Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Have there been any Rickenbacker models with gold hardware standard issue? I'm still saving up for the big rick reference book, but just thinking that some of the fancier models could look nice decked out in gold. Anybody got one?

Some of the 650 models, and I think at least one of the 4004s.

They can be really nice to look at, but gold plating wears off if you breathe on it too hard, much less play it.

I recommend 1000 coats of clear applied over the gold hardware if you buy one!

Seriously speaking; I brushed clear nail polish over the gold harware on my Mary Kaye Strat, which worked for awhile, but nail polish does chip off, and...well you get the picture. I've barely played my Gretsch 6120, yet there are a couple of worn spots in the gold hardware on my p/u covers where my hand rested. I'm seriously considering replacing all of the gold hardware with nickel or chrome, which was of course the subject of a new thread I posted yesterday.

i know you said standard issue kira but heres one i found a few weeks ago! goldtastic

Yeah, Scotty, that's not bad with the three pickups, except for the kajillion knobs. I think I'd go to a footboard if I wanted that many options, rather than clutter up the area like that. The tailpiece looks nice in gold, too.

Paul, gold plating is soft, troublesome to protect. Whatever you apply, it changes the look and feel of the gold a little, and when the coating chips away it's ugly. Paul W had an interesting thread going about this very thing, trying out the stuff they use to protect gold washroom fixtures.
I've experience with a product called Century Lacquer. We used to use it on outdoor sculpture because it's that good. Also I used it on copper jewelry to prevent greening of the skin. It lasts for months.
Maybe there are some nice solid gold or silver tuners out there Of course, diamonds are a girls best friend.

I've got a 650 Sierre that has 24k gold plated hardware. The Sierra is the same as the Dakota, which has chrome hardware. I think the gold looks much better. the gold appointements on the walnut and maple body is just striking. My 650S is my main guitar.

I keep a clean rag or bandana scarf in my back pocket when I tune up and never touch the knobs on my 6120 to keep from my hands messing up the gold plating.

That's right, I think that "D" and jumbo acoustics look great in gold, in general. I was more picturing the fancy electrics when I posed the question.

Paul, gold is actually really great regarding skin contact, you can't tarnish 24K at all. But as PW pointed out, it's the lower layers of plating that go bad on you, eventually.

scotty wrote:i know you said standard issue kira but heres one i found a few weeks ago! goldtastic

I think it should be called the "Rick James" 391; it's over the top, Rick James style, and we know he likes his Rick bass!

kiramdear wrote:That's right, I think that "D" and jumbo acoustics look great in gold, in general. I was more picturing the fancy electrics when I posed the question.

Paul, gold is actually really great regarding skin contact, you can't tarnish 24K at all. But as PW pointed out, it's the lower layers of plating that go bad on you, eventually.

It must be quite thin and wear off easily then, given the experience I've had with both my Gretsch and Mary Kaye Strat.

The Rick James model for those situations where excess is best!

Yeah, the plating is thin nowadays, because they skimp on the product compared with days past. They could make it quite durable but it's costly.

Probably good storage is enough to protect a really good plating job.

Hey, don't forget that all Rick acoustics have gold-plated hardware: Strap buttons, truss rod screws and tuning machines, too.

Kira, a gold-plated pedalboard would be totally RJ!

All 4004C Cheyenne basses (1993-1999 Cheyenne, 1999-present Cheyenne II) come standard with gold-plated hardware. There's not a lot of metal on these basses, compared with the rather chromey-looking 4003. Only the tuners and ferrules, pickup frames, control knobs, bridge, strap buttons, and jackplate. Here's an example, my '93 Cheyenne, although this one was modified with vol/vol/tone knobs:

bassduke49 wrote:All 4004C Cheyenne basses (1993-1999 Cheyenne, 1999-present Cheyenne II) come standard with gold-plated hardware. There's not a lot of metal on these basses, compared with the rather chromey-looking 4003. Only the tuners and ferrules, pickup frames, control knobs, bridge, strap buttons, and jackplate. Here's an example, my '93 Cheyenne, although this one was modified with vol/vol/tone knobs:

Now, that's what I'm talking about! Elegance. Not crowded or overstated, just has a look of real luxury.

kiramdear wrote:Yeah, the plating is thin nowadays, because they skimp on the product compared with days past. They could make it quite durable but it's costly.

The gold plating on guitar parts has alway been quite thin, in order to keep the cost down. I've seen guitars from the sixties through the ninties that have heavy wear on the gold plated parts. Don't forget that 24k gold is a soft metal.

Agreed, Kris, the compromises didn't start yesterday.

24K is very soft, so soft you can practically smear it with a steel tool. That's one reason jewellers love to work with it. It has many amazing properties. Now if the plating was only thick enough you could enjoy the feeling of the tuners akin to wearing a nice old ring, unlacquered.