I've Got a Line on a JP BFR... Tell Me About the Neck again

[Hendog]

Tell me about the JP BFR neck again. I remember you guys saying for a finished neck it's pretty nice, but does it truly compare to the unfinished necks as far as comfort and playability?

[PeteDuBaldo]

It's the same profile, and while it feels slightly different than raw maple because it is finished mahogany, it plays just as well. Your best bet is to try before you buy, if you can! I don't have any issues switching between a finished neck and a raw neck, but some people can't live with one or the other and you don't want to put yourself in that position if you can help it.

[bkrumme]

+1 to what Pete said. It doesn't have the same texture as an unfinished neck, but the feel is pretty much the same. The finished necks on the BFR JP's don't get sticky like a Gibson would. They stay smooth for as long as you want to play.

[petruccirocks02]

I'll just add to what Pete and Brad said, but I have no problem with my BFR JP6 neck. I can transition from my RW AL neck to my BFR JP with no problem. The stickiness is not there and it feels like a dream!

-Phil

[bkrumme]

I'll just add to what Pete and Brad said, but I have no problem with my BFR JP6 neck. I can transition from my RW AL neck to my BFR JP with no problem. The stickiness is not there and it feels like a dream!

-Phil

This is a really great point, Phil. I don't have any problems switching from my RW JP6 neck to my BFR JP6 neck at all.

[zif]

The BFR neck is so fricken sweet i can't even tell it's finished unless I stop playing and actually look down at it.

[yan12]

My 2 cents is that I very much prefer the plain maple neck over the finished. Perhaps it is the way I play or something, the size of my hands, or whatever. I think the BFR's are great but not for me. I spent considerable time playing some BFRs before I went with the original...the other huge selling point for me was the arm scoop, and if the BFRs had that it would have made it a tougher decision because that is the feature I love the most! You CANNOT go wrong either way as they are both awesome, and I could play just as well (fast) on the BFR. Another point...I am not sure if all BFRs do this, but the cherryburst I played for a couple of weeks had the finish all the way up the sides of the fretboard as well as the neck...in other words over the fret tangs. I did not care for that visually at all. As far as painted goes, I could easily see the grain of the mahogany neck on this cherryburst which leads me to believe it is a stain and not paint, at least on that color combo. I could be off as I am no expert on all the color combos, but that is my experience thus far with the BFR necks.

[Nitrix]

I don't personally have a problem with the finished neck on my BFR Koa Petrucci. I am used to (and love!) my unfinished necks, but I don't look at picking up my Petrucci any differently than any other guitar. When I pick up my Gretsch Duo Jet, I expect a different experience. I expect a different experience from my Koa JP. I love soloing on that beast because of the ebony board, the neck profile etc. Like someone posted previously, it never seems to get slippery.

[D.K.]

No prob with the painted necks for me, too. A very little adjustment, if at all, in feel - now I even dare say I love the feel of the finished neck (and the sound of mahogany - yummy).

[TheShreddinHand]

I'll just add to what Pete and Brad said, but I have no problem with my BFR JP6 neck. I can transition from my RW AL neck to my BFR JP with no problem. The stickiness is not there and it feels like a dream!

-Phil

+ 1

I'll also add, do not let the neck be a deciding factor between your decision of getting a BFR vs. Standard JP. I have absolutely no issues or noticed differences when playing an unfinished guitar vs my BFR. Honestly I've grown to like the BFR neck finish better!

-Eric