Warmoth Satin Clear Neck — Refinish?

[JaySwear]

From my understanding of the satin clear finish is that it should clear up & polish a bit just from general use.

Yeah, my satin neck is almost a gloss in some places from use. I wish I had looked very carefully when I received it. Maybe it had small scuff marks as well, in which case I'd tell you that it would clear right up! But I'm pretty sure it did not.

And if the mineral streak bothers you then I wouldn't hesitate to try my options with a return.

 

[croquet hoop]

From my understanding of the satin clear finish is that it should clear up & polish a bit just from general use.

That seems likely, but still, what about the headstock? It's obviously not meant to be played, yet I doubt it is intended to look like that.

I'll check the "Just Out of the Box" category and see if someone just got a neck with the same finish, just to be sure (although I don't question your own experience).

 

[Jumble Jumble]

Do the refund, mate. The "it's meant to be like that" line is probably something they have to try at least once, but it's telling that they simultaneously offered to refund all your money. I have a satin neck that's not had much play yet, and it's dead smooth all over. And that was with international shipping.

 

[croquet hoop]

That's what I'm leaning towards, but I'm quite afraid to end up with something even worse, even if it's objectively not likely. On the one hand I have a fine piece of wood with a terrible finish, on the other hand I could get instead an average piece of wood with the same kind of finish... of course I could also get a nice neck with a nice finish, but for now it's a bit difficult for me to believe everything will be perfect.

 

[Cagey]

I wouldn't worry about getting something worse. But, the only way I'd send that neck back is if you can't stand that mineral stain or if it has some construction flaw. Satin necks will always show streaks where they've been in sliding contact with something hard (a fingernail will do) if you bounce the light off them sideways, and sometimes from straight on, and certainly after they've had some play. Similarly, bouncing light can show glossy reflection where none really exists.

For instance, see this thread, where I burnish a neck. Looking at it from one end with the light at the other, it looks pretty glossy. Looking at it straight on, there's no reflection at all. Looks and feels like the finest satin. There's no finish on that neck. It's raw wood.

So, you may be setting yourself up for an 8 to 10 week wait on a new neck that's going to end up just like what you have, albeit without the stain.

If you do decide that stain is too much to live with, here's a suggestion: don't use Maple on the replacement. Use Canary, which has no finish, then burnish it like is showed in the thread above. The neck performance sound-wise is the same, you'll get the ultimate satin finish you want, you don't have to pay for lacquer or poly finish, and you'll get it two months faster. It'll be a slightly darker color, though, if that matters. Or, have it sent here and I'll burnish it, as well as install threaded inserts and finish the frets properly before forwarding it to you.

 

[croquet hoop]

Thanks for your input Cagey! Yes, I understand that satin finish evolve over time, however I don't think the one on my neck is right to begin with. gvhbngh (who displayed his newly arrived maple neck & swamp ash body) in the Out of the Box section) sent me pictures of his neck (maple with amber satin finish) whish looks smooth even when seen against the light, very much unlike mine. Plus, here are additional pictures of my neck:

It is a bit hard to capture, but there are clear cracks in the finish along the edge of the truss rod cover. And sure, the look of a satin finish changes according to how you look at it, but I don't think it should look like a mess from any angle. I'll try to rub it slightly with the packing foam it came with to see if it produces the same scratches, just to be sure, but honestly I'd be surprised if it would.

Actually, given the surface condition of my neck, I wonder what kind of work has been done on it. Has a nitro finish actually been applied, or just an uneven coat of sealer?

I have noted your suggestions on a Canary neck. I didn't know about this wood, and the description you give of it is very appealing. It is a bit too yellowish for the build I have in mind, and I'd rather try maple again, but I will keep that in mind for a future build.

For now, think I will go for an unfinished neck. I'm not uncomfortable with doing the finishing work myself, the problem with the one I got is that I am not sure where to start to refinish it properly, namely, how to strip it without messing with the fretwork before applying either coats of tru-oil or a waterbase satin varnish (KTM-SV)?

 

[Cagey]

Based on the pictures you've now shown, I'd be sending the thing back even if it weren't for the wood flaw. That's a pitiful finish, and I'd never in a million years expect that from Warmoth.

I'm beginning to think something is going on in quality control...

I understand they have a new production manager. Perhaps somebody should inform him that this isn't his grandfather's guitar parts company. For what they charge, we expect perfection, or we'll just order parts from any old ass hole that comes along for a lot less money, or just start ordering OEM garbage from Fender (or whoever). There's certainly competition out there from USACG, Mighty Mite, Boogie Bodies, various Pacific Rim companies, etc.

 

[croquet hoop]

I'm beginning to think something is going on in quality control...

You got me curious, have there been other cases of flawed necks/bodies reported lately ?

For my part, I'm ready to believe that what I received is the kind of things they ship by mistake once in a millionth time. But their answer was not really reassuring, since Rob hardly acknowledged the neck as being flawed (although he offered to have it exchanged for free). I actually thought about asking for a refund and having a neck made by someone else, but the level of customization available at Warmoth and their usual standard of quality, at least from what I can read, seem too good to pass on.

So I'll give them a second try, and have it exchanged (for an unfinished neck, and maybe with SS frets instead). Thanks you guys for helping me in assessing the situation and taking a decision!

 

[leo12.]

With all the pics you have posted & they are clear that neck should still be at warmoth.
That is some half arsed attempt at sanding. I can't believe they discribed it as friction on
packaging, I think the guy at the end of the phone at Warmoth is just in sales, they should
get 2 long term paint guys out of the Finish room to look at the pics. SEND IT BACK .
??? ??? ???

 

[croquet hoop]

I sent the last pics to Rob, and told him that I settled for having the neck exchanged. Now waiting for the steps to follow, hopefully this time everything will go well 

 

[Cagey]

I'm beginning to think something is going on in quality control...

you got me curious, have there been other cases of flawed necks/bodies reported lately ?

None reported in public, but I got a body recently that I wouldn't have pushed through if I were them. Thing is, the flaw was so minor that if they stopped things up for this sort of thing, it's possible they'd never ship anything. It was just me being hyper-critical. Still, when you're asking your customers to pay more for a body than the Koreans charge for an entire guitar of first-rate quality, you'd better be playing your "A" game, or you're going out of business.

 

[croquet hoop]

Well that's reassuring (not your misfortune, but your view on things), at one point I had the impression of being unduly nitpicky 

 

[Jumble Jumble]

My graffiti yellow strat body has a black dot embedded in the finish on the back. It's on the back, so I don't care, but had it been on the front I think it would have had to go back. Also I've seen "Screamin Deals" with less glaring problems. However, I just wanted to get the damn thing built and it really, really doesn't matter.

Especially given the fact that, since then, I have dropped a pair of pliers on the back of the guitar. So that's what draws the eye now, if you happen to be looking at the back.

 

[Cagey]

...I have dropped a pair of pliers on the back of the guitar.

I hate when that happens <grin>

 

[croquet hoop]

Got my return authorization, now I'm wondering whether to order a new neck finished or not. I have some KTM-SV on hand and could order some tru-oil or get some shellac from the local art store, but that would be my first finishing job...

Or I could practise on a cheap neck while waiting for the new one to arrive, and maybe start a new topic to share the process and get some advice 

 

[Cagey]

I know I said it before, but it bears repeating: consider a raw neck. Up until a couple years ago, I'd have laughed at the very idea. But, seriously - they're wicked nice. The exotic woods Warmoth uses to make those things is often from areas near the equator where the trees grow very hard and strive to be impervious to environmental issues. It's a hard life and the hazards are non-stop due to a lack of seasonal changes and a year-round development opportunity for insects/bacteria/fungus/molds/etc. If you like a satin finish, they're a natural. They won't gloss up like an artificial finish will, they can't chip because there's nothing to chip off, on and on. They look fine, last a long time.

Of course, they usually cost more, but when you consider that you're going to save $100 or more by not applying a finish, it's usually a wash.

 

[croquet hoop]

I have actually given it a fair thought after you first suggested it, and browsed the selection of woods to see it I could find something. But I'd really like a pale neck for this build, and I don't think any wood would be suitable, even canary looks too dark for me.

However, I have been thinking of building a Telecaster wiyh dark woods for quite some time, so I think my neck project will actually use raw woods