Does anyone know if Fender has ever done an unfinished neck on any of their USA guitars? Or even if they will do one on their CS guitars?

In years past, I've only seen it with some rosewood necks. Maple and mahogany necks must have a finish on them for protection.

As to whether they will do it on their CS guitars, only Fender's CS personnel can definitively answer that. I would tend to doubt it unless they gave you this huge disclaimer about how the unsealed wood will be most unstable and subject to the elements thereby voiding any kind of neck warranty against warpage, shrinkage, etc. and, by you signing off on it and paying for it prior to it being made.

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You dig?

I had them make me a Custom Shop Blackmore guitar back in '97 and requested an unfinished neck and they wouldn't do it.

Probably the closest you're going to get to an unfinished neck would be a Road Worn/Relic or doing it yourself.

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The mind is like a parachute; it doesn't work unless its open-FZ

I don't see how unfinished maple is all that unstable. MusicMan has been doing it for years with no issues... Mahogany is a different story cause its so porous.

Truthfully, Im a MusicMan guy when it comes to guitars, but still need a good strat to ad to the mix. I do love fender amps though, which is really why Im here.

Unfinished necks can play really sweet. Just a little more work to keep them right on. Always have your gunstock oil handy.

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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

My Peavey Wolfgang is unpainted, and has duel graphite rods in it to keep it strait.

Never heard anyone on the Peavey forum say there neck went bad.

I think the American HP's are still oil finished.

And of course Charvel does it as well, which is an FMIC. I think Jackson still does on a couple of their models too.

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The mind is like a parachute; it doesn't work unless its open-FZ

Like I said, all of the musicman guitars (with exception of the BFR's with Mahogany necks) are. It clearly isn't a stability issue for Fender if Charvel and EVH brand do it...

I guess my answer is "No" Fender doesn't do a strat with an unfinished neck.

Depends what we all mean by "unfinished". Musicman necks are finished - with a mixture of gunstock oil and wax. Some like it and some don't, but it's still a finish, there to perform the same functions as any other. Just... less well, as far as slowing the movement of moisture in and out of the wood and keeping it clean are concerned.

If you want a genuinely unfinished neck there's always sandpaper...

Cheers - C

ok, I guess what Im looking for is a finish just like the Music Man finish... oiled. Where this is confusing is that many builders, like Warmoth still consider how Music Man does it to be "unfinished" because there isn't a hard lacquer finish on the guitar.

So in that case the better way of asking for what I am looking for is does Fender do an "oiled" finish on any Stratocaster just like MusicMan or even Charvel?

It has been rubbed down with oil though right?

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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

I oil it once or twice a year, so yes.

And it is not ugly at all...

One-off or not, that seems to suggest the Custom Shop will do it - right?

To confirm that beyond doubt, the OP needs to ask the head of the Custom Shop whether they offer it as an option. Could always try here...

http://www.fender.com/community/forums/ ... m.php?f=22

Cheers - C

They won't leave it raw, they may treat it with teak oil or light poly, so its not "sticky". That should be all you'll need. I have a Lonestar with a satin like finish. It could be sanded a little to make it faster, but I really don't have a problem with it. Or just purchase a mighty mite neck!

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"Epitaph on a blues musician’s tombstone: “I didn’t wake up this morning”" Davy Knowles


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