Gibson, Fender, PRS will not do Nitro on the affordable guitars. Here Is WHY

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[IMPULSOESTATICO]

Fender: $880M, Gibson: $375M, Hoshino (Ibanez): $95M, PRS: $88M. Source: 2023 NAMM Music Trades annual revenue report. You're welcome.

[marcaustin]

My MIM Fender Tele Jason Isbell signature came with a nitro finish. $1400 range. I feel they did a pretty good job on it

[mattj]

The main function of finish on the guitar is to protect the wood, and secondarily (though it's hard to believe it the way they're sold) how it looks. It seems like the nitro finish is more about a look, though not everyone agrees it's better. To me I like a hard glossy finish that's easy to clean and keeps moisture away. I think it looks nicer too, but it just seems to last forever. I guess I'm lucky I like the cheaper version.

[timwhite]

They made MIM classic 50 and 60s Strats in Nitro.
You can get a decent import plek'd and it would play as well as any $4500 high end strat copy.

[mark.guitar]

My preference as a luthier is to use a two pack resin thinned right down and applied as though it is an oil finish. Bombproof, non-gloss, doesn't change the resonant frequency of the guitar and doesn't need any spray equipment. Takes two or three minutes to apply with a cloth and is touch dry in 5 minutes. I am at a loss as to why manufacturers are so hooked up on traditional spraying as it is a lot more expensive in time, space and equipment. I guess it's just tradition writ large...

[johnnytruck]

My big three are Keisel Gibson and Ernie Ball. Those are my favorite guitars I keep at arms length away.

[wriglarzzz]

Fender did the road worn series in nitro, but it was such a problem with setup and time that they stopped making them.

[joeblo]

I think I'm so used to the look of a gibson LP or 335 or fender strat / tele that I have never been able to wrap my head around the look of the classic PRS I just can't get into it. But when I noodled with a friends the playability of it was fantastic.

[drippinglass]

I just got the new Epiphone Les Paul Custom with the Gibson headstock in white. I’m happy it’s polyurethane. The clear coat wont yellow. 😀

[claudiajay]

I think I prefer poly to nitro because it’s hard

[dennisrohm]

Phil you need to expand on why not to wear a cowboy hat in Paris.

[IvorThomas]

I picked up a made in Mexico Jason Isbell Tele with a nice nitro finish. It has some very nice fine checking after a year. I swapped out the neck for a Musikraft soft v stainless steel neck, so it ain’t a cheap guitar anymore. But much less than Custom Shop.

[senseiruss]

Hi Phil — love your channel! I can't remember where I heard this, but I heard it said that polyurethane finishes are less susceptible to changes in temperature and humidity than nitrocellulose finishes. Is there any truth to this? I know that these issues are more prevalent in acoustic guitars, but I'm curious about these finishes on electrics.

[DJPLAYNICE]

I also think this might be a good subject on a show sometime, ala' the previous mentions you've made about older players maladies like arthritis; reducing string Guage, stretching, etc.

Thanks!

[Superjet]

Loving these, just watched the Heritage guitar one!

[timothyfatone]

So Right - Big 3 for Great reason. Love PRS.

[MrLjgsr]

Do they make more money from selling nitro guitars or the cheaper version that's what matters to them.

[musicman]

When I think of the big 3, I think of the top 3, meaning the best 3. Which, to me, is G, F, and PRS. I love nitro :)
Today I played all day, from the time I woke up, till now 10pm. What a glorious day. Managed to play all but one of my guitars. All are custom shops, all are nitro, and all are some of the finest guitars ever made. Thank you Fender and Gibson for treating this hard working man to such a blissful day!!

[dbSA]

I remember when you could get nitro finished Highway 1 Strats & Teles for $550. They canceled that line then renamed it and relaunched it with a higher price like 5 times. I know at various points they were called Thin Skins then Road Worn. Last time I saw them they were like $1, 500. I think they eventually stopped making them because they were eating into the business of the lower end American Fenders.

[Findyournextguitar]

I just can't understand why ppl want a nitro finish - given all the finish options today, it's just a really dumb thing to use on a guitar, no durability, reactacs with leather and rubber, the neck gets all sticky...

Philip - Next time your in a place like Florida with high heat and humidity pickup a nitro guitar and tell me how it feels...