Les Paul nitro finish sticky after extended time in the case.

[oilpit]

My Les Paul has been out of commission for longer than I care to admit, I decided to take it into a luthier. I was noodling around on it the morning I brought it in and I noticed that the neck was really sticky.

It was so bad I actually checked to see if there was some dirt or sticky gunk that had gotten into the case, so I gave it a few wipes with a rag and came to the conclusion there was not.

I did some googling and it sounds like this can happen to nitro finishes after extended time in a case. Some people report just leaving the guitar out and playing it will fix the issue. Others recommend scotch brite pads or 000 steel wool.

What do you think would be the best course of action?

Thanks!

[ICTGoober]

Scotchbrite - the gray.

[oilpit]

Scotchbrite - the gray.

Thank you! That may be the fastest I've ever gotten an answer to a question online lol

[beaubrummels]

That's interesting. I have Les Pauls and other Gibsons that have spent significant time in the case but never had this happen.

[JB_From_Hell]

I have the same experience with nitro after a few minutes of playing, whether the guitar was cased or not. That nastiness sticks to my hands/skin like crazy.

My solution has been to not buy anymore nitro finished guitars, and to sand that crap off the necks of the ones I have. This is obviously not the best course of action for everyone, but it’s worked well for me.

[oilpit]

My solution has been to not buy anymore nitro finished guitars, and to sand that crap off the necks of the ones I have. This is obviously not the best course of action for everyone, but it’s worked well for me.

I've had nitro finished guitars in the past but this is the first time I've encountered something like this, although it was somewhat comforting to learn that this isn't a unique problem. I love my Les Paul, it's my daily driver but I would have absolutely zero qualms sanding down the neck and throwing a couple coats of tru oil on there.

If the scotch brite doesn't do the trick I'll go this route, I think.

[JB_From_Hell]

Oil/wax is glorious, you won’t regret it.

[eclecticsynergy]

Never had an issue like that. Was the guitar relatively new when it was put away?
Perhaps the nitro hadn't fully cured.

[JB_From_Hell]

Never had an issue like that. Was the guitar relatively new when it was put away?
Perhaps the nitro hadn't fully cured.

I think it has to do with skin ph, kinda like how some people kill strings really quickly and others don’t.

My sticky nitro guitars are all vintage Gibsons from the 60s or earlier.

[Aceman]

I'd just let it catch some cool air for a week or so and then re-evaluate.

[St_Genesius]

If you're at all nervous about it, you could probably get away with the white (which is gentler) and still de-sticky things, but the gray (or even maroon) will do it faster.

Scotchbrite - the gray.

[ICTGoober]

You don't need to go clean through to the wood. Easy pressure will do the job.

[Securb]

I'd just let it catch some cool air for a week or so and then re-evaluate.

This, I would take it out of a humid environment and let the finish settle then evaluate from there. At that point, it probably will just need a light polish.

[DavidRavenMoon]

I have the same experience with nitro after a few minutes of playing, whether the guitar was cased or not. That nastiness sticks to my hands/skin like crazy.

My solution has been to not buy anymore nitro finished guitars, and to sand that crap off the necks of the ones I have. This is obviously not the best course of action for everyone, but it’s worked well for me.

That sounds like the finish wasn’t cured. I’ve never had that issue.


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[JB_From_Hell]

That sounds like the finish wasn’t cured. I’ve never had that issue.


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My hands stick to any finish that’s not oil/wax.