Dumb question about why white customes yellow

[OBX351]

Sorry for the dumb question. Does anyone know what causes the yellowing of alpine white customs? I've got a '63 Alpine SG and it doesn't have any yellowing. It's finished checked all over but no yellowing.

I get that finishes and binding age and can change color but I've seen a bunch of white customs with yellow splotches and the splotches don't seem very consistent.

Maybe different dyes (like the 50s bursts) just don't like exposure to sunlight. If that's the case why do some white guitars have blotchy yellow spots? Maybe different manufacturing years just do not age well because they used different dyes

Mine is an '89.

 

[So What]

Nitrocellulose.

Look it up.

 

[paintguy]

The clear yellows over time and turns white to yellow, blues to green etc....

 

[OBX351]

Nitrocellulose.

Look it up.

I get that it has to do with nitro....I've seen faded guitars, but I've never seen a blotchy burst. I've seen a faded front because of sun exposure so I get that sun exposure will fade a guitar over time.

 

[So What]

I get that it has to do with nitro....I've seen faded guitars, but I've never seen a blotchy burst. I've seen a faded front because of sun exposure so I get that sun exposure will fade a guitar over time.

Well...it is all speculation, but it could be inconsistent coat thickness, or light exposure.

 

[Rollingrock]

I get that it has to do with nitro....I've seen faded guitars, but I've never seen a blotchy burst. I've seen a faded front because of sun exposure so I get that sun exposure will fade a guitar over time.

If you mean you've seen a faded front, meaning top, it's not the nitro that causes bursts to fade. I just wanted to say that just in case that's what you thought. That's anniline(I think I'm spelling that correctly)dyes. Nitro lacquer will yellow over the bright white paint like stated above.

 

[Lefty Adams]

white goes yellow, simple as that. my 25 year old iceman in my avatar is yellowing nicely now ...

 

[rich85]

magic. duh.

 

[rockstar232007]

It's caused by the decay of the cellulose (an organic compound). As time goes by, the solvents in the lacquer break down/gas off, allowing air to penetrate the finish, thus causing decay, which then leads to discoloration.

The same thing happens to 'bursts, but is usually much more noticeable on the binding and the headstock logo.

 

[blues_n_cues]

Well...it is all speculation, but it could be inconsistent coat thickness, or light exposure.

and smoke speeds up the process too. if you don't burst into flames.

 

[OBX351]

thanks for the explanations!

I guess I've been lucky, I have a 62 Alpine white SG special that's still very white just finished checked like crazy.

 

[HDS]

Mojo build up..

 

[tspoon5150]

The same reason tires are black.

Google it and learn.

 

[Stonesy]

I used to work at a company that used PVC, acrylic latex, polyester resin, & silicone rubber for electrical insulation.
We got silicone rubber kits from Dupont, Corning, or BFG & mixed in titanium white pigment. That was the only stuff that would stay white.

 

[Core]

The clear yellows over time and turns white to yellow, blues to green etc....

This...

The older clears yellow with age hence you get a buttery LP as it gets to be 15-20+ years old

 

[Deftone]

Can we see some pics?

 

[River]

Ultra-violet radiation.

 

[OBX351]

Can we see some pics?

'63 SG Special & my '89 LP Custom

 

[Freddy G]

Ultra-violet radiation.

Explained in three words!

 

[FourT6and2]

The reason for blotches instead of a uniform yellowing is environmental. Smoke, sun, skin/sweat, and etc.

UV radiation (aka sunlight) causes nitro to yellow as well.

I have a '79 Silverburst that is still fairly silver and an '84 that has turned yellow/green. It's not age that does it. It's how the guitar was cared for during it's life.