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View Full Version : Restoring PRS satin nitro finish

GazzaBloom
03-10-2007, 07:38 AM
My SC Standard Soapbar Satin has a few "shiny" areas, in particular where the guitar restins on my lap whn payed sitting down.

Is there a way of restoring the satin finish or is it traditional to let the shine come through as the guitar ages?

Gazza
badkalifornia
03-10-2007, 07:48 AM
Satin finishes will always "polish" when played...especially where your forearm rests. You can use (w/ light pressure) a #0000 steel wool pad to help flatten it a bit. Excessive use of this method will eventually burn thru the nitro finish.

Rock it like it is!
Bruce O'Donnell
03-10-2007, 09:43 AM
Is there a way of restoring the satin finish or is it traditional to let the shine come through as the guitar ages?

GazzaThere is no tradition. True vintage guitars were sprayed with nitro and polished. The additive that leaves the satin finish wasn't used on guitars until the early 90's. Fender's used it since about 1994 on necks (poly), I'm not aware of anyone who's used it with nitro on the scale that PRS is. Alot of people don't like the look when new, and as you've noted it polishes when played. So you're in effect reverse relicing the guitar, a niche market I don't see other manufacturers following, given the $$ people pay for artificial relicing. :D

The only way to restore it is to overspray the shiny areas with satin/matte nitro clearcoat. It's a thin finish, and as badkalifornia noted, hitting it with micromesh or steel wool is only going to wear it faster.
GazzaBloom
03-10-2007, 10:15 AM
I guess I'll take Paul McCartney's words then and "Let It Be..."Gazza
Rabidhamster
03-10-2007, 04:55 PM
alternatively, you could polish the rest of the guitar shiny:)
GazzaBloom
03-11-2007, 01:37 AM
alternatively, you could polish the rest of the guitar shiny:)
I thought about that too. I would seriously consider this if it wasn't for the screen printed "Paul Reed Smith" on the headstock - I wouldn't be able to polish up the front of the headstock very well without disturbing the logo.

Gazza
Samuel
03-11-2007, 01:59 AM
You could always have the satin buffed on the body/neck, and apply a gloss coat to the face of the headstock. I’d personally just let the finish become all patchy and nice… :D