C
chrisgr
Active member
Can't you just put a few coats of Tru-oil on it and call it a day?
Geo
Well-known member
Great discussion.
My #1 is a 76 straocaster that I put a Floyd on in the late 80's. I sanded all the finish off the fretboard and back of the neck. It's dirty, ugly and sounds amazing but now has a little back-bow happening and now the truss rod is loose and the neck only flatens when strung.
Is this because I never sealed it, or it just happens?
My #1 is a 76 straocaster that I put a Floyd on in the late 80's. I sanded all the finish off the fretboard and back of the neck. It's dirty, ugly and sounds amazing but now has a little back-bow happening and now the truss rod is loose and the neck only flatens when strung.
Is this because I never sealed it, or it just happens?
rstites
Well-known member
Whatever the factory put on the old Charvel necks feels raw, though I'm sure they did some basic oil. That's basically all I play though I've always used a bit of linseed oil on them ever now and then just to be certain. I've never had a problem and live in the midwest with extreme temp/humidity swings.
I really dislike heavy finishes and painted necks for feel.
I really dislike heavy finishes and painted necks for feel.
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Lickmaker
Member
Backbow is usually the result of excessive humidity. What's your typical environment like? It depends on what part of the world you are in....for me I'm in Ontario Canada, so our winters are brutally dry and are summers can get very humid. But I keep my house at 45% RH year round, so I never need to adjust any of my necks. Never.
Geo
Well-known member
I live in Pennsylvania, we too have long winters and humid summers. I love a raw neck too but the Tried & True is a nice feel as well, not sticky like poly.
S
Scot
Active member
Yes. But it builds fast and looks like plastic as it builds. Thin coats work but the full bottle will never stand the test of time b/c it quickly changes after it’s been exposed to air. It’s awful and a waste of money. Turpentine cuts it and make your bottle last longer, but ugh - turpentine? That shit sucks.
I’d wager a legitimately well roasted neck would thrive in Arizona.
Geo
Well-known member
I personally don't care for Tru-oil or Tung-oil.
Alpha Stryke
Well-known member
Don't care how its finished as long as its smooth.
Unfinished lumber is susceptable to bugs & rott.
Unfinished lumber is susceptable to bugs & rott.
Geo
Well-known member
I feel like you have to know what you are doing with nitro, Tried & True on maple and mineral oil on rosewood and ebony, you just can't fuck it up.
DanTravis62
Moderator
Staff member
It's actually stupidly easy to deal with, as far as spraying and polishing, and far more forgiving than anything else because you can literally just sand it off and start over with no ill effects - you just need the right safety equipment and a well ventilated area to do it. Which ends up being the difficult part for most people
Geo
Well-known member
Yeah, getting setup and prepped is not easy for everyone. And I like to use stuff that you can eat off of.
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Scot
Active member
I have a decent spray gun and a nice air brush. The air brush is a god-send. I don’t have a controlled spot to spray, so never use the gun, like ever. I’m a patient man and setting up for hrs or days sometimes just to perform one simple operation is in my wheelhouse, but the time it takes to clean-up the spray gun and everything else just to have sprayed for like, a minute. Hell no.
EGW-Eric
Member
I've sanded down lots of necks I've had and I live in the Chicago area, lots of brutal whiplash weather changes, and I've never had any kind of issues whatsoever in several decades. The only neck feeling I like a little better than that is a nice wenge.
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Lickmaker
Member
Yeah, the whole "it's going to warp" myth is overblown.
No it's not. We're not storing our unfinished necks outdoors in the elements...
