Sticky T fretboard and neck...Help Needed!

[Matt G Murphy]

I am in need of guidance from experienced folks. I have played live for many many years, but 95% of the shows were indoors. I am back to playing again and suddenly, post-covid most locations now have outdoor patios and bandstands that they want you to play on. I have had a few such events lately including two this week. At all of them, after about the 6th song, my maple fretboard tele's got all sticky and almost unplayable. The back of the necks were also more sticky than normal but mainly the fretboard. My T's are a mix of satin roasted maple, light satin and oiled finish. None of them are gloss or lacquer. I have had indoor shows with the same guitars with no problems. I am sure it is the varying humidity in late spring NC. I have never been a "fast-frets" user because I always worried that applying something like that would result in the fretboard getting sticky as sweat took over the strings. I meticulously care for my instruments and keep them clean with new strings before each show.

My chords and rhythm are not an issue and my tone is solid in spite of this mess. However, I get paid to bend and play ABOVE the 7th fret. I cannot afford to continue to struggle and suck or I will lose my gig and future similar gigs if I continue playing with peanut butter fingers on flypaper fretboards.

Right now, my shows next week are indoors so I have some time to get ahead of this. Have any of you faced this same problem or maybe tech'd for someone who has used a product that has worked that you can suggest?

Thanks for any feasible suggestions.















5

 

[TunedupFlat]

A bass player I uses to gig with suffered from sticky clammy hands. His solution was using one of those chalk balls that weightlifter's use and filling it with baby powder or climbing chalk. Then before the gig and in-between songs he would use it.

 

[jackal]

Rubbing down with lighter fluid and a Scotch-brite pad does the trick for me. Hate sticky necks and fretboards.

 

[Skydog1010]

Lighter fluid
Denatured alcohol
Scotch brie
Final wipe down after above is done with white lint free cotton rags and denatured alcohol till cotton rags become clean.

I had this problem with factory MIM road worn necks on Tele and strat from 2018.

Been there done that.

 

[schmee]

I have that problem playing outdoors sometimes for sure. My hands just go clammy all of a sudden. If it's ok playing indoors then it's not your finish I would think...?
I just use baby powder or talcum powder at the gig once it gets too bad. But I change strings between gigs and clean up every 4 hours or so of playing usually.

 

[RolandG]

Baby powder. It takes the stickiness off your hands. It’s a very mild abrasive, so over the years it takes any stickiness off the neck.