efdi Posted December 17, 2006 Report Share Posted December 17, 2006 I would like to start by saying hello to everybody, since i'm new to this forum. I have a small problem and i need some advice; I have a Jackson DXMG, and i recently discovered a scratch on the back of the neck. The varnish has been torn off, and i would like to know if there is any way to fix it without having to revarnish the whole neck. Can i sand that part and apply varnish only to it? Would that affect the sound in any way? Will it blend in with the rest of the varnish or will it be clearly visible, like a stain? I have uploaded some pictures; please tell me what you think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
low end fuzz Posted December 17, 2006 Report Share Posted December 17, 2006 all i see is a stain; so it cant be too deep; i would sand down the back of the neck with steel wool (1-0000) then coat it with tung oil; it'll even feel faster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickguard Posted December 17, 2006 Report Share Posted December 17, 2006 Any work you'll do on this neck will likely put it out of commission for a while, so make sure you have a backup to play. And I wouldn't work on a neck you really like until you've got a good handle on what you're going to do. It's pretty easy to screw up a neck. Besides, I see marks like this as part of the life of a guitar--the more the merrier, I say--especially since this doesn't look like it affects the way it plays or feels at all. Just chalk it up to part of the guitar's character...and play on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
low end fuzz Posted December 17, 2006 Report Share Posted December 17, 2006 sorry mickguard, im gonna have to disagree with ya there this kinda repair should take an hour for any skill level (as long as youve ever held a piece of steel wool) just dont sand anything exept what you can cup your hand around (volute - heel) and make long strokes up and down the back of the neck; do this with 1 steel wool until your mark is gone; if that dosent remove it then your too deep and you will be reshaping the neck (if thats what you meant then i appoligize) but that kinda repair aint worth it, if its really deep fill it with clear stick laquer then sand smooth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Setch Posted December 17, 2006 Report Share Posted December 17, 2006 Leave it alone - it's not even visible in your close up shot, so it's definately not worth messing with. Finish repair is a massive can of worms, and 99% of the time the correct route is to live with the dings, scratches, whatever - they're character, and they'll be plenty more along shortly! You stand a serious risk of doing more harm than good if you try to 'fix' this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
efdi Posted December 17, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2006 Thanks for the quick replies! The close up is rather fuzzy because of the camera; The spot is not deep, but the varnish has been clearly torn off, i can "feel" the bare wood with my thumb. The first picture presents it a bit more clearly than the close up. Also, it didn't use to be so green, it's turning greener in time. I'm afraid it will get bigger, so i want to fix it now so i won't regret it later. I realize it's a minor thing, but i'm afraid it will get worse in time... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickguard Posted December 18, 2006 Report Share Posted December 18, 2006 The close up is rather fuzzy because of the camera; The spot is not deep, but the varnish has been clearly torn off, i can "feel" the bare wood with my thumb. The first picture presents it a bit more clearly than the close up. It's pretty unlikely what you're feeling is the wood --that's probably the sealer they used when finishing the neck. Enough of that soaks into the wood so the wood will remain protected, if that's what you're worried about. One of my guitars is 40 years old, and there are entire patches on the back of the neck that have been nicked or scarred or just simply worn down (it's my favorite guitar ). None of that stops the neck from being playable. I suppose you could drop fill some sort of protective layer into the spot --maybe someone here can suggest the appropriate product, like CA glue or something. That way you don't have to get involved in the actual refinishing work and can just get on with playing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted December 18, 2006 Report Share Posted December 18, 2006 leave it alone...guitars are supposed to get worn.anything you do will only compromise the rest of the neck finish.that is a polyester finish most likely,and no tung oil or ca is going to equal it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick500 Posted December 18, 2006 Report Share Posted December 18, 2006 If you do go after it with steel wool, tape up your pickups first, or the steel wool bits will be all over them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
efdi Posted December 19, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2006 Ok, thanks a lot for the advices! I will leave it alone for now, but closely monitor it's evolution. If it gets worse, i have saved all your messages and i'll put them to good use. Thanks again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted December 19, 2006 Report Share Posted December 19, 2006 I would CA it, but take extra care when feathering in the edges to the surrounding finish. In that respect, it IS a hell of a job to attempt as opposed to living with it. Have you got any disposable varnished furniture you can practice on? :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
efdi Posted December 22, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 22, 2006 Surprisingly, i do have some pieces of furniture left over from assembling my book case. And if it will be called for, i won't hesitate to turn one into a test subject. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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