Merry Christmas Danny. You are correct again. Why put any finish on a guitar if "thinner is better". I have had the same thought for a long time. The same goes for pickups. Once you run the signal through any kind of effects box (distortion, overdrive, etc) you completely lose the nuanced difference betrween pickups. You lose the guitars natural tone to distortion. It's amazing how many fall into the trap of buying this pickup or that pickup only to lose the pickups tone to overdrive distortion.
The only time Nitro vs Poly finish makes a tonal difference would have to be on an acoustic guitar, where the whole top vibrates and projects the sound forward. A thin finish would allow the top to vibrate more than a densely coated top. Common sense. On solid body guitars that don't depend on the top vibrating the sound outward, it makes no difference at all. Plus, any vibration that is present gets muted completely by the guitar resting against your body. It's a giant mute! It couldn't vibrate if it wanted to!
PRS: Phew, dodged a bullet on this one. 😅 Ran across this channel after I ordered my first guitar last week, a PRS SE Custom 24-08. After holding 20+ guitars over the past couple weeks I went with the one that I connected with. Enjoy the content, happy and safe holiday all.
Happy holidays to you Danny! Of Course Nitro will let the Wood Breath better than other finishes, Because Once it Cracks and Checks, the Wood then can Breath All it wants!!
No it's like a speaker if you cannel the sound by blocking and channeling you get different sounds not necessarily tone if you won't certain tone think amplifier.
Nitrocellulose Lacquer is obsolete. As for Gib$on... only Gib$son is gliued enough. I have not noticed any difference in tone due to finish with normal finish thicknesses.
If the thickness of the finish is directly related to tone, then a hand rubbed antique varnish like the method used by Eastman would be tonally superior. The issue is the percentage of the tone we hear that is a result of various factors remains debatable. I do not believe tone woods or finishes contribute enough to the tone we hear for the majority of guitarists to be able to recognize it. Add the fact that we are all musicians and likely have hearing issues LOL. I do believe these play a factor in sustain of the tone, but the tone itself.... nah, not enough for us to recognize it.
The most resonant electric guitar I ever owned had a thin satin finish, A Suhr Andy Wood modern T. Just enough to seal the wood from moisture. So, I don't think nitro is any better for "tone" but to be honest, I LOVE the way nitro smells when you crack the case of a guitar. Plus, I want it to age ;) Truth be told I prefer the satin finish on the PRS S2 models and the Gibson Tribute LPs for an everyday player guitar. No stickiness at all.
There is such a mountain of guitar garbage available on youtube, so it is wonderfully refreshing to listen to an ordinary guy delivering it like it is. I am particularly wearied by folks trying to persuade me that 'tone wood' changes the sound of a solid body guitar. Unless you are the bionic woman, it doesn't... Or that locking tuners or a bone nut can justify increasing the cost of an instrument by hundreds of pounds/dollars, WTF? And Gibson... If you're sad enough to think Jimmy Page is God then maybe... but personally, I worship Nile Rogers so there. Keep it up, Danny. Great stuff.
Interesting. Just so happens that Nile Rogers teamed up with fender this year to put out a signature strat! Guess what, it has locking tuners, alder body, nitro finish, custom pickups and costs the exact same as a les Paul standard. His ears must not work I guess since he built the guitar with those options.
Enjoyed your video, the actual quality of sound and playability depends on several factors in every electric and acoustic guitar. You can actually build as good of quality as the major brands if you pay attention to what makes each instrument the best it can be.
If I were a singer, I would drink nitro before every show, just so my throat would be coated with the proper finish to ensure super resonant tone, and so my sustain would last for weeks, long after the concert was done. I might also go ahead and get a Gibson logo tattooed on my forehead so that I would be way more valuable! Totally worth ending up in the hospital later with a broken neck… and Merry Christmas Danny 😂
@@guitarhobbywithdannythemedic I will only drink it if it is first very hot, then made to cool rapidly, for that "aged, worn-in ...taste"... I hear it's a "cracking" good time... Oh, I just remembered. I don't drink $20 coffees...
The only major factor that makes a difference in solid body guitars are the pick ups. There are you tube videos out there that support this which I thought was nonsense prior to viewing and hearing them side by side. There was literally zero tone difference between a set of strings mounted on wood held down by a Yamaha engine and a well known electric guitar. I was floored! My views since investigating have changed completely. Now I view them totally objectively. I have also found that my expensive Les Paul with 57 classic pick ups sounds exactly like my SG’s with 57 classic pickups. Zero difference and I love them both.
Maybe a thick finish like poly locks in more of tone and resonance than a thin nitro. Yes. Because a more dense object vibrates and resonates longer than an object with less density. That's a scientific fact and common sense. Merry Christmas Danny and shame on Gibson.
not true.. energy is neither created or destroyed, to make a denser object vibrate just as long or longer than a less dense object you need to hit it harder, think of a small bell and small hammer and the liberty bell with the same small hammer
@@guitarhobbywithdannythemedic Size is not the same as density. Density conducts resonance at a higher amplitude. Steel resonates more than wood. Wood resonates more than a sponge. Vibrations from strings {sound} can sustain resonance for a longer period of time and with more amplitude in a more dense medium.
Merry Christmas Dan. The guitar world is like Holywood, it runs on myths. As for Poly vs Nitro the only reason they used Nitro was that was all that was available at the time. Nitro wears quickly compared to Poly, yet some prefer that worn look. I like a guitar to look well cared for, this is where Poly can come unstuck, if you knock it hard enough a great chunk comes away, and looks terrible. Perhaps it's time to do a "Myth Buster" video.
One of the cheapest brands around is Fazley which is the house brand of Bax (think Thomann but smaller and Dutch). They do a series called Coyote which has a washed finish. Happy Saturnalia.
My Gibson had COPD and forgot to wear its mask and came down with COVID. It passed on......WHY!.....NO!......, It had the most beautiful headstock of ROBO TUNERS.....*sob*.....
I'm a nitro lover, tone wood believer, a Gibson fanboy. And before I forget, Merry Christmas back at ya. So, since I'm a tone wood believer, an unfinished guitar would sound great. But the maintenance would be too time consuming. When I play, I sweat...ALOT! The wood would warp and I'd get splinters and there'd be blood and sweat and drink stains all over my guitar. Not to mention a warped guitar is useless. I'll defend Gibsons at a later date.
Love the truth Mike your a rare bread that is very pleasant to me. Thanks for the video, and I never say that with all the scumfackery that's out there. You my friend stand alone like a real guitar god that's all knowing.
If you can't hear the difference with more expensive tonewood then you don't need to think about it. And yeah a thinner finish has more resonance. I removed the stainburst finish on my Ibanez electric upright and it did add some warmth to the tone. But as you stated why not have no finish, essentially you can. With a boiled linseed finish. Although the drawback with less finish is there may be less stability. And with your poly plastic dip I would show you a good prank. Just add one little drop of adhesive remover to the little bottle of poly and give it to a friend. Later when the finish gets sweaty it will get real sticky.
@@omgdisfunny4852 No you don't tell me anything. I paid my dues learning the ins and outs of tone. And I know exactly what I'm saying. More resonance will usually give a warmer tone. As well removing a thick factory finish is a benefit. Go play with your poly. What's your kitty face are you a racist? That's most likely what you're about. If you are a racist make my day and start a fight. I got your cure if you're racist. It's called ringing the bell. Your head is a big bell for me to ring.
By Gibson's logic, they would probably charge more for an unfinished guitar...😕😕😕 A thin finish may be advantageous on an acoustic instrument but it ain't doing diddly-shit on an electric guitar!!! If you don't believe me, ask Jim Lill...😉
Tone wood is not real enough to make a difference it's proven. Example if you want the best tone with best resonance take the worst tone wood you can think of strip the finish off guitar and replace it with apoxy and you will have found your new favorite guitar that costs $351.00 . This is why Donner guitars are so awesome there the very few that uses baked in finishes see if I am lieing I know Mike isn't so I'm right cause Mike said so.
I'm in! Let's do it Danny! No finish guitars for professionals with money.
Merry Christmas Danny. You are correct again. Why put any finish on a guitar if "thinner is better". I have had the same thought for a long time. The same goes for pickups. Once you run the signal through any kind of effects box (distortion, overdrive, etc) you completely lose the nuanced difference betrween pickups. You lose the guitars natural tone to distortion. It's amazing how many fall into the trap of buying this pickup or that pickup only to lose the pickups tone to overdrive distortion.
What a fantastic video have a happy holiday season
Nitro is softer than Polly
You are pure entertainment !!
merry christmas Danny, best wishes in the new year bro...
Christmas is now complete!
The only time Nitro vs Poly finish makes a tonal difference would have to be on an acoustic guitar, where the whole top vibrates and projects the sound forward. A thin finish would allow the top to vibrate more than a densely coated top. Common sense. On solid body guitars that don't depend on the top vibrating the sound outward, it makes no difference at all. Plus, any vibration that is present gets muted completely by the guitar resting against your body. It's a giant mute! It couldn't vibrate if it wanted to!
Gibson: It's Christmas, Danny's not gonna talk bad about us!
Danny: nah
Merry Christmas, everyone!
merry christmasssss
PRS: Phew, dodged a bullet on this one. 😅
Ran across this channel after I ordered my first guitar last week, a PRS SE Custom 24-08. After holding 20+ guitars over the past couple weeks I went with the one that I connected with.
Enjoy the content, happy and safe holiday all.
Hey, didn’t think of that before. Think I’ll sand down one of my electrics to see if that works . Merry Christmas
Happy holidays to you Danny! Of Course Nitro will let the Wood Breath better than other finishes, Because Once it Cracks and Checks, the Wood then can Breath All it wants!!
Different finishes probably makes a difference on acoustics
No it's like a speaker if you cannel the sound by blocking and channeling you get different sounds not necessarily tone if you won't certain tone think amplifier.
The Gibson Grinch
This is a really good point.
Nitrocellulose Lacquer is obsolete. As for Gib$on... only Gib$son is gliued enough. I have not noticed any difference in tone due to finish with normal finish thicknesses.
Merry Christmas Danny.
If the thickness of the finish is directly related to tone, then a hand rubbed antique varnish like the method used by Eastman would be tonally superior. The issue is the percentage of the tone we hear that is a result of various factors remains debatable.
I do not believe tone woods or finishes contribute enough to the tone we hear for the majority of guitarists to be able to recognize it. Add the fact that we are all musicians and likely have hearing issues LOL. I do believe these play a factor in sustain of the tone, but the tone itself.... nah, not enough for us to recognize it.
danny you want a gibson bad huh.
Once again....... Another moment of profound wisdom regarding the Evil Empire of Nitro.
The most resonant electric guitar I ever owned had a thin satin finish, A Suhr Andy Wood modern T. Just enough to seal the wood from moisture. So, I don't think nitro is any better for "tone" but to be honest, I LOVE the way nitro smells when you crack the case of a guitar. Plus, I want it to age ;) Truth be told I prefer the satin finish on the PRS S2 models and the Gibson Tribute LPs for an everyday player guitar. No stickiness at all.
Merry Christmas, Danny!
There is such a mountain of guitar garbage available on youtube, so it is wonderfully refreshing to listen to an ordinary guy delivering it like it is. I am particularly wearied by folks trying to persuade me that 'tone wood' changes the sound of a solid body guitar. Unless you are the bionic woman, it doesn't... Or that locking tuners or a bone nut can justify increasing the cost of an instrument by hundreds of pounds/dollars, WTF? And Gibson... If you're sad enough to think Jimmy Page is God then maybe... but personally, I worship Nile Rogers so there. Keep it up, Danny. Great stuff.
Interesting. Just so happens that Nile Rogers teamed up with fender this year to put out a signature strat! Guess what, it has locking tuners, alder body, nitro finish, custom pickups and costs the exact same as a les Paul standard. His ears must not work I guess since he built the guitar with those options.
Enjoyed your video, the actual quality of sound and playability depends on several factors in every electric and acoustic guitar. You can actually build as good of quality as the major brands if you pay attention to what makes each instrument the best it can be.
If I were a singer, I would drink nitro before every show, just so my throat would be coated with the proper finish to ensure super resonant tone, and so my sustain would last for weeks, long after the concert was done. I might also go ahead and get a Gibson logo tattooed on my forehead so that I would be way more valuable! Totally worth ending up in the hospital later with a broken neck… and Merry Christmas Danny 😂
starbucks have nitro cold brew....
@@guitarhobbywithdannythemedic I will only drink it if it is first very hot, then made to cool rapidly, for that "aged, worn-in ...taste"... I hear it's a "cracking" good time... Oh, I just remembered. I don't drink $20 coffees...
@@MajorUpgrade see my latest video!
@@guitarhobbywithdannythemedic Hilarious!🤣
exactly my man ! and harder is better not softer that's what she said ! She was right
The only major factor that makes a difference in solid body guitars are the pick ups. There are you tube videos out there that support this which I thought was nonsense prior to viewing and hearing them side by side. There was literally zero tone difference between a set of strings mounted on wood held down by a Yamaha engine and a well known electric guitar. I was floored! My views since investigating have changed completely. Now I view them totally objectively. I have also found that my expensive Les Paul with 57 classic pick ups sounds exactly like my SG’s with 57 classic pickups. Zero difference and I love them both.
then there was another video showing how the computer he had made the tone exactly like black sabbath, and it wasnt even the same type of pickups
Maybe a thick finish like poly locks in more of tone and resonance than a thin nitro. Yes. Because a more dense object vibrates and resonates longer than an object with less density. That's a scientific fact and common sense. Merry Christmas Danny and shame on Gibson.
not true.. energy is neither created or destroyed, to make a denser object vibrate just as long or longer than a less dense object you need to hit it harder, think of a small bell and small hammer and the liberty bell with the same small hammer
@@guitarhobbywithdannythemedic Size is not the same as density. Density conducts resonance at a higher amplitude. Steel resonates more than wood. Wood resonates more than a sponge. Vibrations from strings {sound} can sustain resonance for a longer period of time and with more amplitude in a more dense medium.
@@SirLoinMagroin Enjoy your solid steel guitar sir, merry christmas
Merry Christmas Dan.
The guitar world is like Holywood, it runs on myths.
As for Poly vs Nitro the only reason they used Nitro was that was all that was available at the time.
Nitro wears quickly compared to Poly, yet some prefer that worn look.
I like a guitar to look well cared for, this is where Poly can come unstuck, if you knock it hard enough
a great chunk comes away, and looks terrible.
Perhaps it's time to do a "Myth Buster" video.
One of the cheapest brands around is Fazley which is the house brand of Bax (think Thomann but smaller and Dutch). They do a series called Coyote which has a washed finish.
Happy Saturnalia.
"Take vitamin D" You are part of the good team
My Gibson had COPD and forgot to wear its mask and came down with COVID. It passed on......WHY!.....NO!......, It had the most beautiful headstock of ROBO TUNERS.....*sob*.....
I'm a nitro lover, tone wood believer, a Gibson fanboy. And before I forget, Merry Christmas back at ya. So, since I'm a tone wood believer, an unfinished guitar would sound great. But the maintenance would be too time consuming. When I play, I sweat...ALOT! The wood would warp and I'd get splinters and there'd be blood and sweat and drink stains all over my guitar. Not to mention a warped guitar is useless. I'll defend Gibsons at a later date.
The only thing good I can say about Gibson is Epiphone...🤣🤣🤣
Joyful Christmas!!! No finish Guitars really! #mrhnp
Love the truth Mike your a rare bread that is very pleasant to me. Thanks for the video, and I never say that with all the scumfackery that's out there. You my friend stand alone like a real guitar god that's all knowing.
If you can't hear the difference with more expensive tonewood then you don't need to think about it. And yeah a thinner finish has more resonance. I removed the stainburst finish on my Ibanez electric upright and it did add some warmth to the tone. But as you stated why not have no finish, essentially you can. With a boiled linseed finish. Although the drawback with less finish is there may be less stability. And with your poly plastic dip I would show you a good prank. Just add one little drop of adhesive remover to the little bottle of poly and give it to a friend. Later when the finish gets sweaty it will get real sticky.
"add some warmth to the tone" what you really said "I've tricked myself into believing that its added warmth to my tone"
@@omgdisfunny4852 No you don't tell me anything. I paid my dues learning the ins and outs of tone. And I know exactly what I'm saying. More resonance will usually give a warmer tone. As well removing a thick factory finish is a benefit. Go play with your poly. What's your kitty face are you a racist? That's most likely what you're about. If you are a racist make my day and start a fight. I got your cure if you're racist. It's called ringing the bell. Your head is a big bell for me to ring.
@@marioduron4376 you really are completely delusional... go take your meds mate
@@omgdisfunny4852 Go and get fucked coward. Five of your friends will die.
like i said the future is aluminum guitars electical guitar company
By Gibson's logic, they would probably charge more for an unfinished guitar...😕😕😕
A thin finish may be advantageous on an acoustic instrument but it ain't doing diddly-shit on an electric guitar!!!
If you don't believe me, ask Jim Lill...😉
Oh geez. Spoiler alert. He doesn't like gibson
Nitro is crap. Gibson is overrated. But, tonewood is very real.
Tone wood is not real enough to make a difference it's proven. Example if you want the best tone with best resonance take the worst tone wood you can think of strip the finish off guitar and replace it with apoxy and you will have found your new favorite guitar that costs $351.00 . This is why Donner guitars are so awesome there the very few that uses baked in finishes see if I am lieing I know Mike isn't so I'm right cause Mike said so.