This is generic not really musicman related even though I would love to see musicman do unfinished guitars. Anyone else like thoughts of this? I've seen oil rubbed guitars before and they are a piece of art. I'm not sure anyone's doing it at the moment though. Any downsides?
- Thread starter jvh
- Start date
littlephil
Well-known member
The finishes are a lot weaker than a good poly finish like EBMM and most other guitars have. People say that a poly finish won't let the guitar resonate like an oil finished body does, but I've personally refinished an oiled body with wipe on polyurethane and there was no noticeable difference at all. Oiled bodies/necks feel a lot smoother and look great too (I personally am not a huge fan of high gloss finishes for the most part, at least not over natural timber)
Speaking from experience, its also a LOT more work to finish a body with oil, and it all has to be done by hand. Thats why you won't see many big name guitars with oiled bodies from the factory, its just far too impractical when poly finishes can be done 95% by a machine and takes considerably less time to do.
Speaking from experience, its also a LOT more work to finish a body with oil, and it all has to be done by hand. Thats why you won't see many big name guitars with oiled bodies from the factory, its just far too impractical when poly finishes can be done 95% by a machine and takes considerably less time to do.
fbecir
Well-known member
I made a guitar a few years ago (I spent one week with a luthier) and here is the result :
The body and the neck are made of mahogany and the fretboard is ebony.
There is just a thin layer of polish. But as littlephil says, it does not offer a lot of protection. Thus now the wood has some marks.
The body and the neck are made of mahogany and the fretboard is ebony.
There is just a thin layer of polish. But as littlephil says, it does not offer a lot of protection. Thus now the wood has some marks.
Nice project guitar! I have a solid mahogany oil finished and it's very resonant. I'm with Phil in that I don't know if it's more resonant without the eurathane. I just like the unfinished look and smooth feel... Never thought of the production practicality.
Astrofreq
Well-known member
I have an old Ibanez JS6 with an oil stain. It feels great. Although, if another Hardtail Axis comes my way that I can afford, the JS6 will be the first to go to fund it.
straycat113
Well-known member
Really nicely done fbecir! I think that came out amazing and is a fine piece of eye candy. If it sounds like it looks you built yourself a hell of an ax.
Jack FFR1846
Well-known member
Doing a finish is the most frustrating part for me. I'm quite particular and I don't do it for a living so I'm not fast or all that good at it. I try to use materials that allow mistakes to be corrected with some sanding and more coats rather than starting all over again. I far prefer that someone else finish the guitar before I get it.
fbecir
Well-known member
Thanks a lot straycat ! I learned a lot during this project. It opened my eyes on many details on guitar construction. After that I lost all my inhibitions for tweaking my axes (before that I was even scared to adjust the truss rod
).This guitar sounds great, but it's not a polite guitar : mahogany body + Tone Zone + Air Norton = big sound.
More a Les Paul on steroid than a clean articulate jazz guitar
Tim O'Sullivan
Well-known member
I have heard of guitars being finished in the same gun stock oil that EBMM use for the necks. Dead easy to apply and gives a really nice finish!
