Someone has sanded (super duper Very Fine paper) the back of the neck a bit to take the gloss off. It is not sticky at all and the finish is just a bit duller there. I will do the same to the new one if it is glossy.
Wow, that soundsa nice-ah! I have to admit my RAS has gotten the better of me as well...I'm feversishly trying to sell/trade off my modded Gretsch Nashville, a favorite in my previous life, har.