Nitro coming off

hotpickups

Is there anything I can do with the gunky/sticky nitro thats collecting at nut and base of my les paul neck. It's just wearing off the back of neck now and ending up at these locations. Something I can use to wipe it off maybe?


https://i.imgur.com/cMJ87Lr.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/8uKCH1j.jpg

OilCityPickups

Well nitro thinners will tale off the nitro ... but also effectively strip the neck ... 
Are you sure it's not just playing grease from your hands? That's seriously worn ... wow!

Bridgehouse

You could try some virtuoso cleaner first and see if it is nitro or not..

meltedbuzzbox

Lighter fluid?

OilCityPickups

What model LP is that? 

hotpickups

TheGuitarWeasel said:

Well nitro thinners will tale off the nitro ... but also effectively strip the neck ... 
Are you sure it's not just playing grease from your hands? That's seriously worn ... wow!

Yeah I've played it..... a lot over the years. Not wanting strip the neck but not wanting re nitro it either I quite like the bare feel

hotpickups

TheGuitarWeasel said:

What model LP is that? 

1981/2 Standard I believe

hotpickups

meltedbuzzbox said:

Lighter fluid?

Hmmm not sure I want introduce any flammable liquids to it

hotpickups

Bridgehouse said:

You could try some virtuoso cleaner first and see if it is nitro or not..

Ok. Just presumed it was nitro residue but could be something other. 

OilCityPickups

hotpickups said:

Bridgehouse said:

You could try some virtuoso cleaner first and see if it is nitro or not..

Ok. Just presumed it was nitro residue but could be something other. 

I get crap like that on my almost-bare maple tele neck ... disgusting as it might seem ... I believe it's a mixture of grease from the skin and atmospheric dirt! I use a tiny bit of white spirit to wipe it off ... 

hotpickups

TheGuitarWeasel said:

hotpickups said:

Bridgehouse said:

You could try some virtuoso cleaner first and see if it is nitro or not..

Ok. Just presumed it was nitro residue but could be something other. 

I get crap like that on my almost-bare maple tele neck ... disgusting as it might seem ... I believe it's a mixture of grease from the skin and atmospheric dirt! 

eeeek really? What do you use to clean it off @TheGuitarWeasel ?

OilCityPickups

hotpickups said:

TheGuitarWeasel said:

hotpickups said:

Bridgehouse said:

You could try some virtuoso cleaner first and see if it is nitro or not..

Ok. Just presumed it was nitro residue but could be something other. 

I get crap like that on my almost-bare maple tele neck ... disgusting as it might seem ... I believe it's a mixture of grease from the skin and atmospheric dirt! 

eeeek really? What do you use to clean it off @TheGuitarWeasel ?See above lol ... white spirit

ICBM

Serious question - are you diabetic? Your body may be producing acetone-related compounds, including in your sweat, which I think is one of the effects of diabetes. If so, this will attack a nitro finish.

Whatever the cause, if it was me I would strip the whole neck up to the body joint and at least to the ridge of the volute, even if not the whole headstock. If you like the feel of the worn section, oil-finish the neck - maple is fine with this. If not, have it refinished with something that isn't nitro.

hotpickups

ICBM said:

Serious question - are you diabetic? Your body may be producing acetone-related compounds, including in your sweat, which I think is one of the effects of diabetes. If so, this will attack a nitro finish.

Whatever the cause, if it was me I would strip the whole neck up to the body joint and at least to the ridge of the volute, even if not the whole headstock. If you like the feel of the worn section, oil-finish the neck - maple is fine with this. If not, have it refinished with something that isn't nitro.

No absolutely not diabetic. Ok I'll ask my nearest Luthier and hopefully re refinish it with an oil finish. Quite like to keep the worsens though as it isn't fake relicin'

sawyer

Strip it and leave a stinger at headstock end. Be cool! 

hotpickups

sawyer said:

Strip it and leave a stinger at headstock end. Be cool! 

Stinger?

Adam_MD

Stinger

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRTCGvGiOffCE-UqRASf4ccFIKF_hf4kUDtZRs5rEhmWw94g6wQ

hotpickups

Adam_MD said:

Stinger

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRTCGvGiOffCE-UqRASf4ccFIKF_hf4kUDtZRs5rEhmWw94g6wQ

Purely cosmetic then

Adam_MD

It’s a guitar and guitarists are shallow bitches of course it’s purely cosmetic.  

Though I used one on a guitar to save the serial number etc a few years ago while stripping the neck.  

KKJale

As recommended above... try to get hold of a bottle of Virtuoso cleaner.

It's amazing stuff. It will not damage nitro, but it spirited away the ancient gunky heel build-up on my 330 when nothing else would.

hotpickups

Adam_MD said:

It’s a guitar and guitarists are shallow bitches of course it’s purely cosmetic.  

Though I used one on a guitar to save the serial number etc a few years ago while stripping the neck.  

Not sure I can afford cosmetic enhancements