Question about my L-09's neck finish

[rodi53]

Hello! I recently received a new custom ordered L-09 with an Italian spruce top. The guitar is beautiful to behold and sounds great, but there is one problem: the gloss finish on the neck. I have many guitars with gloss finished necks, but the finish on my L-09 resists my fingers sliding to the point that they jerk, rather than slide, when I change hand positions. This creates a squeaking (or creaking??) noise as my fingers move from one position to another. I play almost exclusively fingerstyle, and the squeaking noise comes out the soundhole almost overpowering the notes I'm playing. The entire guitar seems to be finished in the same topcoat material, and I get the same squeaking noise from wherever I handle it. I don't mind it so much from the body, but coming from the neck is a problem. I have a 2007 L-05, also with a gloss neck, that doesn't have this issue at all.

I'm reasonably certain that the finish has fully cured even though the guitar is brand new. I've heard some folks say that using naphtha may help. I've even seen online where people are using 600-1000 grit sandpaper to deal with a "sticky neck" I obviously don't want to get that aggressive with my new guitar and was wondering if any of you have had this issue and if so, what did you do about it. I have emailed Larrivee too, but with the long holiday weekend I assume it may be awhile before I hear back.

Thanks all.

Jeff

[unclrob]

Buy some 0000 steel wool cup it your hand and without pressing too hard give it 13 stroke's from head to heel {Mind out of the gutter you loonie's} wipe it off with a cloth and feel how it feels.This will not take off any finish but it will dull it but it will remove what more then likely a combo of sweat,and polish.


So you know as a repairperson I do this a lot and its work for almost 50 years for me.

[B0WIE]

Your guitar has a UV cured finish I believe so I wouldn't expect it to change at all. I'd do as suggested and give it a mate finish to kill the squeaking. It doesn't devalue the instrument at all unless you are sloppy or too aggressive about it.

[George]

I do the same thing with a 4000 micromesh pad.  One Larrivee drove me crazy until I smoothed it out.  In most cases it does not even visibly dull the finish, but it will certainly feel better and slide easier...

[rodi53]

Thanks to you all for your advice! I plan to pick up some 0000 steel wool this weekend and give it a try.

Happy Holidays to everyone!

Jeff