[6120DSW]

Ok guys need some advice. It goes back to the age old question "poly or lacquer"? See I've got my heart set on a "G" brand 6120. The problem is to get that with lacquer I've got to step all the way up to an RHH. Otherwise I can get a 6120DSW if I can live with poly. Unfortunately they don't make a lacquer DSW. Is lacquer that important?

[Telefan]

I think it really depends on the instrument in question. If the finish is applied well I don't think it matters very much.

[big kenny]

L, I vote L

[NeilSt]

Well....lacquer certainly ages more quickly and therefore leads to mojo more quickly. Poly, on the other hand, withstands abuse and age better. I guess lacquer probably has more fans on here...I don't know, though. Both of my Gretsches -- a Stephen Stills White Falcon and a Chet 6120 -- are poly, and I love both of them. I think in the end it boils down to how you respond to the guitar. It obviously doesn't influence sound, so it becomes a question of surface beauty. The way I look at it: when you're playing a Gretsch, you're already ahead in the cool beauty zone, so it winds up being a question of how fast you want the mojo to settle over your guitar. Welcome to the forum, by the way!

[calvin lee]

i think it wont matter that much, but there are too many abbreviations in your post for me to completely understand what you're asking.

[Gotone]

There seems to be a lot of myths out there saying that lacquer finishes lets the wood breath and resonate more than poly. IMHO you wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Lacquer will check faster and provide a reliced finish over time where poly won't. Lacquer adds to the cost of the guitar because it's a lengthier process over a poly finish, which nowadays is UV cured. If lacquer is not applied correctly, you can expect to have a sticky guitar until it cures properly, especially noticeable on the neck. My '52 Tele took 1-1/2 years to stop being sticky leaving what seemed like little balls of lacquer on the neck and on my hands. I sold that off as I realized a 6120DSW blew it away tone wise. . Don't get me wrong, I like the vintage appeal of lacquer like everyone else., but poly can and does look just as good and is more durable.

I have a 6120DSW and a 6120TM both in poly. I've played a 6120-1959LTV and from a looks perspective on that new guitar I can't tell the difference. As a matter of fact my DSW has what looks more like a lacquer finish in a certain light than the 6120-1959LTV with a lacquer finish.
YMMV.

[fender62custom]

Happy either way on a Fender or Gretsch...if l had to pick one...lacquer...can't stand the guitars that have poly caked on...the Gretsch & Fender poly finishes are fine..other variables like wood, neck joint fit, pups, string type and set up are more important for overall tone variance than poly vs lacquer...especially the thin coated poly finishes...cheers!!

[Gotone]

Originally Posted by fender62custom

Happy either way on a Fender or Gretsch...if l had to pick one...lacquer...can't stand the guitars that have poly caked on...the Gretsch & Fender poly finishes are fine..other variables like wood, neck joint fit, pups, string type and set up are more important for overall tone variance than poly vs lacquer...especially the thin coated poly finishes...cheers!!

Yup. UV cured poly finishes are water based for EPA and are thin. I was amazed at seeing this process while going thru the Taylor University. From application to drying time a minute or two and then you could touch the guitar bodies by hand and no sticky. I think the poly culprits are cheaper Chinese guitars which uses what seems like a 1/4" thick poly finish. Probably still oil based too. THAT will choke any potential tone out of a guitar...but they use mystery woods anyways, so that's a factor too.

[bluenote23]

It's an age old question with no general answer.
The answer is 'how important is it to you?'
I have a G brand Roundup but that wasn't a criteria for my choosing the guitar. But that's me and we're talking about you. For you, it's important. It's good to know what you want.
So how important is laquer to you? If it's important, you won't be happy with a poly finish.

[The Marlin]

Lacquer marks more easily. It also seems to offer less friction than some giuitar necks. My first electric had a thick poly coat, and there was a tremendous amount of friction. I'd have to moisten my thumb to speed up playing. That guitar was short lived, and successive poly coated guitars were better. I believe the Poly cost on the neck of the Japanese made Fender Contemporary Strat/tele to be one of the best poly finishes ever. Ugly guitars, but necks nicely finished.
The best Gretsch guitar neck I have played is on my Jag Tan Annie. That's lacquer. That, plus the ebony fretboard, and lack of binding, add up to pure joy. But, I thinks the lack of binding has more effect than the paint finish.
There are benefits to both paint finishes. No right or wrong.

Marlin

[beep.click]

Originally Posted by 6120DSW

Is lacquer that important?

No.

Get what you prefer, but -- no.

[gigatron]

Only Eric Johnson and Chuck Norris can hear the difference between lacquer and poly.

[Synchro]

Originally Posted by gigatron

Only Eric Johnson and Chuck Norris can hear the difference between lacquer and poly.

Yep. And even they can't agree on which sounds better to them.

Sent using G-T Forum app

[big kenny]

I like Lacquer

[Seamus]

I don't really care too much either way between the two--maybe a slight preference for lacquer for purely visual reasons. But here's what I wonder--I have lacquer on my Black Phoenix, but since it's over black paint, is it really going to look any different over time? Seems like it mostly makes a difference on lighter colors.

[nickyboy]

Laquer on my gretsch, poly on my ibanez.

[telespank]

Poly is much more durable and will look new for a very long time.

Lacquer tends to pick up more mojo over time. The new lacquers with plasticizers are less likely to crack and craze than the old lacquers used in the 50's and 60's, so you probably will never get get the true mojo of vintage guitars.

[big kenny]

Originally Posted by telespank

Poly is much more durable and will look new for a very long time.

Lacquer tends to pick up more mojo over time. The new lacquers with plasticizers are less likely to crack and craze than the old lacquers used in the 50's and 60's, so you probably will never get get the true mojo of vintage guitars.

I've got my own mojo....and it's workin'.

[telespank]

Originally Posted by big kenny

I've got my own mojo....and it's workin'.

But it don't work on me 'cause I got a gypsy woman giving me advice

[big kenny]

I've got your mojo too