I've heard of a bunch of guitars with maple necks having stability issues when left without a finish, but when the finish is stripped, either through a relicing process, or naturally over time, i've never heard of any stability issues. What especially comes to mind are the relics or old guitars that a lot of touring guitarists use. It seems like their guitars would especially need a finish going from one climate to another so often, but they continue to play the same guitar night after night without issues. What gives?
Reliced Neck Confusion
- Thread starter NLD09
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Worn out finishes technically get a new finish applied after the paint wears off. But it's an oil finish, created by your hands as you play.
It generally doesn't wear off in huge chunks so the coverage is usually good enough to keep it stable. YMMV depending on your body chemistry.
It generally doesn't wear off in huge chunks so the coverage is usually good enough to keep it stable. YMMV depending on your body chemistry.
jackthehack
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If you're talking about a vintage guitar ('60s or earlier) on which the finish has been actually worn off through playing over the decades you CAN have issues if enough finish is stripped off and the environment is generally humid.
Super Turbo Deluxe Custom
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Well, with the Warmoth finish and Maple necks, there is no guarantee of warpage. There is just a higher percentage of them without a finish do warp, so a hard finish is a good idea.
Also, as other forum members have stated, there is a ridiculously high number of "vintage" guitar necks out there. More than there should be. In the 2000s, we're seeing a high circulation of guitars that are 40+ years old, yet in the 60s and 70s, these same make guitars were wornout at only 10 years old. Conclusion, a lot of "vintage" necks out there are repros. There's plenty of guys out there that know how to apply waterslide decals and finish necks.
Also, as other forum members have stated, there is a ridiculously high number of "vintage" guitar necks out there. More than there should be. In the 2000s, we're seeing a high circulation of guitars that are 40+ years old, yet in the 60s and 70s, these same make guitars were wornout at only 10 years old. Conclusion, a lot of "vintage" necks out there are repros. There's plenty of guys out there that know how to apply waterslide decals and finish necks.
Where is it, exactly, that you hear this stuff? I personally know of a lot of old Fender bass necks warping, but it seems like maple guitar necks hold up pretty well - I've never "heard" of any solid statistical evidence other that what Warmoth says -
In my opinion, the double truss rods used by Warmoth, Schecter and others are probably pretty much invincible, if you're going to run into problems it's almost by definition going to be the single-acting vintage type rods. I cant really conceive of what you could do to a Warmoth modern construction neck that would get the wood to overwhelm the truss rod. And with the degree to which you can do a "satin" type finish with Tru-Oil or very, very thin poly, I can't really understand why raw seems like a good option anyway. :dontknow:
arty07:stubhead said:
I searched warped maple neck in the search box here, as well as online. It's more that I hear of an unfinished maple neck having issues at all, whereas i've never once heard of a reliced neck, or a well used neck having problems ever, even on some of the oldest, most abused guitars ever (SRVs number one, rory gallagher's strat, even the strat jimi hendrix burned was put back together and worked fine). bass guitars are a whole other story though.
jackthehack
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NLD09 said:
Maybe, but all those guys have guitar techs that can tweak the necks on a daily/weekly/basis....
I kept my first warmoth maple pro neck unfinished for six months or so and it was always straight as an arrow. Who knows if that's meaningful in this convo though. I would be tempted to do it again with a bass neck purchase, seeing as how there's the double truss plus the steel rods in it, but now that I'm living in the NE with the weather changes here I'm a bit more cautious.
