Unfinished neck

**mizzle** · 01-20-2012, 07:19 AM

Hello all,

Now I have a question about the unfinished necks. Like I said in my earlier post about tremolos, I have two silhouettes. One has a lacquer finish and the other has the tung oil type of finish. I am looking at one now that has a completely unfinished neck. I was wondering if this is common now with EBMM necks. I saw that GCenter had one and I went to play it and the neck was waaaay too thick and it was unfinished. But it wasn't a smooth unfinished neck. It wasn't enjoyable to play completely unfinished. It actually had a slight 'gritty' feeling to it. It's what I was focusing on while playing it. It stood out to me that much. What's the deal with the unfinished necks in your opinion?

Thanks

**Roubster** · 01-20-2012, 08:31 AM

They have been doing the unfinished necks for a long time now. They finish them by handrubbing in gunstock oil and wax. If the guitar has been sitting around for some time without getting cleaned and it's been abused it can feel that way after some time. I personally love the unfinished necks as do many others.

**Spudmurphy** · 01-20-2012, 08:36 AM

The EB neck is one of the really nice features of their guitars - had mine since 2006 - I maintain the neck and it still feels sublime.

Just gotta do it the right way using the right stuff - and there's loads of threads on this.
Spud

**mizzle** · 01-20-2012, 08:48 AM

Originally Posted by Roubster

They have been doing the unfinished necks for a long time now. They finish them by handrubbing in gunstock oil and wax. If the guitar has been sitting around for some time without getting cleaned and it's been abused it can feel that way after some time. I personally love the unfinished necks as do many others.

Maybe this guitar just hasn't had the proper attention. Although, I've never done anything to my 'gun stock oiled' neck and it still plays and feels great. The neck I tried at Gcenter seems like it needed the finest of sand paper to go over it. It just felt really dry.

We'll see how it goes for this guitar I have an eye on. I won't know until I actually play it.

**Roubster** · 01-20-2012, 08:56 AM

Yea that's the thing. If it's been sitting there for some time it could have dried out some and also built up dirt from people playing it. I wipe down the neck with a microfiber cloth every time I finish playing. It keeps it really smooth.

**Jack FFR1846** · 01-20-2012, 10:48 AM

There are no unfinished necks.

What Music Man does with maple necks is wipes on a coat of tru-oil. Tru-oil is a form of varnish. They leave it on for only a short time. Then after that very short time, it gets wiped off (I use 45 seconds when I do necks). Then after a number of minutes, this is repeated. After drying time, it is then waxed. The wax both forms a molecules thick protective coating and makes the neck very smooth. But don't be confused.....the neck is not unfinished. It simply has a very thin finish rather than piling on mm thick lacquer or polyurathane.

There are finished necks from Music Man. Some painted, some clear finished like roasted and some JP's and the old Sub-1's.

If the neck felt bad at Guitar Center, I'd first find out if it's new or used. Second hand, who knows what the previous owner did.

I see you're on the east coast. If you're near my location (my town is listed under my name), I'm inviting you to play some of my guitars. I have a number of Music Mans and a number of other brand guitars that I sanded the neck to bare wood and did the tru-oil treatment as described above. I guarantee you that you won't find them sticky or non-awesome.

**ozzyrules** · 01-20-2012, 12:47 PM

I can never play a "finished" neck again.

**look_at_her** · 01-20-2012, 04:37 PM

Originally Posted by ozzyrules

I can never play a "finished" neck again.

+1!
Once you play it,there`s no way back-if the neck is well maintained you can`t beat that feeling.
Smooth and silky-sounds like some crappy shampoo&conditioner comercial BTW

,but that`s the way it is.

**mizzle** · 01-20-2012, 05:50 PM

Originally Posted by Jack FFR1846

There are no unfinished necks.

What Music Man does with maple necks is wipes on a coat of tru-oil. Tru-oil is a form of varnish. They leave it on for only a short time. Then after that very short time, it gets wiped off (I use 45 seconds when I do necks). Then after a number of minutes, this is repeated. After drying time, it is then waxed. The wax both forms a molecules thick protective coating and makes the neck very smooth. But don't be confused.....the neck is not unfinished. It simply has a very thin finish rather than piling on mm thick lacquer or polyurathane.

There are finished necks from Music Man. Some painted, some clear finished like roasted and some JP's and the old Sub-1's.

If the neck felt bad at Guitar Center, I'd first find out if it's new or used. Second hand, who knows what the previous owner did.

I see you're on the east coast. If you're near my location (my town is listed under my name), I'm inviting you to play some of my guitars. I have a number of Music Mans and a number of other brand guitars that I sanded the neck to bare wood and did the tru-oil treatment as described above. I guarantee you that you won't find them sticky or non-awesome.

Thanks for the info. I can't describe it any better than it was unfinished and dry and gritty feeling. This is being sold as USED. So you are right that who knows what the previous owner did. At any rate, the neck was way to fat and chunky for my taste so that completely ruled it out anyway.

I have two guitars, one lacquered and one oiled. I love the profile of my lacquered neck more than the oiled. I wish it were oiled. I have to get it to someone that can do that. I was hoping locally but it's my favorite neck out of any guitar that I own so I am nervous like it's going to get ruined or something if I mess with it.

Thanks for the invite. I am east coast, Philly. A bit away from MA.

**Stu-Pendus** · 01-22-2012, 02:04 AM

I always apply oil on with OOOO wire wool,it leaves the most silken of finishes and as previously mentioned,dont leave the oil on the neck for too long before wipeing it off.

**Larry** · 01-22-2012, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by ozzyrules

I can never play a "finished" neck again.

Same here EBMM spoiled me!

**jzeijen** · 01-22-2012, 12:10 PM

Originally Posted by Larry

Same here EBMM spoiled me!

Unfinished necks are amazing, but you guys should also try a roasted neck. They are finished, but just as sweet!

**dannymusic** · 01-22-2012, 12:27 PM

I have played the finished necks (jxp) after the gunstocks. I, personally, am now very partial to gunstock oil finish.

Do the redwood necks ones get the same treatment?