Neck finish removal

[mdlorenz]

Got my mando back yesterday after having a pro finish removing the finish from the neck... Thought I'd share the results. Joe Cleary at Campanella Strings (http://www.campanellastrings.com) did a great job. Much better than I could've done myself. I am lucky to have such a skilled luthier in the area such as him.

Overall I'm quite pleased. The neck is mahogony (sp?), so it's not going to be ultra smooth like a maple neck, but regardless it's much better than the high gloss finish that was on there to begin with. #& prob will only get better with time & playing. Here's some pics.

http://mdlorenz.com/img/IMG_1.jpg
http://mdlorenz.com/img/IMG_2.jpg
http://mdlorenz.com/img/IMG_3.jpg

When I picked it up Joe Cleary at Campanella Strings (http://www.campanellastrings.com) was nice enough to pick a tune with me w/ a couple of his mandos, a pretty much brand new A-style & an f that's about a year old. He was also just finishing up a 2-point. all of which were beautiful, & played & sounded amazing. Anyone interested in a new mando in the $4000-$10000 range should look him up. They are WAY underpriced if you ask me.

[Driver8]

What benefits do you gain from taking the finish off a neck, out of curiosity.I have seen a few members post that they done this.

[mdlorenz]

Some find the lack of lacquer more slippery, & easier to slide up & down the neck.

I myself am a sweater, & I found that my hand moves more freely on the stripped down neck than the glossy finished neck. Many high end guitars are like this too. My Girlfriends Taylor has a similar finish, with only a thin coat of laquer over the wood... maybe not even laquer, possibly just tung, or linseed oil, or something of the like. I've always liked a bare neck to that of a shiney neck. Seems like there's less friction.

[moku9]

Someone told me a stripped neck has a shorter life-span: is there any truth to this?

[mdlorenz]

By the rules of physics, one would wear theough 1/8" of laquer slower than just sealed up bare wood...but I'm not sure it really works that way. Play your axe... I guess thats the way I see it, & if a bare neck helps you play better, go for it. I like it... for sure.

[markishandsome]

Someone told me a stripped neck has a shorter life-span: is there any truth to this?


Andrea Amati, 1574

[Antlurz]

I see that during that 430+ years, the tuning peg holes have needed rebuilt at least three times. Maybe more. Nothing visible for wear on the neck though, to speak of.

Ron

[mythicfish]

If you want a smooth feel on the neck ... don't eat fruit with your left hand.
And if you're ambidexterous ... don't eat frut at all.

Curt