Smoothness of rosewood

[notid]

Hi guys.

I just put together my SG style clone, and it is awesome! I will have pics and soundclips very soon.

This is my first guitar with a raw neck. Rosewood feels really really nice. I am so much more pleased with this one that my first warmoth. And I love that one.

I do have a couple of questions though-- they don't seem directly related to some of the threads about raw neck care, but forgive me if these have been answered:

1) The back of the neck feels a little rough. When I put the guitar together it was very hot outside, so I'm unsure of whether this is a result of my sweaty hands getting into the grain, or if it's the grain itself. The back of the headstock feels a whole lot smoother than the back of the neck, but it's a different piece of rosewood. Is there a way to tell if it needs cleaning and/or light sanding? I want to make sure that I don't ruin this awesome (and expensive) neck in the process by making guesses.

2) There seems to be a lot of mixed thoughts about raw neck care here (http://www.unofficialwarmoth.com/index.php?topic=798.0). The only thing that seems uncontested is using lemon oil. How often would you apply it and how much would you apply?

Many thanks,
Bryce

 

[Wana_make_a_guitar]

I have a raw rosewood neck, and I agree, it's amazing. Very fast and super comfy.
When I first got mine it was a little rough, but two or three weeks of playing will just smoothen that out. As for cleaning, I got no idea, I just rub mine down with an almost dry, damp rag. I think every few months you're supposed to rub it down with napatha (Sp?) or some kind of alcohol based wood cleaner of some sort, but don't quote me on that, I'm not sure and I haven't done it yet.

 

[bob7point7]

You can probably use some 0000 steel wool or ultra fine scotch brite to help smooth out the rosewood. I oil all of my raw necks with orange oil every 6 months or so. So far they are all looking and feeling as good as new. Congrats on the new build!

-Bobbie

 

[notid]

Is there any risk using 0000 steel wool on it? Should I just be very gentle with it?

I've heard so many mixed things about using lemon or orange oil due to the solvents in it. I've heard that it is just mineral oil with solvents. Maybe a naptha cleaning and mineral oil rehydration wouldn't hurt?

 

[Nando Vallart]

well, using 0000 you want it to get even smoother, so no need to use streght, be gentle... you can also use MIcro Mesh:

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Finishing_supplies/Abrasives,_polishes,_buffers/Micro-Mesh_Finishing_Abrasives_Kit.html
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Finishing_supplies/Abrasives,_polishes,_buffers/Micro-Mesh_Soft_Touch_Finishing_Pads.html

 

[notid]

well, using 0000 you want it to get even smoother, so no need to use streght, be gentle... you can also use MIcro Mesh:

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Finishing_supplies/Abrasives,_polishes,_buffers/Micro-Mesh_Finishing_Abrasives_Kit.html
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Finishing_supplies/Abrasives,_polishes,_buffers/Micro-Mesh_Soft_Touch_Finishing_Pads.html

Thanks for the advice. I think my plan is to wait 2 weeks to see if my hands "sand" it down naturally. If that doesn't do it then I will try using these pads. I'm a little paranoid of messing up the raw neck-- is this a common thing to do with a new warmoth rosewood neck?

Any other thoughts on the cleaning/oiling the neck? The more I read about it the more I realize there are so many opinions as to what to do with rosewood (some say lemon oil is good, some say it's bad for the neck; some say linseed oil is good, some say it's bad for the neck). I'm having trouble sifting through the material and deciding what to do.

Thanks,
Bryce

 

[Nando Vallart]

Your hands will "sand" it, but not sure if two weeks will work... play a lot for a month and perhaps it works

 

[Patrick from Davis]

The neck comes with a sealer on it, and this can feel, uh, odd.  Playing and a very small amount one of the furniture cleaner sprays (the stuff grandma uses on antiques) will get rid of it.  Most of the oils out there, Lemon, and furniture maintenance products are based on silicon oil.  I try to avoid metal wools because they tend to shed a lot and that gets in the pickups if you're not really careful.  On my Bocote (Mexican Rosewood) neck, I put a very small amount of oil on a cloth, rub on a bit and then find a dry section of the cloth to rub it out.  The sealer felt a little gummy to me, but it is gone now and the neck feels fantastic.
Patrick

 

[bob7point7]

I'll agree that for any product you can find those who swear by it and those who say it will ruin your neck. This is the oil I've been using:
http://www.howardproducts.com/orange.htm
It's not supposed to contain any silicone or wax. So far, I haven't noticed any ill effects from this stuff, it just seems to remoisturize the wood. No matter what you go with for sanding or for oiling, I think the key is to go slow and try a little at a time.

Good luck!
-Bobbie

 

[jmohil]

As far as cleaning/moisturizing, I use Gerlitz guitar honey on my fretboards and raw necks whenever they start looking a dried out.  Great stuff.