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Seems that since FP is a more delicate finish than lacquer, especially on soft woods, that it wouldn't hold up as well on necks. Most discussions have dealt with FP's susceptibility to water and dings, but not resistance to abrasion. What say ye?

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

That's a good question.  I've seen a lot of discussion on Tru-Oil for necks, and how good it feels.  Maybe it would be a good alternative.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

It wears after moderate use...good news is that it only takes 15-30 minutes to lightly sand and restore the surface.

I seem to remember Mario giving a tutorial for his customers as to how to restore the FP surface.

I have since become enamored with the look and feel of Danish oil on the playing surface of the neck.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

I have played a FP OM every day for 6 months with no sign of wear. Feels fabulous and fast, never sticky.

I have also played a Tru-oil neck (Evan Gluck's personal Tele) and love that feel too!

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"Building guitars looks hard, but it's actually much harder than it looks." Tom Buck

Thanks for the info, guys.

Hesh, what ratio of Everclear to use/drink do you recommend?

Maybe I'll have a look at Danish or Tru-oil for the neck and just FP the body and headstock.

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

I've done more than 20 FP necks and I find that it is very easy to apply the polish with too little pressure on the neck, which I believe leads to a softer surface. Especially if the stiffing and glazing are not done firm enough. If done properly however I find that the FP finish is very durable on the necks, and the ones I have had to re-do have been 15minute jobs, OK two sessions of 15minutes tops. The feel of a nice FP neck is sublime. The only thing that comes close is True Oil.

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Colin, I'd have to wholeheartedly agree. I've done my last three in FP and they have an amazing feel to them.
Also, durability...the first one I did using Robbie O'Brien's method and it has not failed me yet. The finish was applied last spring and I played it a LOT. Rehearsals twice a week, lots of shows, lots of travel, heat, cold, humid, dry, etc. and I still play it quite a bit. A year later and its not showing any sign of wear. I'm shocked, actually, but very happy about it.
I'd caution the pressure, too, as Colin says, because I do think that a firm steady pressure is what really bumps up the durability. A commissioned guitar that I just shipped went out with FP on the neck, so my confidence in it is very high.
-j.

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“If God dwells inside us like some people say, I sure hope He likes enchiladas, because that's what He's getting”
-jack handy

   French polish is a great feeling finish on a guitar.....on both body and
neck in my opinion, but it offers about as little durability as a finish can.
It's thin and very soft....even when fully dry.

   I've done ore than 40 guitars using French polish as a finish. Some had
it on both body and neck and others had it only on their necks. I love the
process, but not the time involved in acgieving good results. My
grandfather was a master at applying it with flawless results on furniture
and I remember spending long days in his huge shop trying to capture
the same results on my pojects as he did. He knew lots of little tricks that
he picked up from his father and grandfather when he was young.

   I love the look and feel, but have never seen a very durable finish on
any surface that was French polished...no matter who applied it.

Regards,
Kevin Gallagher/Omega Guitars

I love a shellac neck. To me it is the best feel for a neck. I don't even waste time trying to FP it. I just brush it on over a few days, maybe 2-3 coats a day, then wait for 2 weeks. Level with 600 grit, then steel wool it out with 0000 steel wool. Works great, and feels oh so good!
Tracy

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Tracy
http://www.luthiersuppliers.com

I F.P. have always F.P.'d all my acoustic guitars. I think it is very appealing in all the ways mentioned above. I feel, however, after two bad experiences with customers ( only two out of many isn't too bad) that selling a guitar with F.P. is something that is customer unique. By this I mean that the customer must be well informed of both the qualities and the down sides of owning a F.P.'d guitar. Many people (like the two I mentioned) expect it to have all the great sonic qualities and still wear like poly. I learned a great deal from Marshall and Richard Brune about this "thought process"/"customer psych" (as well as a wealth of other things) and Highly recommend their course on F.P. I will never sell a F.P.'d guitar to a customer who isn't completely familiarized with F.P. ever again. In fact, I now am going to mostly F.P. the top only and Nitro the back and sides. I still F.P. the necks but am moving to tru-oil for that on my next. F.P. is beautiful and the "ultimate" finish in my H.O. but it is not for everyone.

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Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"