jalexquijano Posted June 3, 2009 Posted June 3, 2009 The nickel tailpiece of my 2007 Gibson ES-335 is getting really dirty. I bought this guitar used on EBAY. How can I clean the tailpiece? I have tried steel wool to clean it but it is still ugly. Should I purchase a replacement at Darren Rilley website? Gibson does not sell any product to clean the nickel parts?
Ken Rayba Posted June 3, 2009 Posted June 3, 2009 I have an 05' ES 335, and mine lost its luster really quick. Nickel will do that, remember it is not chrome! I just use the Gibson Metal Cleaner. My pick up covers are getting worn looking too. I don't think you should use steel wool, I would think it would scratch it.
jalexquijano Posted June 3, 2009 Author Posted June 3, 2009 I have an 05' ES 335' date=' and mine lost its luster really quick. Nickel will do that, remember it is not chrome! I just use the Gibson Metal Cleaner. My pick up covers are getting worn looking too. I don't think you should use steel wool, I would think it would scratch it.[/quote'] The nickel covers of my Les Paul are also getting black. Will the Gibson Metal cleaner help?
Ken Rayba Posted June 3, 2009 Posted June 3, 2009 I've used the cleaner, but I don't really see much of a difference. To tell you the truth, when I first purchased my ES 335, after the stop tailpiece, the tuners and the pick ups started looking worn, I called Gibson. They reminded me that they were nickel! I have a 67' ES 330, the tailpiece and the P-90 pick up covers must be chrome, the guitar 42 years old, and they look great. I didn't realize that the nickel would start showing it's age so soon. Gibson told the nickel gives the guitar that "vintage" look.
Robin Nahum Posted June 5, 2009 Posted June 5, 2009 You might like to contact these people and see what they suggest: www.stewmac.com RN
lpdeluxe Posted June 5, 2009 Posted June 5, 2009 Never-Dull wadding polish is the real deal. I used it to shine up my motorcycles, back in the day, and it works very well on nickel. I polished the very tarnished pickup covers and tailpiece on my 335 and they cleaned up nicely. Be aware that nickel tarnishes. Here in humid East Texas, it tarnishes a lot. But it's part of the "look" of the 335 (at one time, Gibson switched over to chrome plating but got complaints from people who said the chrome didn't "age" properly -- so they changed back).
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