Worn neck finish a warping risk?

[semitone]

I can't recall ever reading that someone's worn old maple neck got warped.

My eight-year-old parts Tele now has, I'm happy to say, nice fingerboard spots and grey areas on the back of the neck. Needless to add, it sounds and plays better than ever.

My question is, since a lot of finish has worn away, is it more susceptable to warping?

Or, (devil's advocate) is it just a good neck that would have been fine even if it had never been finished?

Or (just a know-nothing middle-way hypothesis) does the finish protect the neck during its early years, and, now that the wood is aged nicely, the neck is at much less a risk?

Or, is the true answer the one you shall now graciously provide...

Thanks!

[3 Chord]

The truss rod is there to protect from warping. Finish is there to look nice, protect the wood and to feel a certain way.

[Ronkirn]

The truss rod is there to protect from warping.

True, but the type of truss rod and which way it warps can be a factor.
A dual acting truss rod will correct both bows and crowns, but the conventional single acting rod will only correct it if it bows.

There is also the "propeller" warp, which no truss rod will correct.

As for the susceptibility of an unfinished neck warping... Well, no neck manufacturer will guarantee their necks unless it's fully finished, with a closed coating, this rules out tung oil and similar "finishes"

If you HAVE to have the feel of unfinished wood, you take your chances.

Ron Kirn

[photoweborama]

Gun Stock oil.
EB uses that on their unfinished necks.
Very popular for this thing. I use it too.

[bo]

I have no true answers to your questions. However I have a '73 Tele with a toothpick of a neck that has been stripped for over 30 years and is just fine. I liked the feel of it so much that I stripped the neck of my '94 JD Tele in '95 and it's still just fine too. I do wonder if weather is an issue. I live in Virginia where it's basically humid much of the year. YMMV

[mdkrek]

My 64 stratocaster neck is worn to the wood from head to heal and I have never had a problem in the 20 years I owned her...and I live in Minnesota where they say...if you dont like the weather just wait five minutes.

Mike

[BillyC]

I've had many old telecasters with the finish worn off the back of the neck
but never had one to warp.But, I've seen necks that hadn't been finished or
had the finish sanded off warp and twist in no time.

[6x47]

Originally Posted by photoweborama

Gun Stock oil.
EB uses that on their unfinished necks.
Very popular for this thing. I use it too.

Any brand in particular?

[jhundt]

"My question is, since a lot of finish has worn away, is it more susceptable to warping?"

No - stop worrying and keep playing.