Veneered Neck

I don’t do many of these mainly due to limited requests and difficulty.  The inlaying of the long veneer is difficult due to the fitting of the wrapping seam at either end, and that my guitars use a Spanish neck joint requiring me to veneer with the neck on the body.  There are a few reasons for the veneer – the main reason is one of feel, and comfort.  The raw finish is warm and nice to touch.  Unlike lacquer which can feel grippy and cool, not that there is anything wrong with that.  Some also like the aesthetic, and this kind of treatment is not uncommon on early instruments like Lutes and Vihuelas.  Another benefit is that it tends to strengthen the neck which is not a bad thing.  Below are some photos of the work in progress and also the finished article.  The timber used is an Australian timber called Turpentine.  It is a dark, hard and closed grain timber which suits the purpose well.   Maintaining the raw finish is similar to a fingerboard, with the application of oil or wax if necessary.

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