Official Luthiers Forum!

Hello all, I'm currently ready to finish my first and was debating about the finish. I will have a paint booth (explosion proof) ready within a week or two so my options are wide open. I remember reading that many people prefer the feel of a FP neck.
I was wondering what your preferences where and why?
I was also wondering if someone had ever finished a neck differently that the body?
Thank you for your participation.Alain Desforges38790.5919097222

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

I voted for FP because that is what I have always used, however after Dave White's recommendation I'm going to try Tru-Oil on my next. It's supposed to give the silkiest feel of all.

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

I prefer French Polish because I just don't like the French Norwegians That one is for you BD you got me with that one a couple years ago

No really I like French polish because for the smoother feel. It is one of my finish options. I also do nitro and KTM9 necks. but I let the client chose
MichaelP38790.589537037

I have only used KTM-9 so far, although I am getting ready to try Tru-Oil as well.

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53% of all statistics are made up on the spot
http://driftwoodguitars.blogspot.com/

I voted "other" for TRU-OIL.... I love the smooth feel of a gun stock!

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

Well, here's where this type of poll falls short. Really, the biggest issue for most folks is gloss-vs-satin. I'm not all that sure that most folks have used or have experienced enouigh of thoses choices you gave to have a real educated opinion on them.
For instance - there is a satin version of KTM-9, but has anyone ever actually used it?

But it is a good question Alain, as it can start to give you afeel for what people like for the finish material.

Oh...I tend to gravitate toward a satin neck, but prefer the look of a glossy one...so I'm rather conflicted....

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

I used the satin version of KTM-9 last year for aclient that wanted a satin finsh. It seemed to work fine. Now I have been using Rock hard varnish and another client is requesting a satin finish on the neck. I'm not quite sure how I will do that but it seems like the only choice will be to create the satin finish by polishing with other than a smooth cloth or just stopping short of a glossy finish during the polishing process.

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

I had a guitar once that had a glossy body but a satin neck. I suspect they were the same finish but the neck wasn't polished out. After a few years of playing, the part of the neck that my left hand touched got shiny. I thought it was kind of cool.

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John Cavanaugh
Saint Paul, MN
"What could possibly go wrong?"

I've done necks in laquer (gloss), Crystallac (gloss), PSL (gloss), USL (gloss), oil (semi-gloss and satin), shellac (semi-gloss and satin). Me, I love the feel of a french polished neck, but it's a tough call as to whether it's nicer than an oiled neck, or just as nice. Those are my only two finishes of choice on acoustic guitar necks, and I don't grain fill them, either, and I apply it thin. They've all held up fine, to date. I even french polish electric guitar necks while gloss finishing the body, unless I'm staining them, at which point it gets a bit too messy/fiddly for me.

Tru-oil

Actually my first vote would be for the wood polished up to 12000 grit micromesh. I play my new guitars like this for a week or so as I make fine tuning adjustments on the neck shape - playing is the only way I find to fully check this out. This would be perfect apart from the fact that it gets a bit grubby after a while.

I'll have to try a French Polish neck as I love the finish and feel on guitars and have to uphold the European end of things

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Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

shellac rubbed out with wax. Feels great!

Tru-Oil

Mike
White Oak, Texas