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Post subject: Maple Necks
Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 7:39 pm
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Hey guys,

Does anyone know how the tone of maple necks is determined. I went to some stores and saw that the american deluxe v neck model had a very dark maple neck while the newer 2008 standard models have a lighter maple tone....is this deliberate or just by chance. I was wondering because I just ordered a v-neck and I would really like it to be a darker maple neck...is there any way of guaranteeing this or is it just something you have to wait and see?

Thanks!


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Post subject: Re: Maple Necks
Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 9:27 pm
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[quote="PlikityPlack"]Hey guys,

You're apparently talking about neck color and the theme for that. I've never been able to get a handle on what the designers try to address. For example, consider the new Gilmour. I suppose one might call that 'vintage', but my '58's neck was lighter than that. My Clapton neck evern lighter, almost bleached. Now the new '08 is going to a slightly darker tint. than it was.

I expect that with the MIA Deluxe you'll get your preference. As far as surface texture, I prefer the satin as opposed to the gloss, and a V-neck which they did not offer on that guitar on first release. If they finally offer one on the VG I might consider the purchase.

:wink: Doc

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Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 7:08 am
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If the neck is lighter than what you prefer, you could always shoot it with some ReRanch Vintage Gloss Nitro. :wink:

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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 7:13 am
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The general theory is that back in the "golden era" supposedly clear lacquer in fact had a degree of tint to it from the moment of first application. And further, that nitrocellulose lacquer usually has a tendancy to darken with age, due to internal chemical change as well as the accumulation of airbourne contaminants, most particularly nicotine.

So these days makers often offer options on clear or tinted lacquer, so as to emulate those genuinely old necks. You will most often see "honey" tinted lacquer (whether nitro or polyurethane) on reissue type instruments, which is why it also frequently goes hand in hand with V-shape necks, thin frets, vintage tuners and other period detail.

So, will a modern lacquer that is strongly tinted become even darker with time? We must wait and see. If so, then presumably at some point there will have to be a "reissue of a 2008 reissue of a 1950s guitar" with very dark lacquer indeed, as well as other period accurate details such as Kluson-type tuners with the word "Gotoh" printed somewhere upon them...

It all makes your head ache, and in anycase the likely nonsense of it all is shown by ZZDoc's observation that quite often 50 year old instruments have very pale necks, not honey colored at all.

Go figure...

Cheers - C


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Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 7:40 am
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[quote="Ceri"]The general theory is that back in the "golden era" supposedly clear lacquer in fact had a degree of tint to it from the moment of first application. And further, that nitrocellulose lacquer usually has a tendancy to darken with age, due to internal chemical change as well as the accumulation of airbourne contaminants, most particularly nicotine.


Here is someone who never ceases to amaze me with his knowledge base. It needs to be mentioned that it is likely that ultraviolet light destabilization is the cause of the color change in nitrocellulose laquers.

Perhaps, if Orville picks this up, he can send us pics of his famously numbered "other' :wink: guitar.

Doc :wink:

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Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 7:53 am
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I'm not exactly sure what you want to see. As for yellowing of neck finishes, the old ones are cool, but I like the early '70s where they used nitro just on the face of the headstock and a polyurethane elsewhere on the neck. As they aged, just the face yellowed ... I find that cool.

Unfortunately, I couldn't find a good picture of that contrast within one neck.

But, just for a picture, here's a 4-digit-serial-numbered strat (one of the first 1500 I figure):

Image

The fretboard was oversprayed when it got refretted a decade or so ago.
My guitars are all players, so I didn't hesitate getting them refretted when they needed it. And you can see that the low E string falls off the high number frets! :lol:

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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 8:12 am
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zzdoc wrote:
Here is someone who never ceases to amaze me with his knowledge base.


Aw, shucks. Now I'm all embarrassed. :oops: :oops:

What you got to bear in mind is that talking about this stuff all day long may secretly be a substitute for actually being any good at playing the blinking things. I realised a long, long time ago that I was unlikely ever to be headlining at Wembley or Madison Square Garden. People who look that realisation in the face have to find some other direction to pursue.

And a horrifying glimpse behind the curtain: you are talking to someone who studies this nonsense when he really should be doing better things. My wife is in publishing and brings to bed manuscripts of the latest world changing literary phenomena. I bring to bed – the Stewart MacDonald catalogue. Or Dan Erlewine’s book on guitar finishing. Or books about pearl inlay. Or guitar electronics – and I still can’t understand those ones…

Suddenly it all seems just a little bit sad, doesn’t it?

Still, one day perhaps I’ll show you some of my own little efforts (within the rules of the Forum, of course). At which point you may discover that all your thoughtful ideas about neck shape, for example, are not just disappearing into the ether...

Hey ho - C :?


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Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 8:32 am
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[quote="orvilleowner"]I'm not exactly sure what you want to see. As for yellowing of neck finishes, the old ones are cool, but I like the early '70s where they used nitro just on the face of the headstock and a polyurethane elsewhere on the neck. As they aged, just the face yellowed ... I find that cool.

Exactly what I wanted to see, and similar to my old guitar. What one usually sees hanging on the wall in the stores in 'vintage' paint ala dewie's inquiry is consistent with the look of the new Gilmour's neck. Not my preference against a sunburst finish.

Thanks.

Doc. :wink:

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Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 8:33 am
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I dare say both you and your spouse each bring something valuable to the table.

Doc


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