One Of My Favorite Guitar Mods!...and it Didn't Cost a Thing!!

[@gringogreen4719]

Darrel, next time just try a Scotchbrite dish sponge. It takes off much of the gloss and gives it a gentle satin feel. It also look less invasive. The Scotchbrite wont roll the edges though.

[@rindred]

3M makes "scuff pads" of different grits that are re-usable and washable. They might be $10 for 6, but they'll last a *very* long time if all you're doing is scuffing clearcoat.

[@MarcCoteMusic]

I'm with you... I had a sticky neck problem on one of my MiM Strats and just took the finish back a bit with 0000 abrasive. I redo it every 6 months or so because my hands slowly re-polish it. Takes about 10 seconds.

[@futurewolfjackson1628]

I came to say this. I used a green scotch and some isopropyl on a super sticky old japanese dinky now it's awesome.

[@gringogreen4719]

I did this on a few Fender guitars and some cheapo knockoffs. Did not change the look, the satin feel was subtle but noticeable and felt smooth. Not quite the same as a factory satin finish but it gets the sticky off.

[@thomasloveday1617]

When he got the 150 grit out I realised he has no idea what he's going.

[@duncanneilson9312]

I had the same thing rolling the edges on a lacquered neck, I just put on a really thin line of true oil with a q tip over the areas where it went down to natural wood and it seemed to work.

[@Joe-mz6dc]

When I follow a guy like Darren it's fantastic because I get great information but the fact that he's such a nice guy makes it 10 times better. If only more people were just nice people like this. What a great world it would be.

[@RaxFx]

The Fender roasted maple replacement necks have the glossy front but the back is satin - they feel great and are really worth the expense. (they also work well on Squier guitars)

[@osomxl]

0000 steel wool and furniture paste finishing wax would give you a nice satin finish and protect the wood as well as help seal the edges of the fret board where it was rolled. This will help keep the exposed wood from becoming dirty over time and then you can reapply when the neck starts to get glossy again.

[@mfhorgan]

I’ve found with some poly still there, it will get some of the gloss back over time - which seems counterintuitive. I got myself some bronze wool (as opposed to steel wool which is magnetic and can ruin pickups with metal shards), cup it in my hand, run it up and down the neck a few times and the satin feel comes back.

[@NYSeaNile]

I usually use some mineral spirits to remove all the grease and oils from your hands that naturally make it glossy again over time. If not the steel wool or bronze wool definitely works !

[@dennisflock3958]

I did the same to my Squier 70s Vibe Telecaster Custom. Really helped a lot.

[@jimmyjames2022]

Good to watch you sand, for people wanting to mod it gives us confidence, thanks Darrell!

[@dougrussell5002]

I did the same thing with an inexpensive G&L Bluesboy, and like it so much I did the same with my Tele Thinline Original. I didn't use such a gritty paper though. Using less grit probably did take more time but helped to have a smoother transition between the sanded and non sanded areas. As someone else said, you can always take a bit more off, but you can't add it back, so just take it easy.

[@bldallas]

For $4, Amazon carries a variety pack of super fine (1000 to 2500) 3M wet-dry sand paper. It’s perfect for gently knocking the shine off the back of a guitar neck. I’ve even done it to my Martin D18. Makes it so much more comfortable to play.

[@fredericadda]

I did the exact same thing on the neck of a 1995 Jackson Kelly. Best mod ever!

[@willredelsheimer]

Great video. I've never been put off by glossy necks. However, there is definitely something to be said for the feel and playability of a satin finish neck. Cheating the aging process, or completely bypassing it as you did in this mod, is a great way to get that worn in comfort without either paying high end pricing for an aged axe or running down the clock till it fits right.

[@paulcasilio1119]

Shane from intheblues did this a few years ago. Always love seeing this. Good stuff. Agree with the scotchbrite comments here, too.

[@Jake-mq6yp]

Surf green has got to be the best color

[@MrEric622]

Seafoam metallic would like a word...

[@Movieman1965]

For a quick fast fix it got the job done! Awesome! Thanks for this video demo of the process, Darrell.

[@MustafaBaabad]

Full of creativity and a lot of courage and enthusiasm to explore. You are amazing and I am happy to find your channel. Cheers from Indonesia.

[@YakBoss]

I had an SG with a painted neck where I didn't mind the glossy look but could be a bit sticky. I'd just put a couple of coats of auto polish/wax and it was good to go. So if you li,e the look of the gloss, there is an alternative.

[@easypermiseasypermis8808]

Hi Darrell, hi all, I've done this operation on my bass guitar and my SX telecaster, you can sand directly with 600 or 1000 sand paper gently, you will have a satin touch with thin gloss protection for the wood. Well done, and keep going! Cheers!

[@cjm3122]

Raw wood is unwise on a guitar neck. In order to maintain the integrity of the wood's surface, some coating is a must. I don't want skin oils, sweat, grime, dust, etc. seeping into (and staining) the raw surface. Eventually THAT buildup would interfere with playing. Leaving some finish is perfect. The satin is achieved, the wood is protected, and future maintenance (cleaning) will be safe. By the way, oils on raw wood are avoided in museum quality treatments.

[@jeffro.]

I was wondering about that myself. But after you put it together again, I couldn't really see the "bare wood white" as you described it. What did you do to seal it, anything at all?

[@cjm3122]

@@jeffro. Nothing. Darrel's guitar neck still has finish on it. He has simply lowered the sheen level to almost flat. If he had sanded all the finish off, Then he should apply a flat lacquer to prevent skin oil and grime buildup.

[@ExplodingPsyche]

Just clicked on the ALBUM link above and wow, I was not expecting that! Really nice acoustic guitar playing from a guy who I've come to associate with soaring electric guitar leads.

[@brettgl21]

I have done several necks for myself and friends. With a tinted neck you can use a card scraper to take the gloss finish off and leave the tint. It takes longer but is very effective. I like to finish the necks in Odies oil. It has a really nice feel to it and it protects the wood from moisture.

[@markdalton293]

You know what is a little bit awesome is the fact that you can see where the neck is satin and the heel and headstock are gloss , on both my PRS and my schecter hellraiser .

[@briannelms158]

I remember this build and love the guitar! With the sanded neck well… I know I would love it more! Thanks Darrell!

[@davejohnsonmusic]

I never liked the feel of satin finish necks, always preferred high gloss. When I was a kid, I did sand down my Ibanez RG560 neck though, probably because I was bored.

[@JoshuaLRP]

I did the same thing to my Mexi Strat. Plays like a dream now.

[@franzinauen8443]

It makes sense to put painters tape over the fret ends if you try to make them better. And then just sand over the painting tape in a 45 degree angle.

[@kevinnsevinn799]

I love seeing you do this…makes me feel like I’m not the only crazy one who will take a chance without mods 🎸🎸🎸

[@ImaGuyWholikeSlipknot]

Oh wow that's a beautiful guitar.

[@Tiburcio1950]

Nice tips. I roll the edges and sand/buff the glossy neck on all my guitars. If the edges expose top much wood or are lighter than the frett board, rub on some Tru Oil and buff it out. Does a good job darkening up the edges for a better match.

[@Bimmer2047]

If you put a little amber shellac on the edges carefully with a model brush it will help blend the color where you got into the wood.

[@Philtration]

Nice! I have a 3-year-old Baja Tele and a 14-year-old Strat. The gloss on the Tele is pretty damn sticky and I have been thinking of doing this myself. I should just stop procrastinating and get it done already. Just bought a Sting Ray bass with a satin maple neck and it feels great!

[@bldlightpainting]

I recently bought a new Gibson Les Paul and one of the first things I did was sand the neck down a bit, oil the fretboard, and polished the frets. In my opinion, most ever guitar needs this done.

[@ljjacko1988]

The end results look really good. And I bet it feels way better. Good tutorial for those who wouldn't know where to start with simple quality of life mods. 🤟🎵

[@wyattsdad8561]

I just did this to my Harley Benton te 52. I was using 0000 steel wool and I had it perfect but then I started watching tv while I was doing it and I sanded down to bare wood in a section. Bahhhhh! So then I thought on it for a couple days. I loved the feel of the neck accept for where the bare wood was. And I wasn’t totally happy with the headstock and heel looking different than the middle of the neck. I also did not remove any finish from the fretboard. Soooo then I decided to remove all the finish from the back of the neck. Well... I liked the feel but it was so white. So then I stained the back of the neck using some golden oak and some cherry stain. Perfecto! It looks very much like the original tint color. Then I used several coats of boiled linseed oil to finish it. Then wet sanded it. I also rolled the edges because of seeing one of Darrels vids It’s perfect now.

[@jamiemoffatt50]

Except not accept

[@saxophool]

Scotchbrite green pad is all it took on my gloss neck guitars. Smooth! 😎

[@benpowersguitar]

Great video man. The mod came out nice.

[@Noone-of-your-Business]

If I want to get rid of a glossy finish, I just do a single pass with 600 grit sandpaper. No need for several passes. It also does not breach the coat that is supposed to protect the wood underneath.

[@nevillegreg1]

Suggest that a few passes of 0000 steel wool on the back would do the trick and be less dusty and simpler. It will bring the gloss down to a satin/duller finish. With the rolled edge, after sanding and wiping off all the dust, dampen a lint free cotton cloth (some old T shirt material) with an oil based poly - make sure it's just damp (not soaking) and gently wipe it along the sanded edges. It will not only protect the bare wood but a second light pass (after the first has dried) will tan up what was the bare wood blending in with the original colour. I would be doing the poly on the edges first and then attend to the de-glossing the back of the neck to ensure a smooth and level and seamless finish from the rolled edge to the back of the neck if starting from scratch, but can still be done either way.

[@fabiorosa62]

I find it absurdly wrong watching a video from Darrell without him playing some! Love the mod though...

[@paulbrown7775]

5 strokes with Scotchbrite green as needed for gloss. 6-way Nail File and Buffer Block to ease edges and fret ends. (Search Amazon) You can peel the abrasive sheets from the soft block and wrap them around your finger for soft abrasion.

[@Jammaster1972]

Hey Darrell, BIG MISTAKE. Do not remove the gloss!!! Use it as a base coat for the following: step 1) satin poly-urethane spray several coats to the back of the neck. 2) Let dry for a day. 3) 1000 grit wet/dry sand paper the back of the net (use water with the sand paper). It comes out perfect every time and looks immaculate. The neck gets buttery smooth and you will drop your guitar if you do not grip it hard enough. I do this with all of my guitars. You should do a video on this. I also, contour the heels on all my Fenders and replace the neck plate with the offset neck plate. I add vintage kluson style locking tuners as well. These 3 things are a must upgrade on all Fenders to make them "deluxe," and it costs very little. Fender would not want you to make a video on this.

[@Kommander_Rahnn]

No need to remove the poly. Sometimes it's so thick you might actually change the feel of the neck. You can just rub it with steel wool to make it a satin finish.

[@fredfunf3456]

Yeah that's what I'd have done.

[@russellbrooks3622]

I have a mahogany neck that had black lacquer and red binding down the edges of the fingerboard that I did this to, but I actually had to strip it completely, reshape the edges without the binding, put some clear lacquer on it, and sand it down a little. Turned out great. A little odd, because it turned out the "rosewood" fingerboard was actually maple with dark stain. Also, it turned out that there were fret markers under the binding down the length of the fingerboard, made from small rosewood or ebony cores inserted into the maple. Even after sanding the edges down where the binding used to be, the markers were still there.

[@jeffro.]

Sounds like you did yourself a favor! I like the fret markers on the side, they come in handy sometimes!

[@chimpsandmetal8354]

Wow, Darrell… You’re AMAZING!!!!!!!!! 😄

[@DarrellBraunGuitar]

Thanks man! Right back at ya!

[@ryanbrokaw]

I took 1,000 grit wet sand paper and went over the back of my CV 50's tele. You get the smooth feel of the satin neck, but it keeps a lot of the amber color intact.

[@chrisggoodwin777]

I keep mulling over buying a cheap modder or kit. It is definitely something that interests me. Darrell and Phil McKnight make it seem so accessible

[@MrEric622]

Consider it a learning experience. I built a kit a year ago, and I would love to do it again. You learn so much when you create it yourself.

[@jeffro.]

I'm in the same boat, thinking it over, that is. All the Luthiers tell me the same thing, that I'll learn so much. What concerns me is that I don't have a real workbench type setup right now, and it'll probably be just sitting around in parts forever... I'd rather be playing it!!!

[@MrEric622]

@@jeffro. I made mine in my kitchen, and on the back porch if it was sunny.

[@Drerex]

Good video. Glad you did it first. Now I am going to mod my neck for the nice stain feel.

[@musik4life24]

From best to worst. Over a year LinseadOiled neck - Satin - Highgloss!

[@astewart9410]

I've long been tempted to do that neck sanding to my CV 50s Tele and Strat, but then another part of me likes them the way they are and says just leave them. So, thanks for letting me vicariously try it out.

[@SqueakyHuevos]

Red Scotchbrite does a great job at knocking down the gloss and leaving a satin finish without scratches

[@crashandburngaming5103]

Just picked up a free strat a few days ago. Got it all apart and gonna paint it that color green. Plus upgrade the neck, tuners and various other bits.

[@Deliquescentinsight]

I did this to a G&L Legacy S style I used to own, that had white gloss on the back and I sanded it all off down to natural wood, it played way better.

[@waltberger7885]

I own 4 G&Ls and Ive also done this to everyone of them and they play sooooo much better. ;-)

[@stevesims2243]

I would add neck to the title for search purposes. enjoyed the bench work! I love working on lower-end stuff to make them feel and play better, and it's great to see best practices.

[@darthlazlo]

I did the same thing with my neck but I used gun stock oil to seal the neck. It turned out great.

[@ifax1245]

Rub a candlestick along the rolled edge after sanding. It'll bring some of the colour back and wax the wood for moisture protection, just buff lightly with a cloth after for finishing.

[@daddymidwest4111]

Great tip! 👍

[@susannacastelletti7010]

Satin neck with glossy keyboard is one of the many reasons I love my Player Stratocaster

[@DrustIV]

I did the same thing with the high gloss neck on my Tokai thinline - it took a lot of sanding but it makes a world of difference!

[@curtjunky]

Absolutely LOVE this work on the neck!

[@lonspangrud5992]

Guitar Fetish is one of those under the radar companies. I have 3 of their XGP necks and love them.

[@austinfailz]

Paused before the video started: my guess is either setting it up properly, adjusting the pickup height for better tone, or lightly sanding the back of the neck for less stickiness when moving around the neck.

[@danielgregory9564]

I have a GF surf green tele with a MIM Fender telecaster neck. It has the non tinted finish. Everyone who has seen it has said it looks really beautiful.

[@iPeteStorr]

Details, can be so small yet have huge effect, thanks.

[@Therealgirlinthedesert]

Great video! I actually like the vintage yellow look.

[@andyt5559]

i have done this on many guitars Darrell!! it makes such a difference! you could also try using the shaft of a fairly stout screwdriver and fairly firm pressure! angled about 45° and run it up and down the length of the neck it compresses the wood fibres to a pleasing softened edge!

[@TychoVan]

It didnt change the look as much as i thought it would. Nice mod!

[@prathikanil]

Wow😍That's awesome guitar sir🤩

[@liorangel7511]

Yess, satin finish is the right way to go!

[@norm302]

Thanks for making this. I've started the process with a modern player tele. Just did a light sanding, but I may go back and do a bit more.

[@eddiejr540]

I actually do this to all gloss necks...sand to bare wood, then a couple of coats of tung oil...I don’t sand PRS necks cuz for some reason they are not sticky to my hand!!!

[@MichaelTheLibertarian]

I have one very "scratchy" fret (12th) on a guitar which is only a little over a year old. Can you show us how to recrown/sand/shape frets, please?

[@guitarafter40]

My local luthier did this to my Epi LP (minus the rolled edges) and it made a WORLD of difference. I think he only charged me 10-15 bucks. Highly recommend for any that have a high gloss neck.

[@CindiCindi15]

Looks amazing! Loving the color!

[@cosasDEguitarra]

I hate gloss at the neck too

[@Paul_Lenard_Ewing]

On my 2006 Fender Custom Shop Strat they did the tape think. Yes you can see it but with the lines very clean and tight it looks fine. If they did cut thru near the frets they touched it up with gun stock oil mixed with stain. From what I heard from a guy who does restoration work this trick keeps sweat from making it look grubby. I am going to copy the Fender Strat method on my 90 US Peavey Strat.when I soon overhaul it with new PU's and tuners.

[@aronfebles]

Wou... I was JUST thinking of doing this to my Thinline's neck. Perfect timing!

[@Gaoin86]

It's actually quite a beatiful guitar. It turned quite subtle after removing that amount of finish. If you like the guitar an this is going to make you want to play it more, I don't see why you wouldn't go with removing the finish.

[@waltberger7885]

I dont have gloss on the back of any of the guitars I own, I cant stand the sticky feel. Ive even done it on expensive guitars I own (I dont plan on selling them anyway) and I dont regret it at all. I want the neck to feel as comfortable for me as possible so I can play my best.

[@Wagoo]

if you go down to the wood you can always stain it yellow again then refinish it with oil.. it's a good idea for some guitars though.. that poly all over the neck can really feel sticky when playing

[@dannywilliams3516]

Thank you Darryl. That was an interesting video.

[@anthonynonya]

I have 3 guitars that were either sanded or were new with a satin neck. All of them now look like they came new with a gloss neck. One, the new Donner Tele, felt great out of the box and was almost as shinny as any new gloss neck after only an hour. I bought a barely used Gibson that the previous owner sanded and you can't tell after the first day of playing it. I love, LOVE a satin neck, but for me they don't last long enough with my high polishing thumb to be worth the effort once I've played it shinny, I just leave them that way.

[@jeffro.]

How do you get your shins around the neck to make it shinny?! I think everyone else is talking about the shiny look & feel.

[@darkinertia2]

my dad taught me for pool cues you can use green scrub pads on the cue to get it to stick less so thats what i do to guitars and its amazing

[@LarsProbst]

allways a pleasure to watch...even as a nonmusician :)

[@SixString_J5]

I've done this dozens of times. Here's my tips: 1. Start with a plan. Do you want to just go satin or are you going to wood. What are your transitions going to look like? 2. Remove the neck if you can. 3. Painter's tape. Painter's tape. Painter's tape. Use it to mask off the fretboard and also to lay out your transitions from gloss to satin or raw. 4. Raw wood is never a good choice, it has to be protected somehow. Tung oil is good... Tru oil is better.

[@SixString_J5]

And while I'm at it: 5. File is better for rolling the fretboard edge because it knocks down the fret ends even with the roll. 6. 00-00 Steel wool is great for blending the transition as well but keep in mind the shavings will find the pickup magnets if you don't take precautions.

[@LeonCabal]

If you are at bare wood and need a more satin feel try 5-6 coats of tru-oil. It will also make it look glossier and darker

[@MikeJones-jr5hb]

It looks good! I got a 02 American strat that the high gloss is breaking away in places. I’m thinking of doing that to it.

[@peteygonemadarts4765]

I imagine if someone is afraid of taken the amber out by over sanding you could just scuff the back of the neck and use a satin sealant. I've been thinking about trying it on my Spectrum Strat knock off .

[@BillyE5150]

Awesome guitar & video as always!

[@akivabenayahu9526]

Would it work on a red prs se?

[@regancraig2418]

Any additional treatment? Oil on the back of the neck or anything?

[@Teodor1Oline]

This tele..... love!!!

[@lemuelcruz5381]

Nice Darrell! Such a wonderful guitar.

[@drennen135]

Oh, I love that guitar! I watched both build videos too. I’m probably going to build one. My only wish is that you could do it with tele control plate. I know you need the extra knobs for this build but I think the look of this guitar would be perfect with the metal control plate. I will definitely do this mod too, when I build mine.

[@ValtteriL]

I've been thinking of doing this exact thing to my Tele, It's really uncomfortable to play due to the super glossy neck. especially during summer when it's hot, definitely gonna go ahead and give it a sand!

[@Luthiart]

Take a drink every time Darrell says "yeah".

[@Nif339]

After sanding coat liberally in softened canuba wax, leave to dry, then buff

[@killzap895]

This is what I love about my new Fender MIM Player plus top, it's got gloss on the front of the neck but it's Satin on the back, as standard, so so so appreciative of Fender for that haha

[@BlackwoodMountainMan]

Thanks Darrell. I love my G&L Legacy Strat and while I had thought of buffing off the gloss, it had not occurred to me to take the sharp edge off the fretboard. It often suits me to clutch the chord rather than barr it. With the sharp edge I have to squeeze much harder to get the result and it’s almost painful Love watching you videos although they make me buy too many guitars etc !!!!

[@christophervincent8420]

I really like the way that looks.

[@buddyvincent9205]

I do that to all of my necks. Just feels good.

[@deeray2957]

I would like to see your take on the Squier Starcaster

[@lorenzogutierrez3871]

I'm doing it now on mi Squier standard