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I've finished instruments with the neck on and the neck off, for the last while I've decided I like to do it with the neck off. I'm getting ready to buff out an instrument tomorrow and I buff the neck and body seperately then attach the neck after buffing.
When I do this I've already fit the neck to body prior to spraying, but after spraying, sanding and buffing the neck doesn't seem to fit the body quite as exactly as it did.
So, my question is this, do others who finish this way scrape the finish off the body under the heel in order to create a slight pocket for the neck to fit into. I've never done this, but its occured to me that this might help.
Oh I should've of mentioned I use a bolt on neck.
Any thoughts?

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

I do as you did, and have to work it again after finish and buffing. Just gow ahead and pull some fine paper between the heel and body a few times to get it to fit rigth again. Shouldn't take much..

I add some smooth tape to the back of the sandpaper to minimize scratches, but there are always a few, anyhow, but they'll buff out easily one last time.

I have tried removing the finish between the heel and body a few times, on already built and broken-in guitars, to see if there was a tone/power advantage, and there wasn't.

Thanks Mario.

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com