The Best Guitar Neck Finish EVER - and easy!

[@jugheadjones5458]

I got Japan Drier chemical and mixed a few DROPS with the boiled linseed oil and it dries very quickly. If you can find it follow the directions exactly for the ratio. I put about 2-3 drops in an ounce of linseed oil.

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Very cool man, I think we’ll pin this. Great tip - thanks!

[@wyattsdad8561]

Where did you find the Japan dryer? I want to use that when I redo the finish on my neck. I’ve got the neck off and it’s all sanded down on the back side

[@jburtonca]

I like the Highline method of using polymerized tung oil. Very nice and durable.

[@oldguyjammin9732]

That’s cool, highline knows his stuff for sure. Imo, any “oiled neck” ought to be recoated once a year or so anyway.

[@secallen]

This was brilliant, thank you. Just done it to a UK-designed/Chinese-built P-bass that used to be acrylic-coated and horrible. Now I am remanufacturing the whole bass. My Mexican P-bass has a very good neck already, but it may soon get the same treatment. thank you for sharing this info.

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Yep, really ‘slick’ ;-)

[@geraldfrieberg7921]

I have used 0000 grade steel wool with excellent results, personally. We all have various methods. Agree with post below regarding Japan drier (available from Sherwin Williams paint stores for about 15 bucks). Also, Tru Oil is another great finish. GLTA. Good video. Thanks.

[@lone-wolf-1]

Seems to work well with the boiled linseed oil mixture👍🏼 What I do on sticky necks: longitudinally passes with 400 grid sandpaper till the surface is dull. After playing for a while, it gets shiny again, so I repeat the procedure. Now I know what to do, if I hit the bare wood😊Thank you

[@GuitarLessons18andOver]

1. Take Neck off GUITAR. 2. Use (0000) steel wool and lemon oil. 3. Wipe it clean. 4.Apply lemon oil a thick coat. 5. Set it out in the sun to thicken and dry. 6. Buff out with dry cloth. 7. Set it back in the sun to dry.. 8. put neck back on GUITAR & ENJOY! a nice neck to jam on.

[@evilrainbow]

what is this "sun" you speak of?

[@wyattsdad8561]

My Harley Benton looks just like this guitar. Same color and everything. I want to put on new tuners since I’ve got the old ones off now.

[@wyattsdad8561]

I’m gonna try this. I just got a new Harley Benton tele and I was using 0000 steel wool (I did it before I saw your video) and I sanded off the coloring in one spot by accident. I tried using some minwax stain to match but it didn’t match so I steel wooled all the finish off the back. It’s too light looking for me to leave it. So thank you for sharing your work. I’m gonna give this a try. If you got any other pointers let me know. Thank you again.

[@michael_caz_nyc]

Great info here. How does this differ from Tru-oil? I just purchased a Sterling Stingray Bass, and the neck is just-a-little Dry. I want to make it: smooth & slick to retain that Satin-finish. Any input is appreciated. oNe LovE from NYC

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Hey there, congrats on your new Bass... slappin’ da bass man. Not familiar with Tru-oil but it would probably work just fine. You could first try just hitting that bad boy with a few swipes of 220 and see what you think. Even painted or gloss finished necks feel MUCH better after knocking some of the shine off. The purpose of treating with oil is to seal the wood from collecting water moisture - guess it seals it in as well, stabilization. You don’t need to remove the neck either. I recently sanded my slime green Jackson neck and just taped off an area at each end of the neck and sanded in between.

[@michael_caz_nyc]

@@oldguyjammin9732 Thanks. The neck feels Smooth already (just a little more Raw-wood-feeling) vs. my Suhr Strat or my Taylor Acoustic. I'm going to try the Tru-oil for 1 Lite coat. Appreciate the input.

[@johnwhitaker545]

Careful with the rags you use to apply and wipe down the oil because BLO can spontaneously combust. Always soak towels etc with water before throwing them in the trash.

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Yes, good advice! Never just throw used rags in a closed container.

[@hankspank222]

Good job, but he did caution against using a paper towel. Lint can get in your finish he said. A microfiber cloth would work great.

[@TimO-wt9sz]

Hellk my friend great video I need this info I wanted to go back on some of our convos you did have the vintage 30 in your marshall mow have the swamp thang correct? If so in your own opinion which was better and why I'm doing my friend I'm getting a new speaker I allways love your tone and I'm lucky enough to have the same amp so I'm following your same steps lol thanks bud keep safe k .

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Tim O - Hey Tim, I now have a Vintage 30 in the Marshall with the SwampThang in the cabinet below. I prefer the V30 in the Marshall as it covers more overall frequencies that does the ST. The V-Type that comes stock in the Marshall is really good but I moved it over to my little Stage Right. Thanks for tonal compliments :) A superb attenuator is the Bugera 100W Power Soak. Completely passive, nothing to plug in and it sounds great. Currently about $90 from Sweetwater. I’m selling mine used right now for $80 so look around. Cheers man \m/

[@dynamn]

Hi mate how does this finish hold up 3 years after please?

[@oldguyjammin9732]

smooth as silk

[@NoTrebleLowLife]

You say a teaspoon of oil in with the 2 oz. Of mineral spirits. What kind of oil though is what I’m looking for?

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Linseed... and it might be a teaspoon of mineral spirits with 2 oz of oil. That sounds better than more spirits to oil. The spirits just help lift the grain and allow the oil better penetration. After a while the spirits evaporate leaving the oil deep within. You're in for a treat :-) so silky smooth.

[@markzim8295]

Just wet sand the back of the neck with 600, 800, 1000, 1500, 2000, 3000 and buff it with auto body compound. Comes out like glass in 20 minutes

[@oldguyjammin9732]

True, I actually follow your technique on my lacquered necks stopping at 1500 but wanted to try this. Since it went to bare wood, the oil was a good idea.

[@MrBreadfan77810]

Does someone know how the evh necks get treated from the factory? @Oldguyjammin

[@oldguyjammin9732]

I don’t know, but I’ve had two EVH standards for several years and they are terrific! Also have an ‘untreated’ Charvel neck and it’s been terrific as well. My Squier Modern Tele has a roasted neck and it’s been great. My EVH Silver is triple roasted… so far no issues with any. Worst necks? PRS!

[@telewired]

Did you use any Japan Drier mixed with the linseed oil?? I am in the process of doing this now and it is not doing to well--Staying sticky----I did use the japan drier but just not happy with outcome----

[@oldguyjammin9732]

ken p. cook - too much oil probably. I did add about a tsp of mineral spirits to the 3 tsp of oil but I think that just helps with evaporation. Apply the oil sparingly, I also left mine by the fire overnight. In cooler and more humid areas the oil would take much longer to absorb. I just did two more necks last week with this process and didn’t have any issues other than... ‘ oh my gosh that’s smooth’ ;-)

[@telewired]

@@oldguyjammin9732 so you did not use any Japan Drier?

[@iyona14granturismogt6gtspo7]

Boiled Linseed Oil is a Resin, it does not Soak in wood it Coats it.

[@oldguyjammin9732]

well there was certainly a lot less of it present after the neck set over night...?

[@iyona14granturismogt6gtspo7]

@@oldguyjammin9732 it does settle into crevices and dries.

[@WolfBand626]

its 90 degrees Farenheit. and the Air Conditioning has been out for a few days. let me just fire up that ol Fireplace so my guitar neck will be more smooth hahaha. thanks for the video, good information!!!!!

[@austinmoore8397]

Do NOT use boiled linseed oil on your cutting boards, please; they contain metal drying agents (traditionally lead) and are not food safe.

[@RealHansPeter69]

wrong

[@The_Macaroon]

Hey Old Guy. Did you ever do the Wolfie?

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Can’t say that I have, what’s ‘the Wolfie’?

[@The_Macaroon]

@@oldguyjammin9732 in this video you said you were going to do the EVH Wolfgang next?

[@oldguyjammin9732]

@@The_Macaroon - gotcha, I have yet to do it to the ‘Wolfie’ but do have a bit of fret sprout so I’ll do an all-in-one neck refurbish soon. Merry Christmas!

[@garygrinkevich6971]

nice video dude, i'm in the middle of a nightmare job on an uncles epiphone les paul, broken headstock scarf joint, electronics are ripped apart, rat shit in the volume knobs, missing tailstop piece (my family don't deserve me or the guitar =]) On my 3rd coat of linseed oil after stripping, drilling, toothpick dowling, clamping sanding and filling the break. went for a worn look on the neck some of the bare mahogany is showing through and theres a nice gradient effect where the black was taken down to the edges, i am using steel wool between coats but will wet sand and polish the final coat. get this, when i got it ""someone"" had used wood screws with no pilot holes to hold the scarf joint and split the fretboard from the neck all the way to the 5th fret... some would say i should have burned her on the weber and never spoke of the incedent again.

[@oldguyjammin9732]

Oh my gosh! Love stories like this, not what happened to your uncles guitar but that you have a flare for writing and describing - I feel for you! Hope you’re documenting it with pics. “Burned her on the Weber...” that’s great! Thanks for sharing

[@TimO-wt9sz]

Wow I would have loved to buy that guitar old boy man lol oh well I have some extra money I'm gunna do some amp upgrades I am like I said speaker and maybe an atenuator just a cheap one I hope there what they say they are

[@oldguyjammin9732]

best of luck Tim. Amp upgrades are priceless!

[@moosey62]

Did you get up at 3am to make this video? If so, well done.

[@oldguyjammin9732]

haha, not quite 3 but stayed up til probably 10:30! Way passed my bedtime \m

[@moosey62]

Well done mate. Nice vid. Thanks

[@oldguyjammin9732]

@@moosey62 - It's worth whatever time it takes, suuuuupperrrrr smoooooth \m/

[@brianewert6667]

Sub up and like people - this guy is great!