I am happy to be able to offer a new oil finish to customers as an alternative to the Nitrocellulose lacquer. Over the years I have done oiled guitars, learned a lot, and discovered things along the way that has led to this special blend that I make here in-house. Certain woods, such as walnut and mahogany, just love this finish. It feels amazing and takes guitar finish to a whole other level. The guitar really turns into more of an instrument, and just has a natural feel that is comfortable and makes you want to play. It looks superb with this style of guitar, the sculpted elements and contours really get showcased and have a more timeless feel.
Like I said, I have used a bunch of different types of oil/products and application techniques. Each one has strengths/weeknesses and compromises that have led to this incarnation. Some oils I have used and explored are:
- Tung
- Boiled Linseed
- Walnut
- “True” Oil
- Wipe on Polyurethanes
- Waxes and other blends
A few words on lacquer:
We are mostly used to the nitrocellulose type of lacquer, and mostly use this type in either the high gloss or satin styles. This works amazing, especially with “fender” type colors or when a mirror finish is desired. Or with the satin style when more of a soft look is desired. The Nitro on my guitars is thin and expertly applied. The standards have been very high, and offering an oil alternative has to be just as nice and on that level of quality. (There is a blog post about Addam Stark who does the amazing lacquer work).
A little story about the new blend:
My dad was a bowl turner and all-round lathe guy. We connected in some great ways when it came to wood: we both loved wood and the hidden figure within; we loved searching for wood and hoarding it (!); we both loved the challenge of making each piece come back to life, and to create something unique, letting the wood be the star of the show. My dad happened to be neighbors with Bowl turner wizard, Mike Mahoney. Over the years Mike helped my dad, answering questions and offering solutions, as well as endless inspiration. Mike has a great oil that he blends and offers to the public through various venues. I contacted Mike and he gave me a recipe with some basic proportions, and how to manipulate the blend. Thanks Dad and Mike!
So…over the last decade working with all these types of oils, I realized how they interact with various species and grain types. It became more and more apparent that I need to have more control over the recipe.
I am getting more requests for this type of finish, so hopefully this blog will explain it a bit.
I dont see this replacing the lacquer finishes that my guitars have had in the past. This is not for everyone. I could forsee doing 1 out of 15 this way. Most of my customers want the lacquer finish, with sunbrursts, or colors. So as proud of this finish as I am, I don’t see it replacing the nitrocellulose lacquer, just an option for the wood and instrument connoisseur.
There are some pros and cons! I’ll list them bellow:
Pros:
- Silky smooth – Has a very comfortable feel and touch
- Showcases wood and figure
- Tone is different (The EQ of the natural wood combo is more prominent) Woodier!
- Easy maintanece
- Will look incredible in 50 years, 100 years
- Eco-friendly
Cons:
- Won’t work with Colors, sunbursts and gradients, so only natural woods can be used
- Doesn’t provide the same protection that lacquer does
I know this is not a new thing, oiling guitars. Other Luthiers mainly use this method as it requires less equipment than a lacquer kit does. So the off the shelf stuff is accessible, but hard to get a professional “Instrument grade” finish with. Because it is made to cover a lot of areas, it also has some drawbacks for the same reason. This new oil recipe I’m making in-house is really the perfect finish for a GUITAR and not a boat deck, or salad bowl, or dresser drawers, etc.
Certain wood combos will work better than others: walnut, mahogany, and rosewoods will be exceptional!
Thanks for reading and here are some pics of the new finish.