Guitar '?'...

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

I'm not sure about asking this here, so maybe someone could direct me to an appropriate web-site...

I'm having to play some outdoor gigs at present, and I'm having a real problem with humidity (or I assume that's what it is); my Martin feels sticky and damp to the touch, making playing it a real chore! It's the high-gloss neck-finish that seems to be the problem, as well as the dampness on my hands. Is there a well-known solution to this that's familiar, perhaps, to bluegrass guys?

It almost feels like I want to put baby-powder everywhere, but I'm doubtful about doing this.

Thanks...

RR

Jon Light · From: Saugerties, NY

You will get better (and better qualified) responses than mine but I once built a guitar (solid body electric) and I spent a whole lot of time spraying a beautiful 11-teen thousand coat nitrocel-lacquer finish and working it into the most beautiful gloss. I ended up steel wooling it down to a matte finish for the very reasons you are talking about. Gloss finishes tend to be tacky to moist hands. Talc is an ok idea but the permanent solution is a nice satin or matte finish. No, I'm not suggesting that you take an abrasive substance to your Martin but......well, I guess I am. Best to get a craftsman's take on it. You could certainly do it yourself but the tough part is knowing where to start & stop and knowing how to mask off areas that you don't want to mess up.

btw----steel wool doesn't mean SOS or Brillo pads----we are talking about 0000 or finer stuff.

[This message was edited by Jon Light on 01 July 2006 at 07:34 AM.]

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

Jon, thank you for a speedy response.

I had this guitar made for me by their Custom Shop, and I love it. I wanted a 000-28, but with 1950 appointments. Asking for the high-gloss neck was a mistake, however, even if it does look lovely.

The other guitar-player is using a low-end Martin with on-board electrics and a matte-black finish all over (he paid $600!!!) and he's having a much nicer time than I am!

Fortunately, my main gig here in Medora is playing my Emmons at night in the main show, but these satellite gigs are lucrative. It's a pity I didn't bring my ancient 000-18 - it's finish is so dull and aged that any trace of gloss is long-gone! It would have worked much better.

For today's gig I may resort to talcum powder - I'll have to give the notion of dulling the finish on the neck a little thought before I commit, 'though I'm sure you're right...

Roger R.

Chris LeDrew · From: Canada

Just a small suggestion: washing your hands in warm soapy water and rinsing them thoroughly will make your hands less prone to stickiness. I have the same problem with my tele, so I usually hit the bathroom before the set and scrub the natural oils off my hands as best I can. If the spot between your index finger and thumb is dry and free of oil, you should have better luck with movement. Try to avoid touching your face (ie., wiping sweat), because the oil and salt accumulates on your hands. Have two towels handy: one for your face and hands, and one for the guitar neck.

This is probably obvious to you, but I figured I'd throw it out anyway.

Bob Martin · From: Madison Tn

I have the same problem as Chris or maybe I wouldn't call it a problem but I always wash my hands before each set and I don't suffer from sticky-neck syndrome :-)

Bob

Patrick Ickes · From: Upper Lake, CA USA

Roger,
Don't use talc powder! It's very abrasive and will dull the finish of your guitar as well as 0000 Steel Wool. Washing your hands up to your elbows works well and won't destroy your guitar.
Patrick

Jim Cohen · From: Philadelphia, PA

Roger, I suggest you take the weekend off and drive home to get your other guitar.

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

Thanks to all for the good advice - washing my hands hadn't occured to me (that didn't sound quite right, but you know what I meant

....)

Thanks, Jim - you're a treasure!

RR

Marlin Smoot · From: Kansas

It seems like we never finish paying our dues, especially for outdoor gigs.

Jim Peters · From: St. Louis, Missouri, USA, R.I.P.

Had the same problem. Get a container of Fast Fret at your local music store. Put it on strings and back of neck, problem solved! Not too slimy, fells just right. Good luck, JP

Dave Brophy · From: Miami FL

From playing outdoor gigs in the FL Keys,I'm familiar with the problem.It's the sticky dreck that occurs in super-humid hot climates.And I second Fast Fret sprayed on the back of the neck (and strings).It works like a charm.If I couldn't find any,I'd try the little towlettes sold for cleaning eyeglasses.It's just alcohol on a tissue.

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

Well, we did the gig, and it was less humid that yesterday. I took Chris' advice and carefully washed my hands and arms right before we started - it worked like a charm!

Such a simple solution, too, although as I've said, it was a more pleasant day here in ND.

This is mainly because a huge hail-storm passed through the area late yesterday and cleared the air. Unfortunately, my poor Lincoln has been trashed, along with every other car in the immediate vicinity. Quarter-sized hailstones driven by a 70 mph wind, and so destructive.

Anyway, that hand-washing tip did the trick, although I'll consider carrying some Fast-Fret in future (wouldn't plain alcohol work as well if you doused a clean rag with it?)

Thanks to everyone for your help.

RR

Chris LeDrew · From: Canada

Glad to be of help, Roger. I did an outdoor gig earlier tonight by the ocean, and it was sticky. There was nowhere to scrub the hands before playing, so I suffered a bit in the speed department. I was playing pedal steel, so I had a bit more control that I would've had with the tele. The humidity just eats through the strings, don't you find?

BTW, I also carry a little bottle of anti-bacterial scrub in my pac-seat that I use sometimes to freshen up my hands during a gig. It also takes the worry away from the grimy hand-shaking going on throughout the night. I'm not a germ phobic or anything. I just like to keep my hands fresh and clean. I owe at least that much to them.

Jim Cohen · From: Philadelphia, PA

Wash your hands after every song... and take two Prozac. That should do it...

Jim Peters · From: St. Louis, Missouri, USA, R.I.P.

Before fast fret, I used to look around for some popcorn or potato chips to grease up my hands. Yum! JP

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

I dunno about Prozac, Jim...

I played 36 holes of golf in 90 degree weather), did another 'extra' bluegrass gig from 6.00 to 7.45 (I washed my hands this time!), then played the main Medora Musical from 8.30 to 10.30....

I was so tired that I missed several cues and, when I did remember to play, I was pretty rough! It would be the night that a local steel-guy came in to watch, too - if I'd known he was there, I might have managed a bit better, but maybe not...

I'm going to bed!

RRzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Roger Rettig · From: Naples, FL

Chris..

I guess the humidity does 'do in' a set of strings, but I have (apparently) above-normal acidity in my perspiration (not as bad as the Alien creature in the film of the same name, but...) and strings don't last very long on my instruments. I hate the task of changing them, so I'll put it off as long as I can, but I'm very glad once it's done.

I must say that I don't have that humidity/stickiness problem on steel - it is definitely that gloss neck that's the culprit. We're getting some very warm weather here in ND, and I've taken to covering the C6 strings with a small face-cloth so they don't get too tarnished when I'm on E9 - it puts off that evil string-changing day for a while

....

That perspiration problem of mine also means that specatcle-frames don't last me very long, either, and they're a bit more pricy than a pack of Jagwires!

[This message was edited by Roger Rettig on 03 July 2006 at 07:55 AM.]

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