which neck finish for best playability

[Smpl9]

how do you maintain [a raw neck], just a bit of polish or ... ? just curious

I don't really do anything to mine. Maybe wipe with some Naptha once in a blue moon.

The exotic woods that work well as necks/fretboards often don't need finishes because they're typically pretty hard, dense and tight-grained, so they don't need as much attention as one might imagine. Of course, nothing is immune to the sweat, oils and dead skin cell deposition that frequent handling incurs, so you need to get that off once in a while. But, Naptha. It's like duct tape. Everyone should have some around. A quick wipe with that, and you're good to go. Some guys will add some mineral oil after the fact in an attempt to keep the wood from getting too dry, but I'm not sure it accomplishes that. Seems like it just shortens the amount of time you can go between cleanings.

It's possible I may be sorry for that treatment 25 years from now, but I'm pretty sure I'll be dust at that point, so I'm having a hard time getting worked up about it.

my first warmoth neck that i have now with gloss is mahagony, fretboard was left as is. i made a list of the exotics listed in this thread and i'll pick one out for this next neck.  thanks for all the help. i'm sure i'll be back

 

[Last Triumph]

I've got a '59 raw Indian Rosewood with ebony on order - never played a raw neck before - hope it feels good?

 

[line6man]

I've got a '59 raw Indian Rosewood with ebony on order - never played a raw neck before - hope it feels good?

I nearly cried when I got mine. :blob7:
Raw Rosewood is amazing.

 

[Cagey]

I've got a '59 raw Indian Rosewood with ebony on order - never played a raw neck before - hope it feels good?

Rest assured, you are going to be very pleased. I've never heard of anyone not liking a raw neck. I've never even heard of anyone being ambivalent about it. Everybody loves them. The only reason so many guitars have finished necks is because the vast majority of them are made of either Maple or Mahogany, and those both need finishes or they'll turn into pretzels.

 

[SixString]

Rest assured, you are going to be very pleased. I've never heard of anyone not liking a raw neck. I've never even heard of anyone being ambivalent about it. Everybody loves them.

Yeah, after reading all the rave reviews here, my next guitar will definitely be getting a raw neck.  It pretty much has become my justification for another build  :icon_biggrin:

I think you made a wise choice Triumph!

 

[Jusatele]

I really like my Raw neck, but it did nit keep me from buying a guitar with a finished neck. I will say this, the only necks I do not like are dirty necks. if kept clean the are all ok, but once you play a raw neck you are impressed.

 

[Last Triumph]

I've got a '59 raw Indian Rosewood with ebony on order - never played a raw neck before - hope it feels good?

I nearly cried when I got mine. :blob7:
Raw Rosewood is amazing.

I look forward to it - however I think the tears will occur when I pay for it!

 

[AutoBat]

I've got a raw Wenge/Bloodwood SRV on order - never played a raw neck before - I know it'll feel good!

 

[Danuda]

I have never played a raw neck so I can't help there, but I have played glossy and tru-oil.  Once the tru-oil has dried completely (which can take some time) it feels much faster to me.  When your hands get sweaty when playing (like mine) the gloss feels a little sticky to me.  The tru-oil feels nice and quick no matter what for me.

 

[Smpl9]

thanks all for the info and opinions.

got me next neck spec'ed and now time to save

love this board for the help and education!

 

[Strat Avenger]

My Soloist has a satin clear finish, and it feels nice, but it will eventually polish up from use. All of my future builds will have raw necks with oil/wax hand-rubbed finish.

 

[Tipperman]

how do you maintain [a raw neck], just a bit of polish or ... ? just curious

I don't really do anything to mine. Maybe wipe with some Naptha once in a blue moon.

The exotic woods that work well as necks/fretboards often don't need finishes because they're typically pretty hard, dense and tight-grained, so they don't need as much attention as one might imagine. Of course, nothing is immune to the sweat, oils and dead skin cell deposition that frequent handling incurs, so you need to get that off once in a while. But, Naptha. It's like duct tape. Everyone should have some around. A quick wipe with that, and you're good to go. Some guys will add some mineral oil after the fact in an attempt to keep the wood from getting too dry, but I'm not sure it accomplishes that. Seems like it just shortens the amount of time you can go between cleanings.

It's possible I may be sorry for that treatment 25 years from now, but I'm pretty sure I'll be dust at that point, so I'm having a hard time getting worked up about it.

Why would you ever clean/take care of your instrument?  :laughing7:

 

[Cagey]

Like smoking, it's just a bad habit I developed many, many moons ago and can't seem to quit <grin>

 

[Smpl9]

My Soloist has a satin clear finish, and it feels nice, but it will eventually polish up from use. All of my future builds will have raw necks with oil/wax hand-rubbed finish.

sweet axe!!

almost certain i'll too go with a raw neck. the clear finish, for my hand, just a bit sticky

 

[Johnfv]

Jumping into this thread - my recent flametop Strat build has a raw goncalo neck with kingwood fretboard that is fantastic. I also did a Tele with an oil finish maple neck (pau ferro fretboard). I am now a big fan of the raw woods and/or light oil finish! I  have my eye on everything from canary to rosewood to wenge...

That said, it makes me wish I had done something different on the gloss poly Warmoth necks I have. They are a bit sticky and dead feeling compared to the raw stuff. I know some guys do steel wool, etc. to get a more satin feel - anyone have any specific suggestions?

 

[Ace Flibble]

To my hands, the 'fastest' necks are ones with a satin poly finish. Gloss nitro and poly have more drag and satin nitro rubs glossy fairly quickly. Raw necks are going to vary depending on what wood you're talking about; however, whichever wood you pick it's a simple fact that a properly applied, completely smooth satin finish will be smoother than exposed grain. Oil finishes, to me, don't feel any better than a satin nitro finish, although they don't have the problem of turning glossy.

Spraying satin poly is the most functional finish. Shame it's also next to impossible to spray thinly.

 

[Johnfv]

All this talk of raw necks has given me the GAS again!  Oh well, what are credit cards for? This will be my first rosewood (and 59 roundback also):

I'm still interested if anyone has specific experience in getting a better feel on the poly gloss finish necks...

 

[Cagey]

All this talk of raw necks has given me the GAS again!  Oh well, what are credit cards for?

That's what I always say. I recently bought an all-rosewood Warmoth neck, and I can't tell you how nice it is. But, it'll be a bit before I get to play it. It's going on a body that needs refinishing before anything else, so it'll be spring at least before I can make any progress there.

I'm still interested if anyone has specific experience in getting a better feel on the poly gloss finish necks...

Wash and dry your hands thoroughly before you play it. Makes all the difference in the world.

 

[Smpl9]

Jumping into this thread - my recent flametop Strat build has a raw goncalo neck with kingwood fretboard that is fantastic. I also did a Tele with an oil finish maple neck (pau ferro fretboard). I am now a big fan of the raw woods and/or light oil finish! I  have my eye on everything from canary to rosewood to wenge...

That said, it makes me wish I had done something different on the gloss poly Warmoth necks I have. They are a bit sticky and dead feeling compared to the raw stuff. I know some guys do steel wool, etc. to get a more satin feel - anyone have any specific suggestions?

i too love my kingwood fretboard. was/is my first custom neck.

 

[Strat Avenger]

I'm still interested if anyone has specific experience in getting a better feel on the poly gloss finish necks...

Wash and dry your hands thoroughly before you play it. Makes all the difference in the world.

And you're strings will last longer.