Charvel So Cal - Oiled neck question

[GuitarStv]

Just out of curiosity, am I supposed to be doing anything special with my Charvel So Cal? Then neck has an oiled (tru-oil I think?) finish. I typically just change strings and clean the gunk off the fretboard with a toothbrush . . . but do I have to re-oil it at some point? This is the nicest neck I've ever played, and I don't want to screw it up.

 

[Wolferine92]

Re: Charvel So Cal - Oiled neck question

I just wipe with a damp cloth every once in a while, say every 3-4 months, thats it. We Charvel afficionados like a bit of gunk

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Charvel So Cal - Oiled neck question

http://www.music-man.com/faq/music-man-guitars/how-do-i-clean-and-maintain-my-music-man-neck.html

Thanks grump!


I'll see if I can find some of this gunstock oil around here somewhere.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Charvel So Cal - Oiled neck question

Yeah thanks!! I always play with clean hands first to help eliminate fret board mung..

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Charvel So Cal - Oiled neck question

I wash my hands before playing too, but after two hours there's going to be some sweat on the board!

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Charvel So Cal - Oiled neck question

Charvel necks are NOT finished with Tru Oil. The necks are finished with Watco danish oil, and that is what you should use if you like the current feel.

Tru Oil is great, and is what EBMM use (along with the wax), however it is a slightly different feel that the Watco (which has a more "raw" feel)

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Charvel So Cal - Oiled neck question

^ Can anyone confirm this? Is the application of this Watco stuff similar to the gunstock/tru-oil application? The Watco stuff is much cheaper around here. I'm guessing that charvel would have used the 'natural' tinted danish oil?

 

[CTN]

Re: Charvel So Cal - Oiled neck question

yeah the application is very similar, but danish oil has some hardeners in it that make for a more durable finish than tru-oil.

I've used watco danish oil on a number of necks and never had any stability problems.

It's not really self-levelling/self-smoothing though. After you apply it and let it dry, it gets a bit sticky. Usually after application with a rag, I'll wait until it's fairly hard and then either wet sand using the danish oil itself as a lubricant, or use dry 0000 steel wool or an equivalent to smooth off all the sticky bits. or a combination of both techniques.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Charvel So Cal - Oiled neck question

I always get the backs of my necks sanded/keep 'em raw. I've always used a light coat of Linseed Oil on the back of my necks, let it sit for a bit, and then wipe off the excess.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Charvel So Cal - Oiled neck question

That was rude. fwiw.

Honestly not trying to be a dick, I just had never heard about this danish oil stuff in relation to Charvel necks.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Charvel So Cal - Oiled neck question

No offense taken...

Watco is what Charvel has always used (real Charvels that is). Tru Oil is more of a polymer and offers a more durable finish.

Either one is a great neck finish, but Watco is correct for Charvels. Personally I use "Golden Oak" pre tinted Watco oil on my Charvels to better match the tint Charvel used back in the day.

Just wipe it on, let it sit for 10-15 minutes, wipe off the excess. Dry overnight and then buff.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Charvel So Cal - Oiled neck question

Cool, thanks! I'll have to give this a shot. I guess you clean the fretboard before applying as well?

 

[Hairmail]

Re: Charvel So Cal - Oiled neck question

Everytime I change the strings on my Charvel I spend at least 15 minutes wiping the gunk off my fretboard with a dry cloth. The longer before the sting breaks, the more gunk. I don't really mind, its quite zen actually.

There is one thing though, is putting water on these necks ever a good idea. I think that using a damp cloth would be better but water and wood is normally never a good combination. Is it safe on those necks?

 

[Wolferine92]

Charvel So Cal - Oiled neck question

Water and damp is a big difference, wiping with a dry cloth is just silly, try rubbing a towel against your dry skin, useless.

The dampness will not effect the wood, ive had my charvel 4 years now and it hasnt been hurt a bit by wiping it damp. I regularly play it daily and if not at least every other day if time is there. Cleaning damp cloth every 3-4 months

I've seen Some blokes try lemon oil when i googled some but i would never use that on maple boards

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Charvel So Cal - Oiled neck question

Water and damp is a big difference, wiping with a dry cloth is just silly, try rubbing a towel against your dry skin, useless.

The dampness will not effect the wood, ive had my charvel 4 years now and it hasnt been hurt a bit by wiping it damp. I regularly play it daily and if not at least every other day if time is there. Cleaning damp cloth every 3-4 months

I've seen Some blokes try lemon oil when i googled some but i would never use that on maple boards

I agree, big difference between too much water and damp. I've used lemon oil; however, if you go that route remember the saying "a little bit goes a long way." Use just a small amount and rub it into the wood. After its sat for a bit, wipe off any of the excess and you should be good to go.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Charvel So Cal - Oiled neck question

There are pics of what Watco looks like a on a neck in my old Charvel resto thread...

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?223577-My-Charvel-restoration

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Charvel So Cal - Oiled neck question

I guess that you need to remove the logo if you're planning on using one of the darker stain colours on the neck then?

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Charvel So Cal - Oiled neck question

I guess that you need to remove the logo if you're planning on using one of the darker stain colours on the neck then?

I wouldn't...

My old Charvel already had the logo removed, so I restored the neck including a new logo.

 

[Adieu]

Re: Charvel So Cal - Oiled neck question

Neat trick: excess oil AND other oily gunk wipes right off with a light swipe using a rag wetted with kerosene (VERRRY useful stuff to keep around)

Wipes/rinses other oils right off too. And whatever it doesnt get is usually dissolved with isopropyl alcohol....and both of em evaporate clean off w/o residue. You can even get leftover wd40 off with that combo. Great for 1-2-3 punch for cleaning totally wrecked and rusty hardware, bass strings, etc. Doesnt eat guitar poly finishes either, so quite safe.

 

[daan]

Re: Charvel So Cal - Oiled neck question

I've done all my necks with Tru Oil after discovering it. I love how it feels, and it's really easy to apply. I tried doing the fret board on one (rosewood) neck and that turned out pretty good, too. I tried using steel wool to finish polish it on the first couple, and that went OK but a builder I talked to said to try an old pair of denim blue jeans, and that made the finish just about perfect. Smooth and slick without the sticky gloss feeling of lacquered necks. Also you can tint the neck with stains before Tru OIling it and the TO sticks just fine, unlike other oils.