What do you Use for Sticky Fingers?

[John Tomaselli]

I sometimes have very sticky fingers.
An Example is when I play outdoors in Hot weather.
I cant move about on the neck and actually can get stuck.
I cannot Slide around etc.

 

[TOOL460002]

I wipe my face and the oil that comes off works for me.

 

[two fingers]

I wipe my face and the oil that comes off works for me.

This. Just run your fingers in the crevasse where your nose meets your face.

Also, nickel strings don't stick to my fingers. Steel sticks to me like glue.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

I sometimes have very sticky fingers.
An Example is when I play outdoors in Hot weather.
I cant move about on the neck and actually can get stuck.
I cannot Slide around etc.

What kind of finish is on the neck? I'm guessing it is a gloss finish. Take it down to a satin or, better yet, take it down to the wood and oil and wax it. At the least, wax your neck, regardless of finish.

 

[John Tomaselli]

LOL Im Sicilian so i would get Olive Oil and Garlic.
Last night I tried hand sanitizer thought the alcohol would help Nope.
Ii will try it.

What kind of finish is on the neck? I'm guessing it is a gloss finish. Take it down to a satin or, better yet, take it down to the wood and oil and wax it. At the least, wax your neck, regardless of finish.

It is well worn rosewood board.

 

[MonetBass]

It is well worn rosewood board.

@DiabolusInMusic was talking about the finish on the back of the neck. You can also rub it down with a green Scotch Brite pad or 0000 size steel wool to get some of the gloss off and make it feel like a satin finish.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

LOL Im Sicilian so i would get Olive Oil and Garlic.
Last night I tried hand sanitizer thought the alcohol would help Nope.
Ii will try it.

It is well worn rosewood board.

Yes, as @MonetBass pointed out - we're talking about the back of neck. Don't put wax on your rosewood board. I'll be honest though, there are worse things for a bass to smell like than olive oil and garlic, ha ha.

 

[SubHuman]

If it’s a hot humid gig I use a dry rag to keep the neck dry polished and slick with clean dry hands. Especially on poly finishes.
If it’s a more controlled environment I still use a dry rag and and a dash of talcum powder to reduce friction which works like when using a pool que stick. There are also silicon sprays you can use but I prefer the other dry methods myself.

 

[Spin Doctor]

@DiabolusInMusic was talking about the finish on the back of the neck. You can also rub it down with a green Scotch Brite pad or 0000 size steel wool to get some of the gloss off and make it feel like a satin finish.

I don't know that I'd ever use scotchbrite, but 0000 steel wool is part of my regular bass maintenance. One day, I was playing (or trying to play) a friends bass and you literally couldn't move your hand up and down the neck. I hit the back with the steel wool and it was smooth as a baby's butt after that.

For sticky hands on summer gigs, I have a bottle of alcohol I spray on my hands and just wipe it off. I don't have super sweaty hands like a lot of guys though.

 

[Watchootognbout]

Rubbing alcohol alleviates sweat and stickiness.

 

[Bob_Ross]

Ten posts and no one's mentioned

 

[Paulabass]

My Fender, and Fender type basses are sanded down and oiled. Most of my high end basses have nice satin necks. My new Ric has a finished neck, so I will find out tomorrow night (I'll bring a towel)

 

[John Tomaselli]

Yes, as @MonetBass pointed out - we're talking about the back of neck. Don't put wax on your rosewood board. I'll be honest though, there are worse things for a bass to smell like than olive oil and garlic, ha ha.

The Back of my neck is very worn and smooth. I was referring to my skin oil.

 

[dalkowski]

Ten posts and no one's mentioned

I was going to say "Its own shelf because that zipper gauges the heck out of whatever it comes in contact with."

 

[Lagado]

Climbers chalk, like Steve Harris used to use IIRC. Dip your fingers in and dry them up a bit.

 

[Paulabass]

When you have played as many ribfests as I have you kinda get used to it. You got BBQ sauce up to your elbows, you're on in 6 minutes, and all you have is a wet-nap.

 

[Wings]

I’ve tried everything mentioned here over the years and none of them solved the problem. Tapewound strings were a step in the right direction, but not a complete solution.

The solution for me was to start wearing a lightweight cotton glove on my left hand. Eureka! The glove completely solves the problem. Even under the worst conditions, my fingers just glide over the strings. So much so that I never play without it now.

Yes, it looks a little dorky, but two things got me over that. First, I play so much better with the glove and second, people finally notice the bass player and ask about the glove.

The glove I use is the thin, lightweight type that coin collectors use. There’s no right or left and a couple dozen cost $8 to $10. Really, give it a try.

 

[kevindahl]

I never have a problem with my left hand but I do with my right. My skin and hands are drier. I tape lip balm to my mic stand and every few songs give my index, middle, and ring a quick wipe. The pads of the fingers slip quite easily across the strings.

 

[hbarcat]

"What do you use for sticky fingers?"

I usually eat a bag of hard candies. I keep them in my pocket so the heat from my body melts the surface of the candy. When I'm finished, my fingers are coated in a thick, syrupy mess of sugar.

 

[LindaLoveBass]

I never have a problem with my left hand but I do with my right. My skin and hands are drier. I tape lip balm to my mic stand and every few songs give my index, middle, and ring a quick wipe. The pads of the fingers slip quite easily across the strings.

Same here. Thank you for the tip I'll try it because I keep licking my fingers and look like an idiot.