Body without a finish

[48thStreetCustom]

Companies like Fender get big bucks selling relics with the finish sanded off so I'm just putting these question out there.

What if I were to get a Jazz bass replacement body and put it together with just the raw unfinished wood? What would be the drawbacks besides cosmetic? Wouldn't the wood get more tone without the finish?

Players like Billy Sheehan, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Rory Gallagher and Bonnie Raitt play guitars with the finish almost gone. Even Bill Monroe sanded the finish off his mandolin and people spend tens of thousands trying to replicate his tone.

 

[darkstorm]

Warwicks gonna be your best choice of minimal finish type imo. They do very strongly reccomend regular waxing to build up protective layer. Otherwise wood could crack from drying out, or if you spill some things on it, could cause too much wet wood. And you wouldnt want fungus growing on your instrument or termites going for it. Lol. At the very least a qaulity sealer and light finish should be used. This can even be easy apply wipe on outdoor wood deck sealer/finish. Then wax it regular with something like warwick paste wax or other liked protective wood wax. Till it developes a light visually noticeable sheen from waxing over time. Then just wax occassionally.

My fave finish has become satin type. More protective imo then warwick type, and next closest to letting wood tone out fully.

 

[EagleMoon]

The biggest problem is going to be that the wood will absorb moisture (and lose it quickly) and dirt will stick to it more easily. Not having a finish on the neck would be the biggest problem if you use a typical wood like maple, due to it's porous nature. It would be prone to warping. But as far as the body goes, I would think it would be mainly a dirt and grime issue. Light woods would discolor if handled a lot. Plus some woods tend to crack if they're exposed to really dry conditions.

 

[Jimmy Bones]

Get a natural finish with tung oil.

 

[Ric5]

Try an oil finish.

 

[ThaLowEndTheory]

When I bought this body I planned on giving it a trans orange finish. I couldn't bring myself to do it. I've tried 5 or 6 different times, but the wood is just to beautiful to cover with anything trans or not. So I sprayed 2 light coats of clear lacquer on it to protect the wood and keep it clean. One day I'll give it a real finish, but I just don't know when.

 

[Vociferous]

Whew! Super-looking body. Is that ash? What was the finish when it came from the factory?

 

[spade2you]

You can either do oil or a thin coat of satin. Most of the players you mentioned removed the finish by playing a ton. I prefer this to oil because I only need to wipe it down and polish it every once in a while. Re-oiling and sanding takes a lot more time than wiping down satin finish.