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Sweat creating a sticky neck at super hot gigs...

#41
No Fans or Talcum powder for you - Okay. The practice gloves will also get drenched. My dentist told me that the older we get the stickier our saliva gets, so possibly your sweat composition has changed as well - maybe doctor can give suggestions on diet etc, or maybe a topical medicine is available, Clean the neck thoroughly and your hands. have already been advised You have 50 basses, use another one that won't be as sticky.
 
#43
The final solution...
This will absolutely solve the sticking-hand issue.
1000011054.jpg
 
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#44
For your problem, I wouldn't get those practice gloves. You need something cheap/changeable/disposable. I would get these, and cut the fingertips off:

www.uline.com

Cotton Inspection Gloves - Light Weight, 9

Keep sensitive products clean from fingerprints and smudges. Form fitting for easy movement. Recommended for product inspection or light manufacturing. 100% cotton. ULINE offers over 43,000 boxes, plastic poly bags, mailing tubes, warehouse supplies and bubble wrap for your storage, packaging...
www.uline.com www.uline.com

Sold by the dozen, less than 1$ apiece. Get a couple cartons, cut the fingertips off of 3 or four pairs so that you can change them a couple of times per show. It's not a perfect solution, but it will get you through the season fairly cheap.

The only other thing I can think of is Vaseline before the show and cleaning the neck after. Again, not perfect, but it will work.

The posters who have commented about the nature of your sweat are spot on (mine also gets sticky), but by the time you isolate what MIGHT be causing that, summer will be over.

Just get some inspection gloves and see if that can get you through a gig. The cheapest option besides Vaseline (or a scotch brite pad).
 
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#45
daveonbass said:
New here's a suggestion that might be something to look into thanks 👍
Click to expand...
Do it, do it, do it!! As @lowdownbp5 mentioned, "Musician Practice Gloves" (I get 'em from Amazon). They are the cure for this sticky neck and strings garbage. Been using them about 10 years here in Florida, but not originally to cure 'sticky neck and strings'. Story time...

I developed a skin condition called Dyshidrotic Eczema about 10 years ago (after 40+years of playing). The details don't matter, but a side effect of the condition is I can't grow calluses on my finger tips anymore. Tried many solutions and the gloves finally solved it as it prevented pain when playing. Nylon, no seams, it saved my playing career. Without gloves, I could painfully do maybe 2 songs. With gloves, all night long and let's play some more LOL.

To your point, an interesting benefit is that the gloves don't stick to the neck or strings during hot, humid gigs. Ever. Serious score! Smooth as a baby's bum all gig long.

FWIW, I've never had a glove get soaked on the hot, humid gigs. If I had, I'd have dried my hand and put on another one.

I take it off at break, put it back on at break's end.

Don't be self-conscious about wearing them, they come in a few colors. I get the tan and black. The bands and I would make jokes about them. "Hang on, Fig's gotta get dressed." or "Be sure to hang out for the Michael Jackson portion of our show later". The audience enjoyed it. Next thing you know, you're semi-known as "That bass player that wears the gloves." LOL.

Nowadays, I only wear one on my fretting hand. If the strings under my plucking hand are sticking, I put a glove on the plucking hand, too.

Anyway, here's a quick link to Amazon. Just size 'em for your hands.


Here's a pic of me with the tan colored glove on fretting hand.:
Screenshot 2025-07-05 133528.jpg


Anyway, I'd say buy a pair and give 'em a shot. For those sticky gigs, these have worked every time.
 
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#46
fig said:
Do it, do it, do it!! As @lowdownbp5 mentioned, "Musician Practice Gloves" (I get 'em from Amazon). They are the cure for this sticky neck and strings garbage. Been using them about 10 years here in Florida, but not originally to cure 'sticky neck and strings'. Story time...

I developed a skin condition called Dyshidrotic Eczema about 10 years ago (after 40+years of playing). The details don't matter, but a side effect of the condition is I can't grow calluses on my finger tips anymore. Tried many solutions and the gloves finally solved it as it prevented pain when playing. Nylon, no seams, it saved my playing career. Without gloves, I could painfully do maybe 2 songs. With gloves, all night long and let's play some more LOL.

To your point, an interesting benefit is that the gloves don't stick to the neck or strings during hot, humid gigs. Ever. Serious score! Smooth as a baby's bum all gig long.

FWIW, I've never had a glove get soaked on the hot, humid gigs. If I had, I'd have dried my hand and put on another one.

I take it off at break, put it back on at break's end.

Don't be self-conscious about wearing them, they come in a few colors. I get the tan and black. The bands and I would make jokes about them. "Hang on, Fig's gotta get dressed." or "Be sure to hang out for the Michael Jackson portion of our show later". The audience enjoyed it. Next thing you know, you're semi-known as "That bass player that wears the gloves." LOL.

Nowadays, I only wear one on my fretting hand. If the strings under my plucking hand are sticking, I put a glove on the plucking hand, too.

Anyway, here's a quick link to Amazon. Just size 'em for your hands.


Here's a pic of me with the tan colored glove on fretting hand.:
View attachment 7267757

Anyway, I'd say buy a pair and give 'em a shot. For those sticky gigs, these have worked every time.
Click to expand...
I am absolutely trying this - ordering now - thanks! :thumbsup:
 
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#47
A wet towel and two dry towels. Wet towel for your hands, first dry towel for your hands, second dry towel to wipe down the neck. Use as often as needed. I played an out door gig before that which we must pretend never happened and had to wipe my hands and the neck down after almost ever song it was almost 100 degrees in the shade and 100% humidity.
 
#49
KenSmithFan said:
A wet towel and two dry towels. Wet towel for your hands, first dry towel for your hands, second dry towel to wipe down the neck. Use as often as needed. I played an out door gig before that which we must pretend never happened and had to wipe my hands and the neck down after almost ever song it was almost 100 degrees in the shade and 100% humidity.
Click to expand...
We don't have many breaks between songs at all. This really won't work for me. Otherwise, not a bad idea for sure.
 
#51
logdrum said:
No Fans or Talcum powder for you - Okay. The practice gloves will also get drenched. My dentist told me that the older we get the stickier our saliva gets, so possibly your sweat composition has changed as well - maybe doctor can give suggestions on diet etc, or maybe a topical medicine is available, Clean the neck thoroughly and your hands. have already been advised You have 50 basses, use another one that won't be as sticky.
Click to expand...
I have really wondered about the idea that my sweat is different now. I haven't played these huge outdoor festival gigs in a few years now - certainly not since COVID. I am going to try the gloves based on the @fig post above... I also thought it might be the basses as the first time it happened it was a brand new G&L L-2500 I had just received. Tried a Mayones the next night with the same issue. Necks quite different on the two basses. I also ordered some Finger Ease as I've seen some testimonials about using that on the neck as well. But I live and play shows in WI - so... the heat will be short-lived either way.
 
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#52
waynobass said:
No they don't. Why permanently alter a bass just for a few hot outdoor summer shows? I would keep an old t-shirt nearby to rub down the back of the neck as needed.
Click to expand...
I think he said he tried that and it's not working.

Really, he seems to have tried all the obvious solutions and either they don't work or he rules them out on personal preference.
 
#53
I do have one idea that I think nobody has mentioned. I get sweaty hands too and I hate the effect that has on feel.

Hand sanitizer is mostly alcohol and has a drying effect. I keep a container in my gig kit and sometimes rub a bit on before a set. Not a profound effect but it helps a little and is a cheap low risk try.
 
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#54
I too have overactive sweat glands in my hands...I steer clear of finished necks (or use some scotchbrite on the back of the neck) and that helps....I also carry a ziplock bag with an old sock in it that has some cornstarch in it. I just pat the sock on my hands and the neck of the bass so some off the starch comes out onto my hand and bass neck and it works quite well...
Hint: don't wear any black clothing doing this or it'll look like you've been on a cocaine bender :p
 
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#55
I carry a ziplock baggie containing a spoonful of coconut oil in my gig bag. Organic and won't hurt the wood or your hands. Since I play flats and mostly blues and rock I don't worry about slap with zingy roundwounds. Didn't Stills recommend eating some greasy fried chicken before grabbing the bass?:)
 
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#57
Our skin chemistry probably changes as we age, and could also be affected by changes in diet.

I'm in WI too, but I have the luxury of changing how I play when it gets too hot. Because jazz. So far I've managed it by letting bandleaders know that I'll be adapting to hot or cold weather if needed. For instance my upright bass stays home if I don't think it will be playable.
 
#60
daveonbass said:
I have really wondered about the idea that my sweat is different now. I haven't played these huge outdoor festival gigs in a few years now - certainly not since COVID. I am going to try the gloves based on the @fig post above... I also thought it might be the basses as the first time it happened it was a brand new G&L L-2500 I had just received. Tried a Mayones the next night with the same issue. Necks quite different on the two basses. I also ordered some Finger Ease as I've seen some testimonials about using that on the neck as well. But I live and play shows in WI - so... the heat will be short-lived either way.
Click to expand...

I can't offer anything concerning the solution of your problem that hasn't already been said.
However, I think it might be worth looking for the cause of it. It seems the composition of your sweat has changed as this is - following your posts - the only different variable in the game. A change like that could well come with age and thus be physiological, meaning not an illness. Such a change could however be a sign of an illness, an alternered medication or a side-effect thereof.
This is why I think that it could be wise to see a doctor and have it checked out.
 

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