Warmoth Neck: Luminlay not optimal (but won’t sent back)

[SharpCat]

I’ve owned 4-5 previous Warmoth necks. Some I love, some didn’t meet my needs. But they’ve all been top quality. TBH, this new neck is very nicely made. I’m just questioning a build detail. Mostly posting so others might be aware before ordering.

Oddly enough, this is my first Warmoth neck with factory finish. Everything prior has been finished by me, or used a wood that doesn’t need finish (like roast maple.) The new neck is a typical maple with rosewood but has a) Luminlay white-edged side marker dots and b) satin vintage (amber) finish.

Warmoth has been clear in their messaging that for necks with maple fretboards they, like Fender, will spray the finish after the frets are installed. But this is supposed to not be the case for rosewood, and the rosewood remains unfinished. On this neck, they didn’t spray the top of the fretboard, but did spray the sides. This would generally not be a big deal except for the Luminlay dots. Yep, you guessed it—the dots are all a uniform amber color. They do glow a bit but it’s subdued. I’ll have to gently sand the finish off the side of the fretboard to regain the dot functionality.

 

[onda'bass]

Good to know this, as I have been looking at those luminlay dots for a neck.

 

[SharpCat]

Would have been no big deal with clear finish I think.

 

[SharpCat]

Taped off at the edge of the fretboard, and after light sanding with 1500 grit Micromesh, things much better. Didn’t want to go too far, so there’s still a light yellow cast but the glow is decent. May hit it again if I get brave.

 

[Artman]

I probably would have sent it back, and asked them to redo it, but if sanding the edges is working well enough for you, then just rock on.

 

[SharpCat]

It was one of their screamin deals, so I think refund was my only other option.

 

[Mike Vee]

Glad it’s working out

 

[fretno]

Pics! Wait let’s see it before sanding

 

[SharpCat]

Sorry, no before pic. And the after pic was taken by a potato. The colors are wrong in the pic--the dots are actually light yellow and the neck is very amber. Before sanding, the fret wire ends and the dots were both amber as well.

 

[singlemalt]

The Luminlay rods are soft and sand easily. They should be embedded at least 5-6 mm deep. You won’t damage them by sanding until you have removed all the sprayed finish.

I always sand any necks, finished or not to 1500 grit. Not to take the finish off, but just to get it as smooth as I can. With a finished neck, I’ll start with 600 and work up to 1500. It only takes ten minutes to go thru the four grits I have on hand.

They should have installed the Luminlay dots last and sanded them smooth, but that’s a lot to ask from a big production shop.

 

[Bruce Johnson]

Sorry, no before pic. And the after pic was taken by a potato. The colors are wrong in the pic--the dots are actually light yellow and the neck is very amber. Before sanding, the fret wire ends and the dots were both amber as well.
View attachment 7266050

You can also scrape the paint off of just the dots themselves, rather than sand the whole edge of the fingerboard. Some careful work with a knife tip and magnifying glasses. That will brighten them up some more. Lumilay dots are the brightest when the surface is clear of any coating and is polished. Any sanding scratches will dull the light intensity.

 

[Texan]

Lumilay dots were a disappointment for me. They only glow for a few minutes and are difficult to see when not glowing. I wound up covering them with dots of white fingernail polish and I can see them perfectly.