Glossy to satin neck finish sanded in 10 mnutes of effort!

I've been meaning to do this video a long time now, this is the way "I" change my guitar necks from a high glossy sticky non-slidable neck to a satin slick fast moving neck which is much more comfortable to play and move up and down. This is especially helpful on hot humid sticky days when your hand sticks to the high gloss and is hard to move quickly up and down the neck! I used 800 grit sandpaper for taking off the gloss quickly and then 1500 grit to smooth it down. Thanks for viewing!

[@davidlara105]

I've been searching for an electric guitar with satin finish neck and I've rejected several brands and models (in the range of my pocket) because those sticky necks, but you my friend has given me the tools and the way to become that kind of finish in what I want. Great work! Thank you!

[@RandySchartiger]

great to hear! now you can buy which ever one you want and do this to it. :) thanks for viewing!

[@pepe3675]

@@RandySchartiger can i do this on the whole body???

[@RayLawrenceJrMUSIC]

We call that a speed neck where I come from. This is seen in the bluegrass world a lot. One amazing mod.

[@yaisum]

that eraser trick is a great idea, and not just for this exact job! Great video, thanks Randy

[@RandySchartiger]

thank you my friend! and thanks for watching!

[@teridacktaljones4553]

I did my Guitar and it was great, it didn't work so well for my wife she woke up at 2 in the morning and said what the f are doing with your guitar under the blanket then she got up and left me alone with my guitar and no blanket.

[@RandySchartiger]

LOL! Caught in the act! lol The women just sometimes doesn't understand the importance of a smooth neck! :P

[@youflatbro7498]

You should have yelled out "DON'T JUDGE ME!"

[@ricardogarcia3444]

Teridacktal Jones great story for Larry the cable guy lol lol

[@BobPerrone]

ROFL

[@oger5150]

That's funny

[@ashevillescarborough]

Sweet.. I taped off the ends and did this with a green Scotchbrite pad.. big difference

[@frankpennington]

Hi Randy, this is your English 'Chick Lit' speaking to you from Poland. Now this is by far the best method on the tube. Many thanks. Two things happened to my Martin 000-28EC it is 12 year old and never had any problems then due to a capo which I cannot adjust the tension and it damaged the neck and created a bubble in the neck back. I watched your video about capo I wish I had seen this before I used the crap capo (you mention it also) I have had to sand down the back of the neck to remove what was now a large bubble 1/3 of neck as the bubble grows. I am now at the point of refinishing I think that I will have to re-lacquer or what ever then use your method to flat finish the back of neck. Your semi chrome is brill thanks many times and keep up the great work. Regards Frank

[@LakeMorehouse]

Love the sweatshirt, Go Herd!

[@RobinOsborne2312]

I have a Gibson ES335 and it had the most horrible, sticky neck on it. After about 3 years of constant playing it improved dramatically. I wish I had known about this sanding back then. Happy Christmas to you and yours.

[@RandySchartiger]

It makes a world of difference, I hate for a guitar to feel sticky like that. Thanks my friend and Merry Christmas to you and yours as well!

[@CalmedByNature]

"slick as shit baby"

[@RandySchartiger]

yessir! fixed lol thanks for watching!

[@mikemurdock7234]

This is the best tutorial I've found on KZbin, I can't thank you enough, however I have two questions: I'm looking to do this to an Epiphone guitar that has binding. I've seen other videos where people tape off the binding, but I'd like to also sand the binding. If I do this, will I damage the binding? I want to get rid of all the gloss to make it easier to play. I've had this guitar for 4 years and that gloss is the only thing that has made it difficult.

[@KeeganWoodward]

I just followed this tutorial and it worked great, thank you!

[@mikemagnum7987]

Randy that was a real nice job of blending you did there! I wasn't expecting it to turn out that well, but you nailed it for sure! Well done Amigo., Merry Christmas...

[@RandySchartiger]

Thank you Mike! I usually blend them in even better than this but since its my own guitar I didn't want to spend too much time on it. Merry Christmas to you as well!

[@tube4andy]

Magic, worked a treat on my Cort - like new now!

[@PianoManJ]

Hi Randy, I'm a fan of the show. I got a question for you, concerning the aftercare after sanding it down. Do you apply any type of wood care after sanding it down and does it need re-sanding after playing it for some time? all the best Jakob :)

[@StevenDoyleYes]

worth noting @4:40 he says to *not* remove the entire finish. This way the wood won't need any aftercare as it's never exposed. However, I bet it re-glosses in spots from playing

[@guitarstruggles3140]

Great job brother! l can tell that neck feels good just by looking at it! Feel better and rock on brother!

[@RandySchartiger]

It feels like a different guitar compared to how it was before! Thanks for tuning in brother and Merry Christmas!

[@12Radius]

Looks great man ! I am going to do this to one of mine. so took a look.

[@RandySchartiger]

thanks man! it really makes for some comfortable playing, you can slide up and down the neck much faster.

[@andylane8815]

I wonder if you can help. I have a guitar that needs this done. Thinking of doing a relic look.

[@milesowen81]

Just wondering why you were making the guitar damp at the beginning, does that have anything to do with the sanding process?

[@jeffhutchings7107]

Fantastic! I play a Seagull (Godin) form Quebec, and I hate the glossy neck. This is exactly the advise and instruction I needed to make an awesome guitar even better! Thank you, Randy!

[@rockers2rockers616]

Great video. I still need to run 1500 - 2000 Grit paper to finish the neck. It feels much better though. I also rolled the edge of the fretboard. I really want to do this to the top. My guitar is Black like a Johnny Cash Martin so I want to make a mat finish. If I can get a rattle can of nitro, I will refinish the top to an aged look of the finish cracking etc. Obsessed you say? I know...

[@RandySchartiger]

haha I hear ya man! obsessed here too! good luck! and thanks for checking out my videos!

[@tomgia1964]

Thanks Randy ! That looks beu you ti ful ! Probably feels even better 😉Hold on ! 😆 Lol

[@MegaGuitarzilla]

Made that thing look good!

[@RandySchartiger]

thanks man, made it play alot better!

[@JohnP.6775]

I'm debating on getting the LAG HiVibe smart guitar and I don't like the glossy finish so might end up doing it to that, I hate the look of glossy guitar's

[@Morten_Nielsen1979]

Hi Randy. Have you ever tried to take the finish of the top on an acoustic guitar? I wonder if it will sound better without the lacquer? You could just use a polish after to protect the wood.

[@frederikweishaupt6371]

Would you put any Oil or finish on it?

[@kommi1974]

I use Micro-Mesh cloths/sheets. You can get them in a kit for like $16 and you can fold it to the neck profile. That shit is the best stuff I've found. 1500 - 12,000 grit. Slicker than snot and shiny as hell WITHOUT that stickiness. You use this stuff before?

[@saoirsepaddy]

Wo_ow that a great idea there Randy It sucks having a sticky neck . I guess come to think about it fiddles don't have finish on the neck

[@RandySchartiger]

It does suck and makes it hard to move around on the neck with any speed. I like this much better now!

[@pepe3675]

i want to remove all the shine from my yamaha fg830 guitar. Do you think I can do that with 2000 grit sandpaper and just remove the gloss? I mean the whole body of the guitar

[@thijs199]

So, did you sand the neck, and further nothing? no finish or whatever?

[@RandySchartiger]

yep sanded was all I did, it still has finish over it but not glossy like before, and much easier to slide up and down. thanks for watching!

[@ashleyorr1]

Another excellent video. Thanks. Just to add. You mentioned maybe doing this to your other two Martins. Some Martins have a satin finish on the neck; mine does. But it’s not all that smooth. (One or two of little tiny dent on the back of my neck too - you feel everything on it.) Martin recommends not polishing the satin finish neck. It’s meant to spoil the finish or something. Any thoughts? ... Thanks again. Take care.

[@stefandoke9518]

Do you do anything to finish the neck after sanding? Linseed oil maybe or is it fine bare? Thanks

[@RandySchartiger]

no nothing else, just lightly sand until you have a satin finish.

[@thijs199]

@@RandySchartiger thats so cool.

[@michael_caz_nyc]

Hey Randy - I just purchased a Stingray short-scale Bass. The neck is a little Dry Feeling. I love smooth, slippery Satin Feeling necks. Is there Anything I can Apply (without sanding or removing the neck) to make it feel more Smooth and Less-Dry . . . without having that Sticky Lacquer feel ?

[@KYTO82]

looks great Randy Probably feels better than it looks!

[@RandySchartiger]

It does feel really nice! I strung it up last night (video coming) and I must say I like it 10x better! Thanks for viewing Tim!

[@JordanLapping]

Great video! I have a maple neck Fender Telecaster which I’m planning to do this to as I really hate the glossy finish. Do you think it would work the same for the fretboard side too? It’s super glossy and find can occasionally catch with things like bends. Any advice? Many thanks!

[@timcastle165]

Great video! Can you apply a satin finish over the neck after sanding?

[@jerryx2000]

Hey man I just ordered a PRS with satin neck. Does the satin go bad & become sticky over time? Thanks

[@RandySchartiger]

yep sure does, as you play it and depending on how much it's played it will eventually wear slick like a gloss finish and become sticky. thanks for viewing!

[@ph0kused]

Mine did... I have two gripes with PRS, everything else is A+++ - Their satin neck isn't permanent, it will get sticky over time, but that's a quick fix - just like in this video, I used same method. My last and biggest gripe is PRS uses only NIckle frets, unless you order from the custom shop - he refuses to put SS on his non-custom guitars, which is hot bullshit... Paul Reed Smith has a video on youtube where he ACTUALLY says his nickle frets will not wear! Search PRS refret and youll see the video, I refretted my PRS with Jumbo SS Frets, and sanded the neck = Now it is awesome! But I had to do two things that PRS should have done considering I paid over 2 grand at the time...

[@Sirstarfish]

in my experience a satin finish gradually got more glossy but never to the amount of a proper gloss finish and it also never got as sticky as a gloss finish and i could still feel the wood grain. This was on a Faith guitar, not sure about PRS satin.

[@connorwhitaker1259]

Is it safe to do this to the face of the body of the guitar

[@robertenriquez7486]

I have a question..i sanded a laquor guitar classical that got at at yard sale.it had house paint coverage the original finish..now the original finish is exposed.what do u recommend to regloss it up? Its fine sanded with 1000 grits.would u recommend spray can clear.shellac or wipe on poly

[@alamosabill201]

I'm not taking no sandpaper to my PRS lol 😬

[@RandySchartiger]

lol it's not an easy thing to do! I mean the job is easy but first touching the sandpaper to a beautiful guitar is not so much lol Thanks mate!

[@bobaldo2339]

How would you protect position marker dots on the side of a neck while doing this?

[@RandySchartiger]

you can sand right over them they are deep enough in the holes so you can\t sand enough away to hurt them. thanks for watching!

[@anjumariaphilipose6554]

Well..just like you turned the gloss finish on the neck to satin can we turn the back and sides of a gloss finished guitar to satin?also does gloss finish fade over time😁?

[@RandySchartiger]

yes you can turn it from gloss to satin, gloss stays glossy until it wears off but satin wears back into gloss over time. thanks for watching!

[@RobinsBookClub]

Hi Randy, I'm about to do this to a guitar but my question is really about the polish. what's it called? Do you think it might help me restore the finish on my sg? I've scuffed the shine off on the front and want to try and get it back from its current cloudy patches. Hope you can help advise me :) thank you

[@RandySchartiger]

if you haven't taken too much finish off you may be able to buff the guitar with a lightly adhesive buffing compound, I find happich semi-chrome polish as strange as it may sound works well for buffing guitar finish. good luck and thanks for watching!

[@RobinsBookClub]

@@RandySchartiger thank you Randy, I've watched a bunch of your.videos now and I appreciate the knowledge you share :)

[@bjamminsincebirth3494]

Can you use this process on the body too?

[@RandySchartiger]

yes, you can give your entire guitar the satin like finish this way, but be very careful not to burn thru the finish.

[@olcountryboy5485]

Good video brother!

[@RandySchartiger]

Many thanks my friend!

[@Charveljay]

Love a satin neck

[@suzannacrawford6447]

A smoother neck is a faster neck! Cheers:D Hope you get to feeling better.

[@RandySchartiger]

It sure is! And feels a lot better on those hot humid days! Many thanks Suzanna! Merry Christmas to you and yours! Hold on! :)

[@gabrielegrimaldi5026]

Grit of the sandpaper?

[@RyanLoh]

What did you use for a satin finish?

[@RandySchartiger]

nothing accept the finish that was already on there, sanded until it looked satin.

[@davidcoolen809]

I prefer a satin finish on the surface of my guitar. I recently bought one that has a gloss finish and I think it's too thick. Can I use this same process to thin the finish and remove the gloss?

[@clawhammer704]

Shit if it didn't work....slick as owl shit...!

[@RattlecanGuitarRestorations]

Crazy what a little water in the wood will do, eh?

[@RandySchartiger]

It really is! As crazy what lack of water in the wood will do as well! Thanks for tuning in brother!

[@IvoryOut]

Slick as shit! Well I don’t know how slick shit is....

[@krustybuzzard2477]

depending on the critical and of

[@mikewiley1652]

good video but I've been kind of leery of watching your videos since you been sick you know I didn't want to catch your cold LOL

[@RandySchartiger]

lol I try not to breathe on the cameras too much lmao Cheers Michael and thanks for viewing!

[@LegsON]

Hi Randy! Got myself Cort 70-NS couple of days ago for less than 100$. Man, even if I bought it new for ~200$... what a good instrument it is! It's really hard to believe that asians made such a great cheap instrument! If you ever get the opportunity - go and try out some Cort guitar. I bet you'll be amazed with it's sound and build quality for the money.

[@RandySchartiger]

Lexonn Very cool! I've set up a couple of Cort guitars I can't remember the models but I do remember being impressed with them, it seems like a higher quality guitar than what they sell for and I remember one of them was really loud!

[@musicrock_]

Fckkk!! It not smooth.. Its SUPER SMOOTH!!

[@RandySchartiger]

lol thanks for watching! :)

[@ricardogarcia3444]

13:20 slick and smooth as a baby s skin lol lol

[@ricardogarcia3444]

Thanks save me time and money if it wasnt for this information i would had to buy a gal of satin laq and respray a rocker thanks a lot

[@mikepj1025]

Brother, I can’t tell you how much I enjoy your videos. You have a way of making me feel comfortable trying to do work on my own guitar. Keep doin these videos man. There awesome.

[@ChrisHollandGuitar]

I've been watching these "sand the back of your guitar neck" videos as inspiration to do this myself...you've just convinced me!

[@nickamarit]

I love the satin result! Can I make the pick-guard have a satin finish too? Would the procedure be the same? Or would I need power tools since the pick-guard is plastic?

[@gwen4771]

I don't know why l did that but l have a vintage yamaha classical guitar and l wanted to sand the neck and l sanded it l was so panic when finish of the neck broke and the wood shows, it's really really pink, it's really really bad since the guitar's kinda expensive and beautiful and quite rare, do you know how to make the finish back to normal ? Like at least it turns brown again

[@jasonbrogly7401]

Can’t believe I waited so long to do this, excellent video and thanks for the awesome advice!!

[@MNB730]

Got my neck glossed up, this video is a very great reference to build up confidence to do it. Thank you!

[@SuneHansen1979]

Hey Randy. Sune from Denmark here. Just bought a new Gibson Hummingbird 2018 cherry Sunburst. I love the sound and the looks, but I don't like the glossy nitro cellulose finish on the neck. It feels very sticky to my freting hand. It's my first Gibson, i've played a Seagull S6, and I have never had a sticky neck problem with that one. I'm a little «afraid» to sand the Gibson like you do in your video. Its brand new and pretty expensive. But i'm desperate... I would like to keep it, but I can't play it with that sticky Neck. Do you think, that your sanding method would cure my problem? Regards from Denmark

[@johncleghorn4656]

EXCELLENT coaching my new found friend! Now all I need is courage and 800 grit sandpaper for taking off the gloss quickly and then 1500 grit to smooth it down... and of course Miracle Salve ( SIMICHROME POLISH 1.76 Ounce Polishing Paste). Thanks again. I bookmarked this video.

[@longotown]

love your video - miracle sav!

[@MichaelsPaintingChannel]

I've a polish for the car. Do you think that's also okay? And the sandpaper needs to be in water over night?

[@jltrem]

Randy, I live in Northeast Ohio. Where the hell do I find Simichrome??

[@RandySchartiger]

last time I bought it I got it from Amazon. good luck and thanks for watching!

[@berrybowlls9717]

RIP Randy you were a good due.

[@lurklingX]

amazing!!! (subbed!)

[@12Radius]

Got any recommendations on what to use on Bare Guitar wood? It’s just a cheap guitar with no finish down to the Bare wood. Just something to protect it from the elements maybe?

[@doyouluvit]

12:20 LOL....love it

[@robertdavis5495]

I know this video is 5 years old but thanks Randy!!! Honestly I don’t know why they still do glossy necks? My Jumbo Guild is all glossy but the neck came satin. But I just got a new D-120 and it’s neck is glossy 🤷‍♂️

[@youflatbro7498]

love satin neck guitars.

[@drewdelro98]

This was a great video, fantastic job man - straight to the point and who doesnt love those funny bits too!? Keep rockin brother!

[@jameskrys5286]

I had a neck that felt sticky. I took a damp sponge and LAVA soap, rubbed it and it took just enough off to make it feel non sticky. I can still polish it back to glossy if I want in the future.

[@RandySchartiger]

That's a good idea! A lot of them will eventually wear back into glossy and need this done again after its played a lot. Thanks for checking out my video!

[@jerryboy3301]

Great work man! Leaving a little finish will give me the satin slick feel but not leave the wood unprotected. Best neck fix on you tube.

[@stevenbush4065]

Randy Have you ever removed the gloss finish from the body of an acoustic guitar? If so, did you use the same process? I have an Epiphone white dove model. I love it, but I would love it even more if it had a satin finish. Any recommendations?

[@NEYMELLO-GUITAR]

This is, by far THE best guide on the subject I have seen on youtube! Thanks Randy!...

[@Gratefulman1965]

Looks great, I finish up with a dab of Tru-Oil.

[@LyleStyle87]

Usually I'm impatient with long videos (this was not that long really haha) but you're pretty entertaining to watch, Brother. And thank you for the information! 👍 👍

[@thomastommy1192]

That's what Martin has been doing to there necks the last few years. In time the neck will start to shine. And it will look even better than it does now. Great job an excellent educational video. Thumbs up. I hope you feel better soon my friend. Merry Christmas.

[@RandySchartiger]

Thank you Thomas! Yeah it'll evenyually wear slick again, I hope it doesn't wear into as high of gloss as it was before I did this. Merry Christmas to you and yours as well my friend!

[@BlackZar84]

I totally love your "Negan-like" accents!!! Thanks a lot for the video, I recently got a 7 string guitar with a neck that's been used so much that it had gone from satin to glossy and I really want to bring it back to satin. Will give this method a go asap!!!

[@audiotechlabs4650]

Randy, experience is everything! It gives a person, such as yourself and me and others, the balls to put sandpaper on a guitar you don't own and repair and fix it to make it better. Every guitar I've had with a satin finish, becomes a gloss finish after playing a lot. Usually it is the neck and around and below the strings on the body. What do you do to make a satin finish into a gloss. Rub with rubbing compound? Buff with buffing compound? Have you ever used the simichrome sauce? Great channel and a great guy! Thankz

[@RandySchartiger]

Yeah it will eventually start wearing into gloss again, It won't get as glossy as before but eventually I'll have to hit it again I'm sure. As for changing satin to gloss I use several different buffing compounds and you can very quickly put a high gloss on a satin finish. Thanks for tuning in and Merry Christmas!

[@hootenanny58]

I've seen a few videos of vintage violin repairmen using metal polish to remove rosin build-up from the sound plate. Some of these guys are fussy as all get out about tone, always going on about not removing too much varnish in the polishing. So I'm guessing if it's good enough for them ... BTW, one other thing, my 2010 D-35 came with a satin finish - that was run down to slick within two or three weeks of playing. I'll be curious to know how long your satin finish holds up.

[@RandySchartiger]

I know what you mean with some of those violin repairmen most of them are even picky about the kinds of glue used to do a repair, while I can see things like that and the finish should be taken into consideration on a very high dollar violin I don't think it's all that important on middle to lower end ones but then again I don't know nearly as much about them as I do guitars. Yeah I'm anxious too to see how long it'll take for this to become slick again from playing, if I can ever get back into practicing again it probably won't take long. Thanks for viewing!

[@johnbee1069]

I gotta get me some miracle salve baby!

[@jefflemieux8890]

Would it be beneficial to use tung oil , instead of the chrome polish?

[@BrianSmith-ow9gy]

Why not take the strap pin off? Got to make things easier surely?

[@mikeyjohnson6610]

Is there any way to get the gloss back. I don't like the feel

[@josedealva4205]

looks like the average bikini area for the 90´s

[@Guitarist._.2004]

I use scotchbrite pads for the back of my necks and it's incredible! I don't know why companies even bother with putting gloss finishes on necks. It's definitely a hindrance

[@heatherclark2623]

Do you do the scotch pads right away (when they're new), or wait until you have problems? How much are you scratching/sanding away on it? Just where you find your hand landing often, or are you exfoliating lol anywhere else on the body of the guitar? I didn't know stickiness could become an issue! I'm doing a bunch of research about different types (loooved the warmth of mahogany 😊💕) and looking toward acquiring my very first-ever guitar! 😁 I'm in school & money is tricky, but just found out about a program for veterans where we can get one, along with 1st 10 lessons! Sooo excited! 😊💕 Just trying to learn stuff along the way up to actually getting started. Any other new people tips you can think of would be awesome! 😀😊

[@Guitarist._.2004]

@@heatherclark2623 as soon as I get a new instrument and it has a gloss finish, the scotchbrite gets used and it makes the neck incredibly smooth. Of course you have to be careful with it because if you go too far, it can bring you down to bare wood and that's not what you want

[@heatherclark2623]

@@Guitarist._.2004 How are you doing it? Do you go back and forth a few times on like 4 inch sections?

[@Guitarist._.2004]

@@heatherclark2623 I go back and forth on the whole neck until the gloss becomes almost a muted or faded sort of look. Then after that, I use Dunlop 65 polish to clean the neck

[@Agradelous234]

I was just playing my 283a and I hate the squeaking from the gloss finish . I just a bought a Breedlove and the neck is satin first thing said was wow why aren't all necks like this. lol Anyway this vid popped up not quite sure how but i might just do this on it . My only concern would be value loss.

[@shaun_on_guitar]

Why's the sandpaper soaked in water?

[@greym7857]

Can this be applied to the tope coat of a guitar?

[@bruceman9581]

Thanks! I am going to do this soon.

[@glenjuego]

Hi sir! I just bought my GS mini 3 days ago. It came as a surprise that the body of the guitar and the neck is so sticky. Anything that you can recommend to me please? Thank you in advance!

[@GtrMan863]

I Hate high gloss necks,

[@MrMojo271]

Your cold is probably from smoking. It used to happen to me, too. Never had it since I quit

[@NathanShort]

Hey love your videos. I was wondering. If i could do the same thing to my carbon fiber guitar that is glossy. Thanks!

[@Dave062YT]

Very nice job ,that guitar finish looks like it needs a fine touch.On my electric guitars I find 320 600 and 1000 grit does the job fine for me.Turns a sticky glossy neck to a silky smooth satin without getting close to being bare wood .I usually seal it with Monty's Instrument Food at the end.

[@7hecu77er]

Hi Randy, I'm a right that all you have done here is sanding with fine grit? No other finish applied (apart from the chrome polish to blend)? I once sanded down the entire body and neck of a 20 year old Encore laminate budget guitar (£80 new), and after adding bone nut, saddle and pins and a fresh set of strings - it plays/sounds amazing considering what it started off like. I just wondered whether it was worth applying any oil, linseed or anything to simply keep some protection for the wood? Again, another brilliant video, thanks.