt:
"Chipping the finish while attempting the put the neck in , is the number one incident , that amateur assemblers experience."