Satin vs Oil/wax finish

BrandonBass · #1 10-30-2011, 11:01 AM

My oil/wax finish stingray maple neck needs frequently truss rod adjustment to get optimum action. Im contemplating finishing the back with satin. I am scared it'd affect its playability though.

It is 10/10 playability wise now, it just needs abit of tweaking every now and then which is annoying sometimes. Im thinking will the satin retain its playability but add stability?

ack · #2 10-30-2011, 11:12 AM

Just when I thought I was making progress on learning about bass components...

Would you (or anyone else) mind educating me a little about how the neck finish would affect the action?
I'd appreciate it, thanks.

BrandonBass · #3 10-30-2011, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ack

Just when I thought I was making progress on learning about bass components...

Would you (or anyone else) mind educating me a little about how the neck finish would affect the action?
I'd appreciate it, thanks.

Finish doesnt affect the action. If just affects playability to a certain degree. Compared to my fender jazz which has a lacquared finish, the oil/wax finish on my ray feels faster. But it is also subjected to more changes due to weather due to lack of protection

Bassmunnky · #4 10-30-2011, 11:18 AM

Not sure if it's worth it.

I own both. Fender 5 Jazz and P with Satin Finish, and Ray 5 and Ray 4 with the oil...

Live in Philly...which is Stupid Humid in the summer, and desert dry in the winter. The humidity changes are extreme. I have to adjust ALL of the basses no matter what.

The Rays don't seem to need it more than the other. But that's in my town.

BrandonBass · #5 10-30-2011, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassmunnky

Not sure if it's worth it.

I own both. Fender 5 Jazz and P with Satin Finish, and Ray 5 and Ray 4 with the oil...

Live in Philly...which is Stupid Humid in the summer, and desert dry in the winter. The humidity changes are extreme. I have to adjust ALL of the basses no matter what.

The Rays don't seem to need it more than the other. But that's in my town.

Thanks, because I used to own a 09 pbass briefly with satin finish and never needed to adjust it. Maybe its the graphite trussrod

TMart99 · #6 10-30-2011, 11:29 AM

I'm in North Carolina.

As Bassmunnky stated, stupid humid in the summer, dry and cold winters and drastic 20-30 degree temperature swings from morning till evening....during fall and spring.

My Carvin B40 has a tung oiled neck (and fretboard) and satin body finish. It has held tuning, action/playability and overall consistency much better than my 2011 Fender American Standard P-bass. The B40 is by far the most stable bass I have.

beatdatthang · #7 10-30-2011, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrandonBass

My oil/wax finish stingray maple neck needs frequently truss rod adjustment to get optimum action. Im contemplating finishing the back with satin. I am scared it'd affect its playability though.

It is 10/10 playability wise now, it just needs abit of tweaking every now and then which is annoying sometimes. Im thinking will the satin retain its playability but add stability?

Supposedly, raw maple is very susceptible to humidity and to shrink/swell with temperature because it has a very tight grain. That's why most manufacturers put a satin finish on it. Other necks (bubinga, wenge, padouk, etc) which have a looser grain don't need a finish.

Warmoth won't honor their warranty on maple necks if they don't have a finish applied to them for this reason. You may want to consider getting a light satin finish applied.

spiritbass · #8 10-30-2011, 11:59 AM

I would not refinish to satin. I agree with Sheldon Dingwall that the oil & wax finish is the optimum for neck stability due to equal moisture intake and release of the fretboard and back of the neck. Neck adjustments are a fact of life. As stable as the necks are on my Dingwalls, I still tweak them in the Spring and Fall when the average humidity level shifts.