CV50s

[Lucius Paisley]

Guess how old I am now.

Anyway, this guitar seemed fitting, so I got it. Now, what I would like to know is if anybody has any pros and/or cons for scrubbing the lacquer off the fretboard?

 

[Mincer]

Well, it is there to protect the wood, so the con is that the wood gets dirty quick without it. But hey, as long as you are up to date on tetanus shots, you are good!

 

[ehdwuld]

The finish protects the wood from moisture and finger goo

If removing it, one should think about what to replace it with

An oil finish would be nice

Just not raw wood

 

[GuitarStv]

I have a Charvel with an oiled neck. Love the feel of the back of the neck, hate that the front of the fretboard gets grimey. Every four or five months of heavy use and I need to pull the neck off, do a deep cleaning, and then re-apply danish oil. I think my ideal maple neck guitar would have finish on the fretboard and an oiled back of the neck. Kinda the best of both worlds - easy to clean grime away and great feel in the palm of your hand.

 

[Coma]

I have a Charvel with an oiled neck. Love the feel of the back of the neck, hate that the front of the fretboard gets grimey. Every four or five months of heavy use and I need to pull the neck off, do a deep cleaning, and then re-apply danish oil. I think my ideal maple neck guitar would have finish on the fretboard and an oiled back of the neck. Kinda the best of both worlds - easy to clean grime away and great feel in the palm of your hand.

Is that the unfinished neck they use on some of the DK24 models? I used to own one of those, fantastic neck (but very poorly built guitar). Always wondered what they used on those to not have the wood soak up sweat and oils.

 

[GuitarStv]

Is that the unfinished neck they use on some of the DK24 models? I used to own one of those, fantastic neck (but very poorly built guitar). Always wondered what they used on those to not have the wood soak up sweat and oils.

It's whatever came stock with my US made So Cal, so I'm guessing probably the same thing you're talking about? Not quite unfinished, but it feels very much like raw wood in the hand. It's Danish oil from what I was able to find out. If you go down to your hardware store you can get a can of Watco danish oil for under 20$ which will last you forever for re-applying to the neck. It's probably had about 30 coats of the stuff (averaging one or two a year now and still feels exactly the same as when I got it).

 

[Mincer]

My Ernie Ball uses gunstock wax (applied once a year) on maple, and it feels fantastic.

 

[Lucius Paisley]

My Ernie Ball uses gunstock wax (applied once a year) on maple, and it feels fantastic.

Once a year sounds like too much work, I'm probably going to leave the fretboard alone.

I have also read that removing the cover from the neck pickup "evens" it out with the bridge pickup. I like the look of uncovered, but there's probably an easier way to do this. I might take it for a once-over with my usual tech and see what happens.

 

[Mincer]

Once a year sounds like too much work, I'm probably going to leave the fretboard alone.

I have also read that removing the cover from the neck pickup "evens" it out with the bridge pickup. I like the look of uncovered, but there's probably an easier way to do this. I might take it for a once-over with my usual tech and see what happens.

It takes 2 minutes to apply with a paper towel.