Lacquer — Lutherie Encyclopedia

LacquerType: glossaryA fast-drying solvent-based finish commonly used on guitars, available in nitrocellulose and catalyzed formulations.## Definition Lacquer is a solvent-based finish widely used in instrument making, prized for its clarity, ease of application, and repairability. The two main types used in lutherie are nitrocellulose lacquer and catalyzed (pre-catalyzed or post-catalyzed) lacquer. Nitrocellulose lacquer has been the standard guitar finish for decades, known for its thin application, excellent clarity, and the way it allows the wood to resonate. It dries by solvent evaporation and continues to shrink and harden over years, potentially developing desirable checking patterns that many players associate with vintage character. Catalyzed lacquers are harder and more durable than nitrocellulose, resisting scratches and chemicals better, but they are also more difficult to repair and do not age in the same way. ## In Practice Applying lacquer requires proper spray equipment, a clean environment, and good ventilation due to the volatile solvents involved. A typical schedule involves sealing the wood, applying multiple coats of lacquer with drying time between coats, then leveling and polishing the cured finish to a high gloss. The total film thickness is a critical consideration: too thick a finish dampens the soundboard vibrations and deadens the tone. Many luthiers aim for a total finish thickness of 0.1mm to 0.15mm or less. Nitrocellulose lacquer is favored by many builders specifically because each new coat partially dissolves into the previous one, creating a homogeneous film that can be appli…