Sticky guitars due to sweat: Any tricks?

[dr.barlo]

Hi all,

I love my Heritage. Real nitro finish, so with sweat the color changes a bit (where I touch the body becomes milky)... But the finish gets slicker, faster you know. So when I play it, it's like it becomes easier to play... This is my backup guitar.

My gigging guitar is a McCarty and has that fancy poly finish. I love the guitar, the way it responds, the tones I get from my Brobucker in the bridge and PG in the neck. But, with sweat it becomes sticky. And it's irritating.

Is there a trick? Like applying some paste/wax or something?

Thanks in advance.

B

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Sticky guitars due to sweat: Any tricks?

I had a friend who sweat a ton and swore by waxing his guitars for this reason. Just used regular car wax (I think he used maguire's gold something or other wax), and never had any problems that I'm aware of.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Sticky guitars due to sweat: Any tricks?

I use a forearm-sized sweat band on my right forearm. Any outdoor show in Florida produces a lot of sweat, and the guitar gets to be a sticky mess.

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: Sticky guitars due to sweat: Any tricks?

I sweat like a fountain. I used Martin guitar polish on my poly guitars. I imagine car wax would work as well. They get slippery when wet!

 

[Larioso]

Re: Sticky guitars due to sweat: Any tricks?

Isn't that why many make back of neck satin - not to be so sticky for hands.
Sanding off laquer, kind of, as I understood it.

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Sticky guitars due to sweat: Any tricks?

I had a friend who sweat a ton and swore by waxing his guitars for this reason. Just used regular car wax (I think he used maguire's gold something or other wax), and never had any problems that I'm aware of.

Cool. Thanks!

I've tried some car wax I had, and it became gooish paste mixed with the sweat on the body of the guitar. And leaving the guitar even for 5 min and coming back, made it more sticky. I guess I gotta try with some other brands, finer waxes.

B

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Sticky guitars due to sweat: Any tricks?

I use a forearm-sized sweat band on my right forearm. Any outdoor show in Florida produces a lot of sweat, and the guitar gets to be a sticky mess.

That's what I've used to do as well... But feel like a tennis player

Joking aside, it's cool and it works. It's just that under sweat and all my wrist becomes very itchy, so itchy that I gotta take it off.

Thanks for the suggestion.

B

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Sticky guitars due to sweat: Any tricks?

I sweat like a fountain. I used Martin guitar polish on my poly guitars. I imagine car wax would work as well. They get slippery when wet!

Thanks.

Will be giving this a try. I've got Gibson's guitar polish, so it'll be worth a try!

B

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Sticky guitars due to sweat: Any tricks?

Isn't that why many make back of neck satin - not to be so sticky for hands.
Sanding off laquer, kind of, as I understood it.

It's not about the neck. The neck is ok. My hands, my palm doesn't sweat. It's the forearm that becomes sticky.

B

 

[Chris Pile]

Re: Sticky guitars due to sweat: Any tricks?

It's not about the neck. The neck is ok. My hands, my palm doesn't sweat. It's the forearm that becomes sticky.

Back in the 80's I played in a punk/funk band (Fishbone, Bad Brains, RHCP, etc.) and we did a ton of outdoor gigs in the summer. My forearm was sticking to the bass, so I cut the toe out of a black cotton crew sock, and wore it on my arm. It went from my wrist to just above my elbow. No more sticking, and the audience thought it looked cool.

As for cleaning up the guitar, I've found BOSS guitar detailer will take off that nasty haze very well.

 

[chadd]

Re: Sticky guitars due to sweat: Any tricks?

Back in the 80's I played in a punk/funk band (Fishbone, Bad Brains, RHCP, etc.) and we did a ton of outdoor gigs in the summer. My forearm was sticking to the bass, so I cut the toe out of a black cotton crew sock, and wore it on my arm. It went from my wrist to just above my elbow. No more sticking, and the audience thought it looked cool.

As for cleaning up the guitar, I've found BOSS guitar detailer will take off that nasty haze very well.

I wear a spandex compression sleeve, works pretty well

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: Sticky guitars due to sweat: Any tricks?

You have to get the guitar really clean before you wax it with anything! Otherwise you are just adding more gunk.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Sticky guitars due to sweat: Any tricks?

Long sleeves. Sports equipment retailers have cool-tech versions for summer.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Sticky guitars due to sweat: Any tricks?

I wear a spandex compression sleeve, works pretty well

Where do you get those?

 

[Chris Pile]

Re: Sticky guitars due to sweat: Any tricks?

Ask any stripper where she gets her stage clothing...

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Sticky guitars due to sweat: Any tricks?

Ask any stripper where she gets her stage clothing...

I'm not sure dental floss and postage stamps are going to help here.

 

[Securb]

Re: Sticky guitars due to sweat: Any tricks?

I have used baby powder on my fretting hand for years then found out Reb Beach does the same thing. Works wonders, kills the stickies, and makes the neck super fast.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Sticky guitars due to sweat: Any tricks?

My glossy finished guitars get nasty in the summer months at rehearsal and when we play outdoors. All I do is wipe them down between sets at a gig and the day after they get a thorough cleaning. The couple that are matte finish don't get sticky but I still wipe them down, especially the hardware.

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Sticky guitars due to sweat: Any tricks?

Yeah, that McCarty of mine has a glossy finish.

I love nitros, the feel of them, and that it gets easier to play with sweat...

B

 

[Mincer]

Re: Sticky guitars due to sweat: Any tricks?

My Eastman has some sort of shellac violin finish which is great to play on. Also, my Music Man has a very textured finish without a top coat, and it is impossible to stick to. The 'stickiness' of a finish can decide if I will buy the guitar, actually.