Crazy neck wear or defective finishing???

[6stringnate]

https://imgur.com/a/wfZukit

Just picked up this 2000 McCarty. At first the neck scared the heck out of me, however after a thorough play through and the price I decided it was for me. Feels like my old high school baseball glove but what’s up with the neck wear? I’ve never seen anything like it especially on a PRS. It doesn’t bother me when playing. Is it a defect in the finish? The rest of the guitar looks and sounds like a 25 year old PRS (I have a few). I’d be interested in any theories or necks that look similar to this one.

https://imgur.com/a/ZrsUA0U

 

[JasonE]

That looks damaged to me, not play wear. There were some issues with the finish flaking off of the rosewood on the necks on some guitars. That dark spot where the finish is missing and the way it looks like there are grooves in the wood going along with the grain of it is what makes me think that is damage of some sort. Maybe it fell over at some point and the neck hit something that started that whole thing?

 

[Davey]

Holy smokes. That looks like it's been drug behind a Harley for a few miles.
Beautiful guitar though.
I be tempted to sand the entire neck down

 

[DISTORT6]

Flaking of finish, then sanded down in an attempt to smooth it out.
My guess.

 

[6stringnate]

Yea I got it for the price of a Mexican strat I thought worst case get the neck refinished or sanded, however, I’m enjoying it as it is we’ll see how it goes

 

[sergiodeblanc]

It’s clearly both.

Yeah, the V12 started flaking off, but then it’s been played enough to get through the sanding sealer on the neck in a spot.

I think it’s rad.

 

[Alnus Rubra]

Hey they don’t all have to be case queens.

Congrats, play it like you bought it for the price of a Mexican Strat, oh you did

 

[Gtrbldr]

That is a killer deal. Refin the neck and it STILL is a good deal

 

[Prina]

That is a killer deal. Refin the neck and it STILL is a good deal

Or just sand the whole neck and add something, like tung oil perhaps, to give it a satin finish.

 

[Greywolf]

Sand down with 320 , then hit it with Stew Mac Satin lacquer https://www.stewmac.com/luthier-too...LfW7VuiOGpxYaaDX426TYgHja1bEyvO4aAqPJEALw_wcB

 

[TheCraftsman]

People pay a premium for that finish…

 

[DISTORT6]

https://forums.prsguitars.com/threads/extreme-wear-on-back-of-neck.60646/#post-927883

 

[Mike Duncan]

Looks awesome.

Been playing my DGT like crazy since '08 and got nothing like that.

 

[Maertl513]

Object: PRS 513 MT, final assembly August 2011. Quilted 10-Top. V12 coating.

I do have a few spots on my fretboard edges with milky areas under the coating.
The following picture shows two spots on the E-1 side of the neck. The upper arrow marks my own fault dinging the neck on the edge of a desk.

The lower arrow points on a milky area.

Detail 1: Ding. Triangular cut.

Detail 2: Milky way #1.

Flipping the guitar, the E-6 side of the fretboard has some more milky areas.

Milky way #2: Two spots around 12th and 15th/17th fret.

Milky way #3: around 4th fret.

Does it bother and annoy me? Not really. It's only optical flaw without influence on the function.

And living outside USA the efforts for getting a refinish done are without ratio, though I'm genuine owner. The guitar has a lot of battle scars. And refinish would take a lot of the soul of the guitar.
Therefore the guitar gets lots of love being played frequently.

 

[AP515]

Yeah it flaked off in places but most of that is play wear... lots of play wear. It probably sounds fabulous as the good ones get played. I'd leave it as is unless it feels rough. If so I'd sand it down.