Scratched the back of my rosewood neck. Suggestions on repair?

[alwittlich]

Hello. First post here. I recently acquired a lovely 2001 McCarty with the solid rosewood neck. The guitar is great and I have really been enjoying playing it. Recently I was adjusting the neck relief and when I slipped my capo over the neck, the metal edge of it dug into the neck and left a very shallow scratch. It is noticeable by eye, but worse, it ruins the silky smooth feeling of the neck near the head-stock.

I would think that using some extremely fine sandpaper may do the trick, but I don't want to risk messing up the neck. Would anyone have some advice on this? Has this happened to anyone else? Don't ask how I managed to do it, I have no idea. I've worked with neck relief many times and never had a capo slip and do this.

Thanks in advance.

-Al

 

[sergiodeblanc]

I wonder if you might be able to steam it out?

Probably something a furniture repairman might know how to do if you don’t have a luthier near you.

 

[alwittlich]

Interesting, I had not considered that. My father-in-law used to work for a few places that made furniture. I'll see what he says. Thanks!

 

[AP515]

I've taken 600 grit to my rosewood neck before. I wanted to reshape it just slightly. Worked great, and BRW sawdust smells terrific.

 

[alwittlich]

I've taken 600 grit to my rosewood neck before. I wanted to reshape it just slightly. Worked great, and BRW sawdust smells terrific.

Wow, 600 sounds like a heavy grit! Did you use something finer afterward or was the 600 enough for it to be silky smooth? Thanks!

 

[AP515]

Wow, 600 sounds like a heavy grit! Did you use something finer afterward or was the 600 enough for it to be silky smooth? Thanks!

Yeah, I went over it at the end with 000 steel wool.

 

[AP515]

If your scratch is really light you can just use the steel wool. You can find it at Home Depot.

 

[alwittlich]

If your scratch is really light you can just use the steel wool. You can find it at Home Depot.

Thanks, I might give that a try. It's not a deep scratch, just enough to feel it and see it and make my skin crawl

 

[Johnny Rigs]

Out of concern from getting little metal pieces stuck to my pickups from the steel wool, I've also used the Scotch-Brite pads from Stew Mac.

https://www.stewmac.com/Materials_and_Supplies/Sanding_and_Polishing/3M_Scotch-Brite_Pads.html

 

[AP515]

Out of concern from getting little metal pieces stuck to my pickups from the steel wool, I've also used the Scotch-Brite pads from Stew Mac.

It's a good point. I covered mine with newspaper and blue painters tape.

 

[gush]

The human hand can take care of that, you might have to practice more than normal!

 

[alwittlich]

So, I went with the 600 grit and 000 steel wool. It feels great and you can’t tell a scratch was even there. However, there is an ever so slightly lighter coloring where I sanded. I don’t think the back of the rosewood necks are finished, but I could be wrong. I’m wondering if oiling the neck would fix this slight color difference. Any thoughts?

 

[Rider1260]

3000 grit clear coat sandpaper with fretboard oil on it.
will be super smooth after

 

[Black Plaid]

So, I went with the 600 grit and 000 steel wool. It feels great and you can’t tell a scratch was even there. However, there is an ever so slightly lighter coloring where I sanded. I don’t think the back of the rosewood necks are finished, but I could be wrong. I’m wondering if oiling the neck would fix this slight color difference. Any thoughts?

Wood oxidizes as it's exposed to the air, you just got through the oxide layer, it'll even out over time.

 

[alwittlich]

Thanks for the information everyone!