Neck finish question

[outoftune]

I have a Squier with a neck that feels completely unfinished. Bare wood feeling.
Is there something I can put on it, short of taking off and spraying it, that will make it feel more finished? Oil? Wax?

Go easy on me here I am not experienced with these types of things.

Thanks in advance

 

[ardgedee]

I have a Squier with a neck that feels completely unfinished. Bare wood feeling.
Is there something I can put on it, short of taking off and spraying it, that will make it feel more finished? Oil? Wax?

Go easy on me here I am not experienced with these types of things.

Thanks in advance

If the neck is unfinished maple, it will eventually develop grey blotches at your usual hand positions. If you've been playing it for a while and it still looks clean, then it has a finish of some kind.

 

[outoftune]

If the neck is unfinished maple, it will eventually develop grey blotches at your usual hand positions. If you've been playing it for a while and it still looks clean, then it has a finish of some kind.

Is there anything I can put on it to make it feel finished?

 

[buldog5151bass]

I am guessing it is a matte poly. My vote is for wax.

 

[JEDI BASS]

Rub the neck with a wet paper towel- not dripping wet… wetter than damp though. If the wood feels rougher, like stubble has stood up on it, then it is raw wood. If the water is laying on the surface of a finish, then it won’t be absorbed and the hairs won’t appear.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Sure, TruOil, polymerized tung oil, wipe on polyurethane, and simple floor paste wax should all be available locally and will work. I’m guessing there’s some kind of finish already so the question would be what do you mean by “more finished”? Most folks seem to want to flatten or remove the finish from a neck so do you mean more glossy and/or like it has a thicker coating on it?

 

[Beej]

If it's a Squier, it should have a very thin infrared or ultraviolet cure finish on it. You can probably scrub it smoother to the touch with a 3M grey hand pad (fine is my fave).

 

[ardgedee]

Is there anything I can put on it to make it feel finished?

Echoing what Matt asked: What kind of finish do you want? Wax, oil and polymer finishes all feel different, and polymer finishes can also be glossy, semigloss, matte... Often people complain here about glossy polymer surfaces on their new bass's neck and want to know how to knock the gloss back a bit. Then again, others prefer it.

 

[outoftune]

I think I am going to go with a wax finish. Watched a couple videos where they apply gun oil then a wax finish after.

 

[buldog5151bass]

If it's not bare wood (and I doubt it is), all you need is a buffed paste wax finish.

 

[outoftune]

If it's not bare wood (and I doubt it is), all you need is a buffed paste wax finish.

If I sand it down first? I can't take much, it literally feels like finely sanded wood so the finish can't be much at all.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Why sand it down? I've never seen a maple neck on a production bass without some kind of finish. Probably easier to see the finish on the headstock. Unless you are sure it is bare wood, I would just use a good wax, andbuff the @#%$@ out of it.

 

[J Wilson]

Fender (and Squier) would never sell an axe with an unfinished neck: It would be devastating in warranty coverage and the resulting hit in reputation. Ain't happening.

It's a very thin sprayed clear finish. Unless you're an experienced painter or refinisher, skip the suggestions of any kind of sanding, and TruOil or anything similar could react with the installed finish and cause real problems.

I would echo a good paste wax. This would add protection and give a great smooth feel. Plus, it's harmless and inexpensive. I use Meguiar's.

 

[Pyrrho Epoche]

Somebody could have previously taken off the finish.
Wrap the guitar body in a pillowcase or remove it totally.
Mask the top and bottom of the neck so you get a nice sanding line. Hit it with some sandpaper, about 60-120, a little water on a cloth, let it dry for 5 min. Repeat, do it again until there is NO gloss left. You will be able to tell if still glossy by wiping with water and letting dry in between sanding. Then hit it with some 3M pads(maroon-fine & gray-superfine, to smooth the wood real nice... and then find some gunstock oil and wax. Apply the oil, find some directions, you don't want to put it on too heavy and let it sit 24 hrs. Then, hit it with some light mineral spirits, applied with the gray 3m pad, then apply the wax.
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/help-neck-finish-removal.1642790/#post-28269077

 

[petermwright]

I have a Squier with a neck that feels completely unfinished. Bare wood feeling.
Is there something I can put on it, short of taking off and spraying it, that will make it feel more finished? Oil? Wax?

Go easy on me here I am not experienced with these types of things.

Thanks in advance

Unless you got this used, and a previous owner removed the finish, then it is finished.

My son has a Squier mini P, which has a satin finish that feels kind of like bare wood.

 

[Flying B]

Hit it with some sandpaper, about 60-120

60 grit sandpaper has no place anywhere near a guitar imo, unless maybe in a flap disc doing a neck carve

 

[Bodeeni]

Rub on a thin coat, buff with paper towel, play

 

[Koog]

I have used Howard's for years. That would be my first choice, finished or unfinished.

Koog

 

[Pyrrho Epoche]

60 grit sandpaper has no place anywhere near a guitar imo, unless maybe in a flap disc doing a neck carve

If you want to sand it for 3+ hours, to strip whatever finish it is, be my guest. 60 is just right for taking off a thick coat of satin I prefer about an hour or so with 60. I just did my jazz neck and had no problems. It is amazingly smooth. 60 strips the satin fast. You obviously have to use finer pads etc after the 60 to buff 'n smooth it out.

 

[ctmullins]

I recommend a few coats of Tru-Oil. Lay it on thin. Can be hand buffed afterwards if you feel the need.