Finish to Maple neck.

[panther]

I'm in the last stages of finishing up a Telecaster 52 model. I've got the neck and it's been sealed. Can someone tell me the best way to clear coat this, I'm not sure how to go about protecting the frets, or are they just painted over ? I want to put on about 4 coats of clear, and a base of a slight amber or yellow effect, two coats of clear then the headstock decal, then a couple more clear coats.
Do I just apply the tint, then go for it, or is there a certain procedure I should follow.
Dan

[olrocknroller]

I just sand them to 1000 grit, which is silky smooth, and put one or two coats of tung oil on, back and fretboard. This stuff soaks in about 1/16" into maple, and seals the wood perfectly. Then I hand rub them until they glow. All my guitar buddies never go back to production finishes after they've played this for a few gigs. People like me who get nervous on stage sweat buckets through our hands, and this finish takes it without getting all sticky and gummy...no more toady-fingers!

[panther]

What about the decal ?
Can I apply a decal over the tung oil, then seal just the face of the headstock with a couple coats of clear finish ??
Dan

[sleeperNY]

I just finished a maple neck on my Tele style build and I just painted over the frets. I had already leveled and crowned the frets that needed it and no buffing. I cleared the neck and after a few days of drying I just used my finger nail and scraped the clear off the frets. Lacquer flakes right off. When I was ready to buff I used 1500 sand paper and sanded between the frets first and then went over the frets. It removed the last if the file marks and I then buffed it out as you would anything.

Jim

[olrocknroller]

What about the decal ?
Can I apply a decal over the tung oil, then seal just the face of the headstock with a couple coats of clear finish ??
Dan

Although I would think there shouldn't be a problem, I can't answer that one for certain; I always engrave mine...sorry. My concern is that the clear-coat might react badly...

olrnr

[oipunkguy]

there is people out there that make reproduction fender decals if thats what u mean. ive found good sources from decal makers on the guitar reranch forum. on the finishing of the neck, it all depends what u like. some players like the feel of nitro lacquer, some like poly, and theres oil finishing too like tung oil. all do the same thing, but the feel is different with each product.