hand/neck stickiness

[BaltoAaron]

I've started playing whole night solo acoustic gigs recently and I'm starting to get that sticky-hand-on-the-back-of-the-neck thing happening. By the end of the night I have a rash at the base of my index finger and thumb. And it hurts to play.

 

Any suggestions? I've seen some players use a spray on the neck at the beginning of gigs. Is there some sort of neck rash guard out there?

 

I play a Martin DC-1. The back of the neck has a lacquer finish.

[DonK]

 

I've started playing whole night solo acoustic gigs recently and I'm starting to get that sticky-hand-on-the-back-of-the-neck thing happening. By the end of the night I have a rash at the base of my index finger and thumb. And it hurts to play. Any suggestions? I've seen some players use a spray on the neck at the beginning of gigs. Is there some sort of neck rash guard out there? I play a Martin DC-1. The back of the neck has a lacquer finish.

 

 

I don't remember the last time I played one of those...is the neck finish gloss or satin?. Some people have the "stickiness" problem with gloss finishes and thus decide to use steel wool or another method to make the finish more satin. Even satin finishes tend to become glossy over time, just from finger/hand oil and the continued rubbing of your hand and fingers against it (you can see this phenomena on a computer keyboard: look at the area of the spacebar where your thumb strikes it compared to the rest of the bar).

[Terry Allan Hall]

Lightly dust your fretting hand w/ talcum powder...problem solved.

[EvilTwin]

If things get too sticky, I just spray some Finger Ease on the back of the neck.

 

http://www.zzounds.com/item--CBR2074

 

A little goes a long way. It can also help you out if your callouses are pealing and you're fingertips are sore. One can lasts a long time.

[DonK]

 

If things get too sticky, I just spray some Finger Ease on the back of the neck. http://www.zzounds.com/item--CBR2074 A little goes a long way. It can also help you out if your callouses are pealing and you're fingertips are sore. One can lasts a long time.

 

 

I've long wondered what that stuff feels like. Does it make the fingerboard/strings feel oily? Can you tell it's there, or do the strings just feel slicker?

[EvilTwin]

I've long wondered what that stuff feels like. Does it make the fingerboard/strings feel oily? Can you tell it's there, or do the strings just feel slicker?

 

If you use too much, the strings can feel a bit oily. But if you spray it on, rub it in with your hand a little (on the strings or back of the neck, or both), then leave it for a few minutes, it just feels slicker.

 

That stuff was a life saver for me when I did outdoor gigs with a southern rock band. The back of my Stratocaster's neck, as well as the fingerboard and strings, got sprayed quite often. I bend a lot, too, and I didn't usually have any problems playing.

 

If you ever buy any strings online, you can usually find Finger Ease on the same site for about $4 or $5. It's something neat to experiment with, especially if you have a guitar you may not play as much. You can spray the back of the neck, come back to it in a week, and marvel out how fast the sucker plays all of a sudden.

[recordingtrack1]

I am fortunate in that I have never had that problem. I have many times picked up a guitar to play it and at first it was a bit sticky or tacky feeling, almost like it was damp feeling, if that makes sense. Usually a good wipe down will get rid of most of that and after a few minutes of playing, no more problems.

 

RT1:)

[Cripes]

Nope. Never had that happen. My practice sessions are usually every night for about 2-3 hours continuous. If your rash is at the base of the index finger it sounds like rough fret ends to me.

 

Edit: Re-read the post. Sounds like you are thin-skinned. There's a product that might help called Liquid Gloves. It's usually sold at a good auto supply house. You put some of it in the palm of your hand and thoroughly rub your hands together until it's dry. Once dry it won't transfer to your guitar and it washes off with a good liquid soap and washrag. It's like a second skin but doesn't feel bulky or otherwise become an impediment. That and some talcum powder should help. I've used Fast Fret and Finger-Ease a couple times. They are good products but I'm not sure of their long-term affect on the guitar.

[DonK]

If you use too much, the strings can feel a bit oily. But if you spray it on, rub it in with your hand a little (on the strings or back of the neck, or both), then leave it for a few minutes, it just feels slicker. That stuff was a life saver for me when I did outdoor gigs with a southern rock band. The back of my Stratocaster's neck, as well as the fingerboard and strings, got sprayed quite often. I bend a lot, too, and I didn't usually have any problems playing. If you ever buy any strings online, you can usually find Finger Ease on the same site for about $4 or $5. It's something neat to experiment with, especially if you have a guitar you may not play as much. You can spray the back of the neck, come back to it in a week, and marvel out how fast the sucker plays all of a sudden.

 

I might pick up some just to see what it's like. From your description, I'm thinking it should be standard for places like Guitar Center (given the condition of the strings on their guitars) to have it strategically placed throughout the guitar department, kind of like mustard at a hot dog stand.

[JasmineTea]

kind of like mustard at a hot dog stand.

I've been using Luthiers Choice fretboard conditioner. I put a tiny drop on each fingertip, slide my fingers up and down the strings. Seems to last for a couple days.

 

I tried it by accident when I was picking up a guitar from the luthier. I tried the git in his shop and asked what they had put on the fret board. He gave me the bottle.