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I've completed four guitars, following Jonathan Kinkead's approach, and have results approximating my slow learning curve...


His approach calls for mounting the neck (dovetail) and the fretboard, before finishing.

One of the "fit and finish" issues that I've been struggling with is the quality of the finish in the crevices of the neck joint. It seems that as careful as I am to wetsand and buff, the finish at the point where the neck joins the body doesn't compare to the flat surfaces. (dull, with orange peel remaining)

How many of you finish the guitar with the neck detached? For those who finish with neck attached, how do you make that joint look clean and crisp, from a finish perspective??

Thanks

Personally, I like to finish with the neck off. It's far easier to apply as well as buff both subassemblies separately. I also like the appearance (crisp & clean) of the joint where they match. BTW...Joe White will only do neck-off finishing.

Others prefer to finish with neck on but to me it's always a dead giveaway at the joint...it's just not the same quality of sheen and depth as the rest of the guitar. Additionally, when a guitar is sprayed with the neck on, the joint has that tell-tale fillet (meniscus) of finish at the intersection that reminds me of the cheap Asian offerings that look like they have a finish 1/8" deep. It also complicates disassembling the neck down the road and forces a re-finish as well.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

I finish with the neck off. I normally do a gloss body and satin neck anyway.

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I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

Corky: My necks are finished separately( bolt on neck). At one time they were finished on the box (dovetail),when doing it this way I would clean out the corner between neck and body with a sharp chisle before the last few coats.You may have to do this a few times to get a feel for it but it does a good job.

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A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!

Corky,

I have finished both ways, neck on and neck off. Like Westca said, you can get as nice a finish with the neck attached, for me I use a sraper lightly, then sand wet or dry with the paper folded over or just supported by the thin end of a bondo spreader to get into the neck/body joint...I am on the fence about this, it is much easier to sand and buff with the neck off.

Chuck

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For me, neck off because it's easier to sand flat and buff out.

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David White, Toronto

"All my favourite singers can't sing."

Neck off. If you ever have to reset the neck the finish around the neck will be damaged . I also find that this allows for a better fit and finish

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

I finish with the neck off. I do a french polish and never considered doing it neck on.

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Say what you do, Do what you say.

Thanks All -

So, for "neck off" finishing, what process do you follow? Do you attach the fretboard and the frets to the standalone neck? or do you finish the neck, (with headplate attached, obviously) attach to the soundbox, then attach the fretboard after neck and body glued together?

Thanks.

I finish the neck with the fingerboard installed. I normally only use bound fingerboards. If I was doing an unbound one I'd also install frets before finishing. I mask the top of the fingerboard but leave the sides unmasked. (I don't know if this is "correct" but it works for me)

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I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

I once asked Frank Finocchio about this and he said "it doesn't matter... both ways are wrong"

I finish the non cutaway guitars neck off, and the cutaway guitars neck on. I have a heel that flows into the body and I don't like the break in the finish on the cutaway guitars at the neck body joint.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

If your going to finish the neck and body separate you will want the fretboard glued down to the neck, and the neck set angle perfect and everything ready to go together. You then finish each piece apart and assemble the two pieces after.
Fretting should be done after the neck is attached to the body and leveled.

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Thanks!!
Appreciate all your help. I'll keep you posted.

Neck- off is my way of doing it.I get a more even finish at the neck joint that way.And it looks better as well as easier to polish.