Neck overspray

[aladdinsane]

Hey everyone,

I was looking at a 68 goldtop that seems like a pretty good price, but there's apparently some neck overspray on it. The blacklight photos check out on it, so I was wondering if anyone knows why you'd overspray a neck if there's no break. Seems like this is common on vintage guitars, but I have no idea why you would do it.

 

[britbender]

Extensive wear perhaps, some folks like 'em minty

 

[aladdinsane]

OK. This one looks like it's been played a lot and refretted, so that would make sense.

Is that an Alnico custom in your avatar?

 

[j45]

It is not uncommon that many owners used to choose to "freshen" up the back of old guitar necks when the begin to wear unevenly and pit. Seen it hundreds of times over the years.

 

[Tom Wittrock]

Mahogany absorbs moisture and feels bad so overspraying the back of the neck improves the feel and playability.

 

[aladdinsane]

Thanks, guys. This is very helpful!

 

[lhric]

Hey everyone,

I was looking at a 68 goldtop that seems like a pretty good price, but there's apparently some neck overspray on it. The blacklight photos check out on it, so I was wondering if anyone knows why you'd overspray a neck if there's no break. Seems like this is common on vintage guitars, but I have no idea why you would do it.

I think I know which 68 goldtop you were referring to.

 

[K701]

Mahogany absorbs moisture and feels bad so overspraying the back of the neck improves the feel and playability.

You don't strike me as an oversprayer?

I had a little ding/chip on the back of the neck of my LP and it's grown into a worn patch over the years. I love the feel of that bald wood part of the neck much more than the rest of it. I now play all my songs in the key of Bb which the singer struggles with, but the neck sure does feel good.

On an old Martin 0-15 I have the finish wore off on the neck and left the grain filler sticking out. That felt horrible- as if sand was on it. I used 0000 steel wool to carefully take the grain filler down to the wood.

I'd not heard of the absorbing moisture and feeling bad. TW59- what do you mean by feeling bad? Have I something to worry about in the future of my exposed mahogany?

 

[renderit]

Back in the 70's that was a service in high demand in the repair side of things. I did more than a few for customers...

 

[Tom Wittrock]

You don't strike me as an oversprayer?


I'd not heard of the absorbing moisture and feeling bad. TW59- what do you mean by feeling bad? Have I something to worry about in the future of my exposed mahogany?

Me not an oversprayer? :hmm


Unlike maple necks [like Fenders] the mahogany is more porous and when I sweat it stays with the wood and makes it tacky and harder for my hand to slide.
My 56 player was heavily worn on the back of the neck and when I had it oversprayed [about 25 years ago] it became much easier to play.
It will eventually dry out [unless left in a very damp environment], but my concern was while I played it.
If it doesn't cause you this problem, don't overspray it. :hank

 

[K701]

Me not an oversprayer? :hmm

If it doesn't cause you this problem, don't overspray it. :hank

Damn, my psychological profiling techniques are off. I don't understand. I watched 3 episodes of CSI in 2006?

No problem with it as yet. But now I know about it, it will find its way to intrude on my playing. As great as forums are for building up knowledge- they have the shadowy affect of giving you more to worry about.

 

[MIKE LEAF]

Back in the 70s if you sent a guitar to Gibson for some setup,
refret or whatever work that needed to be done, they would give you that overspray as a customer service.

Sometimes they even refinished the whole guitar, replaced your old pickups and hard ware with new stuff.

 

[Mark]

Mahogany absorbs moisture and feels bad so overspraying the back of the neck improves the feel and playability.

double

 

[Mark]

Mahogany absorbs moisture and feels bad so overspraying the back of the neck improves the feel and playability.

My 53 had no paint left on the neck and it felt like silk

 

[WBailey]

My 53 had no paint left on the neck and it felt like silk

EEAAWW ! That " silk " was someone else's sweat,beer,blood, and dead skin !

I'm a germaphobe ! :hee

I touch mine up with Deft every 10 years.

 

[World's Worst Guitarist]

Back in the 70s if you sent a guitar to Gibson for some setup,
refret or whatever work that needed to be done, they would give you that overspray as a customer service.

Sometimes they even refinished the whole guitar, replaced your old pickups and hard ware with new stuff.

We now look at that as appalling form in not only the guitar industry but in the watch industry. Rolex used to do the same in wrecking your vintage watch (sorry, repairing and replacing old parts).