Sanding my Geddy's neck

[Rawb]

Hey, I was wondering if anyone has sanded down the neck on their Geddy Lee signature jbass. Love the bass but I'm sick of the glossy finish on the neck. I have sweaty hands, so when the sweat builds up after a gig or practicing it feels uber sticky and yucky. I want that, um...I don't know how to describe it. But I want a similar feeling to my Warwick corvette's neck, or at least something similar.

[edgebass5]

Warwick's necks are largely unfinished because they use woods like Wenge and Ovangkol which require no finish. The maple neck on your Geddy is a different story. You could definitely remove the finish but you still want to seal it with something. A satin finish (go play a new Fender that's not a reissue for an example) will be much smoother and less sticky and definitely what I'd recommend.

[Rawb]

I see. What if I just sand it without the satin finish?

[BenJammin]

Then your neck will get disgusting from sweat, dirt, humidity, etc.

[Rawb]

I see. Ok how do I satin my finish?


nvm I'll google it. thanks again though.

[EADGC]

Then your neck will get disgusting from sweat, dirt, humidity, etc.

And could eventually split.

[edgebass5]

I see. Ok how do I satin my finish?

Satin isn't a verb, it's a noun. Satin is a type of finish that is less glossy and therefore less sticky.

[BenJammin]

And could eventually split.

That's what I was thinking, but wasn't 100% on it, so I didn't say anything.

[DaveMustaine12]

Hey, I was wondering if anyone has sanded down the neck on their Geddy Lee signature jbass. Love the bass but I'm sick of the glossy finish on the neck. I have sweaty hands, so when the sweat builds up after a gig or practicing it feels uber sticky and yucky. I want that, um...I don't know how to describe it. But I want a similar feeling to my Warwick corvette's neck, or at least something similar.

Does it really feel sticky?
I used to have a Geddy and I thought it felt slippery.

[Rawb]

Does it really feel sticky?
I used to have a Geddy and I thought it felt slippery.

Yeah it does feel slippery..when my left hand is super dry. I used to clean my neck with lemon oil, give it a good rub too. Play with it for a while, I'll start sweating eventually, well very quickly actually. The dirty will build up and yuuck.

Mhmm, I think I'll SATIN my finish. ;)

[SkaRobotArmy]

maybe you just have a sweating problem...

[chrisroberts1989]

you could try sealing the neck after youve sanded, with something like tung oil

it gives a smooth satin/matt finish which i find doesnt get sticky when your hands sweat

[Rawb]

you could try sealing the neck after youve sanded, with something like tung oil

it gives a smooth satin/matt finish which i find doesnt get sticky when your hands sweat

Tung oil, mmk.

Wait, can I get everyone else to agree one that? Seal the neck with tung oil?

Thanks btw.

[edgebass5]

Wait, can I get everyone else to agree one that? Seal the neck with tung oil?

Nope.

Tung oil is cool, but not something I'd consider a permanent solution, especially in a neck application where it will be worn down over time as you play. A satin finish will last MUCH longer (presumably the life of the bass).

Sand it down and either finish it yourself, or take the neck to a paint shop and have them do it.

[DBoons Ghost]

Satin Polyurethane is what you want. Not tung oil. edgebass called it first post.

Fender has revamped it's entire line (except the re-issues and a few others) to include Satin Poly finishes on the backs of all their necks. But again, edge already said that too.

[edgebass5]

Satin Polyurethane is what you want. Not tung oil.

I didn't realize satin was a polyurethane finish.... although in retrospect that makes sense. I haven't heard of too many people use tung oil for necks. Certainly for bodies, but on a neck it seems like an odd choice.

Regardless I can't say enough about the merits of a satin finish. The only gloss finish on a neck I've ever been able to tolerate is the one applied by Status Graphite on the necks I buy from them for my projects. It's definitely glossy but it feels a lot like a satin finish.

[Jimbobntnr]

I finished my upright bass' neck with tung oil. I'll count on maintaining it though.

[DBoons Ghost]

I didn't realize satin was a polyurethane finish.... although in retrospect that makes sense. I haven't heard of too many people use tung oil for necks. Certainly for bodies, but on a neck it seems like an odd choice.

Regardless I can't say enough about the merits of a satin finish. The only gloss finish on a neck I've ever been able to tolerate is the one applied by Status Graphite on the necks I buy from them for my projects. It's definitely glossy but it feels a lot like a satin finish.


Yeah it's a very light application though.. it's only meant to provide extra protection to the wood and increase the overall longevity of the bass' neck. Others cited the right reasons as wood retains dirt, grime and sweat and eventually it will wear down the wood on the neck and in some cases, start to split it.

Fender went Satin Poly all around because a lot of players felt it enhanced their playability due to the smooth finish and the fact it didn't retain sweat and dirt as easily as the Gloss Poly, which isn't all that true. It feels like a faster neck to some but truly most bass players who play Fenders generally stay in the same area of the neck (never higher then the 7th fret eh?) so that feeling of a speedy neck was never a factor. The sweat is always an issue regardless of the finish.

[Gopherbassist]

I would say do tung oil, but like Jimbobntnr said, you will need to maintain it. When I've held tung oiled stuff, it had a smoothe soft kind of feeling, and it looks and smells alright too.

[Rawb]

okay!

this project took me a while to get started, but i got it done. sanded down the neck, put two light coats of that polyurathane thing, sanded it down again and its done. feels done anyway. feels great too! i love it!