Question about "new" AXIS necks vs. "old"

[DevRock]

I happened to play a like-new used AXIS in the New London, CT GC yesterday. Gorgeous flame top.... But one thing that struck me was the neck. It was NOTHING like my AXIS (one of the first made). It felt to me that it was a satin finish, as opposed to the nice, raw tung oil finish I'm used to. It just felt very weird to me. My question is this: did it just need to be played a lot and broken in to get that feel? (the wood was also surprisingly plain, not much birds eye whatsoever.) Even if I had the cash on hand, I don't think I could have taken it home. It just didn't match up to the feel of mine.

 

[beej]

The profile on the necks is the same, but they are hand sanded. So there can be small differences in feel from neck to neck. Mainly they're pretty consistent.

Finish wise, it's always been gunstock oil & wax. Could be that your well worn neck just feels a little different to your hands.

 

[PeteDuBaldo]

I know that on some of the like-new (used) EB models we have had in stock the neck can be a little dirty and almost feel like a satin finish. Even though the neck doesn't look dirty it can still feel a bit funky. We've found that a quick treatment of 0000 steel wool and oil/wax combo brings it right back to the factory feeling.

 

[tommydude]

The new wood just needs to settle. The Birdseye will eventually come out. That just takes time.

 

[Pablo]

The new wood just needs to settle. The Birdseye will eventually come out. That just takes time.

Sure, just like sea monkeys... Birdseye figuring is even there, or it isn't - no settling of wood involved!

 

[Spudmurphy]

^
I think what is probably meant is that as the wood takes on an aged patina the grain pops a little more?

 

[tommydude]

^
I think what is probably meant is that as the wood takes on an aged patina the grain pops a little more?

Yes, that is what I meant.

 

[DevRock]

No, it's def just a very plain neck.

 

[John C]

No, it's def just a very plain neck.

EBMM has been using completely plain maple on Silos and Silo Specials for years while holding the birdseye for the other models. The amount of figuring has always been "luck of the draw" - I had a 2006 Albert Lee that had a fairly plain neck with just a bit of birdseye and a bit of flame, but it wasn't completely plain like all the Silo Specials I've owned.

Just like the best tops are reserved for the BFR model I wouldn't be surprised if the neck blanks with finest figuring were also are reserved for the maple neck BFR models.