NGD - The "I can't believe I did this to my brand new SE" version...

[Ilias]

Hey everyone, last week I received a brand new PRS SE Floyd Custom 24 to keep company to my Ibanez RG570. Well after playing it for a few days, I just couldn't jive with the finished neck. I was so used used to the super smooth and fast unfinished Ibanez Wizard neck that something had to be done to the PRS.
Well, I decided to sand the neck to the wood, and let me tell you it's butter smooth now and it's everything that I hoped it would become. I painstakingly took my time to make look like a factory finish. I had, yeaaars ago, a CE24 and I really like the unfinished neck look with the flame body.
So, without further ado, here she is in all it's glory

 

[andy474x]

Nice! Was the finish on the neck thick? After having a guitar with a satin neck, I have to say, I would do it too!

 

[JustRob]

Nice work! I'm not sure I'd have the confidence to do such a neat job.

 

[greiswig]

Whatever floats your boat. Finishes also protect the wood and keep humidity from affecting it adversely. You can clean a finish, but cleaning bare wood is a challenge.

I've "converted" necks to satin finish for other players before using 0000 steel wool, but my only goal there is to get rid of the gloss. Worked great, kept the finish. So if others are considering this...

 

[Ilias]

Nice! Was the finish on the neck thick? After having a guitar with a satin neck, I have to say, I would do it too!

The finish was pretty thick. I'd say ~0.5mm+ which took FOREVER to sand by hand (well doing it right at least).

Nice work! I'm not sure I'd have the confidence to do such a neat job.

Neither did I, particularly since I couldn't just unbolt the neck and work on it. Working the finish from the body edges took a lot of elbow grease. I double taped both cutaways as to not scratch the body.

Whatever floats your boat. Finishes also protect the wood and keep humidity from affecting it adversely. You can clean a finish, but cleaning bare wood is a challenge.
I've "converted" necks to satin finish for other players before using 0000 steel wool, but my only goal there is to get rid of the gloss. Worked great, kept the finish. So if others are considering this...

Funny you say that, I actually did try to "satinize it" with 0000 steel wool before going all out, but it didn't look and feel right to me. I did treat the wood with several applications of (natural finish) Danish Oil over two days. I must say I am really impressed at the result. I will take a couple more close up pics once I get all cleaned up.

 

[DHW]

I used 3m pads on the neck of my se245 and it made the most perfect satin finish you could ever imagine. The ibanez neck is not unfinished, it has an oil/wax finish.

I would strongly recommend hitting your nearest gun shop and picking up a bottle of birchwood casey gun STOCK oil and gun stock wax... Rub all the exposed wood with the oil, let it soak in for a couple minute and wipe off... let it dry and do it again... then follow up with rubbing in a bit of the wax. That will protect the wood and will retain the feel. Cleaning then down with murphy oil soap or lem oil and a fresh coat of oil/wax at least yearly should be done for the ibanez and now the prs.

 

[DHW]

Likewise the ce24 was not unfinished. It actually had a satin nitro finish on it.

 

[László]

I'm just the opposite. The only thing I'd change about my maple neck McCarty is the satin finish on the neck.

Gloss is so much nicer for me.

But -- congrats on NGD and getting the guitar the way you like it!

 

[garrettb]

I would've stopped at the nut, but extra points for commitment.

Good call on the Danish oil. That means the neck is still finished (and therefore the wood protected), just in a more minimal form.

 

[Ilias]

I guess unfinished was the wrong term to use. The Ibanez feels like it's an oil or veeery thin satin finish (and it has a bubinga section in the middle of neck for reinforcement I believe). I polish it every once in a while. It's from 2002 and it still feels great but it's reaaaly thin and can get uncomfortable after a while. I don't totally recall the finish on the CE24, but it wasn't very thick. Even after sanding the SE, it's still from what I can estimate about 2mm thicker than the Super Wizard Ibanez neck (which goes from 17 to 20mm).

Aside from that, the SE is a really good quality guitar for the price. I'd say probably best quality for sub $1000. I was flip flopping between the vintage trem and Floyd Rose. The vintage trem on the CE24 held tension really well but I had read that the trem in the SE is not the same. I'd have probably upgraded the tuners, nut and possibly bridge so just decided the "Floyd" version. I must say the floyd rose isn't as smooth as the Edge on the Ibanez, but it's just as good (for now at least...) in tuning stability.

I will keep playing it for a while before changing the pick ups. The SE ones are decent.

 

[DHW]

I am positive that the ibanez is an oil/wax finish. A small bottle of the birchwood casey oil and a small bottle of the birchwood casey wax will set you back less than $20 and the neck will last forever if it is maintained. If you don't oil that neck it will likely warp or crack eventually.

 

[rugerpc]

without any finish, it's gonna get very dirty...

 

[Ilias]

I am positive that the ibanez is an oil/wax finish. A small bottle of the birchwood casey oil and a small bottle of the birchwood casey wax will set you back less than $20 and the neck will last forever if it is maintained. If you don't oil that neck it will likely warp or crack eventually.

Are you saying to put Tru Oil over the Watco Danish Oil that I already applied? I will definitely wax it.

 

[DHW]

oh you already danish oiled it... just wax it then

 

[rugerpc]

 

[Ilias]

oh you already danish oiled it... just wax it then

hahahaha...Yes, thanks for advice, I will wax it. I put 3 "coats" of danish oil over 2 days. The guitar was put back together because I had to see how it played in its modified state

 

[DHW]

The wax will give it that buttery feel... waxing anything makes it better!

 

[Furtive]

Looks great!! I know it is only a matter of time before I find a beater SE and go all John Lennon with a natural refinish.

 

[CantankerousCarl]

You are a brave, brave man...good show. Hope it holds up for you long-term.

 

[Ilias]

You are a brave, brave man...good show. Hope it holds up for you long-term.

You shoud've seen the look on my wife's face when she saw me sanding the neck (gigity? lol)