Vintage Maple Neck

projectx1106

projectx1106

New member
So I have a Stratocaster with a maple neck color that looks like the strat in the first pic, but I want to dye it or something to make it look darker, like in the second pic.

Any ideas on how to do it? I don't want it to affect the sound.
 
Re: Vintage Maple Neck

Well, you're on the right track. The only way to get a tint on a maple neck is to....tint it. Buy some clear coat and amber tint, mix to the color you want (ALWAYS PRACTICE ON SCRAP FIRST!!!) and go for it. If you follow the directions closely, use common sense, and have patience, it'll come out great.

I've also heard of guys taking the short route with tan kiwi shoe polish and rubbing it on until they get the color they want.
 
Re: Vintage Maple Neck

beandip said:
Well, you're on the right track. The only way to get a tint on a maple neck is to....tint it. Buy some clear coat and amber tint, mix to the color you want (ALWAYS PRACTICE ON SCRAP FIRST!!!) and go for it. If you follow the directions closely, use common sense, and have patience, it'll come out great.

I've also heard of guys taking the short route with tan kiwi shoe polish and rubbing it on until they get the color they want.
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Nooo thanks on the shoe polish thing, I want the tint to last as long as the guitar and if it's going to get done, I want it done right :)

Is the tinting process DIY? What tools would I need? Am I better off having a luthier do it? I'm curious :D
 
Re: Vintage Maple Neck

Tools? Steel wool, 600, 800, 1000, and 3200 grit wet/dry paper. I good spray area, and a few things from ReRanch or stew mac. Actually, stew mac sells a pre-tinted lacquer in an arisol can. Search for free info on Stewmac.com and reranch.com and they'll tell you everything. If you want to take it a step further, you can remove all the poly off the neck you have now, and refinish. That way, in a few years it'll wear through at the heavily used spots, and you'll get the cool looking finger wear. Now, over the poly, it'll still wear through, but when it does, it'll be bright white instead of a nice cool dirty color.
 
Re: Vintage Maple Neck

Scrap the finish off with a razor blade. I've never worried about it, since every time I do a refinish or over spray, I do a setup as well. The finish comes off with the leveling of the frets.
 
Re: Vintage Maple Neck

my brother and i did the shoe polish thing, it actually works really well. so far its been permanent too
 
Re: Vintage Maple Neck

j9fd3s said:
my brother and i did the shoe polish thing, it actually works really well. so far its been permanent too
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It does stay rather well, but will wear off. How much you play and your body's chemistry will determine the wear time. I have very acidic sweat, so shoe polish will probably last about 6 months with 20-30 minutes of playing a day. When I was gigging, it would last maybe a week. Played 4-5 hours a day, 7 days a week.
 
Re: Vintage Maple Neck

beandip said:
It does stay rather well, but will wear off. How much you play and your body's chemistry will determine the wear time. I have very acidic sweat, so shoe polish will probably last about 6 months with 20-30 minutes of playing a day. When I was gigging, it would last maybe a week. Played 4-5 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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**** that kinda playing you just let it age naturally, should take like 3 days :D

my MIA tele gets regular workout, and its darkening up on its own
 
Re: Vintage Maple Neck

j9fd3s said:
**** that kinda playing you just let it age naturally, should take like 3 days :D

my MIA tele gets regular workout, and its darkening up on its own
Click to expand...

Didn't have to worry about "aging". I was using a rosewood board strat and the neck was unfinished except for the headstock. Didn't have to worry about letting it darken and whatnot.
 
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