Sticky neck

[NoNameBand]

Hello everyone, its been a while since I last posted. It seems to me that I remember someone complained about a sticky neck or sticky finish on the neck and took the guitar to the Guy (that Brent had assemble his new Gibby) in Kalamazoo and got it resolved. Does anybody remember what was done? Cleaning doesn't seem to help for very long.

[DetroitBlues]

I believe the only way to address it is to sand off most of the Nitro....

[tulk1]

Wonder what it is that makes some of the nitro necks sticky and others smooth as glass? My EJ Strat was a sticky sucker, eventually getting less so as I played it. But I've never had that on any of my Heritages. Weather? Nitro mix? Time of day? Hmmmm

[DetroitBlues]

Wonder what it is that makes some of the nitro necks sticky and others smooth as glass? My EJ Strat was a sticky sucker, eventually getting less so as I played it. But I've never had that on any of my Heritages. Weather? Nitro mix? Time of day? Hmmmm

 

I've played a couple well used Heritages and they both got this sticky/tacky feeling after being played for a few minutes....

[tulk1]

I've played a couple well used Heritages and they both got this sticky/tacky feeling after being played for a few minutes....

Still got to wonder why that is. Up until about 6 weeks ago I'd used either my Custom Prospect or the PSP White 535 Custom for gigging - nearly every weekend. Never had that issue. Granted, they are newer models and maybe haven't gotten to that point yet. But the complaint of sticky nitro necks certainly isn't new. Do a search for "Sticky Nitro" and Bing will fill in the "Neck" portion for you ., it's that common. I liked the "baby powder" solution.

[DetroitBlues]

Still got to wonder why that is. Up until about 6 weeks ago I'd used either my Custom Prospect or the PSP White 535 Custom for gigging - nearly every weekend. Never had that issue. Granted, they are newer models and maybe haven't gotten to that point yet. But the complaint of sticky nitro necks certainly isn't new. Do a search for "Sticky Nitro" and Bing will fill in the "Neck" portion for you ., it's that common. I liked the "baby powder" solution.

 

I seriously thought about using powder, but more like the stuff billards professionals use...

[GuitArtMan]

I find de-glossing the neck with Scotch Bright or some 0000 steel wool works wonders for sticky necks. This is one reason I really like satin finished necks - they aren't sticky.

[Guest HRB853370]

Noname, it was Gitfiddle that posted that so PM him

[MartyGrass]

Noname, it was Gitfiddle that posted that so PM him

 

 

Yep. His budget luthier found a solution at a good price, if memory serves.

[DetroitBlues]

I find de-glossing the neck with Scotch Bright or some 0000 steel wool works wonders for sticky necks. This is one reason I really like satin finished necks - they aren't sticky.

 

That seems so scary to me. Although, I've been very tempted to try it.

[Kuz]

Terry McInturff says the stickiness can be in different degrees based on the type of Nitro. He says that the closer the Nitro is too the original '40s-70s stuff, the less sticky. He also says very few companies use Nitro that is close to the original stuff (he alluded that the bigger companies were using Nitro that was LEAST like the original - this makes sense to me). I have NEVER had any issue with Heritage's nitro finish, but other company's nitro I have found much more sticky. My Heritage guitars and my McInturff have been no problem at all.

[GuitArtMan]

That seems so scary to me. Although, I've been very tempted to try it.

Done it to numerous guitars - never had a problem. You're not trying to remove the finish, just the gloss. What you end up with is a satin finish, that feels smooth and not sticky to the touch. It's why many manufactures use satin finishes on their necks. Over time your hand will polish back to a shine and it may become sticky again. Just de-gloss it again.

[NoNameBand]

Noname, it was Gitfiddle that posted that so PM him

 

 

Yep. His budget luthier found a solution at a good price, if memory serves.

 

Thanks Guys, I sent a PM a minute ago to Gitfiddler.

[Steiner]

You just gave to be careful about what you're choking up on...

[Guest HRB853370]

Terry McInturff says the stickiness can be in different degrees based on the type of Nitro. He says that the closer the Nitro is too the original '40s-70s stuff, the less sticky. He also says very few companies use Nitro that is close to the original stuff (he alluded that the bigger companies were using Nitro that was LEAST like the original - this makes sense to me). I have NEVER had any issue with Heritage's nitro finish, but other company's nitro I have found much more sticky. My Heritage guitars and my McInturff have been no problem at all.

 

When McInturff speaks, Kuz listens!!

[big bob]

Guys, enough is too much already! Here is a simple fix. If your neck is getting sticky, do us all a favor and take a shower, maybe try a little soap..

[DetroitBlues]

Guys, enough is too much already! Here is a simple fix. If your neck is getting sticky, do us all a favor and take a shower, maybe try a little soap..

 

 

[Gitfiddler]

Hey, who called my name?!

 

Yes, it was me that had the sticky neck. I only shower on Saturdays.

 

But seriously, my tech buddy polished it up with MacGuiers(sp) polish with a tiny bit of abrasive in it. However, the tackiness returned after about a month of playing the 155. (I couldn't put that sweet thing down!)

I don't think 0000 grit paper would hurt as long as one is careful. I tried Virtuosso Cleaner at first and that only helped a little.

 

My recommendation is to keep playing the guitar and wiping the neck down with a soft cloth between sets or after each session.

[FredZepp]

I have a 15 year old guitar (non-Heritage) that I used some Scotch Brite (no scratch type) on the back of the neck.

It seemed to help, but wasn't really dramatic. When you look at the pad you can tell that it removed a thin layer of finish.

 

I didn't take it down to a satin finish and you'd never know it was done ( no scratches or anything), but I thought that it had too thick of a Nitro finish.

[RJLII]

I had the same issue on a new guitar I had shipped to me last summer. It was a NOS instrument that had been in the case for a couple years, then took a ride in the Brown truck on a couple 90 degree days. The Nitro was a bit gummy whan I got it. I cleaned it, but every time I played it the neck started to feel kind or sticky and fuzzy. It was real odd.

 

My solution? I cleaned the neck with Naptha (lighter fluid) then hit it with a hair dryer to warm it up. It hung in the open air for a couple weeks and did whatever offgassing it was going to do. I cleaned it again real well and topped it off with a coat of paste wax, buffed to a high shine. Problem resolved.

[Trouble]

I've played a couple well used Heritages and they both got this sticky/tacky feeling after being played for a few minutes....

I played a lot of guitars before I played a guitar that had a Tung oil finish,after that they all felt sticky.Its not just nitro either,any painted neck satin or not will get the sticky feeling with enough play time. By no means am I trying to sound like an authority, but I don't even come close to playing my best if the neck feels sticky. My solution is (and I'm sure someone will disagree and that's ok) I will use baby powder (or a sports powder which I think is plain talcom)for a while on a new guitar or guitar that has begun to feel particularly sticky, and then a polish cloth with a little bit of lemon oil. There are fretboard oils that are probably better for the finish but if your honest with yourself the finish is what's causing the problem anyway, and it's no more destructive than 0000 steel wool or scotch brite. First of all, the baby powder is an extremely fine abrasive and is essentially de-glossing the neck a little. Second, after you have removed most of the sticky feeling with baby powder, the oil prolongs your hand from polishing the neck back to a glossy, sticky feeling. If you don't like lemon oil then use a fretboard conditioner or finger ease/fast fret in it's place.

 

One thing that isimportant, use baby powder all you want on a maple fretboard but try to avoid getting it on ebony and rosewood if you can and use some kind of fretboard conditioner, or lemon oil or whatever you feel comfortable with that will help hydrate the wood, it will essentially shrink if it dries out enough.

 

If nothing works, take it down to bare wood and re finish with Tung oil or gun stock oil, you will be happy.

[Gitfiddler]

I had the same issue on a new guitar I had shipped to me last summer. It was a NOS instrument that had been in the case for a couple years, then took a ride in the Brown truck on a couple 90 degree days. The Nitro was a bit gummy whan I got it. I cleaned it, but every time I played it the neck started to feel kind or sticky and fuzzy. It was real odd.

 

My solution? I cleaned the neck with Naptha (lighter fluid) then hit it with a hair dryer to warm it up. It hung in the open air for a couple weeks and did whatever offgassing it was going to do. I cleaned it again real well and topped it off with a coat of paste wax, buffed to a high shine. Problem resolved.

 

 

 

 

Mine was also a NOS that had hung around the shop for about 6 years!! Interesting.

[FredZepp]

I had the same issue on a new guitar I had shipped to me last summer. It was a NOS instrument that had been in the case for a couple years, then took a ride in the Brown truck on a couple 90 degree days. The Nitro was a bit gummy whan I got it. I cleaned it, but every time I played it the neck started to feel kind or sticky and fuzzy. It was real odd.

 

My solution? I cleaned the neck with Naptha (lighter fluid) then hit it with a hair dryer to warm it up. It hung in the open air for a couple weeks and did whatever offgassing it was going to do. I cleaned it again real well and topped it off with a coat of paste wax, buffed to a high shine. Problem resolved.

That is a good idea... I've heard that lighter fluid is good for several things that plague Nitro finishes.

[Trouble]

When I said use baby powder for awhile I meant to put a little on the back of the neck or your hand and play, do this for a few weeks or until it doesn't feel sticky when you first pick it up.

 

After that just use a cloth with a bit of lemon oil(or whatever) until it starts to feel sticky again, although it will not feel sticky as long as you have a little oil on it.

 

I have done this on all my guitars for a lot of years (although it has been a long time since I needed the baby powder) with absolutely no problems. The necks on all my guitars look good, and feel good and I doubt if I have shortened the life of the finish at all.

[mars_hall]

I used to cringe when I would see a friend using baby powder on his hands to keep from sticking on his guitar. The entire finish of his guitar is now dulled 'cause the powder doesn't stay put in one place. Usually any stickiness lasts just a short time and varies with the humid weather and temperature.

 

I use Dr Duck's Ax Wax and String Lube on a soft cloth to get me through any stickiness issues. There isn't any actual wax (it's an organic oil), you control the amount of lube you need, and I first bought it as a polish while attending PSP.

 

Dr Duck Ax Wax