My hand placement is very similar, and I can report that in 3+ years of steady playing I've had no wear to the finish in that location. At all. In fact, the finish on my AB is pretty much pristine, even without special precautions of any kind.

I have very little wear after 2+ years on my natural finished ABII, I think wear in the thumb anchor spot is cool. The clear protection would be cool for slappers with long nails.

Hi Bassmonster. This is not something I've tested. However the Polyester we use is tougher and more chemical resistant than automotive clearcoat so you should be just fine.

My thumb also rests as you describe and I have no wear marks to report either. however there is some wear apparent at the base of the treble horn below the front pick up which seems to be caused by my nails when I play slap (which is 50% of my play time). N

[quote="Sheldon Dingwall":1ij294mb]Hi Bassmonster. This is not something I've tested. However the Polyester we use is tougher and more chemical resistant than automotive clearcoat so you should be just fine.[/quote:1ij294mb] I have to say that I'm impressed by the finish on my AB-1. While I only wipe it down with a microfiber cloth (and a cotton one for the neck/strings), I'm amazed that it shows none of the wear that my other basses have. To date the only mark on the body is a very small (about 1/8 of an inch) ding that happened within the first month of me owning it. While I'm not rough with the bass, I also haven't babied it in the least and the body clear coat still looks brand new. The only places I see wear is on the unfinished neck heel where my fingers sometimes rest while playing (that area has grown a bit darker) and the neck pickup shell has become glossy from where I rest my thumb when I'm playing there. Speaking of such things, I do have a question about my new Z. I know that the neck is finished, unlike my AB. Is the finish the same 'hard' finish as used on the body? Also, is your signature under the clearcoat or on top of it. It looks like it's under, but I wanted to make sure for future handling. Beyond that...as this is a 'finished' neck, besides not having to wax it, any other special care needs? It's still settling in after it's journey from the northlands, and I tweaked the truss-rod in practice the other night by about 1/8 of a turn to bring the action down.

[quote="BurningSkies":2ci489or]Speaking of such things, I do have a question about my new Z. I know that the neck is finished, unlike my AB. Is the finish the same 'hard' finish as used on the body? Also, is your signature under the clearcoat or on top of it. It looks like it's under, but I wanted to make sure for future handling. Beyond that...as this is a 'finished' neck, besides not having to wax it, any other special care needs? It's still settling in after it's journey from the northlands, and I tweaked the truss-rod in practice the other night by about 1/8 of a turn to bring the action down.[/quote:2ci489or] You had the back of the neck finished in polyester, not wax? The signature is under the clear on the Z headstocks, BTW. Mark

Maple necked/fingerboarded Dingwalls are finished. It was something that I knew going in. I spoke with Dingwall Sales about it early on in the ordering process... While I've always liked my AB's neck, I also like guitars with traditional finished necks. Its a non-glossy finish on the back of the neck while the fretboard IS glossy, which I find visually pleasing. I've now had at least 3 basses with 'satin' or non-gloss finishes on the backs of the necks, and they all have been good to me. They tend to 'polish' with playing, which gets them smooth, with a sheen that is really fast without ever been sticky. It also means you don't get any of that 'seam-sprout' that multi-lam unfinished necks get on the back. It took a while for me to get used to it on my AB, and as my first bass with a multi-lam neck, I was alarmed when I first noticed it, even though I had multiple assurances that it was typical. It's never been a 'structural problem' in any way, and I got used to it after a while. [quote="guitarded":3vxcj6d9][quote="BurningSkies":3vxcj6d9]Speaking of such things, I do have a question about my new Z. I know that the neck is finished, unlike my AB. Is the finish the same 'hard' finish as used on the body? Also, is your signature under the clearcoat or on top of it. It looks like it's under, but I wanted to make sure for future handling. Beyond that...as this is a 'finished' neck, besides not having to wax it, any other special care needs? It's still settling in after it's journey from the northlands, and I tweaked the truss-rod in practice the other night by about 1/8 of a turn to bring the action down.[/quote:3vxcj6d9] You had the back of the neck finished in polyester, not wax? The signature is under the clear on the Z headstocks, BTW. Mark[/quote:3vxcj6d9]

polyester on the fingerboard, polyurethane gel finish rubbed on overtop of a ting oil sealer. This combination gives a little more protection than just oil. We've discontinued wax since developing this blend. The sig is under the finish on the headstock.

[quote="Sheldon Dingwall":zvqftuww]polyester on the fingerboard, polyurethane gel finish rubbed on overtop of a ting oil sealer. This combination gives a little more protection than just oil. We've discontinued wax since developing this blend. The sig is under the finish on the headstock.[/quote:zvqftuww] Thanks Sheldon! Any reason to worry about basses with the old wax finished necks? I still use Kiwi in the original way proscribed for my AB...

[quote="BurningSkies":s179g3nc][quote="Sheldon Dingwall":s179g3nc]polyester on the fingerboard, polyurethane gel finish rubbed on overtop of a ting oil sealer. This combination gives a little more protection than just oil. We've discontinued wax since developing this blend. The sig is under the finish on the headstock.[/quote:s179g3nc] Thanks Sheldon! Any reason to worry about basses with the old wax finished necks? I still use Kiwi in the original way proscribed for my AB...[/quote:s179g3nc] Use it if you like the feel. If you find it sticky, don't use it.

Sheldon, do you have this formula available or could you tell me exactly what to get so I can do it. I currently use kiwi wax on the neck of my Prima. For the most part it is fine. It is a little sticky when I first apply but smooths out after a short time. Does the new formula need to be applied as often? or is it more permanent?

[quote="dsincjr":3uabv3mo]Sheldon, do you have this formula available or could you tell me exactly what to get so I can do it. I currently use kiwi wax on the neck of my Prima. For the most part it is fine. It is a little sticky when I first apply but smooths out after a short time. Does the new formula need to be applied as often? or is it more permanent?[/quote:3uabv3mo] Hi Dave, your neck has the most current finish combination.

[quote="Sheldon Dingwall":39ausac2]polyester on the fingerboard, polyurethane gel finish rubbed on overtop of a ting oil sealer. This combination gives a little more protection than just oil. We've discontinued wax since developing this blend. The sig is under the finish on the headstock.[/quote:39ausac2] Hi Sheldon, I have the older finish on the neck of my AB1, and I also use the natural Kiwi shoe polish about every two weeks. Is this polyurethane gel finish commercially available in the states? I know sometimes what we call mineral spirits is called something else up north to my recollection, so I don't want to saunter in to my local Home Depot, ask for Polyurethane gel and wind up with a truck bed liner finish on my neck Please send me a PM if this is proprietary and something I can purchase direct!