Black splotches on the back of a mahogany neck?

[DeArmond Hammer]

What do you think is going on here on the back of this 1967 Capri's mahogany neck?

The guitar was sold to someone else before I could decide whether to bid, so I'd like to learn more now and be able to decide faster next time.

The seller wrote me, "That is just oils from the players hand where the finish is worn through by many years of playing." I have no reason to doubt that explanation, it's just something I've never seen, so I'm curious whether anyone else's guitar has taken on this appearance. When I first saw the neck, I thought it had ink stains.

If you're curious, here's the link to the completed listing:

Guild CE 100 D 1967 Sunburst | eBay

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[fronobulax]

Good question. The pattern doesn't match some of the other playwear patterns we have seen but I don't think that is enough to discount the story. But I have no recollection of skin oils reacting with a finish to produce something that dark either. Since 'bursts often have dark finish on the neck, perhaps this is a factory error that wasn't caught or refinished? Maybe the neck was originally dark and what is left is what didn't wear off?

 

[SFIV1967]

But I have no recollection of skin oils reacting with a finish to produce something that dark either.

It is not reaction with the finish what we see here, it is reaction with the bare mahogany wood! As you can see on the middle strip, the finish was worn through already in those areas and now the exposed wood turned dark from dirt and oils. You can clearly see that the center strip (maple I guess) darkened only lightly at those areas. Using a cloth with naphtha might take some of the discoloration away.

Ralf

 

[GAD]

I'd want to see a UV-light pic of the neck.

 

[SFIV1967]

I'd want to see a UV-light pic of the neck.

Yes, applying some whatever darkened lacquer on the worn away lacquer could be another reason why it darkened.
Ralf

 

[DeArmond Hammer]

Maybe the neck was originally dark and what is left is what didn't wear off?

Good thought! I hadn't noticed that the top of the neck is as dark as the splotches, so maybe the neck's dark lacquer was removed either by playwear or deliberate modding.

 

[tmessenger]

The top of the neck/headstock is a fade to dark I would believe originally that way. I'm with Ralf the finish has worn away in spots and has darkened with dirt and oil. Very light sanding and a careful color-matched refinish would bring it back.

Good thought! I hadn't noticed that the top of the neck is as dark as the splotches, so maybe the neck's dark lacquer was removed either by playwear or deliberate modding.

 

[wileypickett]

Ralf's got it right.

When you wear away the lacquer and expose the bare wood, grime, sweat and oils penetrate the wood and this is what you end up with after years of continuous play -- if you don't address the problem. We've seen it on numerous guitars.

 

[kakerlak]

I've seen a lot of Guild necks start to shed finish in little bubbles/spots like that once they get a lot of miles on them, as opposed to smoothly wearing down to bare wood like a vintage Fender/Gibson tends to. Gotta be something in the prep/spraying. But that had to have been played by some seriously dirty hands to be so absolutely black where the finish is gone.

 

[spoox]

If parts of the neck were down to bare wood, and the area rubbed with fine steel wool, if moisture ever got to the areas the tiny steel fragments can oxidize and turn the wood black. It's most common with oak, ash, elm, etc. I learned that over 50 years ago when my father would have me rub out stripped antique furniture with steel wool. Then I found in a turn of the century book on finishing furniture it can be removed with oxalic acid. You can see the same black spots in old wood around nails, screws, iron hardware where moisture had come into contact with those areas. Early inks were made with iron fragments and oak gall--the iron + wood tannins=ink.