H's TL-1Q, first build.

[UpperCaseH]

I have a question about the neck, and about finishes in general.

I've decided I'd like to keep the neck at least mostly natural looking because I think the maple neck/fretboard will look good with the red body and white pickguard. I'd also like to stain the front face of the headstock similar to the body because I've always liked that look but never owned a guitar that had it.

After spending a while reading, looks like there's two different simple-ish ways to get this result (after masking the headstock sides, plugging the tuner holes, and staining the headstock face).

1: Order some DT colorless (or... maybe one that'll make it just slightly darker? Acacia?). Mask the top and sides of the fretboard and apply. Use DT wax for the fretboard.

2: Order some tru oil and use that instead. On the fretboard too?

Actually, I have no idea what to do with the maple fretboard. Every guitar I own has a rosewood one and while I know how to put lemon oil on them, I hear that's not what you do with a maple one.

More generally, what do I do after finishing the body/headstock with the DT kit? Wax? Nothing? Something else? I don't need it to be glossy, but a little bit of shine would be nice.

[UpperCaseH]

...aaaaand the headstock's mostly shaped.

Checked that I'd marked it properly, cut close to the lines with coping saw, filed the rest of the shape out, not going to go all the way into the line on the large bottom curve because I like it better where it is right now. Need to get the curves finalised but I'm going to do that with sandpaper.

[wokkaboy]

shape looks cool H, good to see some original shapes been thought of

[UpperCaseH]

Thanks! I'd rather have it look like "mine" even though I actually like existing shapes a bit more.

I'm gonna make the rear curve a bit curvier, I think. Not totally satisfied with where it is right now, I can see it bulging out a bit in the middle.

[Andy40]

I have a question about the neck, and about finishes in general.

I've decided I'd like to keep the neck at least mostly natural looking because I think the maple neck/fretboard will look good with the red body and white pickguard. I'd also like to stain the front face of the headstock similar to the body because I've always liked that look but never owned a guitar that had it.

After spending a while reading, looks like there's two different simple-ish ways to get this result (after masking the headstock sides, plugging the tuner holes, and staining the headstock face).

1: Order some DT colorless (or... maybe one that'll make it just slightly darker? Acacia?). Mask the top and sides of the fretboard and apply. Use DT wax for the fretboard.

2: Order some tru oil and use that instead. On the fretboard too?

Actually, I have no idea what to do with the maple fretboard. Every guitar I own has a rosewood one and while I know how to put lemon oil on them, I hear that's not what you do with a maple one.

More generally, what do I do after finishing the body/headstock with the DT kit? Wax? Nothing? Something else? I don't need it to be glossy, but a little bit of shine would be nice.

Hi H,

I am no authority on the subject but happy to offer an opinion.

Regarding 1. I would mask the front of the headstock first, DT the sides and back first so the grain is saturated with colourless, once thats cured, sand any creepage on the face of the headstock, mask the sides etc and then stain the face of the headstock the colour you want.

If you don;t want to change the colour of the maple neck, you don't actually need to stain the neck at all, you can just use DT neck finish straight on maple. It doesn't change the colour at all. looks like this (thats not the final pick - just during the process.

I would definatley use DT wax for the fret board - feels great and you can either keep it satin or shine it up. Ive got another guitar with a maple neck and I just leave it naked. but then again, im in Brissy and with the humidity don't have any probs with the maple getting too dry.

Regarding 2. You can use TO if you want. Its purely subjective, not my personal preference, but it will cure faster than DT and will do the job. It will yellow/darken the maple though. Personally, I would not use TO on the fretboard at all.

Regarding finishing, I would order some micromesh abrasive pads. I got a "sample kit" for about 14 bucks from the Sandpaper Man
https://www.thesandpaperman.com.au/s...h-reg-kit.html

but hes in Brissy, Wokks will know where to get them in WA. They will polish up any finish fantastically, can keep the finish as a satin or gloss it up then do a cut and polish. Remember, if you use DT or TO you should wait a full 21 days after the last coat before you do the final polish or it wont be cured properly.

Good luck H, keep us posted.

[UpperCaseH]

Thanks Andy, looks like I'll go with the DT neck stuff. To clarify, is the fretboard wax applied directly to the bare wood?

I'm in Melbourne, not WA, but I'll look for something similar to those polishing pads.

[wokkaboy]

Hi H, yes just rag the Dingowax directly onto the fingerboard. Do this at least 2 to 3 times so it really soaks in.
The micro mesh pads I found on ebay

[Andy40]

Yep H,

exactly what wokks said. In the jar the wax really really hard. you just dig it out the wax with a knife and roll it in your fingers for a while till it becomes soft. Then put a bit on a rag and work it into the fret board, leave it for a bit, then buff to polish. Piccy of Dingowax vs no dingo wax



mmmmm schinie

[wokkaboy]

nice example pics Andy !

[UpperCaseH]

Between having a new dog, everyone here getting sick, voting, rain, leaky roofs, and moving furniture and running cables for a mate, I haven't got any guitar stuff done at all over the last week.

Everything happening n a mad rush seems to have calmed down now though! Thanks for the advice and images Andy, your neck and fretboard look great! I'll get some wax and neck clear ordered today. I also got to the hardware store for painter's tape, wire brushes, and Goof Off, so hopefully I'll manage to finish this thing this year some time...

With the Goof Off, there were 3 or 4 different things with that brand on them, I explained to the guy at the store what I was trying to do and he said he thought I needed this one. Did we get that right?