Official Luthiers Forum!

I'm sure that there are many different opinions on this but I was wondering if some of you would share if you prefer attaching the neck before or after finishing and why you prefer one over the other? Thanks in advance for offering any advice.

Steve H.

Most folks finish seperately.

Reason is it's easier.

Reason two, it's easier to reset the neck, when it is eventually needed.

I know one builder that does finish together, Petros. There may be others. I don't know Petros track record for even needing resets?

Third reason, some folk like to finish the neck with different material.

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

Bruce pretty much covered it.

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CVT Inc.
A tour of our shop (Somewhat outdated)
My Personal eBay profile. BCWoodBug

I`m with Bruce.I love the feel of a Tru- Oil neck, but like Nitro on the guitar.
James

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James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

I finish with the neck attached to the body.

I think it just looks better. The guitar looks more as a hole. Guitars with neck and body finished separetly always looked more 'industrial' to me.

Indeed, the neck joint will need to be refinished when doing the eventual neck reset, but that's a small price to pay to get a nice looking guitar.

Of course, that's my opinion.

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Alain Moisan
Former full time builder of Acoustics, Classicals and Flamencos.
(Now building just for fun!)

Alain please elaborate on what you find industrial looking about a guitar that had the neck finished separately.

In my minds eye outside of a different finish media there is only one thing that would tell that the neck was finished separate and that is the lack of a small amount of build up of finish at the inside edges of the intersections of the fretboard to top and heel and rim.

I am not sure why you think or anyone would think the lack of this build up of finish detracts or for that matter would add to the appearance or make it more or less industrial appearing.

On the contrary, guitars finished with the neck on the body can easily get a factory look (like a lot of Gibsons and Guilds that had a thick finish; or worse, cheap Asian guitars of 30 years ago with thick finishes) if a rounded corner filled with finish builds up at the neck to body joint. The only way to have a really clean inside corner there is by finishing separately. Aesthetics are a big reason to finish separately, although I suppose de gustibus non est disputandum.

That being said, when I do cutaways I like to do a full width heel and finish with the neck on, so that there is a smooth film across the joint on the cutaway side. But that IMO is the only reason to finish after joining.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

That is what I was saying Howard. Alain said that guitars with necks finished indipendently looked industrial. I too think just the oposite. the built up corners looks more factory finished to me that indipendently finished and well fitted components.

I do it both ways for the same reason Howard stated.
I hate having build up in the corner when I finish with the neck on.
I have eliminated that problem by scraping the buildup with an exacto knife or very sharp chisel in between coats-works great.

Yes, I can elaborate on this, but keep in mind that we are talking about an aesthetical aspect; there is no good or bad way to go here. As Howard mention, can't argue with tastes! (That's what it ment, right Howard?)

Huge buildups of finish at the joint dont only look industrial, they look botched. But I think fine buildups of finish at the neck joint make the guitar look more as a hole, as I mentioned. When there is no buildup at all, it creates a 'witness line' that shows the neck and body are two separate parts assembled together. That's what I mean by 'industrial'.

But again, that's really just a personal taste.

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Alain Moisan
Former full time builder of Acoustics, Classicals and Flamencos.
(Now building just for fun!)

I meant 'as a whole'.

Sorry...

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Alain Moisan
Former full time builder of Acoustics, Classicals and Flamencos.
(Now building just for fun!)

I don't mind a nice "hole"
but
I finish mine with the neck attached!
As Howard said for cutaways it improves the looks!
BUT I spray with that joint in mind!!!
I get NO build up!!!!

it's all in how you approach the task!!

Mike

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Mike Collins

It's not the spraying that bothers me....it's the rubbing out and buffing in the heel/body join area. That is why I do them separately.

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Brad Tucker

I don't mind a nice "hole"
but
I finish mine with the neck attached!
As Howard said for cutaways it improves the looks!
BUT I spray with that joint in mind!!!
I get NO build up!!!!

it's all in how you approach the task!!

Mike

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Mike Collins