Brian's Guitar from Conception to Birth or How to Build a Guitar in 62 Easy Steps!

55 Tung the Neck

Since Brian prefers the natural feel of a wood neck, he obviously doesn’t know the first thing about playing a guitar! But if that’s what the man wants, that’s what he gets. We already sanded the back of the neck to 150 grit when we made it, just check it carefully to see if any new scratches appeared which would need to be worked out. Continue sanding with 220, 320, and 400 grits. Be as thorough as you can since you will feel every bump as your playing.

We chose to use a tung oil finish on the neck which lends a very light, almost colorless finish, but offers some protection. It’s easy and foolproof to apply. Don’t worry about taping anything off, the lacquer will repel any over-wipe. Pour a little in a cup, wet a soft, clean rag, and smear it on. Go over the entire back of the neck two or three times quickly. Then use a dry rag to wipe off any excess. Flip the guitar over and do the same to the front. Use your dry rag and wipe up any oil that might have strayed onto other surfaces. Let the oil dry overnight.