Glossy spots have developed on....

[Wade Handy (oujeebass)]

My Epic. I have used alembic polish since I got it. Mica stated that I have buffed the wood down with use,but I believe that it is where I have let whatever makes the polish produce a shine build up. Anyone else have experience with this? Are there any products that will remove wax without harming the finish or wood?

[Adriaan Simons (adriaan)]

Never polished my Epic, but glossy spots have developed on its koa top over the years since 1994. Judging from where the spots are, it must be fingergrease getting into the satin polyurethane finish. The location below the neck pu also suggests that it is caused by slapping and popping: that's the only technique where my right hand would hit that spot.
 
It probably shows more on dark woods than on -say- maple, and I definitely can't tell if there's similar gloss on the backside of the neck.

[Wade Handy (oujeebass)]

The locations of the glossy spots on my bass are similar to what your discribing. I would hate to see what would happen if I played mine regularly.

[Jonathan Johnstone (stoney)]

My two cents:
If you are experiencing shiny or glossy spots it is most definitely the oil from your hands. Note, this won't happen on a high-gloss finished instrument because the oil will not penetrate the finish. My Brown Bass (oil finish) and my Essense (satin finish) both have glossy spots all around my sweet spot.  They also have pock marks below my G string.  That's from my fingernails hitting the surface during slap-pop playing. Interestingly enough, I never noticed my fingers hitting the bass.
 
If your entire bass has gone glossy, you are most likely using a polish with some wax in it.  Mica has recommended the lightest abrasive 3M pad to me in the past for wax removal. Perhaps she can shed some light on this.
 
Stoney

[Adriaan Simons (adriaan)]

Back in the days when my Epic still had frets, when playing slap/pop style, I would sometimes rest the top of the little finger of my right hand beneath the neck pu. Bridging this way is particularly helpful for a technique where you hit a couple of strings with the nail of your thumb, like using a plectrum in an upstroke, while muting the strings with the side of your right hand. Does anyone know if that technique has a name?
 
On closer inspection of my bass, there is also a small arc of grease where my thumb brushes the ridge of the neck pu cavity when I rest it on the pu, and some spots around the controls.
 
I don't mind having this kind of marks on an instrument.

[Wade Handy (oujeebass)]

I will learn to live with it..

[Oil (erroneus_jones)]

If you really don't want to have that kind of spot, can you get a fresh new layer of glossy finish (like the Essence) to covet it up? (Unless you don't like that glass look)

[Wade Handy (oujeebass)]

Yeah I am kinda torn between the glassy look and the satin finish. I will end up sending it to Alembic eventually for a refinishing.

[Michael DeVincenzo (jlpicard)]

Here's the opposite problem, On my Europa with the gloss polyester finish, I am actually dulling down the finish to a satin where I pop at the end of the fingerboard and also at a spot between the pickups just below the E string where I tend to anchor my thumb. I've tried buffing it well with Alembic polish which helps some but if you hold it in the light at the right angle you can see it's still there. I think that I may have probably taken the shine out of the finish and it may need professional rebuffing on a wheel to bring it back. Mike

[Wade Handy (oujeebass)]

I think I will go to an oil finish. I like the idea it can be replenished. Will my tone suffer? How might it change?