How to De-Tarnish Gold pickup covers...

[Aceman]

and other Gold Hardware.

I have some Deans with gold hardware that through excessive gig use are starting to look, well, $h!tty. Can these be cleaned up at all? Or am I just gonna replace?

[ehdwuld]

Re: How to De-Tarnish Gold pickup covers...

toothpaste

or Brasso


if that fails

replace

[Lewguitar]

Re: How to De-Tarnish Gold pickup covers...

toothpaste

or Brasso


if that fails

replace

I guess. But be gentle. That's just a super thin gold plating and you'll rub through it in a heartbeat.

[vinta9e]

Re: How to De-Tarnish Gold pickup covers...

I'd consider chemical bath like salt and vinegar or something safer since gold is not easily soluble.

[Aceman]

Re: How to De-Tarnish Gold pickup covers...

Brasso seems harsh.

I'll try Toothpaste

My sweat just eats that stuff. Replace covers, and of course pickups, is an option...

[beaubrummels]

Re: How to De-Tarnish Gold pickup covers...

My experience:
I bought a brand new Gretsch with all gold hardware, but the highest point on the bigsby was tarnished, possibly from something where the case contacted it. I called FMIC to get advice how it could be cleaned, being a warranty matter. Support rep said, “Use silver polish and rub gently.” So I used silver polish and rubbed gently. Gold came right off. Called back, “You told me to use silver polish and it took the gold right off. Now how do I get this fixed? It’s a brand new guitar?” Response, “You can buy a replacement. I can order it for you. We don’t warranty the gold plating.”

[ICTGoober]

Re: How to De-Tarnish Gold pickup covers...

Gold is a soft metal, and even the 18K stuff is pretty thin. Much of the Asian gold plating is 7 or 10K, and comes off if you stare it for long.

You want it to stay shiny? Buy brass, polish it up, and apply that clear lacquer that horn makers use. It will stick.

[orpheo]

Re: How to De-Tarnish Gold pickup covers...

Gold is a soft metal, and even the 18K stuff is pretty thin. Much of the Asian gold plating is 7 or 10K, and comes off if you stare it for long.

You want it to stay shiny? Buy brass, polish it up, and apply that clear lacquer that horn makers use. It will stick.

Absolutely agree with this. Once it starts to go, it goes. That's one of the things I personally like about gold

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: How to De-Tarnish Gold pickup covers...

Soap and water only. Anything abrasive will wreck the plating in a flash. That includes toothpaste.

[PFDarkside]

Re: How to De-Tarnish Gold pickup covers...

Would a heavier layer of 18k gold plating be more durable?

I only have gold hardware on one guitar, and it’s more silver colored than gold at this point.

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: How to De-Tarnish Gold pickup covers...

Would a heavier layer of 18k gold plating be more durable?

I only have gold hardware on one guitar, and it’s more silver colored than gold at this point.

Should be more durable. Gold doesn't tarnish or corrode so I think the issue is abrasion physically wearing away a superthin plating, at which point moisture & acid can go to work on the exposed metal underneath.

[Mincer]

Re: How to De-Tarnish Gold pickup covers...

I say....replace. Look for good replacements, and don't buy it all at once to keep costs down (old musician tip). Gold just doesn't seem to hold up well in this humid state. I have seen satin finished gold that fares better.

[Wattage]

Re: How to De-Tarnish Gold pickup covers...

Use a really good micro fiber cloth to clean - 20% polymide Grant’s cloths are good ones. Harbor Freight has them.

A dremel with a very soft pad on low speed if you are brave, I’ve used a really fine plastic wire wheel in a dremel as well to eat up the corrosion. Then wax it with a good carnauba wax

[Jack_TriPpEr]

Re: How to De-Tarnish Gold pickup covers...

My experience:
I bought a brand new Gretsch with all gold hardware, but the highest point on the bigsby was tarnished, possibly from something where the case contacted it. I called FMIC to get advice how it could be cleaned, being a warranty matter. Support rep said, “Use silver polish and rub gently.” So I used silver polish and rubbed gently. Gold came right off. Called back, “You told me to use silver polish and it took the gold right off. Now how do I get this fixed? It’s a brand new guitar?” Response, “You can buy a replacement. I can order it for you. We don’t warranty the gold plating.”

Wow! That's aweful customer service. What did you end up doing?

[Jack_TriPpEr]

Re: How to De-Tarnish Gold pickup covers...

Just curious if anyone is aware of a material that looks like gold, is not expensive from a manufacturing cost standpoint, that could be used instead of gold for pickup covers? I guess I am a little suprised that given the state of modern material sciences, no manufacturer has figured out a substitute for gold plating...