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i just ordered an unfinished 1/4 sawn maple neck for one of my teles and i plan on giving it an oil finish since i fell in love with the oil finished neck on the charvel evh art series i tried the other day. i was wondering if anyone could tell me a good oil to use (i keep hearing gun stock oil...what brand etc?) and also, what's the proper method for putting it on etc. thanks.

-Mike

Tung oil works well, just make sure it is pure tung oil without varnish added. The necks of my guitars are polished bare wood and I coat them heavily with lemon oil about once a month. It's high maintenance but, the playability is wonderful, doesn't have that sticky feel. Call your local luthiers and see if they Tung oil necks and ask for a second opinion......Joe



QUAKER STATE!!!!!!!

and if its a smaller harder working neck, Castrol!!!!!!

yeah i'm going to ask my friend/luthier for sure i just wanted to see what others use since i've heard a few things and have also heard of using oil and wax. i just want this to feel like the neck on the evh charvel sooo damn nice!

-Mike

I prefer synthetic. More mileage between changes, and less thermal viscosity breakdown.

1 on the pure tung oil. Not cheap...but nice.


Originally Posted by theodie

QUAKER STATE!!!!!!!

and if its a smaller harder working neck, Castrol!!!!!!

Dave, your my hero lol...that's was a great reply lol. but, i only use royal purple full synthetic in my car and truck...do you think synthetic is ok or will it be too fast?

-Mike

Synthetic is great but, you dont want to use it in your 500 mile break in period, the cylinders and rings will not break in properly. Use regular oil in the first 500 miles. After 500, syntheic is the way to go!!!

I personally like slick 50!!!! On an old neck I have I use CDW engine restore!!!!!

damn i forgot to order an odometer when i got the neck, how am i going to tell when i hit the 500 mile mark to switch to synthetic neck oil

-Mike

oh yeah and does anyone else have and real info lol...i do need to actually finish thing and motor oil isn't gonna cut it lol

-Mike

If on a budget pure mineral oil will work (baby oil) but, you have to oil them frequently. The gunstock oil is probably Danish oil which is very similar to Tung oil if I'm not mistaken....Joe

price doesn't matter, i just ordered a quot;customquot; neck i'm not skimping on the oil lol.

-Mike


Originally Posted by XSSIVEprice doesn't matter, i just ordered a quot;customquot; neck i'm not skimping on the oil lol.

-Mike
Pure Tung Oil is the shiznitz.

I am sure the Music Man site lists the oil they use- some sort of gun stock oil, I believe. But MM necks are some of the best feeling out there- I know it is absolute best feeling of any guitar I have ever tried, so it works very well..

mincer, that's what i want, the feel of a MM or charvel evh neck which i think are oil finished and waxed...i need to see if i can find more info on that. this is going to be one nice tele neck!

-Mike

Don't the MM necks use a combination of gunstock oil and wax to get their supposedly great feel? I don't think I've ever tried a MM that I can remember.

yeah they use oil and wax...i just need to figure out what oil and what wax to use now and what method(s) to put it on with.

-Mike

If you want to wax it I'd recommend Briwax.

i'd use tru-oil - its a polymerized tung oil
beechwood casey (sp) is the company - and yes its gun stock finishing oil
good instructions can be had on the lmii website

cheers

ok, true oil seems good...should i use that then some form of wax or just the oil? i'm trying to get as mentioned that evh charvel or music man smooth yet satin/raw finish.

-Mike

You can go about it a few different ways.
First thing I'd suggest is start by sanding the neck as fine as you can.
Tack rag between grits and wash with alcohol.The tack rag will suck any dust out of the pores and the alcohol will clean of any residue from the rag.
Also the alcohol won't raise the grain.
Now the next steps are optional:Bleach the neck,this will wash out the undergrain.Let sit and neutralize with vinegar.Condition the wood.Let fully dry,even after fully dry sit it in the sun for a bit and let the UV bake it a bit then burnish it out with a soft cloth.Now wash the wood with thinned out black,when dry sand down with a fine grit.The paint will only penetrate the top layers and when you sand it out you'll highlight the top grain.Tip-use a damp not soaking rag to apply the black.
From here you have your choice of oils:
Tung oil - thick,will penetrate and seal in a couple of coats.Will tint slightly,and dull the grain.
Watco's Danish Finishing oil-thin,will top seal but not fully,Gives a nice amber hue and highlights the grain very nicely.
Truoil-a good inbetween choice.
After oiling you may wish to put on a couple of coats of finishing wax.With finishing wax the more you burnish it the deeper the sheen.
These finishes should only take two or three days,and will highlight the wood,seal it nicely and feel like raw wood.The key is thin coats,a ton of elbow grease,(you'll feel like a 13 year old with his 1st Playboy when you're done),and baking it in the sun.But just until the wood feels warm.The UV really helps draw out the mange and with burnishing seals and gives a beautiful patina.