Gunstock oil Vs Lack-finished neck

[baske]

The neck of my SR5 is a natural unfinished neck who's reacting to the climate.
Is the protection against "temperature-changes" as good when its done with gunstock-oil as the neck is protected with lack?

 

[strummer]

If the finish is looked after here should be no problems, and this is coming from a guy who lives with a couple gun stock necks in the lovely weather hell hole of sweden

 

[Rano Bass]

Is the protection against "temperature-changes" as good when its done with gunstock-oil as the neck is protected with lack?

Obviously lacker is better at protecting against weather, humidity doesn't get to the wood.
But gunstock oil is also good and feels great.

 

[bradfordws]

Just my $.02 - I sprayed the backs of all my MM bases with a satin clear lacquer - carefully took neck off and taped off the fingerboards and the headstock, following the line where the finish stops = just personal preference. They feel great, don't get dirty AND are protected from weather or humidity. My first MM was a Stingray back in 1983 and as we know, the necks were always sprayed with the clear poly back then (which I used to take steel wool and knock down the gloss), so anyway, I just prefer the clear satin over the oil.

 

[Powman]

I use gun stock oil + wax (very small amounts) with success in southern Ontario which can go from very dry in the winter to extremely humid in the summer. No problems.

 

[bovinehost]

I use gun stock oil + wax (very small amounts) with success in southern Ontario which can go from very dry in the winter to extremely humid in the summer. No problems.

I've had the same experience. Lots of "internet wisdom" out there about "unfinished necks" (sic) reacting to climate changes, but a properly maintained gunstock oil and wax finish certainly never gave me any cause for concern.

 

[Kirby]

I have always prefered the gun stock necks to the spray finished ones. I have found that they move a bit more often, but with the truss wheel design, a simple quarter turn and it is right back in line. So, it has never bothered me. That being said, I really do enjoy the finished necks on the newer anniversary EB's and customs. I think my main gripe came from 70's era basses where the finish became almost sticky when you were sweating a lot. This does not happen, at least to me, with the new finishes.

 

[Musicman Nut]

The oiled necks are fine but whatever they are using now for a finished neck ROCKS, feels great doesn't gum up in the summer out door playing, so it's got my vote.

 

[keko]

One of my previous basses was W@rwick Streamer (maple + wenge) and whole bass was unfinished, I mean oil finished. With bass I bought original factory wax!
I used that bass for about 15 years and wax it (whole, body + neck) twice a year.
In the beginning was OK, but after a few years bass was much more dirty and ugly!

After 12 years aprox. bass was completely ruined and I decided to to sand it whole, body & neck! After that I repaint the wood with special wood color which applied with sponge (I don't know how it called in English) and finished it with acryl clear lack (sprayed few times).

Than I used it a few Years and ruined the frets and neck to death, than sold it barely!

Conclusion: I'll never wax musical instrument wood again, I'll follow recommendation of my band guitarist, he plays JP Music Man guitar and he don't maintain neck at all, just wipe some dirt and sweat with cotton cloth after plying! Today after about two years looks very nice (birds eye maple back & RW FB)
Mine is fine right now +6 months of use, but it's too early to make some conclusions!

 

[keko]

Sorry to bother again, but just found this Xmas photo of my bass (few days ago) and its's very visible how unfinished part of the neck after finished headstock is getting darker:



No treatment yet at all!

 

[eastcoasteddie]

My '94 has the oiled neck. It rarely moves. I think I adjust the truss about once every year or 2...and that's less than a quarter turn of the wheel.

 

[Powman]

The only mistake I made was using too much Casey's oil and wax product. The video clip that shows how to maintain the neck is perfect. YouTube - Caring for your Music Man neck & Fretboard.

Again, just use very small amounts of oil and wax.

I am willing to put up with a very small amount of maintenance for the silky feel of an unfinished neck.

 

[oli@bass]

How often you have to adjust the trussrod depends on two things:

1.) The climate changes where you live (or travel)
2.) How low your action is from the start.... I have so-called "ridiculously low action" on some basses, and those are the ones where I immediately feel (or hear) the slightest change, and thus have to adjust them much more often than those with higher action.

 

[baske]

Ive done the neck with the gunstock-oil & Wax.
Unbelieveble smooth feeling !!
But the results after a cold night in my room where great
My SR5 stayed in tune and the neck has hardly moved.
Great stuff

 

[keko]

What do ya think guys of this EBMM product:

Are those Wipes good for my maple fretboard, or couold I even use it for cleaning back maple unfinished part of the neck?

Just wonder...

 

[baske]

Ive done the neck with the gunstock-oil & Wax.
Unbelieveble smooth feeling !!
But the results after a cold night in my room where great
My SR5 stayed in tune and the neck has hardly moved.
Great stuff

Must I remove the wax before i get a new layer of gunstock-oil finish?

 

[bovinehost]

Must I remove the wax before i get a new layer of gunstock-oil finish?

No.