Building a SAGA HT-10 - the neck
After first shaping the headstock, I masked off the sides and sprayed the face with 2 coats of black lacquer.
I let the lacquer dry thoroughly and removed the masking tape.
I then scraped the edges to give a well-defined line.
I masked the fretboard including all but a thin line of its edge...
...then sprayed the neck and back of headstock in the same brown as the back of the body. Once dry, I removed the masking tape and
feathered the hard lacquer edge along the fretboard using fine emery paper.
I again masked the fretboard, this time just the face as I wanted the fretboard edges to receive lacquer and
sprayed the whole neck and headstock with two coats of clear nitrocellulose. I used rubbing compound to buff to a high loss.
I didn't however buff the edges of the headstock in case I rubbed through the lacquer on the corners. Gibson don't buff this area either for the same reason.
Take a look at a Les Paul headstock to see.