Best way to tarnish gold hardware

Thomas · Post by **Thomas** » Fri Oct 21, 2011 10:12 am

Well Shortscale, looking for some info. I recently picked up an old 65 trem unit for my Jazzmaster build. It was well cheap because the lock button is missing. It ws gonna be a placeholder part until i sourced a replacement. Thing is I never really use the trem lock so I could just keep this unit if i found a gold bridge unit to match it, or find out some way to tarnish the gold to look more silvery. I think Dave might've had a tip about this before... Pics when I get home.

Halp me Shortscale. You're my only hope....

jamba72 · Post by **jamba72** » Fri Oct 21, 2011 10:45 am

when you disassemble it and sand most parts with 1000 paper, it will look more silverish. it depends what metal it actually is. too.
after that you can relic it..
http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/luthier ... negar.html

Pens · Post by **Pens** » Fri Oct 21, 2011 10:48 am

If I were in your position, I'd just start dipping it in all kinds of random solvents to see what happens.

Or sand it with 1000 grit like the guy up there said.

h8mtv · Post by **h8mtv** » Fri Oct 21, 2011 11:04 am

I'd try an oily brillo pad. Gold finish comes off easily generally.

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Fri Oct 21, 2011 11:45 am

h8mtv wrote:Gold finish comes off easily generally.

This, I've managed to wear off most of the gold on the hardware of one of my guitars - just through regular playing. Its only a year or 2 old as well.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Fri Oct 21, 2011 4:05 pm

Thomas I've only ever 'silvered' moder parts and have done so with light polishing with:

A) a jewellers cloth

or

B) a cotton shirt and a little brasso ... probably just the shirt would do i,- it's laughable how easily it comes off. Id avoid and sanding unless you want super aged look

George · Post by **George** » Fri Oct 21, 2011 4:33 pm

Do heroin off it

wwrrss · Post by **wwrrss** » Fri Oct 21, 2011 4:51 pm

POUR BEER ON IT

Thomas · Post by **Thomas** » Fri Oct 21, 2011 6:48 pm

haha Thanks guys. I'll give the Brasso a go

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Fri Oct 21, 2011 6:56 pm

Oh wait, no, it was cum. My bad.

Justin J · Post by **Justin J** » Fri Oct 21, 2011 8:15 pm

scotch-brite pads work really well for this.

gaybear · Post by **gaybear** » Fri Oct 21, 2011 8:39 pm

Pass it thorugh your digestive tract

Pens · Post by **Pens** » Fri Oct 21, 2011 8:43 pm

gaybear wrote:Pass it thorugh your digestive tract

In reverse.

h8mtv · Post by **h8mtv** » Fri Oct 21, 2011 11:26 pm

If you know anyone who reloads ammunition you could drop it in the tumbler with brass polishing media.

paul_ · Post by **paul_** » Fri Oct 21, 2011 11:42 pm

Tumblers are a good way to get that rolling stones sound.

laterallateral · Post by **laterallateral** » Sat Oct 22, 2011 12:10 am

Tie it to the end of an extension cord and flail some bigots with it.

BillClay · Post by **BillClay** » Sat Oct 22, 2011 5:09 am

Take it to the guitar shop where I took my vintage grestch country club for a setup so the dude working there can decide to "do you a favor" and sand off the gold plating because it had a few tarnish marks that "made it look old"

jamba72 · Post by **jamba72** » Sat Oct 22, 2011 8:14 am

pour some fish oil on it and let your cat lick it.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Sat Oct 22, 2011 11:10 am

BillClay wrote:Take it to the guitar shop where I took my vintage grestch country club for a setup so the dude working there can decide to "do you a favor" and sand off the gold plating because it had a few tarnish marks that "made it look old"

haha