Chinese & Counterfeit eBay Necks - Roasted Maple for $60

Product Reviewed

The video reviews replacement guitar necks sold by Chinese manufacturers on eBay/AliExpress, focusing on two examples:

1. Roasted (heat-treated) maple neck with a satin “nitro lacquer”-style finish
2. Glossy maple neck with a Fender logo (described as a “fake”/non-genuine replacement)

Key Features Mentioned

Roasted / Heat-Treated Maple Neck (Chinese-made)

• Satin “nitro lacquer” feel
  • Described as very smooth and impeccable
• Fret quality and fit
  • “Outstanding quality frets”
  • Excellent fret placement
• Overall fit and finish
  • No roughness; smooth transitions
• Side dots / “side points”
  • Placed evenly
  • Insertion is noted as labor-intensive
• Anchor hole plug
  • Mentioned; user can refine/adjust fit themselves

Glossy Maple “Fender Logo” Neck (Non-roasted)

• Highly polished glossy finish
• All maple construction, with a “skunk stripe” on the back
  • Visually compared to rosewood
• Fender logo on the headstock
  • Video calls it “fake”
• Typical aftermarket fretwork required
  • Leveling/sanding/trueing similar to other non-genuine or foreign replacement necks

Pros (Unique Points Emphasized)

• Quality has improved significantly compared to older myths about Chinese parts.
• Fit and finish are repeatedly praised
  • Smooth satin finish on the roasted neck
  • Clean transitions around frets
• Fret placement and initial fret work are described as very good
  • Some setup work may still be required (sanding/leveling/trueing).
• Great value for money
  • Both necks cost under $60
  • Delivery around 1 to 1.5 weeks
• User experience: easy to make even better with personal fretwork
  • The speaker says they can straighten/level frets, sand, repaint, and do fret work to achieve their desired standard.
• Workmanship detail
  • Side dot insertion is time-consuming (speaker estimates at least an hour as a benchmark)

Cons / Cautions Mentioned

• Expect to do fretwork/setup
  • The speaker suggests these necks likely haven’t been fully sanded/leveled yet.
  • The glossy neck: “I’ll have to work with the frets.”
• Wood drying/seasoning risk (historical concern, still emphasized)
  • Some Chinese wood is allegedly not air-dried/oven-dried long enough
  • Potential result: frets can stick out over time, scratching hands due to shrinkage/movement after shipping/storage
• Not branded/genuine
  • The second neck includes a Fender logo and is described as a fake replacement.

Comparisons Made

Versus Genuine Fender Replacement Necks

• Genuine Fender replacement neck: over $240

Versus US Aftermarket Neck Makers

• Warmoth / Mighty Mite: positioned in a $240+ range
  • Speaker emphasizes these are not cheap, and also states nothing is cheaper than $100
• Warmoth note from the speaker’s comparison:
  • Their necks do not undergo fret sanding, so you must do it yourself
• Speaker’s argument:
  • Foreign necks are similar in that regard—alignment/leveling is still needed.

Overall User Experience Described

The speaker’s described process and outcome:

• Install the roasted maple neck
• Refine appearance:
  • Sands off an amber/orange stain
  • Leaves clear wood with a chocolatey burnt-maple shade
• Applies a butter-wax finish, described as “fabulous”
• Final result:
  • Great-looking, great-playing neck
  • Satisfaction is mostly driven by price-to-quality

Numerical Details / Ratings

• Price paid (both necks): around $60
  • Roasted neck explicitly: $60
  • Second neck: less than $60
• Delivery time: about a week and a half
• Price comparisons:
  • Genuine Fender replacement neck: $240+
  • US alternatives (Warmoth/Mighty Mite): speaker suggests $100+ / similarly high range
  • Speaker states nothing is cheaper than $100

Concise Verdict / Recommendation

Recommended for value-focused builders. The video argues that modern Chinese replacement necks—especially the roasted maple option—offer surprisingly excellent fit/finish and fret placement for under $60, but buyers should:

• Expect to do their own setup/fretwork
• Be mindful of wood seasoning issues that can cause frets to protrude over time

Unique Points Mentioned (Consolidated List)

• Roasted/heat-treated maple with smooth satin nitro-lacquer-style finish
• Outstanding fret quality and excellent fret placement
• Very smooth transitions; overall flawless feel/appearance
• Side dots placed evenly; labor-intensive detail
• Requires user-performed fretwork (straightening/leveling/sanding)
• Roasted neck color refinement after sanding stain + butter-wax finishing
• Glossy maple neck also high quality but needs fret work
• Skunk stripe on back (rosewood-like appearance)
• Fender logo neck described as “fake”
• Value: both under ~$60 with ~1–1.5 week delivery
• Genuine Fender necks cost $240+; US options typically $100+
• Main caution: possible insufficient drying → risk of frets sticking out/scratching
• Buying on eBay/AliExpress allows negotiating price (offers lower than listed are often accepted)

Speaker-Specific Views (End)

• Single main speaker
  • Defends Chinese neck quality as improved
  • Emphasizes fit/finish + price
  • Warns about fretwork needs and potential wood-drying issues
  • Compares favorably against Fender/Warmoth pricing