Hello Eracer,
I've been thinking about what you have written here. I will try the naphtha, many luthiers use this, so it must be good for cleaning. The advice to use steel wool shocked me though. I know it's a very fine grade, I have heard it recommended for cheaper factory-produced models finished in polyurethane, but steel wool on a handmade nitrocellulose finished guitar!
Before I got hold of some 0000 grade steel wool, I thought I would pursue a gentler approach. I rubbed the 'stickiness' off with my hands, it took some hours, spread over a few days, then I used some more detailer, then checked for stickiness, rubbed this off, now only in 'some' isolated places, then back with the detailer. All the time, the neck finish became thiner, not a bad thing for tone. It now feels much better, not perfect, not as slippery as I would like it, but much better.
The Detailer removes some of the surface, for that reason, it is ideal for removing shallow scratches. Now, as you stated, the VOS finish is really just an unpolished finish. I now have a theory, I think that all VOS guitars will have been sticky when new, or rather until 'someone' has removed the top surface and done what Gibson 'should' have done at the factory as the last process of finishing the instruments; why do I think this?
I have another VOS model, yes, I am blessed with two sticky, sorry, two VOS Gibsons. My other VOS model is a 2009 Les Paul Standard, 1959 Reissue.
So here she is! I bought this one from new. After buying this guitar, I used the detailer to remove the sticky dull surface and produce a shine. The finish on this guitar is harder and thiner than the R7. However, it is still a bit sticky. I rubbed the last of the stickiness off with my hands, then used the detailer again.
I think the stickiness is just due to the unfinished nitrocellulose that needs to be buffed as it should have been in the factory before being sold.
Has anyone else experienced VOS stickiness? Once removed, does it ever return, or is it gone forever?