Finishing a neck and applying a decal

[ferranster]

Hi,

first of all sorry for another "how to finish a neck" post. I've been reading through for a while and I've seen millions of them, but because I'm a total newbie and I'm scared of screwing up I thought I might just post my own specific case to get specific help.

So I'm building a guitar for my brother as a present and I want to put my own decal on it to make it more "special". I've seen I can buy water-slide paper and print on it to then apply it to the neck. Is that any good?
If it is, once I have the decal should I apply it before or after the finish? I'm guessing before but you never know!

And finally, the neck is going to be maple for the shaft and indian rosewood on the fretboard. I've read you can get pretty nice finishes just with Tru Oil? I don't want to overcomplicate things as it is my first finishing job but I don't want to lose comfort or playabilty.
I've also seen on the forum that the rosewood "doesn't need to be finished". I guess that means it CAN be finished as well right? If so, does it make a big difference when playing? Is it "better" with or without a finish?

Any help appreciatted

And again, sorry for another boring, neck finish thread.


Thanks!

 

[Mor Paul]

So I'm building a guitar for my brother as a present and I want to put my own decal on it to make it more "special". I've seen I can buy water-slide paper and print on it to then apply it to the neck. Is that any good?
If it is, once I have the decal should I apply it before or after the finish? I'm guessing before but you never know!

It is good, and yes, before.

And finally, the neck is going to be maple for the shaft and indian rosewood on the fretboard. I've read you can get pretty nice finishes just with Tru Oil? I don't want to overcomplicate things as it is my first finishing job but I don't want to lose comfort or playabilty.
I've also seen on the forum that the rosewood "doesn't need to be finished". I guess that means it CAN be finished as well right? If so, does it make a big difference when playing? Is it "better" with or without a finish?

Tru Oil can produce good results, and do not apply tru oil to the rosewood. It may not take it (due to rosewood's oils), and it saves a lot of trouble because you do not have to mask the frets and all. Also, people like unfinished rosewood fingerboards.

 

[AutoBat]

^^I second Maxs opionins, and please do not finish the fretboard. the sides are fine, but not the playing portion, tape that off.

 

[ferranster]

Cool, thanks for the advice guys.

So for what you said and what I've read so far. I should sand the neck, put the decal in place and then start applying Tru Oil coats leaving each coat to dry for at least hours and then sanding again with 000 Steel Wool before applying the next coat?
And apply a total of 10 coats or so?


Thanks again.

 

[-CB-]

You can finish the fretboard if you like.  You'll need to scrape the frets, so no finish remains on them.  Its not hard.  FWIW, Rickenbacker applies finish to their boards... rosewood, maple.. whatever