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PostPosted: Tue Mar 06, 2018 3:27 pm 
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Koa
Koa

Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2017 11:09 pm
Posts: 870
Location: Cowichan Valley, BC, Canada
First name: Conor
Last Name: Searl
City: Duncan
State: British Columbia
Zip/Postal Code: V9L 2E5
Country: Canada
Status: Semi-pro
I'm about to jump into my first set neck build. Is it best practice to finish the guitar once the neck is glued or while the body and neck are still separate?


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PostPosted: Tue Mar 06, 2018 4:17 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Fri Aug 19, 2005 4:02 am
Posts: 3227
Location: The Woodlands, Texas
First name: Barry
Last Name: Daniels
It's done both ways. There are benefits and trade-offs to both approaches.


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PostPosted: Wed Mar 07, 2018 8:37 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood
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Joined: Mon Dec 27, 2010 9:06 pm
Posts: 2739
Location: Magnolia DE
First name: Brian
Last Name: Howard
City: Magnolia
State: Delaware
Zip/Postal Code: 19962
Country: United States
Focus: Repair
Status: Professional
I have concluded for myself that finishing after the neck is set gives the best results in the best time.
No worries about the cheeks of the heel not matching the body due to finish build, no rebuffing after setting the neck, no worries about keeping finish off the joint surfaces (less masking and no chips from pulling the mask).

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You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/



These users thanked the author B. Howard for the post: Conor_Searl (Wed Mar 07, 2018 11:59 am)
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 07, 2018 12:02 pm 
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Koa
Koa

Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2017 11:09 pm
Posts: 870
Location: Cowichan Valley, BC, Canada
First name: Conor
Last Name: Searl
City: Duncan
State: British Columbia
Zip/Postal Code: V9L 2E5
Country: Canada
Status: Semi-pro
B. Howard wrote:
I have concluded for myself that finishing after the neck is set gives the best results in the best time.
No worries about the cheeks of the heel not matching the body due to finish build, no rebuffing after setting the neck, no worries about keeping finish off the joint surfaces (less masking and no chips from pulling the mask).


Thanks Brian, that confirms some of my initial suspicions. I've only done bolt-on's so far, so I've always just attached a holder onto the end of the neck and into the neck pocket to hang the guitars to dry and give me something to hold on to or hang when I'm painting. What's the best way to accomplish this with what amounts to a complete guitar?


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PostPosted: Tue Mar 13, 2018 9:26 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2010 1:46 pm
Posts: 2124
First name: Freeman
Last Name: Keller
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
On most set neck guitars the curve of the cutaway(s) blends into the neck heel. If you finish them separately you will not be able to sand them perfectly flush and there will always be a seam between the two parts. You almost never want to take this apart (unlike both an acoustic or a Fender style joint).
So unless you are using different finish materials or colors I would suggest finishing neck on.


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