Sanded a neck today for the first time

[80's_Thrash_Metal]

Well today I just watched a couple YouTube videos on sanding or reshaping a neck. I figured I have this new (rather worn and rather inexpensive guitar sitting here that I really like, but only have one gripe, the neck is a bit chunky.)

So! I dug out this DeWalt sander I forgot I had and just had at it.
Fearless and unafraid.

( Remember when I took a hand held drill to a Gibson headstock one time with only minor fear and I turned out ok)

So knowing I didn't want to take too much off the overall depth, mostly thin it and relieve some of the shoulders to help with my hand pain woes...

Here we go: I did not measure anything.
I did not use a jig or mark anything
I just sanded for a minute and felt how it feels in my hand, repeated until I was happy.
I knew enough not to go too thin to risk exposing the truss rod cavity.

Started with some 200 grit then 400, then finished with 600

Took all of 10 minutes of work. I am really happy I just went for it, turned out great, and it's super slick now! I have read about sanded necks and how some players really like them.... I think I may be a believer now. Time will tell.

see the sticky (and dented) clear coated neck.

A few minutes in


Finished.
​​​​​​

I blew the dust off with an air compressor and then wiped it all clean with damp towel.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Cool! What did you finish it with?

 

[80's_Thrash_Metal]

Cool! What did you finish it with?

Nothing. (Yet?)
I may use boiled linseed, I may just leave it.

 

[Mincer]

You can always finish it like Music Man...clean with Murphy's Oil Soap, and then use Gunstock Wax. This is a fantastic finish that needs to be reapplied once a year or so.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Way to go. Fearless is the right attitude to have if you want to actually get something accomplished. We used to call it..."just jump in headfirst".

Just a suggestion...once you've got the size and shape where you want it, yes, wipe it with a very damp cloth and let it dry. This will slightly raise the grain. Then hand sand lightly with 400-600 grit (1000 is a bit overkill but won't hurt anything) to get a very smooth finish. It's a good idea to put some kind of finish on it just to seal the wood so it doesn't get ugly/sweaty/dirty/stained/gunky.

 

[80's_Thrash_Metal]

Way to go. Fearless is the right attitude to have if you want to actually get something accomplished. We used to call it..."just jump in headfirst".

Just a suggestion...once you've got the size and shape where you want it, yes, wipe it with a very damp cloth and let it dry. This will slightly raise the grain. Then hand sand lightly with 400-600 grit (1000 is a bit overkill but won't hurt anything) to get a very smooth finish. It's a good idea to put some kind of finish on it just to seal the wood so it doesn't get ugly/sweaty/dirty/stained/gunky.

I took your suggestion and ran with it.

Done.

 

[ehdwuld]

I like tung oil
But it can be tacky if put on too thick

 

[Chistopher]

Also this change may call for a truss rod adjustment, depending on how much you took off

 

[80's_Thrash_Metal]

Also this change may call for a truss rod adjustment, depending on how much you took off

I thought about that, but after the sanding, and light coating and 24 hr drying period... It didn't even change tune.
I don't suspect I took very much off really,

But I'll say that I do like the instrument a whole lot more now.
I'm pretty pleased with myself ha ha.

 

[jeremy]

a little can go a long way in neck shaping, glad youre happy with the results!

 

[GuitarStv]

I really like the feel of oil finishes (Danish oil, gunstock oil, tru-oil . . . they're all good and not too difficult to apply. For me at least, an unfinished neck picks up gunk from my sweaty hands too easily.

 

[ErikH]

I've sanded down neck but not to change the profile but to remove some of the finish.
My last Warmoth neck has Tru-oil on it.

 

[hamerfan]

I never used a sander, but I used a cabinet scraper on up to now 6 necks to change the profile and taper.
Thanks for the head up with using a damp rag.
Most of the necks got a truoil treatment, one with rattle can nitro and one with shellac and wax.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Looks good. If it feels good to play then you're done. With this experience you now know that if you want to slightly change the size or shape again, you've got the bases covered. Or if you want to do this to another guitar you should have the confidence to do another good job.

 

[BeKindRewind]

Hey nice, I like the idea of just "why not" make it how you want it?
Glad it had desirable results! Gives me confidence to push through with my projects too.
Myself I have been getting braver and braver recently with my guitars, and it's time to learn how to do a lot of luthier stuff myself, I've started experimenting with things like sanding down the finishes on the back of necks (Not removing finish, just changing the feel), and doing my first refret job on an old squier bass right now (Also re-doing the radius to 12") - if I get good results with that I am going to do the same to my beloved old Fender strat - 6100 Frets, 12" radius, AND I'm going to reshape the back of the neck to be a bit more wizard-y.