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Satin Finished Necks...better or cheaper?

B

Bluesbreaker5

Mar 24, 2006
269
0
#1
I own 2 used Fender basses that I like very much, mostly because they both have the gloss-hard finish necks. I guess I perceive the gloss-hard finish to be better for the neck and does not feel as cheap as the satin finish that's on the newer necks.

So my perception is that the satin neck finish is not better but simply cheaper to make. How far off is my perception? I've never tried it, but it looks like you can dent and mar the satin finish necks much easier than the hard finished necks.

Why did Fender (and some others) go to the satin finish? Just wondering if I should even try to change my perception.
 
#2
I know I prefer satin finishes because they are smoother and less sticky. I wouldn't say they were significantly cheaper.

You may prefer a gloss finish for it's hardness but others may prefer a stain finish for it's playability as I do. That's not to say I won't play a gloss finished neck though.

Neither is better and neither is cheaper (to my knowledge at least).
 
#3
I'm also a satin person.

I think satin finishes give an advantage. My left hand stuck to the neck and didn't glide fast. Kind of got stuck. But not anymore. My Brice used to have a somewhat gloss finish on it. I sanded that down applied a couple coats of tung oil, and it's super fast now.
 
#6
i like satin way more than gloss--in fact, gloss feels cheap to me, in absolute opposition to your opinion! :p

back in high school, i'd play a cheapy olympic white squier with a cheesy gloss neck, so now i associate olympic white and gloss necks with bad quality.

...oddly enough, my geddy and the spector that i've still got around for the time being have gloss necks. :hmm:
 
#15
My first thought upon feeling a gloss finish neck is : "where's my sandpaper". 2 parts gloss + 1 part sweat= 3 parts glue IME. My roscoe Becks have gloss finish, but I sanded the 1 I usually play and it's so much sleeker . In comparing graphite necks, I've played Modulus, Status and Zon. The 1st 2 are smooth/shiny like gloss and I much prefer the satin finish of the Zon.
 
#16
I prefer oil finish, but satin seems to tolerate weather changes better and it's less work to maintain satin.

One thing to remember is that when a lot of guys say their hand is sticking to the neck, adopting proper left-hand technique will place only your thumb on the back, which reduces the amount of contact on the back of the neck. The reduced surface area contact definitely decreases resistance.
 

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