Gritty / rough surface on Neck and lower bout

[Dan Austin]

I finished my version of a Gibson J-185 about 1 year ago. I used the Zpoxy for filler and Behlen's nitro lacquer as the finish. I think I used the products as I should have following many of the suggestions found on this board. The final results were respectable in my opinion and I did not notice any clouding or roughness on the surfaces.

After curing for about 3 weeks, the guitar was played extensively. After about 6 weeks we started noticing that the finish on the neck (where it its played the most) was showing signs of wear and was getting kind of rough feeling. I used some steel wool to smooth the area. As the guitar was played more, this rough / worn finish continued to appear and I kept smoothing it out with the steel wool.

Recently, I have also noticed that the lower bout area where the player's arm pit area touches the body while playing is also beginning to show the beginnings of roughness that I described on the neck.

I am wondering if this kind of result is to be expected with lacquer on a guitar but I doubt that very much since I have never seen this kind of thing before. I am getting close to finishing my next guitar so I am trying real hard not to make the same mistake.

I would appreciate any suggestions that you experienced lacquer users would have to offer. I am also wondering what types of alternate finishes would be suggested if one were wanting a glass / shinny / tough finish on an acoustic guitar.

Your feedback and suggestions would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Dan

[John Parchem]

Some people are very caustic to guitar finishes. No joke I am one of them. I have many guitars out that get played a lot, no problem with finish. I dissolve most of the finishes I use. For my necks I use finish grade wiped on CA and Royal Lac. Those necks are holding up. In reality guitars should be wiped down after use.

[Dan Austin]

John,

WOW! That is actually a very, very interesting reply!

You may be exactly correct about the reason but..... I really don't have any hard evidence of that in my case since more than one person has been regularly playing that guitar. . I am a 30+ year design engineer, formally trained so I am a bit of a stickler for cause / effect evidence but see my further comments below.

I have been a little bit suspicious of exactly what you are saying. One of the persons who has been playing that guitar the most has a "bit of and air" about them. Its not bad.... just different and I have noticed it. This person plays that guitar everyday for at least an hour. Hmmmmmm......... very interesting indeed. He also has a big arch top Gretch that he plays a lot but it is not here right now and I don't know what finish it has on the neck but I will check the next time I see it.

I sincerely appreciate your feedback.

Can you please elaborate just a little bit about what is "finish grade wiped on CA and Royal Lac" for your neck finish and a little bit about how you incorporate your neck finishing sequence with your pore filling and lacquer for the overall guitar finishing process? What I mean to say is if you are still using lacquer on the body and head stock how do you sequence that process with the neck finish with these different finishing products?

I can't wait to get some more information on this process from you.

Thanks very much,
Dan

[John Parchem]

Nitro lacquer is pretty impervious and is probably what you want to use. I do not like to spray Nitro so I looked for alternatives. I made about 8 instruments with EM6000 a water based lacquer. All of the instruments, except the ones that I regularly play, the finish is holding up. I have had the problem you describe with the guitars that I play. When I was researching that problem I came across others that have an especially caustic touch.

Because of that experience I changed the way I do my necks (where I have the most issues). I pore fill the necks with gluboost Fill n' Finish CA. It is formulated as a flexible clear wood finish. I use a paper towel to polish it into the wood. I use their accelerator and sand back with 400 grit and repeat one or two times. I seal a few padded on coats of shellac. Finally I pad on a few coats of Royal-lac a formulated shellac product. THis treatment has held up for about 18 months or so with my playing.

[Dan Austin]

Thanks ver much for your feedback
I appreciate it
Dan

[Dave Bagwill]

I use Tru-Oil - developed for gunstocks, so you know it is tough - and either pore fill first or just sand to 800 or so and then apply. Looks great, feels great, lasts a long time and very easy to touch up. $.02

[Dan Austin]

Dave and John,

Thanks so much for your reply. I am determined to use something other than nitro lacquer on the neck but I am a bit confused on how to perform my finishing process. Please let me explain.

On my previous guitar, it used Zpoxy to fill everything but the top (Sitka) and the fret board top. Once that was done I masked off the fret board top (and nut slot) than then performed the typical nitro lacquer (spray process). I wont go into those details as I am sure you are well familiar with that. Finally, I wet sanded and buffed. Very nice results if I do say so myself.

So now here is what I don't understand. If I want to use and spay the nitro but I want to use another finishing material on the neck to avoid the issue that I have described, how to I sequence that into the nitro application sequence?

For example:

1.) do I do my nitro sequence on the whole guitar as I have described and then come back and sand / steel wool the neck area and go back over the neck with the other material?
2.) do I mask off the neck after filling, do the nitro sequence on the whole guitar, unmask the neck, and then go back over the neck with the other material?

I hope my questions make sense and I look forward to your responses.

Thanks,
Dan