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neck question

This is a discussion on neck question within the Music Man Basses forums, part of the Gear Talk category; Yes, another annoying question form the EBMM noob: What is the neck finished with? Could I sand the back of ...

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    cdb's Avatar
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    neck question

    Yes, another annoying question form the EBMM noob:

    What is the neck finished with? Could I sand the back of down to either:

    make it more of a satin finished

    make it a little less "round" ?

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    Yes.
    -Tom
    Fret more, worry less.

    Bongo only bass in Tom's life.

    Blank-Plank Egyptian Smoke Bongo4H "Nefertiti"

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    Quote Originally Posted by maddog
    Yes.
    Yes, it is unfinished?

    Or yes, you can sand it lightly using 400 grit paper to increase the satin finish?

    Or yes, you can take your hand sander and whittle it down?

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    The neck is unfinished from the bottom of the headstock all the way to the neck pocket.

    You can sand it if you want. Probably void your warranty though if you sand it enough to change the neck contour.

    If you want to clean it, put tape over the pickups and use 0000 steel wool on the neck. Then apply birchwood-casey tru-oil lightly to the back of the neck. Wipe it off a minute or so later and apply Birchwood-Casey gunstock wax. Makes the neck lightning fast again.

    The tape is to ensure that tiny pieces steel wool don't end up clinging to the magnetic polepieces of the pickups.

    EDIT: do NOT follow this procedure for a Bongo or any SUB model! They have painted necks!

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    Quote Originally Posted by SteveB
    The neck is unfinished from the bottom of the headstock all the way to the neck pocket.

    You can sand it if you want. Probably void your warranty though if you sand it enough to change the neck contour.

    If you want to clean it, put tape over the pickups and use 0000 steel wool on the neck. Then apply birchwood-casey tru-oil lightly to the back of the neck. Wipe it off a minute or so later and apply Birchwood-Casey gunstock wax. Makes the neck lightning fast again.

    The tape is to ensure that tiny pieces steel wool don't end up clinging to the magnetic polepieces of the pickups.

    EDIT: do NOT follow this procedure for a Bongo or any SUB model! They have painted necks!
    Cool. Very good advice, thank you! No bongo or SUB in my rack yet, though, just a 'Ray 5

    It just feels a bit... i dunno, slow and sticky... like it has a finish of some kind... I have about 20-30 hrs of playing time on it maybe... no fried chicken or taffy before playing...

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    Wink

    Quote Originally Posted by cdb
    Yes, it is unfinished?

    Or yes, you can sand it lightly using 400 grit paper to increase the satin finish?

    Or yes, you can take your hand sander and whittle it down?
    Yes the neck is unfinished and coated with Birchwood Casey Gun stock oil.

    As far as reshapping the neck, I'd becareful, not to go too deep to hit the trussrod, I have done it twice in my time but i used my friends X-Ray machine to see the rod so I wouldn't hit it.
    So be very Careful.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Musicman Nut
    Yes the neck is unfinished and coated with Birchwood Casey Gun stock oil.

    As far as reshapping the neck, I'd becareful, not to go too deep to hit the trussrod, I have done it twice in my time but i used my friends X-Ray machine to see the rod so I wouldn't hit it.
    So be very Careful.

    geez, I don't think i would shape it so thin that I would hit the truss rod.... just wanna make it a LITTLE flatter. Now I'm scared.

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    Quote Originally Posted by cdb
    geez, I don't think i would shape it so thin that I would hit the truss rod.... just wanna make it a LITTLE flatter. Now I'm scared.
    Sometimes there's not alot of meat on these necks to be guessing, Maybe Contact Jon from Ernie Ball he may have a better idea then I do, I beleive in Safety before Sorry that's all.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Musicman Nut
    Sometimes there's not alot of meat on these necks to be guessing, Maybe Contact Jon from Ernie Ball he may have a better idea then I do, I beleive in Safety before Sorry that's all.
    Yes, indeed. I don't wanna screw it up...so help the noob, please, how do I contact Jon?

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    Quote Originally Posted by cdb
    Yes, indeed. I don't wanna screw it up...so help the noob, please, how do I contact Jon?
    Mr Jon where are you cdb needs Questions Answered, If you go thru the forum he's Jon and you'll see Customer Service I beleive, or Post here like your doing, He'll reply.

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    He frequents the forum, but you can email him at jons@ernieball.com, too.

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    I wouldn't call the SR neck unfinished.

    It doesn't have a hard finish like a Bongo or an EBMM body but it does have an oil and wax finish that other posters have mentioned.

    I found the steel wool treatment works well and the Murphy's oil soap cleaning works well too.

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    Just a heads up on thinning the neck: The thinner the neck the greater the risk of carpal tunnel and other hurtful hand conditions. Yes, you may intitially be a little quicker with a thinner neck, but practice makes perfect and once you're 100% comfortable on the SR5 you'll be as fast as on any other neck.
    bovinehost: Yes, I do agree with that, but if there's nothing wrong then there's nothing wrong.
    Beth: I would compare Bongo to Tommy Lee Jones. Bad a$$ and just hot in a weird way...
    cheezewiz: They should take their lace thongs off and play bass.


    Bongo 5 HH, Envy Green
    Bongo 5 H, Blue Pearl
    Bongo 5 HH, Black w/ rosewood neck
    Heinz The Wonder Bass

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    Quote Originally Posted by strummer
    Just a heads up on thinning the neck: The thinner the neck the greater the risk of carpal tunnel and other hurtful hand conditions. Yes, you may intitially be a little quicker with a thinner neck, but practice makes perfect and once you're 100% comfortable on the SR5 you'll be as fast as on any other neck.
    Nah, I have played for 25 years, I have decent technique in both hands, and never had carpal tunnel. I presently play on a wide variety of basses... thinner, flatter, wider necks... even, gasp, a 4 stringer which shall remain un named, that has a very skinny and shallow neck... no cramps for this old gramps... but I appreciate your concern.

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    Quote Originally Posted by cdb
    Nah, I have played for 25 years, I have decent technique in both hands, and never had carpal tunnel. I presently play on a wide variety of basses... thinner, flatter, wider necks... even, gasp, a 4 stringer which shall remain un named, that has a very skinny and shallow neck... no cramps for this old gramps... but I appreciate your concern.
    Lol, I guess it was your avatar that threw me off
    bovinehost: Yes, I do agree with that, but if there's nothing wrong then there's nothing wrong.
    Beth: I would compare Bongo to Tommy Lee Jones. Bad a$$ and just hot in a weird way...
    cheezewiz: They should take their lace thongs off and play bass.


    Bongo 5 HH, Envy Green
    Bongo 5 H, Blue Pearl
    Bongo 5 HH, Black w/ rosewood neck
    Heinz The Wonder Bass

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