Varnish on bass necks?

David Potts · #1 09-24-2009, 11:03 PM

All the cheap school basses where I teach have varnished necks. The effect on shifting is like trying to drive a car with the hand brake on. Most older basses have a thinner coating that feels silky, over which the thumb moves effortlessly, Can our luthiers tell me how to achieve this? Sanding then fine sanding would prepare the neck. Then what would you prefer to use next?

I haven't trawled back through earlier threads that you might be happy to point me at!!

DP

Gearhead43 · #2 09-25-2009, 12:10 AM

I used Watco Danish Oil finish on my bass neck once the varnish was removed. It left a nice ultra-thin satin finish.

drurb · #3 09-25-2009, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gearhead43

I used Watco Danish Oil finish on my bass neck once the varnish was removed. It left a nice ultra-thin satin finish.

I believe that's what was used on my bass neck as well. My neck was never varnished though!

**Matthew Tucker** · #4 09-25-2009, 07:51 AM

David if you sand to a really fine grit you can leave the neck just polished bare wood. But i usually use some danish oil, have also used silicone-free furniture polish with success, the waxes make it really silky and slick.

sjd007 · #5 09-28-2009, 02:09 AM

Fine sanding and oil is nice.

For a more robust finish (sticky fingers!) you could use satin varnish. I sanded mine (right up to 1200 grit!!) and applied a couple of coats of lightly pigmented satin varnish. It took about a week to fully dry, but the other guys in the orchestra where I play are keen to take off their gloss now (well, the bases that have the gloss). It is soooo smooth.

hdiddy · #6 09-28-2009, 09:04 AM

I just used #0000 steel wool & oil the neck afterwards. Got it from somewhere in this forum. Worked fine.

Eric Hochberg · #7 09-28-2009, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hdiddy

I just used #0000 steel wool & oil the neck afterwards. Got it from somewhere in this forum. Worked fine.

Just steel wooled a student's rental bass neck and it worked like a charm. No more squeally thumb.

forester · #8 09-28-2009, 06:47 PM

yep..every rental unit gets the wool. can't stand a dirty clamy neck!

RHayton · #9 10-01-2009, 08:50 PM

I had a luthier take the varnish off my Engelhardt--he used sandpaper and steel wool. I don't know what he oiled it with initially--been three years--but about every six months give it a light polish with artist grade linseed oil.