To Shine or Not to Shine
jujurocks
Posted 2007-04-07 3:29 AM (#106560)
Subject: To Shine or Not to Shine


Joined:
March 2007
Posts: 97

Location: North Cal. mountains
Many of you are having necks refinished.
Personally, I am a purist for any wood. Use will wear the grainiest neck smooth with time. That is my personal opinion (for furniture, also).
I would like to know your opinions.

Question 1:
Should an Ovation owner have his neck/head refinished?

Why?
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ozwatto
Posted 2007-04-07 4:58 AM (#106561 - in reply to #106560)
Subject: Re: To Shine or Not to Shine


Joined:
January 2007
Posts: 672

Location: New South Wales, Australia
I say leave it alone unless it's absolutely necessary to have something done. I've had my 1860 for 13 years and have only ever wiped the neck down with a cloth after playing. I love the neck..it's real smooth and easy to play.......even for me :D
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Thanksforallthefish
Posted 2007-04-07 7:32 AM (#106562 - in reply to #106560)
Subject: Re: To Shine or Not to Shine
Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 1374

refinished no... but I have always liked buffing it or having it buffed.. :D .

Oh wait, you meant the guitars....nope mine are naturals except the classical and balladeer, and I just wipe those down when I'm done.


GH
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an4340
Posted 2007-04-07 8:47 AM (#106563 - in reply to #106560)
Subject: Re: To Shine or Not to Shine


Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389

Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands
once a year apply wax to back of neck
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Old Man Arthur
Posted 2007-04-07 1:46 PM (#106564 - in reply to #106560)
Subject: Re: To Shine or Not to Shine



Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777

Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR
Well Gee, I guess I am with the majority.
I figure that the one coat of lemon-oil when you clean your frets, and the grease from my filthy little hands will do the rest.
I think my 1621 had a shiny neck when it was new. It is still shiny at the heel, and it looks fine everywhere else (not faded, or nothin'), but I think any un-natural chemicals have worn of, and been replace by human lard. :p
The other three came with a kinda satin finish.
I'll go with the sweat!
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Jason_S
Posted 2007-04-07 2:29 PM (#106565 - in reply to #106560)
Subject: Re: To Shine or Not to Shine


Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 2804

Location: ranson,wva
my adamas has a oiled neck,i put a coat of wax o it every coupla months. the rest of my ovations have gloss necks.....both of my teles have oiled waxed necks as well.....jason
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xnoel
Posted 2007-04-07 3:36 PM (#106566 - in reply to #106560)
Subject: Re: To Shine or Not to Shine


Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 782

Location: Waurika OK
My Hamer Daytona has seen a LOT of playing. The finish is completely gone on the underside of the neck. The guy who had it before me must have gigged with it a lot.
I have thought about refinishing it, but it is the smoothest, best feeling neck I have ever played. The body has some chips and dings,(lots of character). I think I will leave it just as it is.
As a further note, if you like strats, try a Daytona.
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Slipkid
Posted 2007-04-07 4:07 PM (#106567 - in reply to #106560)
Subject: Re: To Shine or Not to Shine



Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301

Location: south east Michigan
If I have a choice my next guitar will have a glossed neck.
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mtnbikerfred
Posted 2007-04-08 2:31 AM (#106568 - in reply to #106560)
Subject: Re: To Shine or Not to Shine


Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 1421

Location: Orange County, California
My U681T *was* matte. Now I have to knock the shine off of it with 000 Steel wool every couple of months.
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Weaser P
Posted 2007-04-08 8:30 AM (#106569 - in reply to #106560)
Subject: Re: To Shine or Not to Shine


Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 5332

Location: Bluffton, SC
The 1537 is the first gloss neck I've ever had and it's taking a little getting used to but I have a much harder time gettng used to neck widths than their finish.
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Trader Jim
Posted 2007-04-08 1:16 PM (#106570 - in reply to #106560)
Subject: Re: To Shine or Not to Shine


Joined:
June 2006
Posts: 7307

Location: South of most, North of few
All mine are gloss now. I really prefer the gloss finish to the satin or natural.
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Old Tele man
Posted 2007-04-08 1:53 PM (#106571 - in reply to #106560)
Subject: Re: To Shine or Not to Shine


Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 122

Location: Tucson, AZ
...your PLAYING should "shine," not the luster on the wood! (ha,ha)
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Hillwalker
Posted 2007-04-08 3:48 PM (#106572 - in reply to #106560)
Subject: Re: To Shine or Not to Shine


Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 143

Location: Shotley Bridge, Northern England
I have a Celeb 12 with a great neck; smooth and matte from hours of playing. In my experience new Celebs (and Applauses) have a gloss, rather sticky, neck finish. Now I know these are not US made, but I think that supports the 'leave it alone, let nature take its course' view.

HW
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ProfessorBB
Posted 2007-04-09 9:45 AM (#106573 - in reply to #106560)
Subject: Re: To Shine or Not to Shine



Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881

Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains
I prefer gloss, but haven't paid to have one converted, and am not sure I would. I really would like to hear a head-to-head comparo where all other variables are controlled.
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moody, p.i.
Posted 2007-04-09 11:05 AM (#106574 - in reply to #106560)
Subject: Re: To Shine or Not to Shine


Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15682

Location: SoCal
I prefer gloss. When I special ordered my 1773LX, I had the neck glossed. My FD-14 has a natural neck that doesn't thrill me, but it's not enough of a problem to have it glossed. The OFC guitar won't have a glossed neck and I'm fine with that.

I tend to think that Ovation necks and headstocks look better glossed. Ovation stopped glossing necks in the mid to late '80's and the necks they put out in the '90's looked bad to me. I thought it was the wood until I saw pics of Tuppy's Book Elite before and after glossing. The glossing made a huge difference in appearance. This is my opinion and it should be yours.

Truth be told, when I'm playing, I'm not thinking at all about the finish on the neck (unless I'm getting splinters from it).

Then you have Tuppy who's spent tens of thousands of dollars having necks glossed......
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MWoody
Posted 2007-04-09 11:07 AM (#106575 - in reply to #106560)
Subject: Re: To Shine or Not to Shine



Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13997

Location: Upper Left USA
I prefer the necks that I reuse to have an oiled finish because:

- I don't have the tooling to properly gloss coat and buff
- I love the look and feel of the wood

For the new aquisitions I have made, the necks are gloss.

If the neck was worn I would have to refinish it uniformly. The beauty of the better woods used in necks is how they can absorb skin oils and make a nice finish/patina that is comfortable.
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Thanksforallthefish
Posted 2007-04-09 12:25 PM (#106576 - in reply to #106560)
Subject: Re: To Shine or Not to Shine
Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 1374

satin finish seems to play faster/smoother but I too like the tactile experience with the natural finish/oiled necks.. playing faster will come, right now I'm just striving for better and more consistently.

Glenn
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