Knocking Down the Finish...

[Monahan]

Played my DGT at church today, and the glossy neck was giving me trouble (never a problem at home LOL!). Part nerves (been 11-years since the last time I played guitar in service) and it was a bit humid in the building...

Anyway, this guitar is a lifer and I fully intend to play the frets off of it-- several times likely SO-- that gloss has got to go. My plan was to get one of the green Scotch-Brite pads to knock down the finish, but wonder if there's a better way of achieving my goal-- 600-grit sandpaper perhaps...?

These current Core finishes are a bit different than I'm accustomed to, so asking here before subjecting the guitar to my laboratory of woodworking

 

[Rider1260]

Before you sand the neck , try a bit of lotion , dry or sweaty hands are sticky.

 

[Maxime Bousquet]

For tips on how to make the guitar neck more satiny, I would ask SinSir, he does it and the results look great!

 

[Monahan]

Before you sand the neck , try a bit of lotion , dry or sweaty hands are sticky.

Thanks for the tip!
If there is one weakness to the DGT in my estimation, it's the glossy neck. Owning a CE24 with the satin neck has ruined all other finishes for me LOL! All that to say, the finish days are numbered

For tips on how to make the guitar neck more satiny, I would ask SinSir, he does it and the results look great!

Oooo-- I'll have to check that out. Thanks!

 

[László]

If there is one weakness to the DGT in my estimation, it's the glossy neck.

I love the gloss necks, and can't get along with a satin neck!

Different strokes...

 

[Bowtiefanatc]

Green scotch brite, if that doesn’t work then 1000 grit sandpaper in small doses.

 

[Greywolf]

my 2cents after 40 years as a luthier . Start with 3000 wet ( home depot sells it) .It breaks the glaze that make it sticky but doesn't scratch it.
Finish up with a bit of luthier's polishing compound (stew-mac) . What you end up with is one that is semi-gloss in apperance and plays like silk .

 

[bodia]

Green scotch brite, if that doesn’t work then 1000 grit sandpaper in small doses.

I've done the green scotch brite on 4 or 5 necks. Works great.

 

[deathworlder]

I love the gloss necks, and can't get along with a satin neck!

Different strokes...

My favorite is a burnished finish(rosewood or roasted maple). But really, it makes no real difference to me; probably from having callous hands.

 

[Monahan]

Thanks guys!

Now I've got a plan; start with the less aggressive 3000 wet and see where that takes me. Scotch-Brite has worked great for me in the past on poly & Gibson finishes, but I know PRS is using something a little different these days...

 

[Bogner]

You Could Always Do The Batting/Golf Glove Thing (Kind Of Like Michael Jackson) And Cut The Fingers Off, Paint Your Nails And Channel Your Inner George Lynch While Using Some Fast Fret All Over The Neck.

 

[d^rren]

Don't use 3000 grit wet sandpaper. You're not levelling a glossy finish. Use a Scotch-Brite pad to knock the gloss down. Tape off the headstock and heel areas first.

 

[Gtrbldr]

Does this work on old school nitro lacquer as well? My smokeburst McC (2009) has some sort of old fashioned nitro - which smells great by the way - but is sticky like a maple syrup after some playing time. I have no issues playing regular glossy necks, but this kind of nitro is not really comfi.

 

[d^rren]

Yes.

 

[Monahan]

Does this work on old school nitro lacquer as well? My smokeburst McC (2009) has some sort of old fashioned nitro - which smells great by the way - but is sticky like a maple syrup after some playing time. I have no issues playing regular glossy necks, but this kind of nitro is not really comfi.

Scotch-Brite works to knock down any finish-- keep in mind these type of scrub-pads come in different "grits" (levels of abrasion). A good rule of thumb is to begin with the less abrasive and go easy with it to see what the results are, moving to more aggressive if needed. Afterward going back over the knocked down finish with a very fine abrasion helps to make it look (and feel) a bit nicer. This has worked beautifully for me on the older Gibson-type finishes... the new PRS stuff is somewhat different. Keep in mind that there are many ways to skin a cat

 

[Gtrbldr]

Scotch-Brite works to knock down any finish-- keep in mind these type of scrub-pads come in different "grits" (levels of abrasion). A good rule of thumb is to begin with the less abrasive and go easy with it to see what the results are, moving to more aggressive if needed. Afterward going back over the knocked down finish with a very fine abrasion helps to make it look (and feel) a bit nicer. This has worked beautifully for me on the older Gibson-type finishes... the new PRS stuff is somewhat different. Keep in mind that there are many ways to skin a cat

Edit. Ok, too cheezy reaction from my end

Thanks for the advice!

 

[Greywolf]

3000 doesn't take much off , just allows for a more satin feel, you can always go more aggressive ..2000, 1500, 1000, 800, 600, 400 .
I've done them all. The same is true with the rubbing / polishing compounds.. start gentle to see how it works with THAT finish .. then adjust as needed. I use a palm wide piece and lay it on the neck to match my hand and using natural playing pressure go up and down the back of the neck , I guess you could say it's a form of relicing but I abhor scratches.

 

[Monahan]

I'll post an update here once I've addressed the neck finish. Got several good ideas to try thanks to y'all

 

[Veetwin]

1500 then 2000

 

[Bogner]

I'll post an update here once I've addressed the neck finish. Got several good ideas to try thanks to y'all

40 Grit On A Belt Sander Is A Quick Job. Polish That Up With A Wire Brush And Some Lemon Pledge And You Are Finished!