Fix a sticky neck?

Doug

The neck of my '65 Mustang often feels sticky. I wipe it with a clean cloth and that seems to help a bit, but more often than not my hand just doesn't slide as easily as on other guitar necks. I wonder if it's because the finish is worn off about 50% of the neck.

Any suggestions?

Earth

That's a downfall of nitro dude,it gets tacky and like you've seen, even sticky.

My 66 neck is worn to the wood on the back for 1/2 to 3/4 of it (from 1st fret to about 11)so I dont have this problem but when I first got the mustang when ever I touched the headstock the nitro would go opaque white in color and feel tacky. it took lots of dry polishing with a t shirt of something to get rid or it and make it smooth.

It stays nice and clear, dry and glossy now.

Doug

Thanks, Earth. Makes sense. And when that Nitro gets tacky, I bet my hot hand just spreads the tackiness all up & down the neck so even the bare wood gets sticky, eh?

Okay, lots of wiping-down. How about with Martin guitar polish or some sort of wax?

Joey

try some naphtha, it's lighter fluid... guitar painters use it to clean the fresh finish before applying another coat of paint, it's completely safe. It will remove any build up, leaving a dry hazyness behind. After that, if you want you can apply some martin polish. If the problem persist, you may want to lightly rub the neck with steel wool grade 0000, it's really fine. I use it every few years on my guitars... keep in mind it takes off some more nitro, so don't over do it (also dulls the finish). Reranch has more info on "tung oil", somebody else can chime in about other finishes (tru) you can apply to the back of the neck, just to help seal it.

Earth

someone said: Okay, lots of wiping-down. How about with Martin guitar polish or some sort of wax?

Nah, the bare wood stays smooth and dry.

I would just wipe it dry with nothing, it worked for me now it never goes tacky and opaque.

Doug

Hey Joey and Earth, I just spent the afternoon visiting Crossroads Guitars on the outskirts of Washington, D.C. Vince and Aaron there suggested what sounds like a wise trick for taking care of a sticky neck...

They rub a sticky neck lightly with 0000 Brass Wool...that's very lightly because it could remove finish if rubbed aggressively...and then they keep the neck clean by wiping often with a soft, dry cloth. I'd never heard of Brass Wool before but the value of it is that any brass dust will not be drawn to the pickup magnets like the dust from Steel Wool. Think I'll try the Naptha with the Brass Wool and see how it goes.

By the way, they have a very cool shop.

Earth

Also remember the decals don't have clear over them so they scratch right off if your clumsy if your mustangs older enough so be careful!

Doug

Well, I am clumsy. But I'm just cleaning up the back of the neck. I'm not strippin, doin a refin, or anything major. But thanks for the caution, Earth.

I think you'll understand...I would never touch the beautifully crackled amber of the headstock with that beautiful swoopy gold logo. Love my old axe.

Not-GC

Thanks for the Cudos, Doug.

Good time with you at our shop on Saturday.

Just wanted to make one correction. It is not Brass Wool is is Bronze Wool

Good luck!

Come see us

VInce Nettuno

http://www.crossroadsguitarshop.com

Joey

Where do you pick bronze wool up locally? Besides being a softer metal, is it also less oily then steel wool?

Doug

Hey, Vince, thanks for the correction...bronze wool.

I'll be calling around some woodworking shops for bronze wool and when I figure out where it can be had...maybe Home Depot sells it...I'll post it.

Vince, can you tell us if it's less oily or where to buy bronze wool?