2005 R8 with 1200 gigs on it. All natural wear

[dnabbet2]

A few times during Rime of the Ancient Mariner the drummer in our band did some rapatapatap's on the body for effect. Left a good dozen or two fairly uniform impression marks on it. A few years later I really got into collecting guitars. I did manage to do a really good trade on it, but a few early interested parties thought those marks were some sort of fake aging.

I don't know what I do wrong, but I've still got a forty-five-year-old Les Paul with at least half the number of gigs and definitely beaten with drumsticks and bounced off the floor and so forth, and it still looks very good -- and I never clean it.

And the coolest part isn't wear and tear. It's the dull patina. Very subtle, really. VOS definitely does NOT resemble it. And though it was gigged year-'round in a cold climate, it's got no checking. Just the finish worn off the back of the neck ... which I was thinking of having re-finished!

Has had the rings replaced. The originals were crap.

 

[Subliminal lanimilbuS]

I don't know what I do wrong, but I've still got a forty-five-year-old Les Paul with at least half the number of gigs and definitely beaten with drumsticks and bounced off the floor and so forth, and it still looks very good -- and I never clean it.

And the coolest part isn't wear and tear. It's the dull patina. Very subtle, really. VOS definitely does NOT resemble it. And though it was gigged year-'round in a cold climate, it's got no checking. Just the finish worn off the back of the neck ... which I was thinking of having re-finished!

Has had the rings replaced. The originals were crap.

View attachment 24152View attachment 24153

Nice top and color on that one. Finish in those years is hard to get checking in. Finish on a 57 Strat is so soft you can push a fingernail into it. Wood is softer than maple too. The neck plate on the 57 body had dug in a good couple mm at the screw corners. If the neck doesn't bother you feel wise I would leave it. It is a running history of your guitar.

 

[dnabbet2]

If the neck doesn't bother you feel wise I would leave it. It is a running history of your guitar.

I respect the advice on the neck. Thanks.

But it does feel "sticky" to me with so much finish gone, and of course it's not ALL the finish so it also feels patchy. What gives me pause is finding a luthier in my neck of the woods who can do the job right, 'cause the guitar's colour IS good.

I'm pretty cheap and lazy, it'll probably stay the way it is.

 

[Any Name You Wish]

Bare Mahogany with an old worn finish is like that, porous and sticky. You might try cleaning it with mineral spirits and maybe lightly rub some tung oil on it and let dry for a couple of days to get a smooth and non-sticky surface. Test all this in a small spot first. I would not refinish it.

I had to put a new neck on my Tele and it was too fat, so I shaved it down and sanded it down to 800 grit and then put tung oil on it. Slick and smooth bare wood now, but that is maple and mahogany is going to be a little different.

 

[MWR]

First, I love guitars with wear & tear. However even after 9 years of heavy gigging the guitar looks like it was not cared for at all. Maybe I’m missing something. YMMV

 

[Subliminal lanimilbuS]

First, I love guitars with wear & tear. However even after 9 years of heavy gigging the guitar looks like it was not cared for at all. Maybe I’m missing something. YMMV

If you compare it to the guitar from the OP, I think it was pretty well taken care of.

 

[Subliminal lanimilbuS]

I respect the advice on the neck. Thanks.

But it does feel "sticky" to me with so much finish gone, and of course it's not ALL the finish so it also feels patchy. What gives me pause is finding a luthier in my neck of the woods who can do the job right, 'cause the guitar's colour IS good.

I'm pretty cheap and lazy, it'll probably stay the way it is.

View attachment 24181

Tung oil mentioned is definitely a requirement when a neck gets down to bare wood. Bare necks are prone to warping, especially in humid climates. Any moisture, especially if you clean it with a damp rag, just makes things worse as the water expands the surface. Once a neck gets down to the bare wood it starts to get worse fast just from the moisture in your hand. Lightly sand down any section that has a rough edge or that you don't like the feel of. Use a really high grit sand paper so that you don't see any scratches. 1000 or higher should be good. 2000 would be even better. Do all of the bare areas, as well, as it will get rid of any loose particulates on the surface of the wood. Wipe the whole neck really good with a dry cloth. Slide your hand up and down the neck to ensure you have it how you like it. Find a good lightly amber tinted tung oil, Test a small section to see how it looks compared to the areas with finish. The more you apply the darker it will get. Just one dab at a time and rub it in really good. Wait a couple days before another rub if you want it to get a little darker. It will feel a whole lot better, but more importantly protect that neck for many years to come.