Advice Needed - Maple Neck doesn't match Natural body finish

[MJames73]

Hello there everyone. About 5 years ago, I tried playing my buddies ASAT at a gig after I'd broken a string on my Les Paul, and i fell in love on the spot. Not too long after, I went looking for a G&L of my own, and after playing a bunch of them, I ended up picking up a Legacy HB. Beautiful swamp ash body with a natural finish with a birds-eye maple neck. I loved the guitar and loved the way it looked. Fast-forward almost a year later, and I started experiencing some buzzing so I took it in to get looked at. It turns out that there was a stability problem with the birds-eye maple neck - I honestly don't remember exactly what it was - but the neck needed to be replaced, and G&L was willing to do it for free as long as I paid to ship the guitar out to Fullerton. (thank you G&L).

About a month later I got the guitar back with a new maple neck with ebony fretboard. Plays beautifully. The problem is that the neck and headstock have a very, very light stain, and it looks a little frankenstein-like contrasting with the darker natural stain on the swamp ash body. Don't get me wrong, I'm head over heels for the guitar, I just wish they had given me a maple neck with the darker burst amber stain to more closely match the body.

Has anyone here just sanded down and re-stained a neck? Seems like a fairly involved project, and I'm not sure I want to go down that road. Also, any recommendations on matching that darker stain on the swamp ash Legacy bodys?

Any thoughts? Opinions? Trying to get an idea what I'd be getting myself into. Other than the stain on the neck/headstock, the guitar is perfect...but its been bugging me a little bit.

[Salmon]

This really needs pictures. Some people may persuade you to change it while other to leave it alone. Based on words I'd say it can't be that bad looking. It's just the clear finish. Frankenstein? Really? Only the player might be aware of it. Please please please provide pictures.

[MJames73]

Hey Salmon. I took it out to play last night, and realized that it really isn't that bad. Like I said, I do wish the stain was a bit darker, because I'm comparing it to the original birds-eye maple neck which had a much darker stain.

You're right - "frankenstein" is definitely not the right word. It just looks like a sweet guitar that's had its neck replaced. I will take a few pics tonight and post them. It's a beautiful guitar with one minor, purely visual flaw post-repair.

[Craig]

I moved your post to a more appropriate sub-forum. Please read this post in the Announcements Section: Welcome! Read This First.
It will help you navigate our site and provides links to Tutorials for posting photos, video and audio files.

You might also take a look at this post regarding neck finishes: Comparison of Neck Finishes.

Hope this helps.

[Fumble fingers]

Hey Salmon. I took it out to play last night, and realized that it really isn't that bad. Like I said, I do wish the stain was a bit darker, because I'm comparing it to the original birds-eye maple neck which had a much darker stain.

You're right - "frankenstein" is definitely not the right word. It just looks like a sweet guitar that's had its neck replaced. I will take a few pics tonight and post them. It's a beautiful guitar with one minor, purely visual flaw post-repair.

My Birdeye maple neck twisted just recently on my 2000 Comanche ... I'm having a quartersawn neck this time and ordered satin , it will be for sure lighter color than the Birdseye but it will darken with time and be a better neck

[MJames73]

Thanks Craig. I saw that it disappeared from the Projects sub-forum, decided to read the "Read this First" (nice timing by me), then searched for it and found it. Thanks for the heads up, and sorry for the breach of forum etiquette, ie not posting in the correct sub-forum or including photos. Just glad I found this place for G&L info and guidance.

Good luck with your new neck Fumble Fingers.

[Salmon]

My Birdeye maple neck twisted just recently on my 2000 Comanche ... I'm having a quartersawn neck this time and ordered satin , it will be for sure lighter color than the Birdseye but it will darken with time and be a better neck

Do poly finishes darken over time? All of mine are too new. I know lacquer changes over time.

[Fumble fingers]

My Birdeye maple neck twisted just recently on my 2000 Comanche ... I'm having a quartersawn neck this time and ordered satin , it will be for sure lighter color than the Birdseye but it will darken with time and be a better neck

Do poly finishes darken over time? All of mine are too new. I know lacquer changes over time.

that's a good question .... not sure when they changed from lacquer to poly ?, but my 1998 ASAT has darkened nice, my 1997 S500 has darkened nice , so 15 years on those two if they are poly