Finishing a Maple Neck

[jseverin]

What is the best way for finish a maple neck with maple fingerboard?

[Jehle]

The best way? That's really a subjective question with no one right answer.

Depends on how you want the neck to feel. I like mine candy coated, so for me it's a nice shiny coat of lacquer.

For maple, you can leave it finish-free and have a nice natural feel to it. Mind you, it'll look as ugly as sin in a short time.

I'll be interested to hear what everyone else says about this one.

[butcherboy]

danish oil

[Scott Rosenberger]

I like a thin coat of clear(your Choice) on the fingerboard, the back I like Gunstock Oil and Wax ala Ernie Ball. When the clear starts to wear on the fingerboard you get that nice Relicy look

[jseverin]

And Tung Oil Finish is good for all Maple Neck?.

[daveq]

Hey Scott, how/when do you apply the clear to the maple fretboard? Is this done after fretting? I have noticed that my Ibanez has had quite a bit of the clear worn away and doesn't look very good. Would it be better to just leave it natural or does that cause more problems?

[Scott Rosenberger]

I clear after fretting, the clear comes off the frets pretty easy using a scraper and steel wool to re-polish, if you spray pre-fretting you'll have to clean the fret slots before you install the frets