Satin neck finish observation

walrus

Reverential Member
Gold Supporting
Joined
Dec 23, 2006
Messages
23,936
Reaction score
7,993
Location
Massachusetts
I've never had a guitar with a stain finish neck until my '11 F-30. I've been playing it a lot. The neck is getting "shiny" and "glossy". Still very smooth and not sticky in any way, just getting shinier. After a little research on the Internet, it seems this is relatively common.

All that matters: I like how it looks and feels!

walrus
 

chazmo

Super Moderator
Joined
Nov 7, 2007
Messages
25,246
Reaction score
6,968
Location
Central Massachusetts
Yup, walrus... Your skin oils and usage are essentially glossing the finish (which the factory didn't do). I really like satin necks. I wonder if there's any way (short of sandpaper) to re-satinize the finish??
 

walrus

Reverential Member
Gold Supporting
Joined
Dec 23, 2006
Messages
23,936
Reaction score
7,993
Location
Massachusetts
There were lots of ideas on-line, (many using sandpaper) but I like it the way it is. I'm so used to glossy, that the satin felt weird at first. Now I no longer notice it. Of course, it's no longer so "satiny", either!

walrus
 

F312

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2008
Messages
2,760
Reaction score
958
You'll probably notice shiny areas where you touch parts with your body too.

Ralph
 

beecee

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2016
Messages
3,566
Reaction score
2,406
You'll probably notice shiny areas where you touch parts with your body too.

Ralph

I'm trying to think of something funny to say about my belly and my belt but it just ain't coming.
 

F312

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2008
Messages
2,760
Reaction score
958
I'm trying to think of something funny to say about my belly and my belt but it just ain't coming.

A hearty "belly laugh" is a good, belt one out.

Ralph
 

gjmalcyon

Senior Member
Gold Supporting
Joined
Feb 6, 2011
Messages
4,173
Reaction score
2,396
Location
Gloucester County, NJ
Guild Total
13
You'll probably notice shiny areas where you touch parts with your body too.

Ralph

I'm glad I re-read that.

On first impression I thought it said, "you'll probably notice shiny body parts where you touch them".
 

walrus

Reverential Member
Gold Supporting
Joined
Dec 23, 2006
Messages
23,936
Reaction score
7,993
Location
Massachusetts
You'll probably notice shiny areas where you touch parts with your body too.

Ralph

FYI - only the neck has a satin finish.

So I can touch the other parts of the guitar with my body all I want..

walrus
 

walrus

Reverential Member
Gold Supporting
Joined
Dec 23, 2006
Messages
23,936
Reaction score
7,993
Location
Massachusetts
Michael Stipe is a bit too pretentious for me, never cared for their music that much either. What can I say? :distant:

walrus
 

adorshki

Reverential Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2009
Messages
34,153
Reaction score
6,745
Location
Sillycon Valley CA
Michael Stipe is a bit too pretentious for me, never cared for their music that much either. What can I say? :distant:

walrus

Oh I assumed it had to be something like that, I'm just surprised, since we have so many other tastes in common.
Would you like me to take it down?
(No kidding. WTH.)
Of course as you may remember I can only stomach about 3 Elton John songs.
Assuming there's one I'm forgetting about.
:smile:
 

cutrofiano

Member
Joined
Feb 7, 2016
Messages
207
Reaction score
25
Location
Freiburg / Germany
There were lots of ideas on-line, (many using sandpaper)...
A satin finish results from an uneven surface of the varnish.
It's not the grease on your hands that makes a satin finsh shiny with the time but simply the fact that one polishes the unevenness with the hands.
You cannot restore this by any other way than re- varnishing.
Sandpaper only scratches and ruins the surface, the result has nothing to do at all with a satin varnish finish.

Moritz
 

walrus

Reverential Member
Gold Supporting
Joined
Dec 23, 2006
Messages
23,936
Reaction score
7,993
Location
Massachusetts
Oh I assumed it had to be something like that, I'm just surprised, since we have so many other tastes in common.
Would you like me to take it down?
(No kidding. WTH.)
Of course as you may remember I can only stomach about 3 Elton John songs.
Assuming there's one I'm forgetting about.
:smile:

No, don't take it down, others probably like it!

I'll trade you Stipe for Elton any day - as long as it's 1970's Elton!

walrus
 

walrus

Reverential Member
Gold Supporting
Joined
Dec 23, 2006
Messages
23,936
Reaction score
7,993
Location
Massachusetts
A satin finish results from an uneven surface of the varnish.
It's not the grease on your hands that makes a satin finsh shiny with the time but simply the fact that one polishes the unevenness with the hands.
You cannot restore this by any other way than re- varnishing.
Sandpaper only scratches and ruins the surface, the result has nothing to do at all with a satin varnish finish.

Moritz

Thanks! No plans to restore the satin, I like it as is - hey, since it's from playing, I'll call it "mojo"!

walrus
 

cutrofiano

Member
Joined
Feb 7, 2016
Messages
207
Reaction score
25
Location
Freiburg / Germany
Thanks! No plans to restore the satin, I like it as is - hey, since it's from playing, I'll call it "mojo"!

I'd like to add: A satin finish on a neck is never to last - only for those who don't play.
My F-150R CE came with a satin neck: All satin that's left is the headstock underneath and some parts of the heel.
That's the way you can tell: It's not only made to be played, it is played...

Moritz
 
Top