Build up on back of neck.

[laterider]

Background - lots of folks don't like glossy necks and talk about them being sticky in some cases. I actually like the feel of the gloss neck that is on a gibson, mine don't have an issue with the exception of one LP that has this problem:
1. If I use some Gibson pump polish on it, it feels fine for a day or two.
2. A day or two later, its like there is a 'build-up' on it, I wouldn't call it sticky, just feels and looks like there is 'something' on there and you can 'feel' it.

I won't normally pull out the pump polish on any of my guitars, so in the beginning it wasn't like I was putting in on there all the time and then had this problem. Use of the polish started as my cure after I noticed an issue.

So with all this said, since I like gloss, I'm not ready to get into wet sanding it or scotchbrite treatment or something.

My question is, can I use something to try and clean it off? Polishing as far as I know if probably making it worse- I'm adding something to the finish.
Any recommendations on what to clean it with? I though about using naptha or another solvent, but definitely don't want to soften nitro that may already have an issue. This is why I thought I'd ask first.

Any help appreciated!!!

 

[cheetah77]

Lighter fluid, followed by a damp cloth.

 

[Tonemeister]

That's common with a nitro finish. We are talking about a Gibson LP right? Different people's body chemistry will react differently than others and cause more or less gook to buildup. My Custom doesn't get like that at all but my R7 gets quite gooky. I usually just take a cotton cloth and rub it very fast to kind of remove the buildup to make it smooth again. Perhaps I am oversimplifying your problem. Seems like and easy fix.

 

[H.E.L.Shane]

What year is the guitar???

Bruce might be able to give more insight on this since he worked at Gibson and the subject has come up before...

Gibby had a LOT of issues adapting to the emissions regulations that started coming in the 70's and hit hard in the 80's and 90's..

Nitro, by nature, is a high VOC coating, and companies that use it had to either switch coatings, or install control devices to eliminated their VOC emissions.. they also tinkered with the formulation of the Nitro. (what we get today is not real Nitro, even what gibby uses is not.. Its acrylic modified i believe, again, Bruce seems to know the deal better than most)

Some batches just didn't cure right.

AND.. even those that did, as posted above, can reacted with a persons sweat chemistry..

being that your other guitars don't do this.. I would suspect that its not 100% your body chemistry, but some combination of the nitro batch, the polish and your sweat.


My suggestion is as posted above.. Naptha on a rag, clean it very very well and let it sit for a few days.. the Naptha is not a solvent for the nitro, but it will remove other contaminants.. (there IS naptha in lacquer thinner, but it is a carrier solvent to transport the finish... not to melt it)

 

[LeftyF2003]

I use Virtuoso cleaner followed by Virtuoso polish. No problems with stickiness or buildup of wax. I would not use anything else on nitro.

 

[laterider]

What year is the guitar???
.............

Its a 2007 Gibson Les Paul Standard.

I bought this one at the 2007 philly guitar show from the Magdon Music booth. I then had it shipped to Florida where due to moving it was in the case for a good 6months. I would think that since Magdon is located in PA this guitar didn't travel that much (plus it is a 2007), but lots a folks oils could have had time to set in from the shop/show before I began to play it.
I have a 2009 Gibson studio gloss that has way more hours on it and its neck is like glass and I don't think I've ever put polish to it, just used a cotton rag to wipe it down after playing. The 2009 studio was a shop wall purchase also (all others not mentioned here were mail order), but again who knows how many hands on that one as well.

Thanks for the replies, I found some ronsonol lighter fluid in the garage and I'll use it on the neck on Saturday afternoon unless someone comes in here with major objections to that approach.

Thanks again!