Smoothing out a Glossy neck

[frantic29]

Last fall I was given a G&L Invader and I love about everything about except the glossy neck. It's very grippy. Is there anything I can do to the finish to safely smooth it out and make it less sticky. It's pretty annoying.

[KenC]

I had this problem with an '83 L-2000 I recently picked up. I started out by rubbing the back of the neck down with a clean washcloth for a couple of minutes, and then kept the washcloth handy where I usually where I usually sit to play. Every time I notice stickiness, I rub it out some more. It's not 100%, but at least it doesn't interfere with my playing at this point.

Now that I think about it, I might try cleaning it up some more with a wet cloth and mild soap.

I purchased that bass from a store in another state. When the salesman was describing the bass to me over the phone, I asked about the grain pattern in the neck. He said it "was the oddest thing", that there was some birdseye on the headstock but the neck itself had absolutely no visible grain. That's how it looked to me when I received it, but after wiping the neck quite a bit I can see that it actually has a very nice grain. It was just that gunky from years of playing. Strangely, the body was so clean and ding-free that it could have spent all those years sitting in a case.

Ken

[JD0x0]

you can sand down the finish a bit to make it a satin like texture, less sticky. I've done this to a few tributes.

[Elwood]

Last fall I was given a G&L Invader and I love about everything about except the glossy neck. It's very grippy. Is there anything I can do to the finish to safely smooth it out and make it less sticky. It's pretty annoying.

Clean brown paper bag material might take off that tack. It's equivalent to a superfine grit paper(2000+) and can absorb some of that superfine guck.

[Fumble fingers]

I've done the 2000 grit on a few necks just don't go crazy with it , the paper bag trick sounds good too .... or do it the Ole fashion way and just play the crap out of it but it takes a little longer ...lol

[The Vault Dweller]

You mean, rough up the neck? It's the smoothness that makes it feel sticky, personally I love it but I did once try using a scotchbrite pad on the back of an Epiphone neck and it worked very well. You can always polish it back up if you change your mind.

[eddy8dynamite]

If it's just the gunk you need to remove, try using a household cleaner named Lestoil. Does a great job removing grime, and leaves a really smooth finish.