New member in TX

[tippie53]

you can use your cloths iron and a wet paper towel to loosen the binding.
as for the neck I would not worry too much just stain it dark The repair will hide
I have seen people do a sun burst finish on a neck to hide flaws or just for design.
You neck looks like it may be Spanish cedar
a dark filler will also hide that and look like a grain .
so many ways to hide flaws
lets call it make up for guitars