Grain sealing

[Sam SG]

Just curious on this. But my 3rd SG is an Epiphone inspired by SG classic with P90s. Not a bad sounding axe. I use it fir open A tuning for a couple slide song.
Thing I dont like is the mahogany neck hasnt been seal. You feel the grain in your hand which deturs me from picking it up.
Is there a way to simply seal over the existing finish? Whats involved.
FYI my finishing/ refinishing skills are pretty much rattle can.

 

[Chistopher]

I'd also be interested in knowing this. My first instinct would be to French polish polyurethane onto it, but I don't know how that works over a finish

 

[GuitarDoc]

I just need to understand this better...
You said it hasn't been "sealed", but you want to know how to "seal over the existing finish" (which on an Epi is probably polyurethane or polyester).

If it has an existing finish then it most likely IS sealed. So I'm assuming that when you say "sealed" you really mean pore filled?

If that's the case you will need to sand the neck to bare wood (because nothing really sticks to cured poly), stain, apply a couple coats of sanding sealer, 2-3 coats of pore filler sanding smooth after each coat, then apply your desired final finish. I have really been loving the ease of application and the final feel of oil finish on the neck (like TruOil, Glancy's No. 1 Oil, or Tung oil).

 

[jeremy]

how thick is the finish? i assume you could just sand whats there smooth if its thick enough

 

[Sam SG]

Its not super thick. And yea por filled. It just feels nasty

 

[Mincer]

Some people just use powder on their palm while playing. I would just sand it to where it feels good to you- it won't take much. Sand to 2000 grit, and it will feel great.

 

[Chris Pile]

It's called Scotchbrite. For decades I have had this complaint from clients and I simply scuff the neck with maroon Scotchbrite until the gloss gets cut down a bit. Good to go, and no finish removal. No charge, either.

 

[marcello252]

I don't think I 've understood the type of finish you have, I have a les paul special faded which is practically bare wood with a thin thin coat that could be oil, I can feel the pores too but you seem to describe something different, could you please post a pic ?

 

[Chris Pile]

I don't think I 've understood the type of finish you have, I have a les paul special faded which is practically bare wood with a thin thin coat that could be oil, I can feel the pores too but you seem to describe something different, could you please post a pic ?

Gibson does NOT use oil finishes.