Nitrocellulose lacquer is the finish of choice on vintage guitars and many high-end modern instruments — Gibson, Fender Custom Shop, Martin, and countless boutique builders use it. It looks stunning, ages beautifully, and is beloved by players for the way it allows the wood to breathe and resonate.
It’s also one of the most unforgiving finishes to care for if you don’t know what you’re doing.
Why Nitro Requires Special Care
Nitrocellulose lacquer is a solvent-based finish that remains chemically reactive long after it’s been applied. Unlike polyurethane (poly) finishes — which cure into a hard, inert plastic shell — nitro never fully stops reacting to its environment. This is what gives it its character: the checking, the wear patterns, the way it thins over decades of playing.
But it also means nitro is vulnerable to things that poly shrugs off:
- Solvents — many guitar polishes, cleaners, and even some rubber compounds contain solvents that will soften or dissolve nitro
- Plasticisers — found in some guitar stands, straps, and cases; can cause nitro to stick, cloud, or craze
- Silicone — present in many household polishes; creates a barrier that prevents future refinishing and can cause fisheye
- Alcohol — will dissolve nitro on contact; avoid any cleaner containing isopropyl alcohol
- Heat and humidity extremes — nitro checks (develops fine cracks) when exposed to rapid temperature or humidity changes
What to Use on a Nitro Finish
For cleaning:
A slightly damp microfibre cloth is your safest option for removing fingerprints, sweat, and light grime. For more stubborn marks, a purpose-made nitro-safe polish is appropriate — look for products explicitly labelled safe for nitrocellulose.
LORE® Instrument Polish is safe on nitrocellulose finishes. Its light buffing compound removes surface marks and sweat staining without solvents, and the protective wax layer seals in a fresh feel without silicone or plasticisers.
For protection:
A thin coat of carnauba or microcrystalline wax applied periodically will protect the finish and maintain its lustre. LORE® Microcrystalline Wax is formulated without solvents and is safe on nitro, poly, satin, and natural finishes.
For the fingerboard:
If your guitar has an unfinished fingerboard (rosewood, ebony, pau ferro), treat it separately with a fingerboard oil. LORE® Cold Pressed Lemon Seed Fingerboard Oil is petroleum-free and safe for use alongside nitro-finished necks — just keep it off the lacquered areas.
What to Avoid
- WD-40, household furniture polish, or any silicone-based product — these will damage nitro
- Rubber guitar stands without nitro-safe covers — the rubber reacts with nitro over time, leaving permanent marks
- Leaving the guitar in a hot car — nitro softens in heat and can stick to case lining or develop impressions
- Rapid humidity changes — if bringing a guitar in from the cold, let it acclimatise in its case before opening
The Checking Question
Nitro checking — the fine network of cracks that develops on aged instruments — is not damage. It’s a natural characteristic of the finish and is considered desirable on vintage guitars. Don’t attempt to fill or polish out checking; it’s part of the instrument’s history.
If you’re seeing large cracks, lifting, or peeling rather than fine checking, that’s a different matter and worth consulting a luthier about.
A Simple Nitro Care Routine
- After every play — wipe down with a clean microfibre cloth to remove sweat and oils
- Monthly — apply a small amount of nitro-safe polish to remove light marks and restore lustre
- Every 3–6 months — apply a thin coat of microcrystalline wax for longer-term protection
- Fingerboard — treat with fingerboard oil every few months, keeping it off the lacquered areas
Nitro guitars reward careful ownership. Treat them right and they’ll age into something genuinely beautiful.
LORE® Instrument Polish, Microcrystalline Wax, and Fingerboard Oil are all safe for use on nitrocellulose finishes. Petroleum-free, handmade on Dartmoor.
🎸 Not sure which LORE® product is right for your finish or instrument area? View our Product Guide →