Rock and Reel Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 I just bought an ES-175. The quality, craftsmanship and playability are excellent as I expect from Gibson but I have a question. When (and why) did Gibson change from nickel plated hardware to chrome? The yellowish cast of the nickel is much more attractive than the white cast of chrome. In my opinion, the chrome looks cheap and this is anything but a cheap instrument. Does this bother anyone else? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
69tele Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 i prefer chrome actually nickel is just to hard to keep clean ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StijnV Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 Chrome look cheap? I think it looks much more clean and new than nickel. Don't forget that Nickel tarnishes fast ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rock and Reel Posted February 21, 2012 Author Share Posted February 21, 2012 Chrome look cheap? I think it looks much more clean and new than nickel. Don't forget that Nickel tarnishes fast ! Is that the reason for the change? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunburst PB Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 Gibson started changing from nickel (really nickel silver) to chrome in the mid 60s in response to complaints from customers about how easily the finish got tarnished. The transition was gradual over a period of a few years. You will see guitars starting about 1965 that have a combination of nickel and chrome hardware as stocks for various parts were replenished. Some guitars had one nickel covered pickup and one chrome covered pickup and some of the late 60s ES335s have chrome trapezes and other have nickel. Prior to the 60s having nickel hardware wasn't an issue. Following the British Invasion in the early 60s, guitar sales really took off for all US Manufacturers and with all the new younger customers, preference for bright and shiny chrome out weighed the standard appeal of nickel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Versatile Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 Much prefer nickel... V Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
57classic Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 I prefer nickel too but chrome does stay looking new longer. I like the tarnished look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 Nickel has a "vintage=Warmer" look, when new/clean, but Chrome is so much easier to take care of, and looks great, for decades. Nickel is still used on the "Historic," and/or "Reissue" series, for authenticity. Chrome hardware is certainly not a deal breaker, at all, for me. But, I like Nickel, too. It's just a "pain" to keep clean! CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest EastEnder Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 Chrome looks great on my Vance and Hines pipes, but makes my new Les Paul DC look like an Asian import (note to self: replace hardware before it develops an Epiphone headstock). I see that chrome is cropping up on the SG 61 Reissue now, which makes one wonder how it can be legitimately be called a reissue. Glad I got mine when I did. Next, baked maple — or laminated North American Rosewood. In any event, sneaking chrome onto a new 175 is wrong. It needs nickel to look right. Again, just my tuppence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lex Everything Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 Chrome = trailer hitch ball. Nickel = Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest EastEnder Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 Chrome = trailer hitch ball. Nickel = I WANT NICKEL! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunburst PB Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 I prefer Gold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zigzag Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 Chrome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaky town Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 I just bought an ES-175. The quality, craftsmanship and playability are excellent as I expect from Gibson but I have a question. When (and why) did Gibson change from nickel plated hardware to chrome? The yellowish cast of the nickel is much more attractive than the white cast of chrome. In my opinion, the chrome looks cheap and this is anything but a cheap instrument. Does this bother anyone else? Hi, Yes, exactly! I just got a LP Special that I loved 'cept for the cheesey chrome, so I ordered up a new bridge and stop bar in nickel, looks much betta. Yeah, the chrome takes away from the groovy vintage vibe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zigzag Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 Hi, Yes, exactly! I just got a LP Special that I loved 'cept for the cheesey chrome, so I ordered up a new bridge and stop bar in nickel, looks much betta. Yeah, the chrome takes away from the groovy vintage vibe. For the look, I think it depends on the finish. A yellower, browner look takes nickel better, a bluer/greener finish lends itself better to chrome. I'd choose chrome with black. IMHO, I like that chrome doesn't dull up when exposed to sweat and squalene. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pitfall Posted April 17, 2014 Share Posted April 17, 2014 For the look, I think it depends on the finish. A yellower, browner look takes nickel better, a bluer/greener finish lends itself better to chrome. I'd choose chrome with black. IMHO, I like that chrome doesn't dull up when exposed to sweat and squalene. I couldn't agree more - my '06 335 Diamond Dot in Pelham Blue looks fantastic with chrome parts - they blend perfectly with that colour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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