80s Stingray neck lacquer - anybody remedied the stickiness?

[Mokl]

I've got a late 80s Stingray which I've had since the early 90s. I haven't played it outside of my bedroom for quite a few years, but it's always the bass that feels and sounds like 'home' to me.

 

Last night I used it in band rehearsal and it sounded brilliant, reminding me of why I like it so much. What I'd forgotten though is how sticky the neck's lacquer finish becomes when you get warm hands. I'm not a heavy sweater (!) but it gets very tacky very quickly, to the point of discomfort. 

 

It never used to be this bad, it's worsened with age. 

 

I'm thinking I might try to Scotch Brite the rear only. Had anybody tried this, and what level of success? I'm loathe to strip it right back and oil as it's one of the lovely birdseye/flame maple necks and a lovely rich amber color these days. Having said that, I'll never sell it so need it to be playable! 

 

Thoughts, advice? Many thanks

 

 

Edited September 24 by Mokl

[Mokl]

Update, for anybody stumbling upon this thread and has any interest in my attempts to remedy the stickiness on my Stingray's lacquered neck: I've given the Scotch Brite treatment a try. Initial impressions are it feels really nice, but proof in the pudding will be next time I play it at rehearsal for a few hours.

[bloke_zero]

Is it one of the ones that was just oil and wax over bare wood? Might be worth taking the wax off it is - it might have changed chemical composition over the years! You could then re-apply some new. You'd be able to tell because the back of the neck would be a different colour/texture from the headstock - looks like this:

 

 

Here's a video on how to re-apply. Gun oil is quite nice to work with - 

 

 

[Mokl]

Thanks for taking the time to comment and for the links.

 

My Stingray's neck has a lacquer finish - I can see why they moved to the oil and wax a few years after mine was made. I don't have any problems with my 70s fender which has a lacquer finish, just this bass. As mentioned it's definitely worsened over the years. 

 

If the Scotch Brite treatment doesn't work I'll probably look at having someone strip the lacquer on the rear of the neck right back, then go the oil/wax route

Edited September 25 by Mokl

[bloke_zero]

Ok understood! Sounds like maybe it never hardened properly then? There is a thread here about it below - lots of different experiences, but definitely for some the only cure was to remove entirely and refinish - you might be in that category. Though it sounds like trying wax might help?

 

https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/best-way-to-fix-sticky-nitro-neck.2166300/#:~:text=It's sticky because the lacquer,and it'll dry faster.

 

 

[Mokl]

I'll definitely try the wax before the more drastic option!

 

Thanks again.