Just got my necks " maintened "

[tristan klein]

For the second time, my friend Alex who sold me his luke HH olive gold made me the maintenance routine on both of my luke necks.

He watched every tutorials about it, bought the right wax, oils, accessoires, and this time we made it together as I wanted to learn...

Necks smells good and feels even better...

It's something that has to be done once a year and I reminded me that yes...It's one year that I came back to Luke's ( and switched to bogner )

You really don't see time flying when you play great gear....

 

[mikeller]

Yes sir - they do feel and smell great after the maintenance and cleaning!!

 

[DrKev]

Yes, I'm looking forward to doing it when I get home from my winter migration.

 

[TripHazard]

Can anyone recommend a good tutorial video for this?

 

[Craiguitar]

I have seen a few tutorials, and they differ but I tend to stick to my own routine, again which may differ from others, which is:

1. Very lightly sand the neck with 1000grit sandpaper (or wire wool), then wipe off any dust.
2. Wipe the neck clean with Murphy Oil Soap, using a paper towel, then wipe off the excess.
3. Apply a small amount of Birchwood Casey Tru-Oil, and wipe off immediately with a dry paper towel.
4. Apply a small amount of Birchwood Casey Gunstock Wax, and again immediately wipe off with a dry paper towel.
5. Repeat no. 4 until the desired lustre is achieved.

Job done!

 

[jones4tone]

Can anyone recommend a good tutorial video for this?

It would be great for EBMM to post a quick tutorial on their blog on this. Would help highlight the qualities of their necks, too.

 

[DrKev]

 

[Echoes]

Why would you need to sand a neck for maintenance? That seems crazy.

 

[DrKev]

Crazy? Not at all. The necks are effectively unfinished, the oil and wax is just a very light coat. As the neck gets dirty with use it can start feeling a little rougher than it was when it left the factory. Using a very light grade sandpaper or steel wool removes virtually no wood but restores the neck to the super smooth finish that we all love.

 

[MesaBeno]

Why would you need to sand a neck for maintenance? That seems crazy.

Well, it's not. The grain of the sandpaper is so fine that you're not actually sanding down the wood, you're just helping remove grime, dirt, and oil from the neck.

 

[tristan klein]

I can confirm !

10 years ago my old luke 2 was like gluing, no way to find how to fix that. the thing is that the gunstock wax was not allowed to be sold in france at that time.

now we have a special kit from a german store with everything needed. ( except the sandpaper that is to basic ) but I think it would be cool that if music man would sell a full maintenance kit with everything from the neck to the fretboard, with sand papers, wax, oils, accesoires...

sounds like such a good idea that the did it already ?

 

[Echoes]

Well, it's not. The grain of the sandpaper is so fine that you're not actually sanding down the wood, you're just helping remove grime, dirt, and oil from the neck.

Hmm, interesting, wouldn't it be easier to just wipe down the neck each time you use it, or is that not enough?

 

[mikeller]

I have seen a few tutorials, and they differ but I tend to stick to my own routine, again which may differ from others, which is:

1. Very lightly sand the neck with 1000grit sandpaper (or wire wool), then wipe off any dust.
2. Wipe the neck clean with Murphy Oil Soap, using a paper towel, then wipe off the excess.
3. Apply a small amount of Birchwood Casey Tru-Oil, and wipe off immediately with a dry paper towel.
4. Apply a small amount of Birchwood Casery Gunstock Wax, and again immediately wipe off with a dry paper towel.
5. Repeat no. 4 until the desired lustre is achieved.

Job done!

I basically do the same except do #3 twice allowing it to dry 60 seconds before wiping it off. I have never sanded. So far I haven't sanded any mine, I keep them clean with wonder wipes with string changes, and hands clean and rotate guitars often. But i do have one that has been feeling kinda dry/rough and may benefit from sanding.

I might add also, keep using fresh new paper towels with each step and apply the murphy's, gunstock oil and gunstock wax with separate soft cloths (I use white t-shirts i cut up into small pieces). Also the if you use bottle Murphys it should be diluted 3-1 with water and put on and cleaned off very quickly and thoroughly dried

 

[Cordarino]

I basically do the same except do #3 twice allowing it to dry 60 seconds before wiping it off. I have never sanded. So far I haven't sanded any mine, I keep them clean with wonder wipes with string changes, and hands clean and rotate guitars often. But i do have one that has been feeling kinda dry/rough and may benefit from sanding.

I might add also, keep using fresh new paper towels with each step and apply the murphy's, gunstock oil and gunstock wax with separate soft cloths (I use white t-shirts i cut up into small pieces). Also the if you use bottle Murphys it should be diluted 3-1 with water and put on and cleaned off very quickly and thoroughly dried

I just ordered bottled Murphy's, better use it diluted with 3 parts water?
Thank you.

 

[mikeller]

I just ordered bottled Murphy's, better use it diluted with 3 parts water?
Thank you.

Yes if its the bottle because its concentrated. The wipes and spray (if you ever find them, I can't anymore) is already diluted.

 

[TripHazard]

Top thread. Thanks for the info everyone

 

[kimonostereo]

If your neck is relatively clean, you probably don't have to sand the back of the neck. It's usually when multiple coats of oil, wax and hand gunk/sweat builds up over the years that you'll have to use anything like that to clean it off. If your neck feels sticky or looks too dark, you can use 0000 steel wool or 1000 grit sandpaper. Be careful to tape up the headstock and the body or remove the neck from the body.

For fingerboards, be very careful as sandpaper will scratch your frets. Use 0000 steel wool if needed. For maple fingerboards, you can try this technique that worked for me: http://forums.ernieball.com/ernie-b...-stains-maple-neck.html?highlight=clean+maple

 

[jones4tone]

Thanks for posting the video link, DrKev!

I notice it says at the beginning that the methods demonstrated are not intended for maple fretboards. What should be done for regular maintenance of a maple board? My JP15 has roasted maple neck and fretboard - what should be done to clean/condition it when needed?

Several good tips in this thread already - thanks all for sharing.

 

[Craiguitar]

Why would you need to sand a neck for maintenance? That seems crazy.

All the gunk that accumulates on the neck (from sweat oils and dirt on your hands etc.) can create a seal which prevents the oil/wax treatment from sinking in and nourishing the neck. You need to remove it in order to apply the oil/wax blend. Sanding the neck lightly is the answer.

 

[MesaBeno]

Hmm, interesting, wouldn't it be easier to just wipe down the neck each time you use it, or is that not enough?

It'll certainly help, but over time your natural oils would build up on the neck either way and you'd need a bigger clean (like the one described herein).

FWIW, I've had a JP15 for over a year now, and still haven't had to do this - though admittedly, it doesn't get as much use as the 8 string I use in my band. However, I anticipate down the line the dirt and stuff will build up and I'll have to carry out one of these!