What to do about flaw in neck?

[uvacom]

Hey guys,

I am a very proud new owner of a gorgeous Albert Lee - translucent blue w/ abalone pickguard. I hope to post some pictures soon, but I'm digital camera-less for the moment.

Unfortunately, the guitar does have one small flaw, and ever since I noticed it it's been driving me nuts. On the back side of the neck, on the side closer to the low E string, near the second fret (right about where one's thumb would normally rest), is a rough spot. It's not abrasive or anything, but it is noticeable and in the right light it's even visible. It appears to be rough underneath the the wax/oil finish, if that means anything.

Is there anything that can be done about this short of sending it in for repair? I mean, I really love this guitar but the thought of being without it for potentially weeks, after just getting this guitar after waiting for it for 6 months since I had to special order it...I don't know if I could handle that.

Okay, so maybe I'm a little neurotic. But I guess what I'm asking is, could either myself or an experienced tech handle this issue, or is it the sort of thing that could *only* be handled by EBMM directly? And I know they would never send a neck out to a customer (understandably so), but would they ever send a neck out to an authorized dealer if the dealer agreed to have the neck swapped out by their tech?

 

[brentrocks]

i think you would be best off to contact customer sevice

 

[Colin]

Of course you have contacted customer service or the very least the shop you bought it from first right? It sounds like a mineral spot and would be nothing to worry about. Remember your MM is unique because no 2 pieces of wood are the same...

 

[silverburst]

Hate to sound like a broken record, but Ernie Ball has the best customer service in the biz. Give them a call and tell them what is going on. They would be the best ones to let you know if there is a field-fix, or if it needs to be returned.

 

[uvacom]

Umm...I get all of my professional, romantic, medical, legal, psychiatric, and guitar advice exclusively from online forums. Of course I haven't contacted customer service!

Although...the idea is so crazy...it just might work!

 

[Colin]

Umm...I get all of my professional, romantic, medical, legal, psychiatric, and guitar advice exclusively from online forums. Of course I haven't contacted customer service!

Although...the idea is so crazy...it just might work!

remember to stick around and post pics of your guitar

 

[fogman]

I hope to post some pictures soon, but I'm digital camera-less for the moment.

Oh you're such a tease!!!
Welcome to the forum.

 

[Warg Master]

This sounds familiar...................

 

[uvacom]

I promise, as soon as I can, I will. Now, I realize it's a little subjective and I'm not exactly a neutral party. But this is the most beautiful guitar on the face of the planet...ever. Fact.

 

[Greg Jones]

No pic, no guitar.

No guitar, no neck flaw.




Good luck and welcome.

 

[robelinda2]

well it sounds like an AMAZING looking axe, we are dying to see pics!!!!!!!

 

[Spudmurphy]

I promise, as soon as I can, I will. Now, I realize it's a little subjective and I'm not exactly a neutral party. But this is the most beautiful guitar on the face of the planet...ever. Fact.

Oh no it's not!!

Welcome to the forum.
Don't sweat too much on this - of course contact CS first but remember- it's an un lacquered neck, and a seruptitious amount of rubbing with some very fine grade 3 m scotchpad will do the trick. Search this forum on "oil and wax" or "Tru oil" "cleaning necks" and there are loads of hints and tips. From what you have said it doesn't sound too bad.

Let's see some photos - oh and welcome to the ALOC (Albert Lee Owners Club).

 

[koogie2k]

Welcome to the Addiction!

Being you are new here, you may not know to contact Customer Service like the other fellas said. Trust me, I know as do others, you will get a live friendly voice who is being paid to take very good care of you and your problem. So, call them, and then post some pics of that AL!

 

[candid_x]

Agrees, that EB CS is the best. But I can also understand not wanting to send a new guitar in for something that (as Spud has said) can probably be touched up easily. Never tried a scotchpad, but I know a little 0000 steel wool can work wonders. There's no "paint" to worry about ruining. Just be gentle.

 

[Spudmurphy]

Candid confirms what I said and steel wool 0000 grade works just great too - but make sure that you put some masking tape on the pickups otherwise all the bits of steel will stick to the magnets like a beard.
Believe me, no matter how careful you are it will happen!

 

[uvacom]

Okay - after a trip to the woodworker's shop and the huntin' store, I got ahold of some 0000 grade steel wool, 2000 grit sandpaper, and Birchwood-Casey Tru-Oil and gunstock wax.

20 minutes and a little elbow grease later, the neck is *perfect*. I can't even tell where the little rough spot was before, it's nothing but a fading memory.

Follow-up question: What kind of shelf-life do you guys think this birchwood-casey stuff has? It takes such a tiny amount to oil and wax a neck, and from what I understand I should only have to do that maybe once or twice a year. So I'm not worried about running out, but I wouldn't want to put some sort of transmogrified smelly goo on my AL 5 years down the road if it isn't any good any more.

 

[roburado]

makes the neck like glass

 

[robelinda2]

steel wool will do the trick! amazing how clean you can get it. but i find the more times i go over the neck with 0000, the neck gets dirtier much quicker every time.

 

[candid_x]

steel wool will do the trick! amazing how clean you can get it. but i find the more times i go over the neck with 0000, the neck gets dirtier much quicker every time.

I've found the same thing, but sealing it afterwards with a little lemon oil (real stuff) prevents it. I have to let it dry for an hour or so, then buff it up with a soft, clean, dry cloth. Then repeat buffing in another hour. Otherwise the oil gets a little sticky.

 

[uvacom]

In addition to the tru-oil & gunstock wax, you use lemon oil?