Neck Finish Deterioration ?

[Berts56]

Not a long time Heritage owner but did own a new 150 prior to a separation with it and my ex-wife. Looking at a used Prospect at my local shop. They are good folks and let me live with it for a week or so to test drive.

 

Love the guitar, very much, but find as I play, a small amount of what feels like dirt/grit accumulates on the neck, I wipe it clean with a cloth and keep going. It comes back!

 

I've gently cleaned the back of the neck and tried a touch of finish cleaner/shine. Comes back.

 

Any ideas? Is the finish (nitro-cellulose as I understand) breaking down? Can it be restored if so?

 

[bolero]

possibly someone in the past cleaned it with something that reacted with the nitro?

 

brand new nitro finished guitars will be a bit sticky like that, but after a month or so harden up

 

I have heard baby powder on the back of the neck will get rid of stickyness? but maybe an expert will chime in

[High Flying Bird]

Use some, I think it is McGuire's, cleaning products that Fender sells in a kit. When I got my 475 it had a lot of bar funk on it. That kit brought it back to life. I smoke but that guitar had way too much tobacco resin on it.

 

If that don't work look at what you eat and touch. A buddy has funky hands. Some do some don't. Come to think about it, I don't like the image of what he has his hand around about now. Try the kit or something similar.

[big bob]

May sound like a smart ass comment, not meant to be. Wash your hands with a good soap before you play. This will clean all the oils off your hands.

[barrymclark]

Which reminds me, I need to clean the 575. I play that guitar so much that it looks like someone has been throwing chicken wings at it with all the finger funk on it.

[yoslate]

I play that guitar so much that it looks like someone has been throwing chicken wings at it with all the finger funk on it.

 

+1

[MrB]

Which brings up the more basic question:

What kinds of guitar polish should be used on a nitrocellulose finish?

 

Mr B

[Hfan]

Hi Berts 56 and welcome.

 

First off I'm no expert but have seen this. Re your first question, this sounds like a common problem with Fender Nitro necks. If you did a search on the TDPRI forum you would see many threads on sticky necks. Heritages rarely have this issue though. With Teles, many guys use a scotch brite to get some of the gunk off but I would only do this as a last resort. I have had success with Teles with this approach though. No visible signs of sanding are evident either. I got a fine white powdery residue on the scruffy pad when done. If you go that route I'd start with a fine grit (white 3M pad Home Depot has them). Was the guitar in a case for a long time? Sometimes leaving it out for a while helps too.

 

First though I'm assuming you have cleaned it. Maybe it is not nitro coming off maybe gunk from previous owner. Lots of guys use Virtuosso cleaner and polish I like the product. I know many techs use naptha, and I have used it as well on nitro finished Fenders. Someone here can weigh in on it's use on a Heritage. On one of my guitars I resorted to using very fine grit sandpaper which I wet first. Worked great.

 

Like I said, I believe this is rare for a Heritage either due to their finish and curing process or their nitro formula. Fender obviousely has to use a much quicker process. Lets hope it's just gunk.

[DetroitBlues]

Scrub your hands... That's your skin coming off that's getting stuck to the neck...

[yoslate]

...many guys use a scotch brite to get some of the gunk off but I would only do this as a last resort. No visible signs of sanding are evident either. I got a fine white powdery residue on the scruffy pad when done. If you go that route I'd start with a fine grit (white 3M pad Home Depot has them).

 

I know many techs use naptha, and I have used it as well on nitro finished Fenders. Someone here can weigh in on it's use on a Heritage. On one of my guitars I resorted to using very fine grit sandpaper which I wet first. Worked great.

 

I agree with Pete. I've used naptha at the shop, often. I'd start with that. Scotch Brite works well, too. I'd go with that second. Last resort, a wet sand with 1500. And body chemistry can be a mysterious thing!

[Berts56]

Guys

 

Thanks for the input so far. After reading and pondering the comments I think the light cleaning I gave the neck may not be near enough to clean what may be years of accumulated "stuff". The naptha recommendation will be tried first with a white rag to see if I get something off.

 

On the wash your hands comment, I understand. I have caught myself grabbing the guitar with some pretty cruddy hands. Been trying to be good on this front. My other guitars aren't being impacted by my hands so I am going to assume I have accumulated stuff on this one to clean first.

 

I do so much want this baby to work out. Every once in a while you find one that your hand just goes everywhere easily. This one is proving to be that way.

 

I'll report back.

[DetroitBlues]

Guys

 

Thanks for the input so far. After reading and pondering the comments I think the light cleaning I gave the neck may not be near enough to clean what may be years of accumulated "stuff". The naptha recommendation will be tried first with a white rag to see if I get something off.

 

On the wash your hands comment, I understand. I have caught myself grabbing the guitar with some pretty cruddy hands. Been trying to be good on this front. My other guitars aren't being impacted by my hands so I am going to assume I have accumulated stuff on this one to clean first.

 

I do so much want this baby to work out. Every once in a while you find one that your hand just goes everywhere easily. This one is proving to be that way.

 

I'll report back.

 

Nitro grips the skin more then poly... Just a thought... Let us know how it goes...

[Hfan]

Guys

 

Thanks for the input so far. After reading and pondering the comments I think the light cleaning I gave the neck may not be near enough to clean what may be years of accumulated "stuff". The naptha recommendation will be tried first with a white rag to see if I get something off.

 

On the wash your hands comment, I understand. I have caught myself grabbing the guitar with some pretty cruddy hands. Been trying to be good on this front. My other guitars aren't being impacted by my hands so I am going to assume I have accumulated stuff on this one to clean first.

 

I do so much want this baby to work out. Every once in a while you find one that your hand just goes everywhere easily. This one is proving to be that way.

 

I'll report back.

If you like the guitar that much this neck issue shouldn't keep you from it. Should be easily resolved with some TLC. Keep us posted.

[tbonesullivan]

Nitro never cures. It just dries. It can feel kinda sticky at times. It also can react to a bunch of different things, mainly solvents that actually can be in a lot of household products.

 

I use Gibson Pump polish on all my Nitro-Finished guitars, and I've been very happy with the results. No stickyness, and a nice smell too. It supposedly has a small amount of nitro in it to help "seal" finishes.

[Berts56]

My local shop asked that I not apply anything to the neck while I had it for demo. I understand but....

 

After pondering this I will honor their request but return the guitar and continue my search for a Prospect elsewhere including over on the Wanted/For Sale board.

 

A shame. I had high hopes for a naptha clean to resolve this issue. Figured I was probably dealing with years of grime from a not so clean player.

 

Much appreciation for the input and memo taken on the Gibson polish for the future nitro neck that WILL be in my future.

[Hfan]

Too bad, I would have cleaned it using conservative measures without asking but that's just me. Maybe ask them to clean the neck?

 

White 3M pads lightly applied leave no sign of sanding .Naptha leaves no sign of being used at least in my experience.

 

Last guitar I bought from GC was a new 62 RI Tele with a horrible set up. When I returned it (neck too thin) it was far better with a decent set up than when I got it.

 

Getting the gunk off would have helped them with a sale and gotten you a sweet Prospect IMHO. Oh well good luck with your quest.

[BluesDabbler]

A guitar always looks better wtih a bit of chicken wing sauce and whiskey drippin down the sides.