StratLovesLenny wrote:
Haha, I knew what you meant, and yes. It's the earlier HW1 Strat model with the small headstock (edit: and the rosewood fretboard on maple). I've been told that wet sanding leads to a smoother overall finish, so that's why I tried it on the neck. Keeping in mind that wood can be damaged through swelling, I tried to use only a few drops at a time, enough to bunch up the dust that was sanded off. It plays really well, but those comments were just making me concerned that if some water did seep through, that it'll swell in the future somehow (not sure if wood does that, or can get slowly damaged in the long term from something now).

Do the natural oils from your hand aid in any way? I'd like to avoid applying anything thick that would cause the neck to feel different than it does now if I can help it. I may go with the Tru-Oil if it'll substantially protect the wood. I'm sure a gun shop or the Dick's in town carries it.

Also Marlow: I remember you mentioning that you lightly coated your Black One repro neck with ebony stain. Does that help in terms of sealing? If not, you haven't encountered any problems with other necks you've worked with?

(you guys are gonna have to forgive me if I seem very unknowledgeable about wood, because I don't know much on the topic at all)
To the best of my knowledge, Rosewood fretboards are just raw... the only reason that I stained it at all was an aesthetic issue and had nothing at all to do with protecting the wood. I just needed a darker fretboard. On the back, all I was doing was darkening the bare areas of the neck with a concoction of spirits to emulate a reliced neck.

I'm restating my position... the miniscule amounts of water and oils that you're talking about here from your hands or anything else for that matter might build up over a period of years, but if a bead of sweat falls on your neck, its not going to be instant chaos. How many years did Stevie beat the hell out of #1? Rory Gallagher's main strat was stolen and found on the side of the highway after a couple of weeks of rain... You'll be fine. Just don't shower with it.

Maple is a hardwood. Rosewood is a hardwood. Basically means that the strands of fibers that make up the cellulose structure of the wood is denser or less porous, which also means that it reacts to water and moisture better than softwoods (alder or pine, etc.)

Sure it will warp over time - that's why there's an adjustable truss rod installed, because wood generally is poor resisting tension forces (although still holds its own), and is much better under compression. Anyway - unless you're soaking the neck in floodwater or under the pressures of a fire hose - you shouldn't really worry too much about it.
 


John


digital mind, analog heart + underestimated from the start...