Why Charvel/EVH/Fender have pale colored raw maple necks?

[Thunkful]

When compared to replacement necks from Warmoth and Musikraft, they really have a pale color to them that i really like. Are they using a different species of maple or why's that?

 

[jet66]

IMO, the finish they are using is just exceptionally clear. I've got newer Charvels ranging from made in the past few months to made 10 years ago, all (but one) has that pale look. The oldest one is a MIA Pro Mod, it had zero finish, just an oiling. Over time it has picked up that mild tint from being rubbed by my sometimes grubby hands, but started quite pale. The one that looks mildly tinted from day 1 is a MIJ Pro Mod, and it was in the specs that it was a tinted satin poly. The others have a matte poly, and all look pale. Time will tell if it yellows at all.

 

[Thunkful]

IMO, the finish they are using is just exceptionally clear. I've got newer Charvels ranging from made in the past few months to made 10 years ago, all (but one) has that pale look. The oldest one is a MIA Pro Mod, it had zero finish, just an oiling. Over time it has picked up that mild tint from being rubbed by my sometimes grubby hands, but started quite pale. The one that looks mildly tinted from day 1 is a MIJ Pro Mod, and it was in the specs that it was a tinted satin poly. The others have a matte poly, and all look pale. Time will tell if it yellows at all.

Ah i see. Musikraft and Warmoth probably use oil finishes that darkens the wood a bit then.

It looks great either way tho. Really gotta save up for my next partscaster build!

 

[skullfxr]

Just the finish in my experience.

 

[Zado]

Because they dont want me to buy one

 

[Thunkful]

Because they dont want me to buy one

Lol, i think it looks pretty cool.

Regardless, would the fact that if the maple is quatersawn or not affect the color maybe?

 

[MrDowntown]

i got a "brand new" 5150 series for Christmas... neck & board was almost white...very pristine. i think they are supposed to have a "hand rubbed Urethane" on them...but i swear they feel naked to me. which i am OK with,,, i like naked

if you like the nasty-dirty-road worn look of a maple board, this is THE finish for you. With only a few hours of play time,,, the board is completely stained. i'm ok with that as well...

ETA: IMO, it's the kind of Urethane that's being used that gives the wood almost a "bleached" or white-washed look about it. may be just a fad and in time pass to everyone wanting a darker look, or whatever, so they tint the urethane slightly.

 

[atrox]

My Musikraft neck is lighter than my other 3 Charvel's maple necks actually. I ordered it unfinished though and finished it myself with Tru-Oil.

The Tangerine has a MusiKraft neck

 

[Thunkful]

i got a "brand new" 5150 series for Christmas... neck & board was almost white...very pristine. i think they are supposed to have a "hand rubbed Urethane" on them...but i swear they feel naked to me. which i am OK with,,, i like naked

if you like the nasty-dirty-road worn look of a maple board, this is THE finish for you. With only a few hours of play time,,, the board is completely stained. i'm ok with that as well...

ETA: IMO, it's the kind of Urethane that's being used that gives the wood almost a "bleached" or white-washed look about it. may be just a fad and in time pass to everyone wanting a darker look, or whatever, so they tint the urethane slightly.

I see, is it one of those non striped 5150s that came out recently or something else?

Tbh i'm ok with every color variation as long as it is oil finished maple

My Musikraft neck is lighter than my other 3 Charvel's maple necks actually. I ordered it unfinished though and finished it myself with Tru-Oil.

The Tangerine has a MusiKraft neck

Beauties! Was that purple Charvel's neck that dark when you got it or did it turn like that after a while?

 

[atrox]

Beauties! Was that purple Charvel's neck that dark when you got it or did it turn like that after a while?

Thank you! It was that dark when i got it, but i got it a year ago and it's a 2009 guitar, so not sure how dark it was new. Here is my 2009 San Dimas and my MIM 7 string for comparison. They may be a touch lighter than my purple guy, but in real life, they are all very close and the MusiKraft is significantly lighter.

 

[MrDowntown]

i got a "brand new" 5150 series for Christmas... neck & board was almost white...very pristine. i think they are supposed to have a "hand rubbed Urethane" on them...but i swear they feel naked to me. which i am OK with,,, i like naked

if you like the nasty-dirty-road worn look of a maple board, this is THE finish for you. With only a few hours of play time,,, the board is completely stained. i'm ok with that as well...

ETA: IMO, it's the kind of Urethane that's being used that gives the wood almost a "bleached" or white-washed look about it. may be just a fad and in time pass to everyone wanting a darker look, or whatever, so they tint the urethane slightly.

I see, is it one of those non striped 5150s that came out recently or something else?

yes,,, the non-striped series, in rocket red...though IMO, it's closer to ''80's orange/pink than red...it's a bizarre color for sure; fucker is neon. i dig it though...

 

[sytharnia1560]

would the fact that if the maple is quatersawn or not affect the color maybe?

no

 

[skullfxr]

would the fact that if the maple is quatersawn or not affect the color maybe?

no

+1 No that has nothing to do with it,unless the wood would be harvested from different trees in different areas where a manufacturer got the maple from that was quaetersawn. I had a general engineerimg undergrad class over a decade ago that was specific to wood and plant materials from harvesting to applications to finishing. It was quite interesting. So I actually do know a little bit about the topic.

 

[Thunkful]

+1 No that has nothing to do with it,unless the wood would be harvested from different trees in different areas where a manufacturer got the maple from that was quaetersawn. I had a general engineerimg undergrad class over a decade ago that was specific to wood and plant materials from harvesting to applications to finishing. It was quite interesting. So I actually do know a little bit about the topic.

I see, well Maple is maple regardless the colour, sound and feel are the things that matter the most to me in the end!

yes,,, the non-striped series, in rocket red...though IMO, it's closer to ''80's orange/pink than red...it's a bizarre color for sure; fucker is neon. i dig it though...

Love that particular color Companies really should release more super strats in neon colors!

 

[voodooradio1]

IMO, the finish they are using is just exceptionally clear. I've got newer Charvels ranging from made in the past few months to made 10 years ago, all (but one) has that pale look. The oldest one is a MIA Pro Mod, it had zero finish, just an oiling. Over time it has picked up that mild tint from being rubbed by my sometimes grubby hands, but started quite pale. The one that looks mildly tinted from day 1 is a MIJ Pro Mod, and it was in the specs that it was a tinted satin poly. The others have a matte poly, and all look pale. Time will tell if it yellows at all.

Ah i see. Musikraft and Warmoth probably use oil finishes that darkens the wood a bit then.

It looks great either way tho. Really gotta save up for my next partscaster build!

With Warmoth, there are several options as to neck finish. The vintage nitro is definitely darker than what you see on an off the shelf Fender Strat.

 

[skullfxr]

+1 No that has nothing to do with it,unless the wood would be harvested from different trees in different areas where a manufacturer got the maple from that was quaetersawn. I had a general engineerimg undergrad class over a decade ago that was specific to wood and plant materials from harvesting to applications to finishing. It was quite interesting. So I actually do know a little bit about the topic.

There are a ton of different species of maple trees, also the wood can very in different locations pending the structure of the soil and the amount of rain and even the climate.

I won't further bore you. Lol.

But yeah that doesn't affect the playability. Lol

 

[Thunkful]

.

 

[JackTripper]

I remember some of the Pro Mods had maple necks with zero grain of figuring, giving them a "formica" appearance.

 

[sytharnia1560]

There are a ton of different species of maple trees, also the wood can very in different locations pending the structure of the soil and the amount of rain and even the climate.

I won't further bore you. Lol.

But yeah that doesn't affect the playability. Lol

yep .... I cut down and planked a heap of New Zealand grown Alder and it looks nothing like the Alder used on US guitars. It is WAY lighter in weight. Tone is hard to judge but it sounds a little warmer