Amber Neck Finish Question

[STRATDELUXER97]

I was thinking that I May have actually gone a little too dark with the aerosol Stewmac amber color on my strat neck...I'm afraid it might be even darker once I hit it with the clear coat..Is there anyway I can maybe lighten the color up a bit before I clear coat? I'm not finding the info I need so far on the web? It's nitrocellulose Laquer...Looks really nice,but it's a darker honey/caramel color.... ;o)

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Amber Neck Finish Question

Strip it and re do it.

 

[mrfjones]

Re: Amber Neck Finish Question

yeah, strip it and respray.

the thinner the better.

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: Amber Neck Finish Question

You could also sand with 400 or higher until you've lightened it enough, being careful to do it uniformly. Then hit it with clear.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Amber Neck Finish Question

You could also sand with 400 or higher until you've lightened it enough, being careful to do it uniformly. Then hit it with clear.

I'm not stripping it and I Like this idea though...Neck looks great,just feel its a bit dark..Probably better to clear it and wank on it..

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Amber Neck Finish Question

I'm happy with the emblem side,but feel the back of the neck is too dark...In the pictures things look more gold/red in color...What do you all think? Worth messing with or leave it alone?

 

[AniML]

Re: Amber Neck Finish Question

It's a little orangey, but this coming from someone who took blond amber to a new level

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Amber Neck Finish Question

It's a little orangey, but this coming from someone who took blond amber to a new level

Yes orangey explains it....I also don't care for the yellow though...I Like a lighter golden color,but went one coat too dark....The pictures don't look right on the internet..Maybe I need to snap more in better lighting also.

 

[AniML]

Re: Amber Neck Finish Question

One coat too many, me too. Color saturates surprisingly fast. But in the end I absolutely love this guitar and the color does not bother me. You have 2 livable choices:

Strip and redo
Love it for what it is

 

[ErikH]

Re: Amber Neck Finish Question

Looks like the flash is making it look darker than it actually is. How does it look in natural lighting? Would like to see it in an outdoor shot, with slight overcast if there are any clouds in FL today...lol.

I'd make it feel satiny and then play the snot out of it.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Amber Neck Finish Question

Ok here's an outside photo after hitting the beck of the neck pretty good with some 0000 steel wool...Looks alot better...Neck cleaned really good with some thinner also.

Maybe the clearcoat will golden it up a bit and then it'll be perfect!

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Amber Neck Finish Question

Looks like the flash is making it look darker than it actually is. How does it look in natural lighting? Would like to see it in an outdoor shot, with slight overcast if there are any clouds in FL today...lol.

I'd make it feel satiny and then play the snot out of it.

Just posted the picture....How ironic huh buddy? Lol

The back of the headstock looks darker,but it's the way the sun hit the overall neck in the photo..Gorgeous day here and close to 70 degrees...Out in shorts and t shirt...I Love it here! ;o)

 

[ErikH]

Re: Amber Neck Finish Question

Damn, that was quick...LOL. Yeah, that looks good. Pretty much the same shade as the neck on my Frankenstrat after nearly 20 years of playing.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Amber Neck Finish Question

Damn, that was quick...LOL. Yeah, that looks good. Pretty much the same shade as the neck on my Frankenstrat after nearly 20 years of playing.

Awesome....Now I'll hit it with some stewmac satin nitro clear and put the neck the rest of the way together...The ash blonde body should be here Monday...Will be smooth as a baby's butt and fast,like my personality! ;o)

 

[ErikH]

Re: Amber Neck Finish Question

Awesome....Now I'll hit it with some stewmac satin nitro clear and put the neck the rest of the way together...The ash blonde body should be here Monday...Will be smooth as a baby's butt and fast,like my personality! ;o)

Perfect. When I refinished mine about 6 years ago, I put poly satin on it. Just wiped it on with an old white t-shirt, about 3-4 coats. I went over it with 0000 steel whool between the final two coats and again right after the last one. It feels fantastic.

 

[Quencho092]

Re: Amber Neck Finish Question

yea there's a fine line between a nice tinted maple neck, and a 'dark piss tint' maple neck.

My strat is tinted. if I got another maple neck I would have it very slightly tinted, not as much as my almost-piss-tint neck.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Amber Neck Finish Question

I'm not stripping it and I Like this idea though...Neck looks great,just feel its a bit dark..Probably better to clear it and wank on it..

Stripping and refinishing will be much, much easier than trying to sand it down uniformly. And it may not even work that well to lighten the tint.

That false yellow looks terrible IMO, but I would just keep it. In order to strip and refinish a Fender neck in the original style it also needs to be refretted. It is hard to strip and sand around the frets and still get quality results.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Amber Neck Finish Question

If you're not going to strip and re do it then just leave it as is.

It's a little orange but it'll be fine...

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Amber Neck Finish Question

Looks great in the new pic.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Amber Neck Finish Question

Its fine now...Getting some light clear coat layers on it...Thx guys!