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Post subject: Maple Necks - Finishes, Wearing, etc.
Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2007 12:19 pm
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Does anybody know why some new Fenders have maple necks that are so light they're almost white while others are nice and yellow-ish? I bought a new American Strat in 2002 and the neck is an awesome slightly yellowed color like it's been aged to perfection. But I noticed a lot of the new Strats have a VERY light colored maple neck.

Also, my Strat (and neck) has the polyurethane finish and while I want it to eventually look "reliced", I refuse to actually artificially age it. I've been playing it relentlessly since 2002 and have not really seen any changes. Is it even possible to FINALLY wear through a poly-finished neck?

Just thought I'd see what everybody thought. Thanks!


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Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2007 12:34 pm
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Yes, it's possible to wear through the poly on a neck. My first strat has quite a bit of the poly worn completely off along the bottom edge. If yours hasn't worn down, perhaps your hand isn't rubbing it much as you move up and down.

The "vintage reissue" models have a yellow-ish-tinted finish on the necks to make them look older. My mid-'90s MIJ "50s Tele" came nicely yellowed. My newer strat necks are very white.

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Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2007 1:00 pm
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You're probably right about my hand not rubbing very much on the bottom edge - I guess I don't drag my hand that much. I was kind of hoping to get the cool little "dirty spots" on the fretboard someday! :) The finish is definitely off the top edge of the neck up by the front pickup, as I tend to get carried away with my picking from time to time - picks will go through a finish pretty quick!

That's weird about the "vintage reissue" models having a yellowish neck - mine was just a straight MIA Strat...I guess sometimes at the factory maybe they throw a different neck on them? Or maybe used to put the darker necks on some of the MIA's?

Thanks for the info!


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Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2007 1:06 pm
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The poly white necks can get yellowed with age. It's not so much that the poly yellows, but that the wood actually sort of gets a "sun tan." At least, that's what I've heard: from the UV rays. So your 2002 could have darkened over time.

Some guys have tried using shoe polish to darken their necks, but I've not seen any of those firsthand. How much ends up on a player's hands, I wonder?

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Post subject: reply to wats his face.
Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2007 1:09 pm
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That is interesting. I'll have to keep an eye out for any weirdos who try that.I bet all the polish gets on 'em :lol:


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Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2007 1:29 pm
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Yeah, I can't imagine spreading that stuff on my neck - I know it comes off my shoes for a while after I polish them; what would make my neck any different?

That's good news to hear that it'll still age over time - I didn't know if the poly would actually do that or just keep it looking "new" for the next 25 years!

I actually did see a friend's MIM Tele have the fretboard with the "dirty" spots on the neck from playing it. He's had it since new and I'm sure that a MIM doesn't have a nitro finish - the only weird thing is the the spots where it's worn look more "chipped" out than worn....I guess the hardness of that stuff won't allow it to age gracefully.


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Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 10:15 am
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I have a Standard Strat and the neck is yellowish


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Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 3:01 pm
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I got a rosewood finger board with the "dirty spots."
it looks pretty cool when its hanging on my wall

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Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 3:06 pm
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Some of Fenders Strats come with a "Vintage Tint' neck, and all that means is they tint the finish with a little yellow to make it look a little older, more like an older guitar. If you take off the neck from your Fender and look at the neck portion in the body pocket, you will see how much it has yellowed with age. Some yellow more than others depending on how much light they are exposed to, and other factors.

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Post subject: Re: Maple Necks - Finishes, Wearing, etc.
Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 4:19 pm
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jcrump wrote:
I've been playing it relentlessly since 2002 and have not really seen any changes.


Five years is not a very long time. I don't think it's the amount of playing that's going to yellow your pale maple neck, it's simply the exposure to light and air (and maybe smoke) with the passage of time. My Strat is 30 yrs. old this year and the maple neck is quite yellowed, as is the headstock. The headstock certainly doesn't get touched much so I don't think it has anything to do with the amount of playing.

Be patient! I agree with you on not wanting to artifically age your instrument. In my own humble opinion the "relic"idea is nuts. Real mojo comes with natural aging and "relic"-ing, not the artificial variety. I don't want anyone, even the Custom Shop guys, putting dings in my guitar. I'll put my own dings in, or rather, the dings will happen naturally. I'm not about to encourage them!


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