maple necks

[g.wizz]

I always loved maple necks on Strats for their feel and looks
and by looks I mean the vintagy yellowish color or patina that gave them a warm feel ( to me) similar to this taken for afriend of mine:

Now, obviously I love PRS craftsmanship and attention to details and I can't see myself playing a Strat for a long long while
I know maple PRS necks are superb and may feel absolutely wonderful to the touch but to me they look bland and "cold"
this is putting me off, so why PRS kept away from the vintage yellow hue? does it affect the tone? does it became sticky
in humid conditions? (never experienced this playing Strats). is it to make the birds pop more on a maple fretboard?
I know all is possible in PS build but I'd love to have that option on the core models.

Excuse my rant brothers :biggrin:

 

[Dusty Chalk]

Those are older trees. The lumber that PRS uses now isn't yellow because those particular adulterations aren't in the soil any more, so don't work their way up to the wood.

I'm making that up. I have no idea, honestly. I think that whole picture is tinted towards the yellow.

 

[g.wizz]

Yes I realized (after posting) that the lighting in the picture is lending more yellowish hue, but I've seen
pictures for the SAS some years back that is similar in color and those were taken professionally.

 

[squirrel211]

When I got my very first strat, for Christmas in 1995, it's neck was practically white. Now it's a pretty deep tan-yellow.

 

[Mikegarveyblues]

I love, love, love maple necks!

All my Strats have had maple necks although I prefer rosewood or dark coloured wood on singlecuts.

My main Strat had a pretty light neck when I got it but it is darkening. My cheap squire Strat that I've had for years has a nice yellowish neck. Again it's darkened through age and playing but I used to smoke in the same room that was and I'm sure it had some effect.

You can get tinted lacquer which would also have have been responsible for that colouring along with age and environmental effects.

 

[Whitecat]

Perhaps not all, but many PRS maple necks are "unfinished" - they have a UV grain filler only and no other topcoat. This means they have an incredible "matte" feel and will also retain a natural colour.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

CE's and SAS's necks were covered with nitro before the whole "in the wood" finish they use now. It could get a little sticky feeling and helped with that yellow look.

 

[ViperDoc]

My first guitar--a Squier Bullet--had a maple neck and board that yellowed because it was actually finished. Yellowing can occur for many reasons, most of all because the maple becomes dirty, either by finish degradation from hand oils or light exposure, refinishing from hand oils, and from dirt and grime. "Seasoning". Some boutique guitar builders I've seen will "pre-age" the guitar neck to give it that feel, but the best way to get it is to play on, brother. Just play the fake out of that maple.

 

[The Viking Gangster]

I loved the maple neck on my Tom Anderson Drop Top Classic. It had no tint to it. I thought it was beautiful and great to play. I suppose the guitar is a modern take on a strat so vintage tint wasn't needed.

 

[Sam]

I'm not super keen on the pumpkin tint that Fender uses on some of the reissues. Prefer a clearer look that ambers naturally with age.