what is the prestige treatment?

[tony777]

Hello!!

Probably covered somewhere but I wasn't able to find it, so I'm asking as the headline says.

What is the prestige neck treatment?
And how to turn a non prestige neck into one?

Thanks

Tony

[gkelm]

I asked about this a long time ao, and nobody seemed to know exactly. A couple catalogs mention 5 (or 7?) extra steps of hand finishing. Must be repeated application of poly finish and sanding/steel wool in between...basically getting a very smooth finish on the back of the neck. Fret work is supposed to be better too.
Greg

[jemsite]

Ibanez 1999 Catalog pg 4 & 5

Prestige Guitars.
How do you make an even better guitar when you're already recognized as making some of the finest instruments in the world?

Well, one way might be to make entirely handmade instruments. But that's not a real solution. One reason is the sheer time involved. ANoher is consistency: machines are actually better for some tasks if you insist on an exact level of standards and specs. The largest reason is expense. We love seeing $30,000 handmade custom shop collector's items as much as the next guitar fanatic. But we're here to build guitars and basses that players play.

What makes a Prestige instrument a Prestige? First, it's the most successful merge of the handcraft and technological worlds in teh history of guitar making. Prestige gutiars adn basses are crafted at a separate production facility that's staffed by our most experienced builders and equipped with the most sophisticated machinery available. Every Prestige instrument is meticulously examined and re-examined through every step in teh building process and every detail, including the neck and frets, is completely finished by hand.

Next, each model is setup to the highest standard of the industry - the Ibanez standard. And because these instruments take longer to build and use only the most select of select materials, they are limited production instruments. But the most important part of what makes a Prestige a Prestige is something that can't be measured in numbers, the actual love and pride that goest into each guitar or bass.
All this means each Prestige guitar or bass is a collector's item. But it's a collector's item that is made to be playbed; something you will appreciate each time you take it in hand.

[tony777]

Thanks!

I've used a steel wool #0000 for the necks, but what would you recommend for protection, to avoid dirt etc?

I don't want to use clear painting, but oil of some kind might be the thing, not sure though.
Any suggestions?

Thanks again :P

Tony