Do necks need finishes?

[Bob Rogers]

The oil just wipes on sort of like furniture polish with a clean lint-free cloth. Let it dry between coats. Three-four coats a day (if I remember the drying time right) for about three days should build a film that's tough yet thin. If the neck is detached from the body it's fine to buff with 0000 steel wool. I use it all the time for frets and fingerboards even if the body is attached, but I take the time to tape off the pickups. The synthetic pads are obviously safer, but are more expensive, and its hard to find the fine (yellow) grade. The wax is like polishing your shoes. Apply a thin coat. let it dry for a few minutes and then buff until your are falls off.

 

[thisSNsucks]

that sounds simple enough bob, thanks alot

 

[Mon Rominee]

I have an 8 string bass with a Warmoth maple neck onnit, I recently aquired it, yet it has been in service, as is, unfinished for the better part of 9 years, and is still clean, straight and trouble free. Color me surprised.

I'd like to put at least a gunstock oil finish onnit, but I fear I might screw up a good thing.

I'm no advocate for leaving maple necks raw, just sharing my experience.

 

[Kazuki]

Yeah, a lot of people seem to have different experiences with unfinished necks For some it will stay fine for years, and nothing noticeable will happen, and for some the effects will be apparent in a lot less time than that.

I guess the More/less sweaty hands and the humidity rating of the region where you live play a big role in how unfinished necks will turn out... 'course I'm no expert, since most of the necks I've played were finished

 

[thisSNsucks]

well i just finished tru-oiling my neck. it came out great and was pretty simple. The headstock is nice and glossy but i decided that the glossyness made the back of the neck too sticky so i buffed it out with some fine grade steel wool. Now its nice and dull and smooth as it can be, feels great too, cant wait to slap it on my bass as soon as i get the tuning machines and nut installed

 

[mrelwood]

There must be several different kind of wood waxes, since a local luthier recommended a certain wood wax on my bass. I applied two layers, and the finish is quite thick and hard. The recommended 0000 steel wool didn't polish, but a clean fabric gave very good results.

I think I'll try the gunstock oil on my next project. Any specific requirements for the gunstock oil?


-Aki.