Complete novice looking for info about finishing with tung oil

[oldmanriver]

I'm getting a solid Koa VIP body and I'm not sure about what do to for the finish. I'm either going to have Warmoth spray on a clear gloss coat or apply tung oil to it myself. I have some questions:

Does an oil finish allow for more resonance in the body compared to a polyurethane finish, similar to the sound difference between a raw and finished neck?

Is it easy to apply? How long will it take? How many coats will it need and how will know when I've applied enough?

Will I need to apply more tung oil every year or so to keep the wood protected if I go that route, or does it dry permanently?

Thank you all very much, kind people.

 

[bagman67]

Hey, OldManRiver.

You're on dangerous territory with some folk, but the prevailing (not to say universal) wisdom here is that the finish makes no difference in the sound of your electric guitar.

Oil finishes do tend to be easy to apply, and are more easily repaired than lacquer, which is in turn more easy to repair than polyurethane.  Some folks here have had good luck with wipe on poly gel type finishes; others have had bad luck.  I would search the DIY Finishing forum for war stories, tips, and finishing schedules.

I cannot speak to tung oil in particular, but I know some oils benefit from periodic reapplication.  Again, check the DIY Finishing thread.

Peace

Bagman