Rough gold hardware on LPC

[darkvoice]

I have a LPC where gold hardware developed this rough finish. It's uneven on touch and does not look good. It also seems to penetrate to the metal.
Is there a way to improve the look of hardware without destroying gold plating?

Thank you!

 

[ARandall]

No.
This is simply spot tarnishing, and the gold is simply too thin to be maintained if you were to try and do any buffing (this goes for keeping gold plating tarnish free too).

New guitars don't have this - its a sign of quality aging when they develop this. You might not be cut out for older guitars with gold hardware if you don't like this look.

 

[Uncle Vinnie]

Try some 0000 steel wool and WD40 and lightly go over an unexposed area to see if it works.

I used to use this combo to remove surface rust on blued firearms. It removed the light pitting, but didn't remove the bluing.

 

[Juan Tumani]

Try some 0000 steel wool and WD40 and lightly go over an unexposed area to see if it works.

I used to use this combo to remove surface rust on blued firearms. It removed the light pitting, but didn't remove the bluing.

@ARandall is right. Anything that can remove the pitting will remove the Gold as well.

Actually the Gold will be gone long before any of the pitting is touched.

 

[Uncle Vinnie]

@ARandall is right. Anything that can remove the pitting will remove the Gold as well.

Actually the Gold will be gone long before any of the pitting is touched.

Maybe, but it's not mine, so ...

 

[filtersweep]

Looks like you have rust everywhere. How are you storing it?

 

[mjross]

People pay BIG money for that!

 

[Bobby Mahogany]

Pics of the whole guitar please!
That thing looks like it's probably amazing!
Aged white..?

 

[bungle]

Must see the rest of this unit..

 

[kingsxman]

Try some 0000 steel wool and WD40 and lightly go over an unexposed area to see if it works.

I used to use this combo to remove surface rust on blued firearms. It removed the light pitting, but didn't remove the bluing.

I'd recommend NOT doing this. You'll take off more gold. That rust is on there for good. Its through to the nickel more than likely. Personally..I think its cool but I'd need to see the whole guitar to be able to tell if this fits with the rest of the guitar.
How old?

 

[MiniB]

I like it...genuine aging. I'd actually prefer that over new blingy gold.

 

[Christosterone]

Replace the covers…keep the originals if u ever sell

i like shiny

-chris

 

[Radbloke McShreddington]

I'd recommend NOT doing this. You'll take off more gold. That rust is on there for good. Its through to the nickel more than likely. Personally..I think its cool but I'd need to see the whole guitar to be able to tell if this fits with the rest of the guitar.
How old?

Not only that, you'll get steel wool stuck to the magnets of the pickup which you will never get off again.

 

[dspelman]

I have a LPC where gold hardware developed this rough finish. It's uneven on touch and does not look good. It also seems to penetrate to the metal.
Is there a way to improve the look of hardware without destroying gold plating?

Thank you!

View attachment 668396

View attachment 668397

Gold hardware is often so thinly plated that tiny holes in the plating allow moisture and sweat through to the underlying nickel, where it promptly corrodes and flakes off the gold. Nothing you could rub it with (for example) will do anything but accelerate the deterioration of the plating.

You have two options: find a good plating shop and have them strip the current plating and put on a thicker coat of gold (sorta expensive) or just replace the covers and screws with new (cheapest option).

While you're at it, note that some idiot screwed down the pickup rings without fitting them to the curve of the top of the guitar. Thus, they've broken. Replace those as well and have them shaped to the top of the guitar. And get new screws for the corners of the rings while you're at it.

 

[Peter M]

Covers off. You're welcome.

 

[searswashere]

Replace the covers…keep the originals if u ever sell

i like shiny

-chris

Chris has it.

 

[1981 LPC]

I have a LPC where gold hardware developed this rough finish. It's uneven on touch and does not look good. It also seems to penetrate to the metal.
Is there a way to improve the look of hardware without destroying gold plating?

Thank you!

View attachment 668396

View attachment 668397

Sweet Jebus. Your sweat is probably the catalyst here.

 

[Renegade]

Replace the covers…keep the originals if u ever sell

i like shiny

-chris

What Chris said.

I had a Gretsch with a Gold Bigsby and just wiping the handle down with a soft cloth was wearing through the plating.

 

[darkvoice]

Must see the rest of this unit..

Here's the rest of hardware, all more or less evenly aged. I bought it this way, not sure what previous owner(s) did to it. I replaced broken pickup rings, besides that I will leave it as is.

 

[MiniB]

I think it looks great as-is.