If you like a glossy neck, why?

[luciens]

I was at my local Guitar Center today to return my Ibanez EHB1000, and also see how much they would give me for my NS Design WAV Radius 4 (metallic crimson). It was a pretty relaxed day for me, so I had some free time and went into the bass department to play some of their basses.

Some of the basses I played had glossy finishes on the necks, and I wondered to myself why anyone would ever want a glossy neck, as they feel tacky as soon as your hand is even the slightest more moist than a dry desert, and when it's tacky, you can't slide your hand up and down the neck very smoothly. But obviously enough people like them for the companies to keep making them with glossy finished necks. So I'm just curious--if you like glossy necks, what do you like about it over matte or unfinished necks?

First my off topic comment. Generally if you're sensitive to the slickness of the neck like this, there is an approximately 85% chance that you're dealing with neck dive. You're having to hold the neck up with the fretting hand at the same time you're trying to play; this forces you to maintain a "grip" on the neck while you're shifting. And, hence, the need for slipperiness, etc. So if you treat the neck dive, this will generally go away. Because you can fully let go of the neck when shifting, the texture of it won't matter anymore.
In a shop, of course, you generally have to sling the bass over the leg sitting on an amp or something in the usual way when we're bass-shopping, so this is unavoidable on neck-divey basses like our Fender types a lot of us play. What you can do is get a strap, attach it to the rear straploc and sit on the strap to hold the instrument in place. Dodgy, but it gets the job done.
That's how I play my Fenders these days and it's an acceptable workaround for playing seated.

As for the topic, I prefer thick gloss finishes. I guess mainly it's because the slick reflective surface just looks cool. It really gives the appearance that the wood is fully sealed and a thick layer of plastic does help protect the wood from dings and scratches, etc.

Matte finishes are ok, but I don't like the "ultra-thin" type matte finishes. Just doesn't "feel" like enough protection and sealing of the wood to me....

L

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I don’t quite understand the “sticky” physics of gloss finishes, lower humps and troughs of finish, so more surface area in contact with your hand? Not all glossy necks are sticky either, I did a Ric clone build in gloss black, and it’s not sticky. I used water based Varathane, must have something to do with how it buffs out? My hands don’t sweat much anyway, but on a really sticky neck, I just use a bit of talc.

 

[Valvehead]

Never had any problems with lacquered necks. My fingers do not ever sweat.
This is especially nice because my strings also stay fresh for months.
Sometimes I think I must be a reptile or something.

 

[Turnaround]

Sometimes I think I must be a reptile or something.

From your avatar, I think you are more likely a vegetable.

 

[MartialDylan]

I like the "finished" look of it on Maple. The clear gloss makes the grain "pop" more

 

[tpaul]

From your avatar, I think you are more likely a vegetable.

Or dehydrated?

 

[tpaul]

I wonder why they don't make textured necks. If sticking is a problem for a significant portion of guitar and bass buyers you would think that would be at least an option.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

If you make a neck Too rough, it gets “sticky” too, like a piece of fine sandpaper. Some coefficient of friction stuff escapes me.

 

[InhumanResource]

Never had any problems with lacquered necks. My fingers do not ever sweat.
This is especially nice because my strings also stay fresh for months.
Sometimes I think I must be a reptile or something.

Some of the sacred issues on TB totally escape me. In a little over 20 years of doing this with multiple instruments from multiple manufactures, I have never once held a "sticky" neck, met the weight threshold of a bass (nor even known what they weigh), been aware of nut width or string spacing beyond too big/too small, or experienced the dreaded metaphysical phenomenon of neck dive.

 

[Relayer71]

I used to dislike glossy necks, but not the case anymore. I've become a Spector convert and the glossy necks I've played on their Euro lines haven't been sticky or uncomfortable to play.

Of course, that may be due to technique - I used to play with hand wrapped around bass with palm touching back of neck, but I've been playing for a while now with a looser fretting hand, with just the thumb anchored to back of neck. Minimal contact to back of neck, so my hand isn't "dragging" along the neck anymore.

All that being said, I still prefer matte finishes.

 

[TomB]

Some of the sacred issues on TB totally escape me. In a little over 20 years of doing this with multiple instruments from multiple manufactures, I have never once held a "sticky" neck, met the weight threshold of a bass (nor even known what they weigh), been aware of nut width or string spacing beyond too big/too small, or experienced the dreaded metaphysical phenomenon of neck dive.

Now you’ve gone too far! Tell my left arm that neck dive is “metaphysical” after 3 sets with my ancient EB-2. ...and it’s a very light instrument overall. Oh, and it does have a glossy nitro-finished neck .

PS: While you’re on a roll, why not throw in fingerboard radius .

 

[SturmUndDrang]

Bursts look good on the neck too.

 

[MetalMaximus]

The only time I’ve found a glossy neck sticky is when I pickup a bass or guitar at a music store and the back of the neck is completely covered in other people’s fingerprints and oils. Very gross!

I keep my necks clean and do not have particularly oily or sweaty hands. It doesn’t really matter to me whether a neck has a glossy or satin finish, though part of me sees the glossy neck as more “finished” and refined.

 

[SamanthaCay]

It doesn't really bother me either way. Although I'll say I'm not a fan of no finish/light oil ect.. as the open grain can get pretty gross over time. As well an un-sealed neck theoretically should be more affected by humidity changes.

I agree with a lot of you that technique could be a lot of it, light touch goes a long way. Also worth noting is the player's ph and tendency to sweat, some folks are infact lizards.

 

[pie_man_25]

my main bass is an early 90's Fender Squier series MIM jazz bass. Tinted neck with a gloss finish. I love everything about it and I just don't overthink it anymore, there was a time wherein I thought it'd matter, but I've been all over and played all kinds of basses - and I have to say that I haven't found it to be a big deal.

 

[Kipp Harrington]

I was at my local Guitar Center today to return my Ibanez EHB1000, and also see how much they would give me for my NS Design WAV Radius 4 (metallic crimson). It was a pretty relaxed day for me, so I had some free time and went into the bass department to play some of their basses.

Some of the basses I played had glossy finishes on the necks, and I wondered to myself why anyone would ever want a glossy neck, as they feel tacky as soon as your hand is even the slightest more moist than a dry desert, and when it's tacky, you can't slide your hand up and down the neck very smoothly. But obviously enough people like them for the companies to keep making them with glossy finished necks. So I'm just curious--if you like glossy necks, what do you like about it over matte or unfinished necks?

A glossy neck never presented an "issue" for me...so it really doesn't bother me.

 

[drumvsbass]

Am I strange for having no preference? Have had both, make no difference to me. Makes me wonder why other people are so hung up about it.

 

[Jared Lash]

Of the four basses I currently have, two have a thing oil neck and two have a poly finished neck.

I was concerned that it would be an issue, but for me it hasn't been one at all.

Here are the gloss necks:

 

[JRA]

i'm not so bothered by a high gloss neck that i'd change it first thing, but some instruments beg me to eliminate/alter the gloss --- and i accommodate them.

my better/best feeling necks have generally been sanded to bare wood in the process of altering the profile. they are super smooth (although they can still feel "sticky" to me in some playing environments), but they look dirty/stained/well-used so they would not look good or be attractive to kiddies. but kiddies don't play my axes, so there's that.

so: i can't say that i like (or dislike) glossy necks --- i like necks that feel 'just right' to me. the profile shape is more important to my playing, but sometimes the neck finish plays into the experience.

 

[Pings Bass]

Literally makes zero difference to me. Off the top of my head, I know one of my basses has a satin neck: a cheap sterling sub. My fenders are all glossy I think. Not sure of the others. I just don't notice when I'm playing.