Rusty Looking Hardware on Used RICs

[firstbassman]

I’ve often noticed in the photos for used RICs on sale that the pickups, and especially the hardware (screws) around the pickups, seem to be highly corroded.

And I’m not talking about ancient instruments either. I see it on guitars that are only ten years old or so, like this one:

PUP.JPG (7.87 KiB) Viewed 618 times

This is normal I suppose? They all can’t be from people living around salty sea air.

Is this what I can expect on my guitars within a few years?[/color]

[alanz]

If you perspire a lot on stage and don't wipe the guitar down immediately after playing then yes, that's what you can expect.

[dustymurphy]

The only way to combat this is to have the chrome re-plated. Like Alanz said, be sure to wipe it down OFTEN and EVERY time you play. Wipe it down every so often even if you don't play it, just to combat buildup of junky crud that can accumulate. It helps more than you'd think.