Getting rid of an annoying glossy neck finish...

avj · Post by **avj** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 11:07 pm

I recently started playing my '72 Tele Deluxe reissue again, and I was quickly reminded of one of the only things I dislike about it: the damned glossy neck. It's the only guitar I have that has a glossy neck finish, and it seems that if there's any hand-sweat on there it really gets sticky.

I was thinking of just taking some #0000 steel wool to the whole thing and seeing how that goes. If anyone else has dealt with a similar problem in a different way, I'd love to hear it.

robroe · Post by **robroe** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 11:54 pm

just send it to me and buy some pos un-gloss neck off ebay for 5 bucks

DGNR8 · Post by **DGNR8** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 1:22 am

I have heard steel wool is the way to go. Otherwise use fine (1200) wet sandpaper. You just want to satin-ize it.

Will · Post by **Will** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 1:23 am

Fine steel wool (0000 is good) and patience is your best bet. I did this to my MIJ Mustang and was able to blend into the glossy headstock - it looks totally stock. The key is just to go slowly and not press too hard; let the abrasive do the work.

More Cowbell · Post by **More Cowbell** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 1:26 am

PLEASE DO NOT RUIN A GREAT NECK LIKE THAT UNLESS YOU MAKE IT LOOK LIKE IT WAS WORN OFF OVER YEARS AND YEARS OF PLAYING.

avj · Post by **avj** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 2:54 am

Thanks for the input, guys. I suppose I'll give the #0000 steel wool a try on the back of the headstock to see how it feels when it's satined up a bit.

More Cowbell wrote:PLEASE DO NOT RUIN A GREAT NECK LIKE THAT UNLESS YOU MAKE IT LOOK LIKE IT WAS WORN OFF OVER YEARS AND YEARS OF PLAYING.

I don't think I'll live long enough to wear out a poly-finished neck. I'm not talking about doing that shitty-looking fake relic sanding or anything, just a more satin finish on the entire neck that doesn't feel sticky when there's moisture involved. I guess I did fail to say this before.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 11:40 am

Any fine sandpaper or steel wool will do the job. I've used stupidly rough sandpaper and then polished it with Mr Sheen - a little rough at first but daily playing soon smoothed it just fine. I don't think you can go wrong unless you sand right through.

mezzio13 · Post by **mezzio13** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 1:19 pm

Green meanies:

cur · Post by **cur** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 1:51 pm

I recommend the green scotch brite pads as well. You won't get little bits of metal floating around. If you go to your local auto parts store, you can pick up 1200 and 5000 grit sand paper. This is very nice for getting that glass smooth feel. I use on my pool cue all the time. After you use the green pad, knock the grain down with 400 grit. Play it for a while and the exposed grain will swell a little from humidity. When it does, take it off with the 1200 and 5000 grit. Do this a couple of times.

Also, without removing the finish you can do a light sand through the grits. Maybe start with 600 or 800 and step through the grits to up to 5000. Just go really light and when the paper loads up, use a new piece. When I sand bare wood, I like to use kitchen paper towels between the grits and prior to finishing. You would be amazed at how much wood dust this will pick up even when you think it is all gone. They act as a saw dust magnet and the little pores in the paper just load up.

aen · Post by **aen** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 5:12 pm

More Cowbell wrote:PLEASE DO NOT RUIN A GREAT NECK LIKE THAT

Srsly. Sell it or something, and buy a replacement. There are too few nice glossy necks out there.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 9:08 pm

aen wrote:
More Cowbell wrote:PLEASE DO NOT RUIN A GREAT NECK LIKE THAT
Srsly. Sell it or something, and buy a replacement. There are too few nice glossy necks out there.

Look good. Sticky like 4 day unwashed arsecrack though. DEWIT!

Mages · Post by **Mages** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 9:42 pm

seeing as how this is a 2 1/2 month old thread, I'm thinking he probably already did.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 9:53 pm

mage wrote:seeing as how this is a 2 1/2 month old thread, I'm thinking he probably already did.

How odd it looks like I resurrected it but coulda sworn it was on the front page... musta been searching stuff....multiple windows.....flu...brain rot....