Non sticky necks

[Caleidoscope]

I know this is about the millionth time I make a topic to ask a question but it just makes things easier for me!!

I'm deciding on the wood for my neck. My Gibson V neck with my very sweaty palms neck tends to get reaaaaally sticky and I'd have to wipe it in between each song I played.

I'm thinking of a Wenge neck and wondering how that holds against lots of sweat!

Apparently Wenge/Ebony is a good combination but I'd like a naked nake with a nice grain so maybe Wenge/Macassar Ebony? Or Kingswood Fretboard? Or Pau Ferro? It's going with a mahogany body.

Thank you so much for all the help!

 

[bigguspickus]

The back of my SG's neck can get a little sticky sometimes. I pretty sure it's the nitro finish. My Warmoth Strat, with its clear poly gloss, is never like that. Don't know much about raw necks though.

 

[m4rk0]

both Wenge/Ebony or Wenge/Macassar Ebony are great choices!!
Either that or Rosewood/Ebony would be my favorite combos

 

[elfro89]

I don't know too much about finished but from my experience anything that has been glossed has been sticky. some people like it i guess but i am like you and dont like the stickyness.

my choice is always a satin finish or a natural finish. but be carefull with the natural cause your sweat and oils go directly onto the wood and it goes all dark and manky, plus when you have a natural finish or something like maple then the chances are you need some kind of finish or your neck will warp big style. I Beleive canary is a really tough and strong wood that you dont need a finish on, but again im not an expert of woods and finishes. There will definitly be someone else on here who can give you better advice  :dontknow:  :rock-on:

 

[Rouse]

I don't know too much about finished but from my experience anything that has been glossed has been sticky. some people like it i guess but i am like you and dont like the stickyness.

my choice is always a satin finish or a natural finish. but be carefull with the natural cause your sweat and oils go directly onto the wood and it goes all dark and manky, plus when you have a natural finish or something like maple then the chances are you need some kind of finish or your neck will warp big style. I Beleive canary is a really tough and strong wood that you dont need a finish on, but again im not an expert of woods and finishes. There will definitly be someone else on here who can give you better advice  :dontknow:  :rock-on:

Satin will eventually become a gloss after time so go RAW, your sweat with make the grain smoother over time. Raw necks are as smooth as butter.

 

[Patrick from Davis]

I have sweaty hands as well.  The Wenge neck will not go sticky, nor should the other raw necks.  Wenge is a very oily neck wood.  It will become darker, but it is pretty dark to begin with.  One thing to note, Warmoth necks come with a coat of sealer on them, and it is kinda gummy.  It comes off with a little playing and/or with some mild furniture/antiques cleaning supplies.  You will also have to clean the neck off after you play because of player grim build up, but it sounds as if that would be an improvement from your current situation.
Patrick

 

[bendeg]

I don't know too much about finished but from my experience anything that has been glossed has been sticky. some people like it i guess but i am like you and dont like the stickyness.

my choice is always a satin finish or a natural finish. but be carefull with the natural cause your sweat and oils go directly onto the wood and it goes all dark and manky, plus when you have a natural finish or something like maple then the chances are you need some kind of finish or your neck will warp big style. I Beleive canary is a really tough and strong wood that you dont need a finish on, but again im not an expert of woods and finishes. There will definitly be someone else on here who can give you better advice  :dontknow:  :rock-on:

Satin will eventually become a gloss after time so go RAW, your sweat with make the grain smoother over time. Raw necks are as smooth as butter.

I confirm : I also choose satin finish (maple neck...) for my Warmoth => much more smooth to play.
But satin finish gets quite quickly half-glossy (I can already see the difference between the neck and the headstock). Even after a few weeks, I started to play everyday since mid-June of this year...
I think a raw wood neck is better. One thing for sure : all my next necks will be raw...It's a real pleasure to play raw and I don't care about the weight of exotic woods, it's just a detail for me...

One thing you can do is to use a Scotch Brite on the back of your neck, just rub it GENTLY a few passes (DON'T pass near the frets ends if you have a non exotic fretboard !). It can't be done too many times of course (that's why raw wood is ideal)
If you want to make it glossy again, use something like a polish (and rub fast so it "heats" the coat, like when you make your shoes shine).

 

[Kadmium]

I'm not sure what your position is on non-wood necks, but a graphite neck would solve that problem. It has the advantage of not shifting or warping with moisture, and has a pleasant (in my opinion) consistently raw feel.

 

[AEROCASTER]

I've just received a Pau Ferro/Pau Ferro neck, unfinished, and it's silky.

 

[bendeg]

Yep, and a beautiful one, congrats !

I saw a few weeks ago, an awsome pau ferro neck, I showed it in the "GAS alert!" topic => 2 days later it was gone...I know what I MUST NOT do now...

 

[-CB-]

Some lacquer tends to be sticky, some poly too.

If you rough them up a little, sticky goes away.  Some say steel wool, but you can use finer stuff than that.  Micromesh abrasive would be nice, though I've never personally tried it.