Scratched pickup covers.

[jalguitarman]

Was wondering if scratches (most aren't too deep) can be polished off a nickel pickup cover? I didn't notice them when I got the set but I didn't spend any time looking them over, as I took them along with some replacement electronics to a tech. I asked the tech if they were like that out of the box and he said they were. I know that there is a super tech in St. Louis that could install new covers but I not sure i should go that route, as the pickups were only supposed to have a very light wax potting for a balance of touch sensitivity and keeping the potential for microphonics in check and I am concerned that changing the cover could mess that up. And to send them back to have the pickup maker deal with it would be a major pain. They were made in the U.K. so I really don't want to do that. Any hope of polishing those scratches out? Thank you.

 

[Darg1911]

Re: Scratched pickup covers.

Plating is thin, depends on how deep the scratches are. If they are surface, or through the plating. I'd imagine that you could probably get some of them out and make it better but if you use something too aggressive, or if you are too aggressive, you will get through the plating and make it worse. For starters, a polish made for nickel should be low abrasive and may be the best place to start. If they bother you that much, maybe plan for the inevitability of replacing them and then whatever you do to try and polish the scratches out has no real downside. Removing the covers to replace them should not affect the wax potting to any significant degree. You don't even have to desolder to remove the covers, you can cut the solder. At worse, there could be a thin film of wax under the covers, on the top side. It may be done that way to help prevent microphonics. It can be softened with a heat gun or blow dryer. Of course, you have to solder new covers on, but done right it wont melt all the potting wax and mess the pickups up. I'm sure a local tech could do the job of replacing the covers if you aren't up to it. Shouldn't have to be sent across the pond.

For the record, I'm a weekend warrior on this polishing stuff, so this is just from my experience, not from working with metals and plating for a living or any other expertise.