Why is it...

[Miqueas92]

Forgive the newbie question but...

Why do some of the maple necks (not fretboard) up to, but not including the headstock appear to be much darker on the MM guitars¿

Is it the finish¿ Just use¿ Dirty¿ or what¿¿

Thanks, mick

[Beth]

Oils from your skin getting into the wood of the sanded/oiled Music Man neck -- otherwise known as "mojo"...

[Spudmurphy]

Hi
S'funny you should ask this - I recently took delivery of a well used 2004 Petrucci and took it around my mates guitar workshop for a "look see".

My mate is a guitar builder and his business partner does amp/keyboard repairs.
He asked why there was a definite "cut off" point on the neck behind the nut. I do excuse him for this as he is a drummer
I had to explain that this was where EB in their manufacturing process clear coat the rear of the headstock. The remainder of the neck is sealed with gun stock oil and wax making it prone to absorbing dirt/bodily fluids and as Beth says "mojo" from guitar playing.

My Albert Lee guitars being relatively new do not seem to have mellowed that much but looking at photos taken when the guitars were brand new, quite clearly there is a darkening.

On my EVH and Pet the colour has darkened considerably - not dirt just (as they say in the antiques trade) a patina. I guess you could actually call it antiquing!

Hope this answers your question - if not come on back.
Spud

Pet

[banjoplayer]

more mojo here: http://www.ernieball.com/forums/musi...yed-necks.html

[Miqueas92]

This is the neck on my (new to me SS) check picks.

Red Ernie Ball Axis Super Sport Electric Guitar Tremelo - eBay (item 290285946186 end time Jan-05-09 15:48:40 PST)

Pretty dark, no¿¿

Mick

[robelinda2]

yep its just been used heaps, but you can sand it back or use steel wool and apply the gun stock wax to get it close to new.