fretplay Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 Members may have followed my adventures to buy a CJ 165 last year but in the end I got one. It was made in December 2009 and was as new when I received it last October. The guitar spent some time with my luthier the truss rod needed adjustment, frets dressed ect so when I got it back it was great. My problem is the back of the neck feels sticky, not greatly to the touch by to my thumb when moving up and down the fretboard. Sticky perhaps is not the right word more like a little tacky. I have compared this to my other two Gibsons, I have a 1975 J45 and a 2003 Cascade both these necks are glass smooth. Have any members come across this or better still can advise how I can get a glass smooth neck on my CJ 165. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrorod Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 Members may have followed my adventures to buy a CJ 165 last year but in the end I got one. It was made in December 2009 and was as new when I received it last October. The guitar spent some time with my luthier the truss rod needed adjustment, frets dressed ect so when I got it back it was great. My problem is the back of the neck feels sticky, not greatly to the touch by to my thumb when moving up and down the fretboard. Sticky perhaps is not the right word more like a little tacky. I have compared this to my other two Gibsons, I have a 1975 J45 and a 2003 Cascade both these necks are glass smooth. Have any members come across this or better still can advise how I can get a glass smooth neck on my CJ 165. I have not had that problem with such a new guitar. Older vintage guitars have this from sweat,dirt,nicotine etc. I would think that if you use a little naptha(lighter fluid)on a rag and wiped it briskly and followed up with some McGuiars No. 4 or 7 and then some finishing compound it would clean the 'stickiness' from the neck. Good luck, Rod Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onewilyfool Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 I don't even want to know HOW your neck got sticky............ugh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strat-o-steve Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 It is just the lacquer......give it time and it will cure :) My 2009 Les Paul did the same thing. Keep it clean, or polish it regularly until it does cure. Mine took about 6 months to feel right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devellis Posted January 13, 2011 Share Posted January 13, 2011 I'd start with just the naphtha. That will clean it, which may be enough. If that doesn't work, you can certainly move on to more aggressive measures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretplay Posted January 17, 2011 Author Share Posted January 17, 2011 Thanks for your help Guys. I mailed Gibson and they say it's the lacquer and will take a little time. It's the first new guitar I've had for a few years. I'll live with it and see how it goes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrorod Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 Very strange, I know the guitar is new to you, but it was built a year ago. How much time do they think? 2 years? 3 or 5? I know nitrocellulose lacquer does take awhile to cure..60 to 90 days should make it pretty hard. Although, being an 'organic'-type lacquer it will continue to harden and shrink somewhat for its entire life. Almost makes me wonder if someone played it before you that had insect repellant on their hands. That stuff will make a mess out of nitro. Could you post pics of this sticky neck? I am curious now....Rod Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretplay Posted January 26, 2011 Author Share Posted January 26, 2011 Hi Rod, I can't send pics as there is nothing to see. The neck looks fine and the guitar its self is new, feels and sounds new. I haven't played it much so perhaps it needs some more action. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larryp58 Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Yes, it's just the laquer curing out. Even though the guitar is over a year old, it's new. For laquer to cure, it needs air movement over it. Although it's a year or more old, it's been in the case shut up. Play it regularly, and open the case quite a bit to "air" it out and it should be fine a few weeks. You'll also notice an increase in volume, sustain, and tone as it cures! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrorod Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 I say...Play it and let the dang thing breath....I say! Use it or lose it...I say etc. Maybe play a song by The Cure... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesMtn Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 Ditto the already given good advice on time to cure. Mine had a sticky neck too when new. My hands/sweat are the worst and this lacquer is not a great combo for them but as long as I wipe it off really good after every session it is fine for a couple of hours of playing. It cured up after a few months but still needs to be wiped down religiously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigKahune Posted November 12, 2011 Share Posted November 12, 2011 . As others have pointed out, the off-gassing takes some time. If you keep the guitar cased it will slow the process down. If you can smell that sweet lacquer smell every time you open the case, it's not done curing. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinder Posted November 13, 2011 Share Posted November 13, 2011 I find the best way to treat a sticky neck on a new guitar is to polish it briskly with Gibson Pump Polish before and after every playing session or gig. That way it stays super-clean and it stops any skin oils, sweat or general gunk getting between the lacquer and the air it needs to cure down properly. My former Hummingbird had a really sticky neck for a couple of months when I first got it, and I just kept on and on with the polishing ritual until it cured. It didn't take long, and it helps that I play the bejeezus out of my guitars-they rarely get much time off! The neck on the Bird was gorgeous once it had cured, absolutely buffed-glass smooth and fast as you like. I get pangs of missing that guitar like crazy from time to time...then I pick up my AJ and get over it quickly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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