Painted necks on basses- love them or hate them?

[Maxdusty]

I bought an EBMM SUB with the black painted neck a while back that has a worn spot on the paint near the bottom. I bought it this way from someone who must have been eating chips while playing the bass on Rocksmith as the neck was greasy and well, smelled like potato chips - and the owner disclosed that he used the bass primarily for Rocksmith and had number stickers down the neck of the bass when I bought it I'm guessing the additional salt from his hands ate away at the paint- for goodness sake, why eat chips when you're playing on a Musicman Bass??

Whatever, I got the bass pretty inexpensively, I cleaned it up and other than that paint issue, it was surprisingly in great shape and played well, great sounding bass for the $160 with hard case I paid for it.

Anyway, I've had a few basses with painted necks and none have ever worn away-I'm inclined to leave it as is but wondering what others may have done with their painted necks when the paint wears away, that is - IF the paint has worn away.
Brings me to a few questions, what do people think of painted necks, does it affect your purchasing decision one way or another Do some people just remove the paint as some don't like that "sticky" feel to their neck or are you prone to leave it as is?

I'm inclined to leave the neck as is and let the paint job wear out on it's own -which it doesn't seem to be. Anyway, added a poll to see what others would do in my situation. I did notice there's a clear finish on the wood underneath the paint on these EBMM SUB necks.

 

[Skybone]

Leave it alone.

Everyone know's it's "relic mojo".

 

[Tom Bomb]

Suit yourself. If it's not annoying to the touch or spoiling things in some way, I say let it ride

 

[mouthmw]

Leave it, those necks are great, and it might continue to wear down, which is cool. Congrats on the MM SUB. Those are fantastic basses, I played mine for years until I got a Stingray BFR just recently. I might hunt one down again. Amazing value.

 

[bucephylus]

Most necks are painted; it’s just that clear coat is more common. Some cats sand it off on the back. Others just play it until it wears off. For others it never wears off. Depends a bit on your skin chemistry.

As to clear coat vs colored lacquer, yeah clear is more common; but, the colored versions are out there, tinted and opaque.

 

[bassdude51]

"ha ha..........he said, wood"

 

[mdogs]

Love the SUBs, probably still the best value out there. When I had mine, I took the paint off the neck with a magic eraser, the undercoat they use made for just about a perfect neck for me.

 

[fretlessguy]

I prefer bare wood with tung oil, but have basses with painted necks and glossy necks and all the such. It really doesn't matter. I play them anyway.

 

[Runnerman]

That's ring rash I believe based on the location. I have this starting to happen on my Bongo with the painted neck. It has a lot of miles on it for sure. I don't see the finish coming off in the same way on any of my unpainted necks.

 

[bucephylus]

That's ring rash I believe based on the location. I have this starting to happen on my Bongo with the painted neck. It has a lot of miles on it for sure. I don't see the finish coming off in the same way on any of my unpainted necks.

Interesting. My ring goes clackety clack along the frets. I guess it’s a hand position thing.

 

[CapnSev]

I play a USA SUB myself, nice score!

I have a couple teeny-tiny knicks in the black paint on mine and I could care less. In fact; I’m hoping they spread like mad and get that natural worn look and feel.

So far, that’s not happening at all though, ha!

 

[Tommygun_ted]

I spent a few hours once with super fine sandpaper and removed the paint from the neck. Made for an extremely smooth neck. The bass was already heavily worn from years of abuse so it was worth experimenting on. Don't know if I would sand down a newer or more valuable neck. Satin finishes are preferred.

 

[jd56hawk]

My Epiphone Thunderbird has a painted neck.
Never noticed anything wrong with it.

 

[dheafey]

I spent a few hours once with super fine sandpaper and removed the paint from the neck. Made for an extremely smooth neck. The bass was already heavily worn from years of abuse so it was worth experimenting on. Don't know if I would sand down a newer or more valuable neck. Satin finishes are preferred.

If/When I sweat, my fretting hand "sticks" on the back of gloss finished neck. I find satin finishes faster and much more preferred.

 

[redwood]

First thing I did when I received my used Bongo was to remove the neck, then the paint.
Maybe it's a problem with sweaty hands. I also hate glossy finish.
Strip the paint (or sand as the case may be) and use the other musicman method; Birchwood Casey gunstock oil followed by the gunstock wax. Perfect in every way now.

 

[bassbenj]

I can't say because none of my basses have painted necks. However I do own a Gibson Les Paul guitar with a nitro finish and painted neck. And it's love-hate. I love the look of the colored neck and in general I sort of like the feel too... EXCEPT that I'm one of those people to whom a new nitro finish feels sticky! And I HATE that! The good news is that as time goes on the sticky effect goes away, so I'm loving it more and more. As for neck with regular paint? can't say. I do love a painted matching headstock though and a painted neck is sort of the same idea only more.

 

[basscapes]

Just as Jaco was fond of saying regarding fretted vs. fretless fingerboards, "Frets are like speed bumps!"; to me paint on the back of a neck is like, "Trying to walk through knee-deep mud and keep your boots on at the same time!" To me, a painted neck ain't happening!

I gotta have either a satin-finish or bare wood, sanded, oiled and buffed (the later on my Yamaha, done by yours truly)- I sanded the satin coat finish right down to bare wood and then sanded the neck smooth before getting a liberal dose of Howard's Feed-N-Wax (Seriously!). YMMV, but I haven't had any issues in the almost 20 years I've owned the instrument (it does smell a bit like oranges for a few days, but I LIVE in Florida! LOL). I reapply about every year or two. That's it. No "speed bumps"...

 

[funkinbottom]

Personally, I would refinish the neck. I love the look of a matching neck. Since both of my basses are clear coated neck (1 gloss, 1 satin) I just picked up a short scale project bass and will finish the back of neck and headstock either to match body or black.

 

[CapnSev]

Love the SUBs, probably still the best value out there. When I had mine, I took the paint off the neck with a magic eraser, the undercoat they use made for just about a perfect neck for me.

This has me super intrigued. You just used one of those Mr Clean erasers and the finish came off?

 

[saltydude]

I’ve got an SUB with a black painted neck. Although I’ve never fell in love with the bass overall the neck never bothered me. It’s a simple adjustment you can make in your playing to compensate for any finish. At least that’s been my experience.