vintage Duo Jet black drum wrap material for guitars

[Slewfoot]

Hi Gang,

Hope all is well! Lurked here at times and thank you all for the great information.

I had a question regarding the plastic drum wrap material they covered Duo Jets with back in the day (and perhaps still use the same material).

Is it possible to cover a guitar in this material and then peel it away later?

For example, if one wanted to cover their Gretsch / Les Paul / Stratocaster already finished in nitro or poly in this drum wrap material could it be removed years later without harming the finish? Or is the coating such a strong stick that it will tear up the previous finish if you try and remove it?

Just curious and thank you!

 

[bluenote23]

I have a couple of Sparkle Jets with nitron tops. I think you may want to try to stick a layer of nitron on top of guitar you have to pimp it up but I don't think this is really very feasible.

The nitron is a plastic sheet laminated to the top of the guitar. Then the joint is bound. To stick the nitron on top of an existing guitar would mean removing the original binding and then rebinding, a pretty expensive professional job.

The nitron is not a coating or a paper thin layer but really, a sheet of plastic. So once you put it on the guitar, it's not going to be made to come off easily. Before putting in on, you would strip the original guitar finish.

 

[Slewfoot]

Got it and thank you! Exactly what I needed to know - which is essentially that it’s not worth it!

Much appreciated.

 

[cielski]

It'd be difficult to apply on a Strat with no 90-degree edges. Some LPs might have the same issue. A good paint job is the way to go.

 

[Muinarc]

People have used the stuff they do "wraps" on cars with on guitars. That should be removable and works well on curved surfaces.

 

[Back in Black]

Hi Gang,

Hope all is well! Lurked here at times and thank you all for the great information.

I had a question regarding the plastic drum wrap material they covered Duo Jets with back in the day (and perhaps still use the same material).

Is it possible to cover a guitar in this material and then peel it away later?

For example, if one wanted to cover their Gretsch / Les Paul / Stratocaster already finished in nitro or poly in this drum wrap material could it be removed years later without harming the finish? Or is the coating such a strong stick that it will tear up the previous finish if you try and remove it?

Just curious and thank you!

Hey SF,

Welcome.

As legend has it, Malcolm Young used a chisel and a belt sander to remove the red ''drum wrap'' from his Jet.

As far as application, flat body and square edges may be reasonably doable, but rounded edges and body contours, not so much.

Also any flat/square edged body with binding will not work as the binding will either be covered at the edge, or become recessed if exposed.

If this idea came out of a restless night's sleep, suggest sleeping on it again.

Wouldn't be my choice.

Best,

BIB.

 

[thunder58]

@Slewfoot
Welcome to the forum my fellow New Yawka

 

[Henry]

Was the black drum wrap? I thought that color was paint.

 

[bluenote23]

Was the black drum wrap? I thought that color was paint.

Gretsch used nitron on Duo Jets (and I guess Firebirds too) up till the late 50s. Now it's just paint.

 

[Henry]

Gretsch used nitron on Duo Jets (and I guess Firebirds too) up till the late 50s. Now it's just paint.

Ok I used paint in a generic sense, meaning a liquid that is sprayed, brushed or similarly applied, versus a wrap like material.

 

[bluenote23]

Ok I used paint in a generic sense, meaning a liquid that is sprayed, brushed or similarly applied, versus a wrap like material.

Sorry Henry. It's nitron, not nitro. Nitron is the name given to the plastic sheet used to cover Gretsch drums and currently, on the tops of Sparkle Jets and Falcon binding.

 

[Henry]

Sorry Henry. It's nitron, not nitro. Nitron is the name given to the plastic sheet used to cover Gretsch drums and currently, on the tops of Sparkle Jets and Falcon binding.

Lol, ok I finally got it! I didn't realize the old black or even red jets were wrapped, I thought that was just the sparkles. Learn something new every day!

 

[65club]

Lol, ok I finally got it! I didn't realize the old black or even red jets were wrapped, I thought that was just the sparkles. Learn something new every day!

To further muddy the waters some of the red jets were painted red then have a clear layer of nitron wrap on top in place of lacquer clear coats. My ‘55 is like this. Can’t say if the black top ever received this treatment but I know mine isn’t the only 6131 like that.

 

[audept]

Welcome to the forum, @Slewfoot !

 

[Bryan K]

Here's a pic from Old School Guitars. Curt removing the nitron from my 55 jet carcass during major reconstruction.

 

[loudnlousy]

Obviously it has to do how the plastic has been glued to the top. (Don`t know whether it was laminated or whether it was done with heat.)
I saw an early 90ies Sparkle Jet were the wrap was lifting from the top so heavily that the owner was able to remove it from the wood in one piece. I was surprised how stiff the wrap was.

 

[Ted Keane]

I use the vinyl car wraps on my pickguards.Goes right on easy.Haven't wanted to take one off yet.But it's supposed to be easy with heat.