Waterbase
Brush, cloth or spray. Low smell, non-toxic and easy to apply.
- Fine to use indoors, no spraying needed
- Clear varnish in matt or gloss
- Dyes for translucent colours
Which guitar finish do you need?
Take our free 2-minute quiz. A few quick questions to find the right finish for you (Tru-Oil, waterbase or nitro spray), then a few more to get the exact products for your guitar.
The 3 finishing solutions
Tru-Oil
Wiped on by hand with a cloth. Warm and natural, it brings out the wood.
- No spray needed, just a cloth
- Deepens the grain with a light amber tone
- Many thin coats: easy, but takes time
Nitro spray
Nitrocellulose lacquer in spray cans: the finish of vintage guitars.
- Matt, satin or gloss, can be polished to a mirror shine
- The only range with solid opaque colours
- Needs a ventilated space and a mask
How the guitar finish quiz works
Answer a few questions about where you can work and the look you want, and the quiz recommends Tru-Oil, waterbase or nitro spray. Then tell us about your project (wood, body or neck, look, feel): we pre-fill your paint set with the right products and quantities, and show you the guide for your finish.
The 3 finishes in short
- Tru-Oil: wiped on with a cloth, warm and natural, it brings out the grain. See our Tru-Oil products.
- Waterbase: brush, cloth or spray, low smell, fine to use indoors. See our water-based products.
- Nitro spray: the vintage lacquer in spray cans, and our only range with solid colours. See our nitro products.
Want to compare them in detail? Read Best paint for a guitar: choosing the right finish. For the whole process, see how to paint a guitar.
