Nitrocellulose Lacquer Finish Cleaning Sticky Neck

[Fabio Bolasco]

Hi Lads,

Tks to anybody's help in telling me ho to safely clean a stiky neck on a Fender Custom Shop's 66 Jazz Bass Closet,
without hurting or damaging the nitrocellulose lacquer finish. The bass is quite 2 years old, and I'd like to have the neck fast and not sticky....Any suggestion is welcome and much appreciated...Thanks so much. Fabio

[Ron Frazier]

Very simple. Take some steel wool and rub the neck down until the shine
is gone and it feels good to you. Don't use hand lotion or any thing on your hands
as it will get sticky again. If it dose just rub it down again.
go full length of the neck with strokes and not around.

Ron

[Fabio Bolasco]

Hi Ron

Tks so much for your suggestion. I'll do so, but I'll try on a scrap bass with nitrocellulose finish before doing it
on my little baby... I'll let you know and tks again for yr help. Have a great day.
Fabiob

[Len Biglin]

Yes I agree , but be sure to use 0000 grade , it is super fine steel wool.Len

[Rob Mercure]

Another tack is to put a little corn starch on your left hand palm - assuming you are right handed - and play for a while. Just a pinch rubbed into the palm and then see whether this helps. If not then repeat in little steps until you can play easily. I've used this trick for years during the humid part of the year when my hand sweat and on older instruments that have gotten gummy and I've never had enough corn starch left on the neck to notice. This should be pretty nuetral as affecting the instrument and you can always remove it using the steel wool recommended - but we don't always have steel wool handy and I find that after using it my hands stink from a bit of iron oxides my sweaty hands produce so I wouldn't want to use the steel wool in a pre gig emergency situation while the corn starch seems optimum.

Rob

[Rich Mulcahy]

Maybe you might want to use Naptha on a clean lint free rag.Naptha is a degreaser and cleaner for nitrocellulose finishes.Naptha is a good remover of old stickers and that type of adhesive. When the Naptha drys buff the area with a clean lint free rag.I would do this before introducing any steelwool to the job.Naptha is a wonderful thing.Good luck Rich.

[FRANK]

WELL THE OLD CROWD WOULD SAND OFF THE NITRO AND THEN OIL THE NECK AND WAX IT VERY FAST THE PROBLEM YO HAVE EXPERIENCED IS VERY COMMON WITH LACQUER AND POLY U

[Fabio Bolasco]

Thanks Paul, Rich and Rob !!

All yr suggestions were really appreciated and I tried either Naphta (Zippo Lighter) which worked great, and
Meguiars' Mist & Wipe, which did its job as well...Both left the neack absolutely clean, no longer sticky, and
fast to play even after a couple of hours playing. I still have some concerns about steel wool, but I'll try on a scrap
bass. My problem seems now solved, thank to you all !! Lastly, on next gig I'll try corn starch too as you suggested, Rob, to see if it helps in humid situations. Again Thnks !!
Fabio

[Ron Frazier]

What happens is that a slick finish will create a good vacuum on your hand and it wont slide easily.

I bought a new piece of cast iron tool that had tooling marks in it and it felt slick and I found another that was caromed and you could hardly move a board on it.

Ron

[Ed Taublieb]

I use the McGuire's products that are supposed to be for plastics. They emusifiy the grime etc. If the neck is really sticky use their Cleaner or the one for removing light scratches. Other wise the Detaier or Polish ones will do the job. I use their Polish on guitars tht have smers, goop and dull areas. Does a great job quickly.