Epiphone Jack Casady: sanding down the polished neck...

[SparkyB]

I tried this a couple of months back, sort of a test run, and loved it. I noted I was going to do it again and was asked to photograph the process.

This, from a bit of a n00b (I've only been playing a year and a half) but I do know that I really dislike the sticky-factor of a sweaty hand on a polished neck. Saturday I have an outdoor gig in about 90 deg weather, so, the re-satinizing urgency

First step: mask it all off. I kept the binding with the fretmarkers masked off and polished so i would not inadvertently rub out the markers! Also cover the p'up so the steel-wool cast-off won't get stuck in all its nooks & crannies...

Then I used 600 grit wet/dry paper (Norton brand) on the back of the neck. Once I was satisfied I then used 0000 steel wool (with a shop-vac running) to smooth it out. Brush the cast-off and vacuum as I go so as not to leave too much abrasive material around.

The end-result... much more playable! Much smoother. At some point I might even take it all the way down to the wood. After a month of playing the oils and friction of the hand re-polished the first sand job.

 

[Mr. Ray]

I owned a 98 Goldtop Jack Casady. I originally thought it had a mahogany neck.When I used steel wool to take off the gloss it quickly went thru the stained finish to reveal a maple neck. I found the finish on those Epiphones to be the stickiest lacquer finish ever. Played much better with a satin tung oil finish.

 

[SparkyB]

I owned a 98 Goldtop Jack Casady. I originally thought it had a mahogany neck.When I used steel wool to take off the gloss it quickly went thru the stained finish to reveal a maple neck. I found the finish on those Epiphones to be the stickiest lacquer finish ever. Played much better with a satin tung oil finish.

They must be finishing the necks better... aggressive sanding with 600 grit and steel wool and no wood shows yet!