Glossy Neck Experiences

[thegummy]

Was set on buying a 50s P but when I was trying it out I was concerned about the glossy neck. I'm wondering if that might be because I was focused on it. I always think it's very hard to judge a guitar properly in a shop by playing it for 10 minutes with a critical viewpoint.

Looking at the range, it seems that outside the Standard, all Fender basses pretty much have glossy necks. So surely they must be fine?

Another thing, I had completely forgot that my favourite guitar actually has a glossy neck and I'd just never even thought about it.

What's your experiences with glossy necks?

[Twigman]

I find glossy necks feel horribly sticky.

I have a satin nitro finish on 2 of my wood necks which feel far smoother and never feel sticky.

That said lately I've prefered playing my Status neck...that's just painted isn't it? I really don't know.

[Marc S]

My own thoughts are generally, that I don't like glossy necks.
That said, I've one or two with glossy necks, and they are fine.
I'm not sure whether they are different materials, but that must make a difference?

One of my basses is a Squier CV P bass. That's the glossiest neck I have, yet it doesn't seem to get "sticky" to touch, no matter how hot & sweaty my hands get. It somehow feels "vintage". Is this me imagining it? I don't know, but I've previously owned a bass with a glossy neck, and that was terrible to play in hot weather...

My 2 Fender Roadworns have a bit of a satin-y sort of "sheen" to them, and feel lovely
I've played 1 or 2 basses with sanded necks, and they felt a bit too "matt" to me - they seemed to have a bit of a drag feel to them

Perhaps you could lightly sand the glossy neck? Lots of people do this sort of thing

[BigRedX]

IME glossy necks look and feel great. All the basses I use regularly (Gus, Sei, Warwick Starbass) have high gloss necks and I've never had any problems with them. Maybe the finish that these manufacturers use is more suitable than that found on cheaper instruments?

The stickiest necks I've ever come across were on new Warwicks with an oil? finish, followed by a Traben bass that had such a thin satin finish on the neck, I could feel the grain of the wood. Neither were very nice to play.

[KevB]

My Ric can get a bit sticky in very warm humid weather but they insist on putting a million layers of laquer on the whole body & neck...

[essexbasscat]

Every bass or guitar I played from the 70's until the last few years had a glossy neck. The only problems I ever found with stickiness was due to the neck needing cleaning

Gloss is fine with me, in fact anything else seems to need more finishing

[12stringbassist]

I have this Squier CV 50's P and the neck is gorgeously glossy. It doesn't get sticky.

[Luulox]

I have mainly glossy necks and only one gets sticky. I wonder if the type of glossy makes a difference or if indeed there are different types of glossy? How would you check for glossy type A or B? Could open a can of worms this.

[12stringbassist]

I think some necks will get sticky for some and not for others.
The best way to tell is probably to give them a good workout in a shop.

[RhysP]

Never had a problem with glossy necks, in fact I prefer them.
The only kind of finish I really don't like is that bloody awful oil/wax finish that is so popular these days.

[lowhand_mike]

I find glossy necks sticky/snaggy but then i do have very sweaty hands so i prefer an open pore finish, depends what suits to be honest

[stingrayPete1977]

1200 grit wet and dry up and down the playing area, gloss gone. Bit of cutting compound at a later date and it's glossy again if you want to sell it on.

[bubinga5]

Never really understood high gloss necks apart from the fact they look great. For me I don't like them. Seems to hinder my playing when I'm moving my left hand, not a nice feeling especially with fast playing. I seem to have to unattach my left hand to play somewhere higher on the neck, and I don't really sweat. Love a satin neck. Or, I just rub the whole neck in Castrol GTX

[drTStingray]

My new Old Smoothue Stingray has one but it's not sticky at all - in fact the neck is as slick as the oil and wax finish ones I have.

I have a 93 Fretless and fretted Ray and a 2010 Classic Ray all with lacquered shiny necks - none are sticky - all are slick and fast.

Musicman clearly know how to make a very playable and slick neck - I suspect there in lies the rub - some manufacturers go the extra mile and others are not so bothered.

Edited November 25, 2016 by drTStingray

[stingrayPete1977]

There's probably a technique thing at play too, those that grab onto the neck like their life depends on it are going to have more problems sliding up and down the neck than those who grasp gently with their thumb 'resting' against the neck aren't they? I've noticed it more with neck dive prone basses with glossy necks where you spend all your time holding the thing up!

[darkandrew]

I've got three basses; a Spector Euro, a Warwick SS1 and an EBMM Sterling. Both the Spector and the Warwick have glossy necks, where as the Sterling has an oil and wax neck. To be honest, of all the necks, I prefer the two glossy ones - they just feel more "finished". It all comes down to personal taste I suppose.

[josie]

Interesting point about different types of gloss, I hadn't thought about it until now, prompted by this thread to go and try mine.

Two of my GMRs, the Bassforce 5 (my first and true love) and the fretless 4, have velvet matt necks, I don't even notice them when I'm playing. The top-end Flow-In 5 has a gloss neck and my hand just sticks on it, even in a cool room with a light touch.

So I assumed "I don't get on with gloss necks" - but my Jazz Aerodyne, which also plays as easy as a dream, has a gloss neck! I don't know enough about it to understand the differences between the exact finishes, but the Jazz is somehow "less gloss" to the hand although it looks as shiny.

It's nothing to do with care in manufacture (at least in this case), the build and finish quality on GMRs is as good as you could dream of.

[landwomble]

I don't like them but thirty seconds of 690 grade glass paper fixes the problem...

[mcnach]

I love glossy. I specified glossy on my Maruszczyk basses and had my 2002 Stingray neck refinished with glossy lacquer for the same reason.
I don't find them sticky. I love the feel.

[thegummy]

[quote name='landwomble' timestamp='1480111435' post='3181843']
I don't like them but thirty seconds of 690 grade glass paper fixes the problem...
[/quote]

I've heard that but does it not leave it unfinished and vulnerable?

[FinnDave]

[quote name='thegummy' timestamp='1480165589' post='3182143']
I've heard that but does it not leave it unfinished and vulnerable?
[/quote]

No, you don't need to go through the finish, just take the shine off it.

[Painy]

I love the gloss necks on my Squier VM P and Fender Modern Player J. Neither are remotely expensive basses and I've never found them to be at all sticky.
My Sterling Sub Ray has a satin neck which does feel great to play too but I'd prefer it if it was gloss - just not quite enough to bother getting it refinished.

[Woodinblack]

I wouldn't specifically go out to get a glossy neck guitar, but my squier 70s P bass has one and it has never caused me any issue.

[Dood]

[quote name='stingrayPete1977' timestamp='1480095520' post='3181676']
1200 grit wet and dry up and down the playing area, gloss gone. Bit of cutting compound at a later date and it's glossy again if you want to sell it on.
[/quote]

This.

Although in the majority of cases with my students, a technique change has alleviated any 'sticky neck' problems on any bass.

[Mister RLP]

Matt Freeman bass has a glossy neck. Not a problem. Really like it.