Gibson poly finishes

**Cunamara** · 04-09-2026, 11:03 PM

When did Gibson switch to poly finishes? It's pretty clear that my 2005 ES-175 is poly, which surprises me as I thought they still used nitro. But there's a little spot on the neck along the binding where the finish has detached from the wood underneath in a way that nitro wouldn't, forming a little flexible bluster. Obviously poly.

**dconeill** · 04-09-2026, 11:31 PM

Any finish, if applied over an improperly prepared surface, can bubble. Sometimes, a bubble can have a mechanical origin, as in a fret end sticking out a little. AFAIK, a bubble is not proof of nitrocellulose, polyurethane or polyester finishing.

I'm from the "nitro is inferior, polyurethane is better overall, but polyester can be a bit thick" school, so I am unsympathetic about the finish type, but I regret that your guitar has a finish flaw.

**213Cobra** · 04-09-2026, 11:48 PM

I had an early 2010 Es-175 for 13 years. Its finish was nitro, for reference.

Phil

**Stringswinger** · 04-10-2026, 01:07 AM

My 2008 175 was Nitro

My 2003 L-5 CES is Nitro

I have a hard time believing that Gibson did not use nitro in 2005

**j.l** · 04-10-2026, 10:02 AM

As far as I know, Gibson has only ever used nitro—but the more recent standard models do have a much thicker, more polymerized nitro than you'll find on their custom shop and VOS models (and very, very different than the Murphy Lab ones).

I will say, though—I've got a 2000 SG that developed the same blistering about a decade ago at a spot along the bass side edge. Seems to me the wood wasn't properly dried, and the finish bubbled up a bit. In the course of regular wear, the blister "popped" and a few small pieces of obviously nitro finish chipped away. Not an issue for me, fits the vibe of the guitar—but something to watch out for!

**vinnyv1k** · 04-10-2026, 10:21 AM

Gibson never used poly ever. Their modern nitro does have polymers in it to help a bit with lacquer checking.

**Sam Sherry** · 04-10-2026, 11:37 AM

Right. "Nitro" is never* straight, 100% nitrocellulose lacquer. There's always* some plasticizer, and the proportion of plasticizer is what makes the finish a) more or less brittle and b) more or less fast-curing.

So you you have the early-2000s brittle, chip-prone Eastman nitro finishes and you have goopy looking factory nitro finishes and they're all nitro.

*Yeah, I know. Somebody, sometime shot straight nitro.

**Cunamara** · 04-10-2026, 03:31 PM

Interesting stuff, thanks. That might explain it. Well, if it's nitro, it's got a hefty proportion of plasticizer in it given that it is soft and flexible over the blistered area. At that point, is it still nitro? It looks like poly and feels like poly.

I don't worship at the altar of nitro as a guitar finish, but was surprised because the material is clearly different than any (mainly older) nitro finish from Gibson I've ever seen.