Winter 2021 BFRs have dropped!

[tbonesullivan]

OK, I'm going to show my ignorance on woodworking and finishing techniques here, but... don't they finish the neck after roasting? Why couldn't they match the headstock then? Or is it that the wood would be too dark compared with the maple cap?

Color. It would end up a lot darker and not look matching at all if they put translucent finish on the roasted maple. That's why they would need a veneer.

 

[dibart77]

OK, I'm going to show my ignorance on woodworking and finishing techniques here, but... don't they finish the neck after roasting? Why couldn't they match the headstock then? Or is it that the wood would be too dark compared with the maple cap?

Right, Jay. The maple top on the body is very light (almost white) before finishing. The maple on the front of the headstock starts life looking similar to the top, but when they roast the maple neck it turns brownish. Now the headstock isn't very light (almost white), instead it's brownish. If you now put the same translucent stain or tint coat on the headstock, it won't have the same color as the body top. The gold finish would be way darker than the the body.

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[Slick64]

I’d take It without the matching headstock. That roasted neck has been such a major upgrade imho.

 

[Jim C]

I’d take It without the matching headstock. That roasted neck has been such a major upgrade imho.

Because of structural stability, less weight, or both?

 

[Slick64]

Because it just feels slicker to play.