Hello All,

I have been playing my american strat for awhile now, and the shiny (is it laquer?) finish is beginning to bug me. Sometimes it grips my hand, I usually douse it in lemon oil for lubrication against my hand. After trying satin finished necks I've decided they are much more natural and easy to play.

I was thinking about sanding down the finish, starting from 4 ott steel wool and going down to a med/fine grit sandpaper. I want the neck to be smooth and raw, but i realize I should probably seal it with something.

Has anyone converted the back of their shiny maple neck into a duller satin-type finish? If so I need some pointers cause I don't wanna rape my baby from her american quality.

p.s. my neck has nicks and dings all over so I'm not worried about cosmetics, just playability and long term quality (no warping). I would prefer the neck to get dirty from my hands after this transformation...

Hi Highway Chile: it's a well known issue, and the solution is easier than the process you indicated.

All you need to do is get some grade 0000 wire wool (from any hardware store) and then go at the back of the neck gently with it. You need to do it just enough to take the shine off and then stop.

You don't want to go through the finish, because that'll let moisture get at the timber and in that direction problems with warping lie.

If you decide to do the fingerboard as well (if it's maple) then that's fine, but be aware that although that wire wool will shine your frets up beautifully it will also start to de-crown them a tad, which is less desirable. So do your best to keep it off the frets, as much as you can.

Good luck - C

I'd love to do that with my Gilmour but somehow I don't think that would be a good idea

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"Another day in paradise!"

thanks a lot, I wouldn't do it to a custom strat but Ill def do it with my betsie. shes chrome blue, a rare color...but i've chipped a lot of the poly off from slamming into things so making the neck smooth is no biggie.

Will this process give me a dirty lookin neck in a couple months? I hope so I love that, i hate to drop the R word, relic look....but only when its from actual playing. The idea of messing up a fine guitar to give it "character" is like not being yourself in life. my guitar has been through everything I have in the past couple years...and It sure as hell shows it!

I'll let you know, i'm having trouble posting pics but If I figure it out Ill show before and after!

Sincerely,

Highway Chile

[quote="Highway Chile"]Will this process give me a dirty lookin neck in a couple months?


......something my mother would never permit

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"Another day in paradise!"

well I can't decide if I'm done or not. There is still luster to the neck, but I can def tell some shine has been removed. The problem is now the neck is very....tacky against my hand. I'm just gonna keep rubbin untill I'm satisfied, if I have to go to bare wood, then so be it. I've probably spent about a half hour doing it carefully, rubbing in patterns.

The satin necks i've played are usually mexican, or relics...the wood feels so smooth and raw, thats what I'm going for. Maybe I should have started @ 3 ott and moved up to 4?

The neck will only get that dark, dirty look if you completely remove the finish ... the bare wood will absorb skin oils and dirt to get dark.

Just use the steel wool (wire wool in UK terminology) to get the shin off.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

Put paste wax on it then wipe it off with 0000 funiture wool. The paste wax will work as a lubricant as you wipe it off with the wool but it will bring down the sheen and keep the neck smooth. People that make high end furniture do that to remove the sheen but keep tops smooth and scratch free. Repeat if you want to bring it down more they say.

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

not familiar with paste wax Do you live in the states? if so I assume thats what it's called. If not maybe someone can interperet for my dumb $@!.

I decided against the 000 wool and just put lemon oil on my 0000 wool job and its alot better, but when it dries it might be tacky again. I'll let you know.

Thanks,

DG

Just funiture wax not like the spray polish stuff but like what you would rub on a car then wipe off.

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

well I decided to use the 000 steel wool, much more effective. The neck has lost the tacky grip and its pretty smooth. Me being me I think I'm gonna keep going untill I expose the bare wood. If its good enough for stevie its good enough for me.

Yeah, and the nice thing about satin is that the more it gets played, the better it gets. I am guessing that the natural oils and sweat from the player - over periods of time time - work their way into the neck. A nicely worn-in satin neck plays very smoothly, with better looks and playability than when it was new.

Just a humble observation...

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Laughing out loud with fear and hope, I have a desperate plan ...

I'd love to do that with my Gilmour but somehow I don't think that would be a good idea [/quote]

Don't do it Doc! You are not liking the neck finish on the Gilmour? I would not change anything on mine. Although the satin finish on the backside of the neck on my MIA Deluxe does feel good What the heck, go for it Doc!

Ah, noted: thank you!

With your help one day I'll have nailed your language. Now, where's my T-Cut...?

Cheers - C

And vice versa.

We'll have complete understanding both ways ...

now hand me that T-cut. Very handy stuff to have around.

I used some 3M version to remove some black permanent marker (Sharpies here in the USA) that someone ran along the entire length of my pickup truck.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.