Is there a way to get the gold plating off the pickup cover?

[spuds]

I've got a Gibson Tony Iommi pickup in gold... Is there any way I can strip off the gold plating and make it silver? I don't want to do anything too drastic.

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Is there a way to get the gold plating off the pickup cover?

you can "polish" it off with coarse steel wool.... may take a lot of elbow grease, but it will definitely get through the plating sooner or later, without causing funky pitting and stuff

 

[spuds]

Re: Is there a way to get the gold plating off the pickup cover?

Thanks Zerberus... Will it still maintain its shine or would it be scratched up?

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Is there a way to get the gold plating off the pickup cover?

IT will probably be a satin finish rather than a polished one.

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Is there a way to get the gold plating off the pickup cover?

Thanks Zerberus... Will it still maintain its shine or would it be scratched up?

if you use 0000 steel wool to polish it when done, it will shine. if you stick with the grade 1 or 2 used for stripping it will likely keep a satin patina....

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Is there a way to get the gold plating off the pickup cover?

I think it would be a lot easier to just yank the gold cover off and replace it with a nickel or chrome one. Yes I know the Iommi has no holes, but Allparts has a replacement for it here:

http://www.allparts.com/categories.php?cat_id=619&cat_name=PICKUP COVERS

Just scroll about a third of the way down.

 

[Martian]

Re: Is there a way to get the gold plating off the pickup cover?

Try automobile rubbing compound, it worked great for me.

 

[spuds]

Re: Is there a way to get the gold plating off the pickup cover?

Thanks guys.
So I use grade 1 or 2 to strip it down and the finish it with 0000? Cheers.

Martian... whats the rubbing compound?

 

[Martian]

Re: Is there a way to get the gold plating off the pickup cover?

Thanks guys.
So I use grade 1 or 2 to strip it down and the finish it with 0000? Cheers.

Martian... whats the rubbing compound?

It's a paste just like car wax but it has a super fine abrasive in it. It's purpose is to get out fine scratches, etc. in a car's paint or chrome. This abrasive will wear off the thin gold plating and will polish the nickel underneath now showing once the gold's gone. Works great for "tired" looking hardware as well.

Check out this product as an example:

http://www.autogeek.net/3mperllrubco.html

 

[spuds]

Re: Is there a way to get the gold plating off the pickup cover?

Thanks. Will have a look at that rubbing compound.