Nooby Question: Cleaning the neck (not fretboard, neck!)

[mango_icecream]

Hi all, I've been looking over these forums for awhile and I've finally registered up and joined. I must say this board has quite a lot of helpful advice and lots of mature members.

I just have a simple question regarding cleaning an Ibanez neck (not the fretboard, as most search results seem to come up with this). I have an RGR421 and it's just got the Wizard II neck. It feels kinda oily and not really smooth so I was wondering what should I use to wipe it down? I've already tried using a cloth to wipe it down several times but it's still kinda oily. The neck feels smooth around the headstock part and near the neck-joint so I'm just a little worried (probably paranoid) why my Ibanez neck doesn't feel smooth, and what can I do to remedy this?

Thanks in advance for your help

- Ryan

[JJEMMER777]

Originally Posted by mango_icecream

Hi all, I've been looking over these forums for awhile and I've finally registered up and joined. I must say this board has quite a lot of helpful advice and lots of mature members.

I just have a simple question regarding cleaning an Ibanez neck (not the fretboard, as most search results seem to come up with this). I have an RGR421 and it's just got the Wizard II neck. It feels kinda oily and not really smooth so I was wondering what should I use to wipe it down? I've already tried using a cloth to wipe it down several times but it's still kinda oily. The neck feels smooth around the headstock part and near the neck-joint so I'm just a little worried (probably paranoid) why my Ibanez neck doesn't feel smooth, and what can I do to remedy this?

Thanks in advance for your help

- Ryan

Wash your hands before you play

lol....just kiddin. Trying to be mature here

Can you tell if the neck is finished?? If you don't know send a pic, but here are two remidies.

#1 on finished necks, I just use a slighty dampend cloth (warm water) Ring the cloth out to where it doesn't drip and then onec you get the gunk off, follow up with follow up with a dry cloth. Works great

# 2 on unfinshed necks use .0000 steel wool and it'll come right off and be all smooth Make sure you use the .0000 steel wool. Hope that helps.

Mango Ice cream?? Kinda funny, I just had Mango Delight tonight.

[mango_icecream]

Thanks for the quick reply

Haha, I do wash my hands before I play, I'm poor (high school kid, explains all) and I have to buy my strings off the net so I try to do what I can so that they last as long as possible. I always wipe down my guitar after I play :P

I would've thought you guys would know if a wizard II neck was finished or unfinished. Maybe another Ibanez owner may know? Wouldn't it kinda be a bad thing if companies sold guitars with unfinished necks as the moisture from the hands would get absorbed by the neck and warp the neck over time? I would have assumed all smooth necks are finished with a couple of layers of tung oil then sanded down a little...hmm...

Sorry I can't get a picture at the moment. I just tried using my dad's digital camera but the quality is pretty bad. I've run out of batteries for my own camera but I'll try get pics tomorrow or something. Thanks for the suggestions though.

Mango ftw

[JJEMMER777]

Actually a LOT of people prefer the feel of an unfinished neck and sand off the finish It won't warp, lol. That's what a truss rod is for Most Ibanez necks these days (if not all) come with a clear coat. Did you buy it new or used???

[mango_icecream]

I bought my Ibanez new about a month ago...maybe you can understand why I'm a little paranoid :P

I do prefer the feel of an unfinished neck, but that feel is very similar to one which is finished in tung oil then slightly sanded down. I sanded down my Epiphone LP neck and finished it in tung oil, then sanded it again a tiny bit, smooth as ever I've sold the guitar though, I like the overall feel of the Ibanez better.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding you a little. By "finished" or "clear coat", do you mean like a lacquer finish or do you mean any finish (eg, satin finish)?

Also one more quick q: My guitar has a little paint crack near the edge which is about 3/4 inch long. Is there anything I can do to prevent the paint from chipping off?

Thanks in advance again

[JJEMMER777]

Originally Posted by mango_icecream

Maybe I'm misunderstanding you a little. By "finished" or "clear coat", do you mean like a lacquer finish or do you mean any finish (eg, satin finish)?

Thanks in advance again

lol.....satin it is

Use the method described in #1 above!

[mango_icecream]

Oki oki, I used it and it kinda worked, thanks a lot

If anyone could answer my other question regarding the small finish crack I would be grateful (or maybe I should use the search bar, but a lot of the results come up with the neck-joint crack)...

I am already loving this community, thanks

[JohnnyRG1527]

Originally Posted by mango_icecream

If anyone could answer my other question regarding the small finish crack I would be grateful (or maybe I should use the search bar, but a lot of the results come up with the neck-joint crack)...

I am already loving this community, thanks

You could just put a bit of clear laquer over the crack and it should hold it and prevent it going any further. just spray some in the lid and put i tiny bit on with a fine brush.

[albee1952]

Or use clear nail polish.