MIMF

I'm thinking of using gold leaf as a finish on a neck. I like to think that it of course will wear off here and there as the instrument gets used. Is this ridiculous? Does gold leaf ever get used in spots that get touched?
I have all this poplar which has nice tap tone and it's been sitting there for years. I'm sure it will make good instrument components, but it's ugly.

I couldn't imagine gold leaf itself lasting more than a day & a night, but maybe under a dozen coats of lacquer???

Really, just paint the neck or tint it as in a sunburst finish.

Poplar (yellow Poplar) is one of my favorite woods but it does have a green cast to it when finished natural. It doesn't need filling, and takes stain or paint well and is easy to bend and machine. It makes great sides and backs. That being said I wouldn't use it for a neck as it tends to 'follow the string' as bow makers would say. Carbon rod reinforcement would help of course.

Gold leaf has been used on the arms of arm chairs for century's. Used for faux finishes it was left bright where arms and hands touched, and paint was applied to give a patinated finish in areas that would not normally show any wear. It was done to give the impression the whole piece was made of gold and very old.