NECK AND TRUSS ROD

All of my necks are reinforced with a double-action truss rod. The truss rod is used to stiffen the neck and can be adjusted to get the correct amount of relief in the neck. I find that relief in the neck is very important for playability. The slight curve mimics the motion of the vibrating string so that the action can be lower without buzzing. When the truss rod is tightened it stiffens the neck significantly which improves sustain and the overall tone of the instrument. If the neck ever warps due to humidity or climate change it can often be fixed using the truss rod. I have seen far too many repairs escalate from $30 (adjusting the truss rod) to over $300 (pulling the frets and straightening the neck) because the guitar did not have a truss rod. The additional weight in the neck is negligible and really helps to physically balance the instrument since the body of my guitars are somewhat heavier than most traditional instruments. More classical builders are starting to use them and for good reason.

I use tung oil as the finish for the neck. I find that many players really enjoy this type of finish because it is very consistent and natural feeling. Some finishes will get sticky when the player's hands begin to perspire making it very difficult to maneuver. The neck can be very smooth if more tung oil is added.. The oil is very easy to apply and can be added as needed by the player to achieve the perfect feel. Urethane can also be used as the finish upon request.