I am refretting a fender neck, 1979. The finish on this neck was unbelievable thick, sticky, and more brown than yellow! When talking to the customer it seems that the guitar has been hanging over a desk where a pack of cigs is smoked every day. I assume this has ruined the neck.
After taking off the frets I have started taking of the finish on the fretboard, and it smells exactly like the polyester stuff I use when repairing cracks in my surfboard. After some research this is my conclusion: The neck has a polyester finish, but the headstock probably has a nitro finish since the decal would dissolve under the polyester. This is what I read, but I see no difference between the headstock and the rest of the neck.
Most important question now: What finish would you put on the fretboard? I spray NC and 2K, no polyester. The challenge is gonna be matching colour but foremost blending the new layer with the old one on the side of the neck, that starts about 5mm below the the top.
regards, Mario