Risks of not finishing a neck?

[willievega]

Also, the thickness of the neck will be a factor. I bought two Boat contour necks twenty years ago, made of solid Rosewood with Ebony F.B. One was stolen, the other is on a Tele guitar I recently put together. It has never had a finish. I sanded it to a thickness I liked about 15 years ago. I live in a swamp (Miami), and never encountered a problem. I think with Maple, it may depend on the amount of natural rigidity and mineral deposits inherent in your particular neck. I figure if you already put some hours into it, and left a bunch of finger oils on the neck, you should damn the torpedos and throttle full bore. Next time though................come on man, choose a wood that doesn't need a finish! I love a Bubinga neck, Rosewood rocks, I have a GA coming on Mon. A Wenge is next. Any of those necks are killer, and a crime to put a finish on.  Play the shit outta it, they love to be played RAW!!!!! :rock-on:  :rock-on:  :rock-on:  :rock-on:  :rock-on:  :rock-on:  :rock-on:  :rock-on:  :rock-on:  :rock-on:

 

[guitar113]

I'm pretty sure Warmoth doesn't honor Shellac sealer but do you guys think its a good quality sealer against neck warpage?

 

[Steve_Karl]

I have a G&L F-100 ii made in 1981 ... maple neck very hard and nice finish.
( ASIDE: Are they done in nitro or poly ? Knowing this would really turn my light bulb on when it comes to recognizing materials used )

Anyway ... within about a month of getting that guitar (new first owner) I got my pen knife out and scraped all the finish off of the maple fretboard.
It was just a bit too sticky to play. So, the fretboard on that guitar has been raw, except for a few coatings of lemon pledge
since that time.

Yes ... I know *now* about Pledge having more silicon that PPGs toxic dump, but I didn't know until
I started hanging out here.

When it has gotten dirty looking I cleaned it with rubbing alcohol. I'll be modifying that behavior also since I have been becoming more educated
by reading things here. ( thank you all ! )

Anyway that neck is still in fine shape but I haven't played it much at all for the past 10 yrs.
but there was a time when it was the only thing I played, every day for a few years.

That guitar also has the strongest finish I've ever seen on any guitar I've ever owned.