Double Bass How to correctly finish a DB neck

[Rockin John]

Hello, guys.

I hope this is the correct place to post my question.

I’m in possession of a DB neck / f.board which was fitted to a bass (made in about 1900) which, recently, some @#!§ had ‘mended’ the top with MDF and painted it all white!! The remainder of the bass was scrapped.

Having removed almost all the white paint I’m now down to the bare neck wood: the remainder of the neck is in good enough shape. The plan is to convert it into some kind of electric upright. I have the neck block, too, so all looks positive.

This brings me to my opening question. Having said, “correctly” I didn’t mean making my own varnish as may have been done when the bass was built. I’m only able to use modern materials. Nowadays that seems to mean acrylic clear varnishes and / or coloured varnish here in UK.

There appears to be two distinct ways to finish the wood: wood stain then clear varnish or coloured varnish. Neither would satisfy a purist, of course, but I really have no idea how I should go about it whilst attempting to make it look good but with modern finishes.

At the end of the day my question might even be rather silly, but any thoughts thoughts / ideas would be V welcome.

Tks.

John. UK

 

[porkynuggets]

Well this could be a rabbit hole. FWIW my neck was French polished, I love the feel.

 

[Don Hergert]

I'd suggest getting the rest of your EUB body assembled and attached to the neck and then consider the finish work on the whole instrument.

French polish is nice, it can be touched up down the road, and it can be done without a huge amount of specialized equipment.

Nitro finishes and varnish are traditional and can also be touched up down the road, but really require a full spray booth for a clean finish.

Poly finishes are pretty permanent and can not be easily touched up.

Instrument finish work can be a long process and very complicated, and it takes a lot of experience to get a professional result. You might do better to concentrate on the instrument assembly and then find a shop that specializes in finishes and can do that work for you.

 

[Rockin John]

I'd suggest getting the rest of your EUB body assembled and attached to the neck and then consider the finish work on the whole instrument.

French polish is nice, it can be touched up down the road, and it can be done without a huge amount of specialized equipment.

Nitro finishes and varnish are traditional and can also be touched up down the road, but really require a full spray booth for a clean finish.

Poly finishes are pretty permanent and can not be easily touched up.

Instrument finish work can be a long process and very complicated, and it takes a lot of experience to get a professional result. You might do better to concentrate on the instrument assembly and then find a shop that specializes in finishes and can do that work for you.

 

[Rockin John]

French polishing is something I’d not considered as a finish for a DB. I tried to do it in the past - with very questionable results - but it’s an interesting idea.

Yes, Mr Hergert, I will complete the woodwork then finish the whole thing. There are a few reels and YouTube videos about instrument finishing and they all seem to show applying varnish with a brush which, for hand finishing, seems the best way.

Tks.

John

 

[james condino]

French polishing is a method for applying a finish, not a finish formula, brand, or type of material!

 

[Don Kasper]

French polishing is a method for applying a finish,

Isn't it a bit rough on the tongue?
Asking for a friend.
Srsly. tho, Mr. Condini - is it OK to leave the back of a neck unfinished? I prefer that feel for my Juzek, that I've owned for 40 yrs. with no "issues".
Thanks for your time and expertise.

 

[porkynuggets]

French polishing is a method for applying a finish, not a finish formula, brand, or type of material!

Correct though I don't think anyone claimed it was any of those.

 

[Don Hergert]

French polishing is a method for applying a finish, not a finish formula, brand, or type of material!

You're right of course, and I was incorrectly referring to it as if it was an oil finish. Thank you for the correction!

 

[porkynuggets]

Isn't it a bit rough on the tongue?
Asking for a friend.
Srsly. tho, Mr. Condini - is it OK to leave the back of a neck unfinished? I prefer that feel for my Juzek, that I've owned for 40 yrs. with no "issues".
Thanks for your time and expertise.

Hard maple neck isn't going to have much seasonal movement, specially if it's quarter-sawn. I would go for an oil finish if you like the feel of the bare wood. A little protection without covering and obscuring the grain from your hand.

 

[Oscar Yanez]

I use Watco Danish Oil on my neck. I sand it to 800 grit with light pressure (water popping in between), oil using 0000 steel wool as an applicator, and repeat but this time burnishing with steel wool and danish oil.

Shifts feel super smooth.

edit: I use light walnut danish oil. I used to use natural color but light walnut matched my bass' varnish more.

 

[Rockin John]

Hello.

I’m slightly confused about Mr Condino’s definition of French polish. Whilst I’ve not looked for several definitions, Wikipedia says, “French polishing is a wood finishing technique that results in a very high gloss surface, with a deep colour and chatoyancy. French polishing consists of applying many thin coats of shellac dissolved in denatured alcohol using a rubbing pad lubricated with one of a variety of oils.”

This is how I understood French polish; both as the substance and the method of application. Whilst I’m certainly not challenging Mr Condino, I am confused that my prior understanding is the same as the Wiki definition, but it contrasts with what Mr Condino says.

Any further views welcome.

Tks.

John

 

[porkynuggets]

As the wiki states, the tec

Hello.

I’m slightly confused about Mr Condino’s definition of French polish. Whilst I’ve not looked for several definitions, Wikipedia says, “French polishing is a wood finishing technique that results in a very high gloss surface, with a deep colour and chatoyancy. French polishing consists of applying many thin coats of shellac dissolved in denatured alcohol using a rubbing pad lubricated with one of a variety of oils.”

This is how I understood French polish; both as the substance and the method of application. Whilst I’m certainly not challenging Mr Condino, I am confused that my prior understanding is the same as the Wiki definition, but it contrasts with what Mr Condino says.

Any further views welcome.

Tks.

John

unique

Hello.

I’m slightly confused about Mr Condino’s definition of French polish. Whilst I’ve not looked for several definitions, Wikipedia says, “French polishing is a wood finishing technique that results in a very high gloss surface, with a deep colour and chatoyancy. French polishing consists of applying many thin coats of shellac dissolved in denatured alcohol using a rubbing pad lubricated with one of a variety of oils.”

This is how I understood French polish; both as the substance and the method of application. Whilst I’m certainly not challenging Mr Condino, I am confused that my prior understanding is the same as the Wiki definition, but it contrasts with what Mr Condino says.

Any further views welcome.

Tks.

John

AS it states, French polish is the technique, shellac is the substance

 

[porkynuggets]

As the wiki states, the tec

unique

AS it states, French polish is the technique, shellac is the substance

Wow, I need more coffee, sorry

 

[Rockin John]

Wow, I need more coffee, sorry

In that case it should be possible to use the technique of French polishing with any desired substance … epoxy resin, any varnish, any paint for example. However, in my little workshop I have a can of propriety brand French polish. It’s shellac and alcohol mixed. Internet recipes, for example, for French polish describe mixing shellac and alcohol.

It seems that, in order to get the best results from the technique, a specific substance must be used: shellac and alcohol.

I’m not trying to split-hairs, as the saying goes, just get to understand.

 

[porkynuggets]

In that case it should be possible to use the technique of French polishing with any desired substance … epoxy resin, any varnish, any paint for example. However, in my little workshop I have a can of propriety brand French polish. It’s shellac and alcohol mixed. Internet recipes, for example, for French polish describe mixing shellac and alcohol.

It seems that, in order to get the best results from the technique, a specific substance must be used: shellac and alcohol.

I’m not trying to split-hairs, as the saying goes, just get to understand.

You're not entirely wrong, many people use the term to describe the shellac itself. But i understand it to be more accurate to say that French polish is a method of applying shellac.

 

[BPM Strings]

I would encourage you to attempt to French polish a piece of strap wood with epoxy or varnish. The impossibility of such an idea will make itself immediately apparent.

My process for finishing a neck is too sand it up to 320 grit and then wet sand it to 2000 grit to make the wood silky smooth. Then I add a little artists oil paint to some linseed oil to get a color that compliments the varnish. This is colored oil, not thinned paint if you get my drift. That gets rubbed in and wiped off with a paper towel and left to dry for at least a night, longer is better. The final step is the infamous French polish, but you don't have to build the shellac up like you would on a piece of furniture, just a couple of coats will do. I like shellac that has not been dewaxed for a neck, but any thinned down shellac will do. If you want to skip the French polish and just leave it oiled that's fine, but it will get dirty looking much faster.

Also, this is the very last thing I do when finishing an instrument.

 

[Ed S]

I'll have to ask my resident luthier when I see her, but I thought any finish was quite light, tending more towards oil. With possible additives to bring out grain/flame.

 

[Ed S]

I'll have to ask my resident luthier when I see her,

According to the boss, in violin-making school she was taught:

-ground/color/watercolor to bring out flame;
-1-3 coats shellac - NOT varnish;
-polish w/ steel wool and paraffin oil.

I presume that would apply to basses as well as fiddles, but make of that what you will.

 

[Mikeyboyaz]

Coloring with shellac is also possible without added dye. Since the shellac beetle comes in different guts colors (species of bug) and the trees they are found in... Everything from blonde, rust orange to Garnet are possible. I hate wasting shellac so I buy it in flake form and mix it with denatured alcohol (everclear is too expensive). If I forget to put the lid on, I just add more alcohol and let it dissolve.