Why unfinished necks

[slucas]

I was just wondering why Stingray's et. al. have unfinished necks. I understand they can move around quite a bit with extremes in humidity. I live in the St. Louis area and the summers here are like a sauna. Comments?? Suggestions???

 

[SteveB]

I was just wondering why Stingray's et. al. have unfinished necks. I understand they can move around quite a bit with extremes in humidity. I live in the St. Louis area and the summers here are like a sauna. Comments?? Suggestions???

Of course, I cannot give an 'official' response, but if you've played an EBMM unfinished neck, you'll know why.

The feel is just awesome. Worth the occasional trussrod tweak that may be required depending where you live. And even then the truss rod adjustment wheel is readily accessible without needing to remove strings or covers.

I believe the Bongo necks are finished though.

 

[Dr. Nick]

I believe the answer is because they are "faster" to play....

I live in Florida, and it is like a sauna here as well. Air conditioning is the only way humans and guitars can survive down here.

The only "problem", if you can call it that, I've experienced was actually with cold rather than humidity. I was playing in a little tavern last January on a night when the temp was around 45 degrees Fahrenheit (about as cold as it gets down here). Whenever someone opened the door, which was about 6 feet away from me, it would let in a big blast of cold air. My Sterling would not stay in tune for about an hour until the neck adjusted...so for the first set I just played on the E string. (It was a blues gig, so that was no problem.)

I could have picked up the F@nder, but, well, you know...

Yes, SteveB, Bongos do indeed have finished necks.

 

[JB1]

Would a laquered neck prevent this?

 

[SteveB]

Would a laquered neck prevent this?

Well, wood reacts to humidity no matter what. I guess the degree of the reaction is dependent upon what is used to seal the wood.

In the case of unfinished necks on EBMM instruments, there is gunstock oil and gunstock wax to seal the neck. Perhaps this is not as effective a seal as paint or lacquer or other sealants, but again wood is wood.

 

[jongitarz]

I feel the need to step in here and say that the necks are not unfinished. They are finished with gunstocxk oil and wax.

 

[tkarter]

The neck on my SR5 moves around way less over changes in weather than any of the other brand basses I have owned that were finished did.

tk

 

[bovinehost]

I feel the need to step in here and say that the necks are not unfinished. They are finished with gunstocxk oil and wax.

I feel the need to stand beside Jon and nod my head up and down.

 

[SteveB]

I feel the need to step in here and say that the necks are not unfinished. They are finished with gunstocxk oil and wax.

Ahh, excellent point.

 

[Dees]

Unfinished necks look cooler! (especiaaly the birds-eye-maple ones )

 

[slucas]

Thanks for the input guys. I just bought a Stingray Monday and I love the neck but just wondered. The Q & A section on the site says to oil and wax it "very infrequently" for help with humidity. I am unsure if that means like couple of times a year if you are playing it fairly regularly or more or less. Anybody have experience doing so?

 

[jongitarz]

Do it when the neck starts to feel rough

 

[slucas]

Thanks Jon,

By the way, what are you feeding that rat-dog? By the look in his eyes it ain't no rabies vaccine!!!!

 

[Dr. Nick]

I feel the need to step in here and say that the necks are not unfinished. They are finished with gunstocxk oil and wax.

I have erred! Ex-moo-se me, Jon!

 

[jongitarz]

I have erred! Ex-moo-se me, Jon!

 

[Psychicpet]

yes, I do concur, the oil/wax finish on the backs of Sting-Ray , Sterling and Bongo necks feels great.

 

[maddog]

yes, I do concur, the oil/wax finish on the backs of Sting-Ray , Sterling and Bongo necks feels great.

huh? Bongo's are painted. Did you strip yours? If so, pics please.

 

[prickly_pete]

I am probably in the minority, but I prefer the older hard finished necks. I think they just look better.

 

[jongitarz]

I feel the need to stand beside Jon and nod my head up and down.

I feel the need to tell Jack that I hear something like rocks when he nods his head up and down

 

[Martuk]

I am probably in the minority, but I prefer the older hard finished necks. I think they just look better.

+1 on that, 'specially when they have worn nice and shiney (aaah..the good old days when the standard bass had birds eye maple)