Chrome Questions!

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Bighouse
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Chrome Questions!

Post by Bighouse »

The metal plating, not the browser!

My 40 year old 4001 is starting to show its age. The chrome plating on it now has visible cracking patterns in various places. I can also feel raised bumps on the tailpiece. I do live in a forest/river area, so I have to wonder if that aging is exasperated by high humidity. So my first question is how can this be visually remedied? Is there some kind of polish/wax that will fill in these superfine micro-cracks?

My second question is about removing actual rust- not on the bass fortunately, but on the bass case hardware.

See pics.
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8725895F-F7D9-4DED-9B75-5699AE2CCDAA.jpeg
Because I told you before- oh, you can't do that.
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Bighouse
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Re: Chrome Questions!

Post by Bighouse »

Oops, here’s the rusty hardware.
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doctorwho
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Re: Chrome Questions!

Post by doctorwho »

If the corrosion is only on the surface, then MAAS Metal Polishing Creme should work to remove it. IIRC I have used it on case hardware in addition to instrument hardware.
It is better, of course, to know useless things than to know nothing. - Seneca
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lumgimfong
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Re: Chrome Questions!

Post by lumgimfong »

That bass was made September of 1982.
I say leave it be. Cannot fight the inevitable.
Patina.
If you also have a 4003, do you like the 4001 better? If so, why? I am curious if 4001 is wholly different than a 4003. Thanks!
Could we see some full body pics of that baby?
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Bighouse
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Re: Chrome Questions!

Post by Bighouse »

lumgimfong wrote: Wed Jun 29, 2022 9:30 am That bass was made September of 1982.
I say leave it be. Cannot fight the inevitable.
Patina.
If you also have a 4003, do you like the 4001 better? If so, why? I am curious if 4001 is wholly different than a 4003. Thanks!
Could we see some full body pics of that baby?
I only have a 4001. The model that I find myself most often looking at, we’re I to buy another, is the 4003W.
Because I told you before- oh, you can't do that.
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Bighouse
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Re: Chrome Questions!

Post by Bighouse »

lumgimfong wrote: Wed Jun 29, 2022 9:30 am Could we see some full body pics of that baby?
88B98AD6-F314-4B06-B270-20457C7B3277.jpeg
EAA21A4E-9083-433C-8DDB-6FF01FBBC73D.jpeg
Because I told you before- oh, you can't do that.
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lumgimfong
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Re: Chrome Questions!

Post by lumgimfong »

Wow!! That mapleglo is glowing!! Aged so nicely!!
How do you like the new bridge?
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Bighouse
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Re: Chrome Questions!

Post by Bighouse »

lumgimfong wrote: Sun Jul 10, 2022 8:32 pm Wow!! That mapleglo is glowing!! Aged so nicely!!
How do you like the new bridge?
I'm going to clean it this next week with Rosonol, and then wax it. Hopefully it'll really glow then.

The new bridge is fine...mostly. By screwing it down, properly, it did sit flat on the bass. The imperfect chrome pitting isn't very visible as it's mostly hidden by the new saddles. And, I don't think the newer saddles go as low as the old one did, even though they could not be adjusted independently for string height. The old saddle was recessed into the body, the area on the tailpiece was actually recessed below the surface of the face of the bass. I've got my strings as low as they can go, and I'd actually like to lower them even more- but can't with this new design.
Because I told you before- oh, you can't do that.
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lumgimfong
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Re: Chrome Questions!

Post by lumgimfong »

What’s the relief set to?
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