1) What's the most effective and safe way to clean a stratocaster's aged maple neck?

2) And do you use the same thing of what you use to clean a maple neck to clean a stratocaster's body or strings?

3) I found my maple neck extremely sticky that my fingers, esp my thumb at the back of the neck, it gets stuck so often when I play solo up and down the neck, this is one thing that's really bothering me, is there any solution to make a maple neck smoother?
(ps. isn't steel wool / sandpaper going to hurt and leave scratch / scar on the maple neck?)

Just clean the neck with guitar polish and a rag, the fret treatment is lemon oil, and only used for ebony or rosewood fretboards. I've been using Dunlop guitar polish, Martin makes some too, as well as other companies. You can get a rag with one, or just use an old shirt. Start there, because it's going to take a lot of the gunk off your neck. You do it enough, and buff it, over time should feel alright.

No I would not use wool or sandpaper on a maple neck.....

Just next time you pick up strings, pickup guitar polish as well

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ESP Eclipse Limited (3/100) or Gibson Les Paul Standard (97) - Fulltone OCD - H.B.E. Detox EQ - Laney GH50L - 80's Ibanez AD-9 (in loop) - Randall XL 4x12
Tortex "The wedge" picks, Blue Steel strings, Line 6 Moble In, Charvel Model 6 modded to a Model 5FX.... Probly other stuff as well

Depending on the age that neck may be finished with Nitrocellulose (Fender this is pre 70s) If it is you need to be very careful what polish you use. Standard furniture polishes are silcone based and actually permeate nitro finishes logging the wood with silicone residue. If the finish has been worn off then you really should look at resealing it as the exposed wood will now take up dirt and body oils. It is this and the leeching of some of the natural wood oils that is probably making the neck feel sticky.

For modern finishes a php balanced hand soap and warm water will cut through all the grime and give a nice clean shine. Use a 100% cotton cloth.

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I would be very careful using anything with a lot of water in it if you have exposed wood. I've used 95% rubbing alcohol (even vodka in an emergency) with good results to remove oils. It evaporates quickly. For finished areas, Clorox Cleanup works well. I realize both of these have a little water in them. The trick is to do it quickly and wipe it dry immediately. It's always smart to test a small area first. If it is a very valuable vintage instrument that has been neglected, take it to a good pro shop and have it cleaned and set up. I keep a piece of an old T shirt in my kit to wipe down my strings after I play if I remember. I change strings every third gig or when they go stale if I have a break.

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Stage Guitars: '80s Thin line LP Custom, '70 LP Standard, '83 Squier Black Headstock Strat w/ Dan Torres pickups, '59 Black Danelectro DC, sometimes others.

Pedal Board: Nady UHF 10 -> TU2 -> Rocktron Big Crush -> 70s MXR Phase 100 -> Cry Baby -> Bad Monkey -> Early '80s Rat -> Early '80s Ibanez CS 9 -> Ibanez DE 7 -> Behringer Dr 100 Stereo Reverb

Stage amps: '63 Blonde Tremolux w/ two original 2X10 cabinets with a '60 Ampeg Rocket/18 watt VTB Marshall clone/ Epi VJ into a Mashall 1965A

If its not a vintage instrument or one you're worried about preserving you can definitely sand the neck a bit on the backside to make it less sticky. I did that on my newer tele with a really fine grit, and it took it from gloss to kind of satin so my hand doesn't stick anymore. Don't go too far though and expose any wood.

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Rig Thread

That is the most rock thing I've heard on here in a while - douse your Strat in vodka!

But +1 on keeping an old cotton t-shirt on hand to wipe you guitar down after a gig. Simplest, cheapest and best thing you can do.

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A lot of the old guys would used lighter fluid too. But be careful. You would be surprised what you can do with match sticks, match books, tooth picks, qtips, pencils, fingernail polish, etc to effect emergency repairs and maintenance on the road by broke musicians. I would use extra fine steel wool if you want to scuff the back of the neck.

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Stage Guitars: '80s Thin line LP Custom, '70 LP Standard, '83 Squier Black Headstock Strat w/ Dan Torres pickups, '59 Black Danelectro DC, sometimes others.

Pedal Board: Nady UHF 10 -> TU2 -> Rocktron Big Crush -> 70s MXR Phase 100 -> Cry Baby -> Bad Monkey -> Early '80s Rat -> Early '80s Ibanez CS 9 -> Ibanez DE 7 -> Behringer Dr 100 Stereo Reverb

Stage amps: '63 Blonde Tremolux w/ two original 2X10 cabinets with a '60 Ampeg Rocket/18 watt VTB Marshall clone/ Epi VJ into a Mashall 1965A

One of these old guys' last name was Hendrix, right?

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crew

Selling BOSS FW-3. I live in Brazil, mind you, so prepare yourself for $30-ish for shipping and waiting. Local pickup available, along with beautiful beaches and cheap bitches.

I dont think that was a repair he did lol.

lighter fluid+match+strat=???

I use baby oil on my fret board then use the tiny little bit left on the rag on the neck. Scratch out auto polish is what was always recomended to me for more modern finishes older ones id think a baby wipe would be your best and safest bet for the body.

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Hamer Sat2 or Jackson JRR-94 Rhoads>Laney gc80a or hc25(practice).

Hamer(standard tuning) Ernie ball Slinkies
Alvarez Dana Scoop (standard tuning) D'adarrio 10's
LTD EC200qxm (standard tuning) EB Slinkies

Legend has it that Frank Zappa ended up with that guitar, rebuilt, and used it. If memory serves me, he added a piezoo pickup under the neck joint too. I would be very careful with the baby oil. I have several guitars with rosewood fretboards that are over 30 years old, a couple over 50. I have never needed to oil them. But conditions vary.

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Stage Guitars: '80s Thin line LP Custom, '70 LP Standard, '83 Squier Black Headstock Strat w/ Dan Torres pickups, '59 Black Danelectro DC, sometimes others.

Pedal Board: Nady UHF 10 -> TU2 -> Rocktron Big Crush -> 70s MXR Phase 100 -> Cry Baby -> Bad Monkey -> Early '80s Rat -> Early '80s Ibanez CS 9 -> Ibanez DE 7 -> Behringer Dr 100 Stereo Reverb

Stage amps: '63 Blonde Tremolux w/ two original 2X10 cabinets with a '60 Ampeg Rocket/18 watt VTB Marshall clone/ Epi VJ into a Mashall 1965A

My memory tells me the same, but it's especially hazy on the piezo thing.

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crew

Selling BOSS FW-3. I live in Brazil, mind you, so prepare yourself for $30-ish for shipping and waiting. Local pickup available, along with beautiful beaches and cheap bitches.

Yeah, Frank ended up with that strat and added a piezo, and now Dweezil has it and occasionally uses it.

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Came here to add that. Beat me to it.

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crew

Selling BOSS FW-3. I live in Brazil, mind you, so prepare yourself for $30-ish for shipping and waiting. Local pickup available, along with beautiful beaches and cheap bitches.

ive never had problems with it but i use it mainly for winter care bc it gets really friggin dry here in the midwest.

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Hamer Sat2 or Jackson JRR-94 Rhoads>Laney gc80a or hc25(practice).

Hamer(standard tuning) Ernie ball Slinkies
Alvarez Dana Scoop (standard tuning) D'adarrio 10's
LTD EC200qxm (standard tuning) EB Slinkies