Am I the only one that likes "sticky" necks?

[Goluphi]

It seems like there's constantly threads about way to remove the gloss from necks...but what about glossy neck fans? Satin finished necks just feel cheap to me, as does bare wood. Are there any other folks out there like me that PREFER a glossy neck?

[voided3]

I like glossy necks that aren't sticky, which usually means a poly finished one like on my Classic 50's Esquire. I just keep it slick feeling by going over it w/ guitar polish every now and then. I used to have a Gibson SG Special that had a nitro finished neck that felt like fly paper (maybe because I always kept it in its case and didn't get to "air out" when it was newer).

That said, I like tung oiled necks and satin finished necks, too, as they gradually turn into a non-sticky gloss feel after a while.

[Goluphi]

Ya...keeping it clean is key for me as well. I don't like gunk built up on the neck. I like poly finished necks, or necks with newer nitro. I've even glossed up the neck on my J-45 once it started to get satiny.

[boris bubbanov]

A sticky neck is what happens when the wrong person plays the neck, I find.
I have glossed up a good number of my Fender and G + L satin finish ones, and have no difficulty with them. In fact, you can kinda sneak up on a gloss - that's the best look of all.

[sunkidd]

YES!

[BuddyLee]

I prefer my '52s Nitro neck to all my other guitars. My Strats Rosewood board is second.

I hate poly finish on Maple necks, it looks and feels cheap. The poly finish on my MiA Tele is like poo compared to the '52.

I never liked Maple boards until I had the '52, but I like the tone on a Tele. Rosewood for me is not an option on a Telecaster.

[Telemarkman]

Sticky necks=no

Glossy necks=yes

Most nitro finished necks are sticky at first though, even CS ones, but it will go away eventually.

Originally Posted by BuddyLee

I hate poly finish on Maple necks, it looks and feels cheap. The poly finish on my MiA Tele is like poo compared to the '52.

I couldn't see much difference in my '52 RI neck (glossy, nitro on top of "poo", sticky) and my 50's Classic neck (glossy, "poo", not sticky).

[BuddyLee]

Originally Posted by Telemarkman

Sticky necks=no

Glossy necks=yes

Most nitro finished necks are sticky at first though, even CS ones, but it will go away eventually.



I couldn't see much difference in my '52 RI neck (glossy, nitro on top of "poo", sticky) and my 50's Classic neck (glossy, "poo", not sticky).

The difference between my '92 MiA is tremendous. It feels more like I am playing on a piece of wood, the '52 with the Nitro feels like I am playing on a piece of glass. The fretboard is so slick in comparison. The back of the neck is no longer sticky for me.

If I keep my old Tele I am thinking of getting a '52 neck for it, or a good replacement neck with the vintage frets and a nitro finish. That and a Bigsby would be sweet. It's a 3 tone sunburst 2-piece solid alder(not one of the veneers), it is pretty. It sounds great too, it is hotter than my '52 so I have reason to keep her around... although I could get a whole 'nother guitar for the price of that upgrade. But I digress, that is another thread entirely.

[Telemarkman]

Originally Posted by BuddyLee

The difference between my '92 MiA is tremendous. It feels more like I am playing on a piece of wood, the '52 with the Nitro feels like I am playing on a piece of glass. The fretboard is so slick in comparison. The back of the neck is no longer sticky for me.

If you have the American Standard ('92 MiA), it's got a satin finish on the neck (feels more like playing on bare wood). That's very different from a glossy finish, whether nitro or poly.

I guess what you don't like is the satin finish poly, not the poly in itself ...

[Sea Devil]

I think I like a nitro neck with the finish worn off, but years of dirt and oil (including deliberately applied stuff like tung oil and pine pitch) soaked into the exposed part of the wood, best if all. Wood that isn't at least partially sealed with some kind of oil - even oil from the player's skin - can be oddly adsorbent and "sticky" in its own way.

The problem that I have with "sticky" necks is this: when I play them, something, probably a combination of skin and lacquer, "pills up" and covers the neck with weird, annoying pieces of crud that resemble what's left over after you erase a drawing with a hard pink rubber eraser. It's not the adhesiveness of the neck per se that's objectionable; it's the gunk you accumulate as you play it. A thin film of crud sometimes accompanies the particulate matter, and this stuff is no picnic either.

I think it's more about the chemical composition of one's sweat than it is about friction, heat or simple moisture. I'm sure not everyone has this problem. You could love or hate sticky necks for any number of reasons.

[blue metalflake]

Nothing at all against glossy necks, but sticky? NO

[BuddyLee]

Originally Posted by Telemarkman

If you have the American Standard ('92 MiA), it's got a satin finish on the neck (feels more like playing on bare wood). That's very different from a glossy finish, whether nitro or poly.

I guess what you don't like is the satin finish poly, not the poly in itself ...

Yes, both my Start and My old Tele are satin, but the Strat feels a million times better for some reason, I always figured the rosewood fretboards where just naturally smoother. But my '52 neck is just as smooth, I credit this to the hard thick glossy nitro finish.

[Dave_Strat]

I like a smooth neck, whether it's glossy, satin, or whatever. I keep a can of Finger-Ease handy and if that's not available, I use Lemon Pledge to reduce friction. There's no reason to skid up the neck if it's properly cared for with some kind of polish.

I know that some don't care for Finger-Ease because it contains silicone and can make refinishing difficult. I have yet to need a refinish on any guitar I've owned in 45 years. The oldest guitar I have is a 1978 Strat that I bought new. It has the gummy poly finish that certain straps will react with. I never put a strap in the case unless it's in the accessory box. As long as plastic doesn't touch the finish, the poly stays nice and shiny. Even if something reacts with it, a rub with a cotton cloth will polish the finish back out to a gloss.

[Rick J]

My 1989 Am Std Strat came with a satin poly neck. Been used on a lot of gigs over the last 20 years or so, and the neck is now very glossy, but not at all sticky. Haven't done a thing to it, its glossed itself up all by itself. Felt good when new, feels fine now.

Rick J

[telepathetic]

Gimme the gloss!
I remember when the satin started showing up. I thought it was.... interesting and different. But as time rolls on I go for the gloss whenever possible. It's what guitars felt like when I started playing.
I currently have about 35 guitars, all with glossy necks.

[JCBurke59]

Glossy - yes.
Sticky - no.

I've been using Tru-Oil on my last several builds and there's no going back for me. Nice gloss and never sticky.

[Fred Buzz]

I love the glossy necks, and I had never one that was sticky. I always clean the neck and use a bit of Dunlup 65 to make it smooth, no problem at all.
You don't have to really sand a sticky glossy neck, just a bit of polishing with 2000 grit is enough, it gets really smooth after you played for a day or so, your hands do the rest of the smoothing.

[68 Shovelhead]

Originally Posted by JCBurke59

Glossy - yes.
Sticky - no.

I've been using Tru-Oil on my last several builds and there's no going back for me. Nice gloss and never sticky.

I get along with glossy nitro and I like the AmStd matte poly just fine too, but Tru-Oil is the best feeling finish IMO. It feels faster than anything else.

[Notalent]

I find I'm not playing my SX Strat because of the sticky neck. I'm either gonna swap it or sell the guitar.

[3 Chord]

I prefer a gloss neck too.

Hey folks, one of my Squier's neck is kind of a satin but the back is glossed up over time. How do I get the top glossy like the back? Or can a person just spray the top without taking the satin finish off?

[Dave Hopping]

Originally Posted by Dave_Strat

I like a smooth neck, whether it's glossy, satin, or whatever. I keep a can of Finger-Ease handy and if that's not available, I use Lemon Pledge to reduce friction. There's no reason to skid up the neck if it's properly cared for with some kind of polish.

I know that some don't care for Finger-Ease because it contains silicone and can make refinishing difficult. I have yet to need a refinish on any guitar I've owned in 45 years. The oldest guitar I have is a 1978 Strat that I bought new. It has the gummy poly finish that certain straps will react with. I never put a strap in the case unless it's in the accessory box. As long as plastic doesn't touch the finish, the poly stays nice and shiny. Even if something reacts with it, a rub with a cotton cloth will polish the finish back out to a gloss.

+1 on the Finger-Ease.Until guitar neck wood can be genetically engineered to produce natural lubricants,The Finger-Ease stays.There's nothing like a nicely warmed-up smooth slick neck(or something) for making beautiful music together.

[Bucket-Of-Win]

Glossy neck fan reporting in.

[Guns1rose]

i love the glossy necks!
BUT the neck on my CS 54ri tele (Nitro) is consantly gettin sticky!!!!!
Any easy solutions?

[Telemarkman]

Originally Posted by Guns1rose

i love the glossy necks!
BUT the neck on my CS 54ri tele (Nitro) is consantly gettin sticky!!!!!
Any easy solutions?

The easiest one: play it, play it, play it ...

To help along the way, use a good resin car polish every now and then.

[Cuco]

I take care of my sticky neck with a good wipe down using the shirt I am using at the time.