Sticky!!

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Well, summer is upon us and I'm again reminded of STICKY NECK! That is my hands sweating a bit more and hampering my ability to get around on my instruments. Year after year I just deal with it and when things cool, I forget about it. But I'm mad as hell and I'm not gonna take it anymore! So, I'm looking for the collective wisdom of our community.
How do you combat STICKY NECK?

My necks are all sanded down, 0000 steel wooled, and oiled. There is never any sort of stick in my necks

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

My gig instruments’ necks get sanded, stained, and “tung” oiled.

glossy necks are for air conditioned jam/recording sessions only.

Glossy necks are really just glossy heels, and headstocks

 

[buldog5151bass]

If glossy bothers you, take some real fine (my vote is 2000 grit, but some like it rougher - no coarser than 1000 grit in my books) 3M brand wet/dry sandpaper and wetsand the lacquer till its a little rougher for you. That seems to cut down on resistance for folks that arent into gloss. Whatever you do, do NOT burn all the way through the finish and oil the bare wood like the scott's bass lessons guy does, at least not if you live anywhere with seasons - that's just begging for stability issues. Also no steel wool - i find that it can leave marks you won't enjoy from a less uniform abrasive surface leading to a more varied scratch pattern. Just my experience, but the fine grit gentle wetsand method is the safest if you're smart with it. If you're not comfortable, have a pro do it, or just dont! (Legal: i take no responsibility for any damage incurred to the instrument)

Start with a scotch Brite pad

 

[Dave Leighton]

+1 on the Grey Scotch Brite pad.

 

[Fender_Bender]

As for plucking fingertips : I dip my fingertips into rubbing alcohol to fully dry them off , the highest % you can get. Having said that, these are weird times and it may be in short supply depending on your location.

 

[7dollarbologna]

The problem with satin finish or sanding the back of the neck is if you are a player who has a high level of skin oils that will turn into peanut butter that you don’t want to play on and can’t get off.

 

[smtp4me]

If glossy bothers you, take some real fine (my vote is 2000 grit, but some like it rougher - no coarser than 1000 grit in my books) 3M brand wet/dry sandpaper and wetsand the lacquer till its a little rougher for you. That seems to cut down on resistance for folks that arent into gloss. Whatever you do, do NOT burn all the way through the finish and oil the bare wood like the scott's bass lessons guy does, at least not if you live anywhere with seasons - that's just begging for stability issues. Also no steel wool - i find that it can leave marks you won't enjoy from a less uniform abrasive surface leading to a more varied scratch pattern. Just my experience, but the fine grit gentle wetsand method is the safest if you're smart with it. If you're not comfortable, have a pro do it, or just dont! (Legal: i take no responsibility for any damage incurred to the instrument)

I've heard of this method and using ScotchBrite pads. I also heard that since this is such a fine "scratch" on the surface it is only temporary, and the glossy feel eventually comes back. Is that true in your experience, or is it permanent?

 

[Dave Leighton]

The problem with satin finish or sanding the back of the neck is if you are a player who has a high level of skin oils that will turn into peanut butter that you don’t want to play on and can’t get off.

IMO I believe this situation could be very similar to people who have issues with the PH in their body reacting to the metal in strings.

I've sanded down my necks for ever and have never had the issue you describe. Not saying it doesn't happen. Just not to me...

 

[Dave Leighton]

I've heard of this method and using ScotchBrite pads. I also heard that since this is such a fine "scratch" on the surface it is only temporary, and the glossy feel eventually comes back. Is that true in your experience, or is it permanent?

I also use the very fine white Scotch Brite pad when I clean the neck.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Remember, when you scotch Brite the next, you aren't taking the finish off, you are just knocking down the gloss. As you play it, the gloss will return some. Re-do as needed. The goal is NOT to remove all the finish.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Well, summer is upon us and I'm again reminded of STICKY NECK! That is my hands sweating a bit more and hampering my ability to get around on my instruments. Year after year I just deal with it and when things cool, I forget about it. But I'm mad as hell and I'm not gonna take it anymore! So, I'm looking for the collective wisdom of our community.
How do you combat STICKY NECK?

My hands don’t sweat as much as my forearms. I wear wrist bands. As dorky as they look, it’s better than replacing the electronics on my bass. I Do keep a clean dry towel as well as a polish cloth handy.

 

[7dollarbologna]

IMO I believe this situation could be very similar to people who have issues with the PH in their body reacting to the metal in strings.

I've sanded down my necks for ever and have never had the issue you describe. Not saying it doesn't happen. Just not to me...

I have middle eastern ancestry, so I’ve got the greasy hand syndrome…

 

[okcrum]

The problem with satin finish or sanding the back of the neck is if you are a player who has a high level of skin oils that will turn into peanut butter that you don’t want to play on and can’t get off.

Those who are wise in the ways of satin finish are usually also wise in the ways of mineral spirits.
Those who are not make peanut butter.

 

[PrairieThunder13]

I've heard of this method and using ScotchBrite pads. I also heard that since this is such a fine "scratch" on the surface it is only temporary, and the glossy feel eventually comes back. Is that true in your experience, or is it permanent?

Yeah, the gloss will come back over time. Thankfully, wetsanding is a quick job, so of it ever gets sticky again, simply give it another go. Scotch brites are a good idea, too, i've never tried that.

 

[PrairieThunder13]

And good point on the baby powder or talc, that's a zero-mod solution, for sure.

 

[lark_z]

Auto parts store for a package of 1000, 1500, 2000 grit paper. 1 minute with each and you're done.

 

[mikecd1]

As a fellow CT'er I've gently sanded the back of my reissue or taken another bass with a satin neck. I've also used baby powder which really helps though the light sanding usually lasts about a half dozen gigs before having to do again. Az not a bad idea.

 

[baileyboy]

[/QUOTE]How do you combat STICKY NECK?[/QUOTE]

I keep a baggie full of talc handy. I've had to use it here and there. It does help, but you will need to wipe strings down afterward.

 

[Eddie LeBlanc]

Old Jeff Beck trick.

And if you get ovarian cancer, you can join the suit. LOL

 

[SJan3]

As for plucking fingertips : I dip my fingertips into rubbing alcohol to fully dry them off , the highest % you can get. Having said that, these are weird times and it may be in short supply depending on your location.

Interesting..