Neck has NOT ENOUGH finish on the back?

[Futuron]

Are there any simple solutions to a neck feeling too bare? I don't want to spray it, and it's smooth enough, but just feels too dry and is a little bit off-putting. Still playable. Makes it feel cheap.

It's only a Bullet Mustang so I didn't expect perfection out of the box in this case. The front & back of the neck were really dry and the maple is a bit on the white side. I've oiled the laurel fretboard a few times, but the back is still something I'd like to address if it's not too difficult.

What do people use? Lacquers? Oils?

[JSett]

I use Tru-oil gunstock oil then wax. Do a few light coats with some 0000 wool in between each then a very light coating of the same brand gunstock wax then buff. The Tru-oil can feel a little sticky if you put too much on but that eventually dissipates and it'll end up super smooth.

A little goes a long way. I think Ernie Ball uses this method and just have 1 coat of oil.

[Steadyriot.]

+1 on the Tru-oil. You can take it as far as you want as far as gloss goes too.
Works a treat on Bullet necks:

[PJazzmaster]

Take care with tru-oil.
It‘s a great product but be aware of the risks:
https://www.reddit.com/r/finishing/comm ... il_soaked/

[JSett]

It's VERY rare for the rags to combust, almost never in fact, and you'd need a lot of them for it to probably be an issue (more than the 1 or two you'd use on a guitar neck). Just hang them over something outside for a day or just walk the outside and chuck a match on them. I never bother, just stick them in the garbage.

[DrippyReverbTremolo]

I never bother, just stick them in the garbage.

Dude.

[countertext]

I will second the “play it safe” approach with drying oils. The oxidation of those is exothermic and can catch you by surprise, even if you’ve dodged the consequences so far in life. Don’t decide to wait until tomorrow to clean up your bench, take the oily rags outside and hang them on a line as soon as you’re done.

Johnny, OSG loves you and doesn’t want you to burn down your house.

[JSett]

I never bother, just stick them in the garbage.

Dude.

I'm just being honest. It's so little tissue and residue, and such a rare thing to happen, I just don't give it a thought.

[Steadyriot.]

I just stick ‘m in a bag of water and dish soap before I throw it out.

[eternal learner]

Have used Birchwood Casey Tru Oil a few times, so easy to work with and excellent results. If an area wears more than around it, it is the perfect stuff to blend with non worn area. A very small bottle goes a long way. I apply it with a finger tip.

[B.T.]

I just stick ‘m in a bag of water and dish soap before I throw it out.

I was going to say exactly this. When I had my shop I’d set them out in the sun to dry out but I’ve been soaking them in water since.

[B.T.]

The Tru-Oil with a light sanding also makes for a super silky smooth playing neck. I got hip to that a couple decades ago learning how to do maintenance to my Stingray bass.

[Futuron]

The forum suggested Tru-Oil. I didn't end up finding any (unless I was going to pay through the nose online), and if I wanted to go down that road it seemed I may as well just use the Wipe-On-Poly I already have, so I thought I'd just try some fretboard oil first. A few coats of that has stopped it feeling too weird. Still smooth enough, still doesn't feel like a normal guitar neck but it cost me almost nothing and it'll suffice.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions.