I have always played Fender guitars, but I am very curious about some different necks. I have noticed that lots of companies, like Gibson, paint the neck and headstock. Does this affect the playability or feel of the neck?
This might sound like a stupid question, but I have been kind of curious lately. I have an SG, and do not like the neck to begin with, therefore I don't trust myself to judge.

Neck finish plays a big part in playability for me, that's the ONLY thing i didn't care for on my 62 hot rod when i got it. nitro is very sticky to play on until its broken in completely.
and i generally stay away from gloss neck finishes when possible. so far my favorite is tung oil or raw exotic wood, it is so smooth you get spoiled rotten
since i put together that strat with the raw bubinga neck i have neglected my hot rod I think I might sand the nitro off and tung oil it...........

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You can actually take a scotchbrite pad to the back of your neck to "speed it up". it will remove the gloss and feel faster. It will dull up the finish, but if you willing to take sandpaper to it, try this first. I've done it to a few of mine, and I like the results.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxGz6IZ9BFI

found this video so you can see.

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"Where would rock and roll be without feedback?"

I do that regularly, but i polish spots with my thumb not to long afterwards.
and its still not as smooth as raw wood. much easier to just have it removed

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Have you tried a good guitar polish on the back of the neck?

Can work wonders...

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-T

"You can't spend what you ain't got, you can't lose what you ain't never had" ~ McKinley Morganfield

There are three main types of neck finishes regardless of what is used to finish it with.

Glossy - This is what you'll find on most Gibson necks, and on many other brands including some Fenders. You get the most shine with this type of finish, but to most players it can feel a little sticky at times. Especially when you have to deal with sweat. To keep a glossy neck playing fast, you should probably wipe it down as needed. Or at least whenever you're done playing. Most of the time a dry polish cloth will work just fine, but I like using Dunlop 65 Guitar Polish whenever the dry cloth doesn't cut it. The Dunlop polish is a little pricey, but a little goes a long way and it makes a huge difference in the way your guitar feels and looks.

Satin - Satin finishes have a feel closer to bare wood, and the texture makes it easier to glide up and down the neck faster without getting "stuck" to sweat and grime. Most Fenders have satin finished necks, as do other companies. Personally, I much prefer satin necks to glossy ones. They just feel a lot better to me.

Tung Oil (or other Oil) - Some people don't bother to spray any finish on their guitar necks at all. Instead, they use Tung Oil to seal the wood while retaining more of the wood's natural feel. Most commonly people use this technique in guitars they've assembled themselves. They feel very good, but some say that the oil finish makes the neck more prone to warping. So you won't find many companies using it to finish their guitar necks with. I haven't had any experience with oil finished necks, I didn't want to risk warping when I put my Forum Caster together so I had a local luthier finish the neck in satin nitro.

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Hi FatNWeak: good posts above, to which I have nothing to add. But just to address something you asked -

Guitar makes nearly all use polyurethane on their necks, or sometimes nitrocellulose, especially if it's a "vintage" spec'd instrument. And, as mentioned, a few use tung oil or gunstock oil instead. Do I remember right, I think MusicMan often use an oil and wax finish?

When we talk about "paint" on guitars, that really just means urethane or nitro with pigment mixed in to colour it. So even if it's black or dark red on the back of a Gibson neck that is simply the same finish as clear lacquer. With or without colour can have no influence on playability or tone - it's the same material.

Cheers - C

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i use a mix of bees wax and lemon oil on the back of my necks you rub it on let it dry then buff it. makes the neck very slick. before that i used to put baby powder on my neck hand does the same thing.

I used to remove the finish on my old guitars 30 to 20 years ago but nowadays I don't care about the finish on the back. I'm comfortable with all finishes so far and it doesn't make a difference to me.

I have satin finish, gloss finish and no finish on my Strat necks (the latter I got this way, it was sanded down already). I don't care at all.

Maybe it comes with mileage, I don't know. I can remember myself getting a little pissed off when I started playing the guitar because some necks felt really sticky and were ok after removing the finish.

I can't remember even thinking about removing the finish since ... err .... maybe the mid 90s.

I really don't know, I'm just guessing but maybe you simply adapt way easier after many years of playing?

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Kindest regards from Germany, Dee
My recordings --> http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_mu ... dID=564337
STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!

Smokin' Frets is correct. It makes no difference, well maybe if your Keith Richards or Jeff Beck! Otherwise, turn off the computer and practice if you want to notice an improvement. Notice I'm not one to practice what I preach??

My experience comes from bass necks so take it for what it's worth. Nitro and painted necks are a bit stickier. (atleast until Nitro is broken in or you do it artificially) Modern Fender necks give you the best "off the rack feel". However, it's my experience that a well broken in Nitro neck is the best neck. That's just personal preference.

For what it's worth the two best necks I have ever had my hands on were a Relic'd CS 51RI Precision, and a MIM Roadworn 50's P bass. Two very different price tags for a very similar feel and playability.

Now, all that being said. Does it matter what I play? Not really. Any adjustments I need to make will be done after a few tunes on the new neck. Just like with neck shapes and widths and radius'. There are those I prefer, and those I don't. However, I can play them all.

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2012 Fender Custom Shop 55 Precision Bass
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2014 Fender Super Bassman and Bassman 100T/410 Neo