Should I black the hardware out on my Les Paul?

[Rex_Rocker]

I've been wanting to modernize my Les Paul Tribute, and I've dropped in locking Grover tuners (with black acrylic buttons), Schaller straplocks, and Fishman Fluence pickups. I also blacked out the plastics, which look nice, IMO.

What's stopping me is the cost, TBH. Especially since I don't want to downgrade anything that's already there. I can drop in some Gotoh tuners which will be relatively cheap, I think, but I don't want to downgrade the stock bridge, which I think is pretty good. It's aluminum with brass saddles, and the tailpiece is lightweight, AFAIK. Other aluminum bridge/tailpiece setups (that are available in black) are not cheap. But I think this guitar begs for it to be blacked out.

What do you guys think? Also... what bridge options do you consider I have that are available in black that are not made of Zinc? I'd love to try something titanium or steel, but like I said, not cheap. I don't want to spend a fortune on something that's purely cosmetic... but in the back of my mind, I really want it to look cool.

Thoughts?

 

[devastone]

Tonepros makes good stuff but not sure I would spend the $ if what you have works for you. Could be a couple hundred $ by the time you're finished with quality hardware, that's a cool new pedal.

 

[Seashore]

If you can afford it and you'll play it a lot, then you should go for it. Maybe you'll wind up playing it more, even. An extra couple hundred bucks into a guitar that you'll still be using 10 or 20 years from now really isn't a big investment. And consider that you could either sell the current bridge or use it to upgrade another guitar. I put a Resomax bridge and tailpiece on my Gibson about 10 years ago and I couldn't be happier with it.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I love the resomax stuff, I've upgraded an Epi with it, but sadly, they don't have an actual black finish.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I was under the impression that the Tonepros stuff is Zinc? Oh, wait, they do have the option of Aluminum. Interesting....

 

[beaubrummels]

If it's your #1, I would black it out.

 

[Mincer]

I say yes. Just buy one small part at a time.

 

[Seashore]

Oh, I didn't realize Resomax doesn't come in a black finish. Bummer. The Hipshot aluminum TOMs do - there's loads of adjustment room on there, as well.

 

[Masta' C]

The chrome isn't offensive, but if it was mine, I'd black it out

 

[PFDarkside]

More like gold, am I right?!

Anyone have a photo of what tobacco sunburst looks like with black hardware?

 

[Rex_Rocker]

More like gold, am I right?!

Anyone have a photo of what tobacco sunburst looks like with black hardware?

Closest I can find:

 

[PFDarkside]

That’s cool, definitely got for it.

 

[Securb]

Do it!

 

[Aceman]

Black it all the way to hell.

And while at it, hit it with some cool modern upgrades - locking tuners, super cool bridge, push pull switching options etc.

 

[BeKindRewind]

Personally you couldn't pay me to play a Les Paul (or SG, or Strat..) with black hardware :laugh2: even the ESP ones. I like black pickup covers on strats and open black pickups on les pauls but black hardware just never looks right to me

 

[formula73]

No. Cheesy.

 

[dave74]

I'd replace all the chrome with gold and leave the black parts as-is.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Oh, I didn't realize Resomax doesn't come in a black finish. Bummer. The Hipshot aluminum TOMs do - there's loads of adjustment room on there, as well.

Resomax offers "black nickel" but not true black.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Resomax offers "black nickel" but not true black.

Yeah, which is sorta like Ibanez Cosmo Black.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

I upgraded one of my Gibsons to gold Faber bridge & tailpiece.
Really made a difference for both tone and sustain.
Faber makes great stuff, but not in black AFAIK.

For my taste, steel studs and an aluminum tailpiece is the best way to go if replacing.