Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

What would be the best thing to use to clean and polish gold plated hardware - tuning keys, bridge, etc.? I did some preliminary research and didn't find a definitive answer, and I want to be careful as to not damage anything. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Dampen a corner of the soft flannel RIC polishing cloth and use it to wipe the gold.

Don't try to remove scratches with polish--you'll remove the gold, too, and rapidly!

No Scratch-X, no Zymol, no Turtle wax...

Be aware that gold wears off quickly with frequent use of the instrument; it's only a few millionths of an inch thick.

RIC gold is the best in the biz, as is the plating on the Schaller bridges and tuners that RIC has used. But Gretsch, Gibson, and much of Fender's stuff is very light-duty. I do have a CS Fender with gold hardware that's holding up pretty well, though.

How to care for gold plating on a new guitar--wipe down any and all gold-plated hardware wherever you've touched it, after every playing session. Note that, though gold plating looks seamless, it is porous. Though gold will not tarnish, the metals over which it is plated will corrode with sweat, especially gold-plated aluminum like that used on Bigsbys!

Oh, almost forgot...DO NOT USE paper towels or facial tissues to wipe down gold. They are abrasive to soft plating.

jingle_jangle wrote:Dampen a corner of the soft flannel RIC polishing cloth and use it to wipe the gold.

Don't try to remove scratches with polish--you'll remove the gold, too, and rapidly!

No Scratch-X, no Zymol, no Turtle wax...

Be aware that gold wears off quickly with frequent use of the instrument; it's only a few millionths of an inch thick.

RIC gold is the best in the biz, as is the plating on the Schaller bridges and tuners that RIC has used. But Gretsch, Gibson, and much of Fender's stuff is very light-duty. I do have a CS Fender with gold hardware that's holding up pretty well, though.

How to care for gold plating on a new guitar--wipe down any and all gold-plated hardware wherever you've touched it, after every playing session. Note that, though gold plating looks seamless, it is porous. Though gold will not tarnish, the metals over which it is plated will corrode with sweat, especially gold-plated aluminum like that used on Bigsbys!

Oh, almost forgot...DO NOT USE paper towels or facial tissues to wipe down gold. They are abrasive to soft plating.

BAsically, don't even look at the gold, let alone touch it!

Or breathe on it....

If you have a Gretsch or a Fender with gold hardware, pick up a tube of high quality metal polish, employ a fair amount of elbow grease and dedicated polishing,and you'll end up with lovely, shiny nickel-finished hardware. . . .

Nickel looks good, longer lasting, too.

Dad..........all me gold's coming off. I need a new guitar don't I?

Sorry. Been there and done that.

Thanks Paul. I'll be needing that advice for the 380/12!!

Thanks, Paul. As always, you've been very helpful.

jps wrote:Basically, don't even look at the gold, let alone touch it!