Replacement neck... a couple simple questions

[FrayAdjacent]

I have in mind to build up a Strat style guitar... but to do it a piece at a time.

Starting with the neck, I plan on getting a strat replacement neck from Warmoth - a simple maple and rosewood job. I have a couple simple questions about finishing up a Warmoth neck.

- What's a good finish to use on the maple, and a method to apply, to end up with a nice satin finish that will protect the wood?

- Should anything be done to the rosewood fingerboard?

- How much working on the frets is usually needed? What methods and tools are used for leveling and dressing the frets?

I've never done much on a neck other than clean it, oil the fingerboard and once or twice adjusted a truss rod. I'd like to do some of the work on it myself, since it will be a very personal instrument when I get done with it. My parents gave me a bit of money for my birthday, and since it's almost enough to buy the neck, I decided I will put that money into this neck. I mentioned it to a good friend of mine, who is like a brother to me, and he decided to buy me a set of tuners to go on this neck. It'll be nice to end up with an instrument that is what I want it to be, that was built partially with the love of friends and family!

Thanks in advance!

[martinedwards]

What's a good finish to use on the maple, and a method to apply, to end up with a nice satin finish that will protect the wood?
Stewmac's waterbased guitar lacquer........

or any water based varnish from a DIY store. I've used it on guitars and it's VERY similar.

- Should anything be done to the rosewood fingerboard?

machine oil (3 in 1) or linseed oil

- How much working on the frets is usually needed? What methods and tools are used for leveling and dressing the frets?

not a clue, never see a warmoth up close, but this link http://frets.com/FRETSPages/Luthier/Technique/Frets/FretTrouble/frettrouble.html
will have EVERYTHING you'll ever need on frets.

Thanks in advance!

you're welcome in retrospect!!

[FrayAdjacent]

Martin, thanks for the input! I'll check out the link for the fretwork. I'm thinking Warmoth just sticks the frets in and makes sure the ends are not going to tear up your hands. I'm also wondering if it might be a little tricky to level them since the neck I'll get will have their compound radius. We'll see.

I'll also see about getting the water based lacquer. I do have a bottle of BLO, so the fingerboard will be easy to do. ;)

[Peeb]

machine oil (3 in 1) or linseed oil

Really? Had never heard that!

Does in make your fingers smell "oily"?

[martinedwards]

Not at all.

up until now it's what I've always used.

the only downside is that any colour in the wood is darkened, so I'm looking for other possibilities, inclu7ding varnishing the fretboard as I have a couple of rosewood boards that are really bright colours that would be a shame to cover them up!!

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e328/gowanedwards/40600678.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e328/gowanedwards/40600679.jpg

[Sloppy J.]

I've used a warmoth neck before the fretwork was perfect on it. Then I used Tru-Oil which is a kind of gun stock oil/varnish that Ernie ball uses on their necks. It qualifies as a hard finish under their warranty, IIRC.

I've never made a nut before and didn't have the files to make one so I had to get a tech to make one, it cost 50 bucks. Remember they don't come with a nut.

[FrayAdjacent]

I'll be ordering the neck with a Graphtec graphite nut pre cut and installed... it's only $30 on top of the neck cost, so I might as well!

So you didn't need to do anything to the frets? That would be nice! I can handle finishing the wood. I have refinished a few rifle stocks, but I usually used boiled linseed oil or tung oil finish. I topped one off with some wipe on Poly finish. I just want the neck to be nice and smooth. Hopefully it will last a long time, too!

[FrayAdjacent]

Martin, those fingerboards look great! I'm with you - I wouldn't want to darken those up... it would hide all that beautiful grain!

[mishmannah]

So you didn't need to do anything to the frets?


Well, you want to get to the stage where you hammer/press them in so well, you don't need to level them...but polish them up with some 0000 steel wool...

You need something straight and hard, about 3 inches long. I use a adjustable carpenters square with the metal ruler but taken out. Line it up across the top of the frets perhaps over 3 frets at a time, and see if the metal bit rocks, or if there are any gaps beneath the fret tops. You then proceed to sand the tops of the frets down- I just use needle files...then create a rounded profile to each fret in a process called "recrowning"

Check out the Frets.com link provided earlier in the thread. A good fret job really does affect the playablity of the guitar

[Sloppy J.]

They do the whole fretting process on the warmoth necks, including leveling beveling and dressing.

They just say you may need to adjust them as a disclaimer incase the frets shift when you first get it under tension, but that's not very likely since they glue the frets in.

[mishmannah]

They do the whole fretting process on the warmoth necks, including leveling beveling and dressing.


Nice!!

[Peeb]

Martin, those fingerboards look great! I'm with you - I wouldn't want to darken those up... it would hide all that beautiful grain!

+1! Beauties!!

[FrayAdjacent]

Dang... neck's gonna have to wait a bit... I got laid off today...

When I'm gainfully employed again... then I'll get my project axe going.

[playinforHim]

Here's something to think about. I've bought necks from Carvin before and they are excellent! I've also purchased from Stewart McDonald's and they are pretty good too. I've never bought one from Warmoth though so I can't comment on those. But the Carvin is my favorite.