luvastogie Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 Chrome, silver, nickel, satin nickel, platinum, take your pick. If it must be gold, make mine white gold. Even on jewelry for my woman, I just don't care for the gold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lerxst1281733995 Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 Yes... It depends on the finish of the guitar for me too.. Gold on black just looks elegant... But on a sunburst, it's just too much... And I prefer nickel over chrome.. Yet, all my guitars have chrome.... Except my Tele has nickel tuners.. The only guitar that I own with gold hardware is my wine red Fender Jazz bass, with a cream pearloid pickguard... I swapped all the chrome parts for gold by choice... Looks real classy, in a pimped-out kind of way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glenn1281733995 Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 Gold=Girly 'nuff said Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thunderstruck507 Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 nickel...doesnt matter what color the guitar is nickel/chrome/black...no gold for me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larkin38 Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 The only guitar I have that has gold hardware is my 1998 Gibson LP Studio. The price was right and lefties can`t be choosers. I really don`t care for gold hardware. I`ll try to put this pic in, but on the new forum I still haven`t fugured out how to post a pic. And oh yeah I had a 1971 and 1972 Chevelle in that color great cars! http://s14.photobucket.com/albums/a310/larkin38/?action=view¤t=LP1.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lerxst1281733995 Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 The only guitar I have that has gold hardware is my 1998 Gibson LP Studio. The price was right and lefties can`t be choosers. I really don`t care for gold hardware. I`ll try to put this pic in' date=' but on the new forum I still haven`t fugured out how to post a pic.And oh yeah I had a 1971 and 1972 Chevelle in that color great cars! http://s14.photobucket.com/albums/a310/larkin38/?action=view¤t=LP1.jpg[/quote'] Larkin, just click on the photo icon at the top of the page (It's the mountain and sun looking thingy.) and paste the link between the two "img" boxes.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Notes_Norton Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 Like others on this thread. Nickel/Chrome, because when the gold starts to flake off (and it will) it makes the guitar look pretty ratty. We have an ESP/LTD that is black with black hardware. Don't much care for that either. Everything but the fretboard dots disappear - of course, that is what they were trying to do. Notes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RotcanX Posted March 11, 2008 Share Posted March 11, 2008 Basically, gold hardware adds some needed colour to an otherwise bland (black or white) guitar. It also works well against a natural finish (think Sheraton II). I've also seen it used to advantage on a greenburst Gibson SG Supreme. Face it, a Les Paul Custom just wouldn't look half as nice with chrome hardware... all that gold really sets off the ebony finish. And I really am loath to mention chrome in the same breath as nickel, as in 'nickel/chrome', which somehow gives the impression that they are equivalent. I look at the pix of the Elitist guitars in the catalog and to me those chrome machine heads stick out like a sore thumb (I was really PISSED when I got my Elitist SG and saw that the heads were chrome; I ended up swapping them for nickel on all three of my Elitists). Nickel is much warmer and more organic than chrome, which to me is sterile and lifeless in comparison. Of course, chrome is the most worry-free and least susceptible to wear and tarnish, but I still think nickel looks better. Just my 2¢. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JEPI Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 I've always wondered about this. Has anybody done the gold electro/chemical' date=' (don't know what it's called) application. I know that you can have things re-chromed so if you're into gold this may be a little pricey but what the heck...it ain't paint.......J[/quote'] I like gold on certain guitars for sure. Nickel looks better than chrome, IMO...I did some research on this and found a company in Minnesota that will electroplate in 24kt gold and then apply a lacquer finish coat...Supposedly "The Kind". I spoke with Carol and she says, "send me a photo with approximate dimensions, what the base metal is and I can give a +/- quote". Again, this might be pricey BUT, for those that might want to try it, here's their address: www.newdimensionplating.com or www.rhcplating.com Contact number is; 320 587-3389.........J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lostindesert Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 I prefere nickel hardware on my guitars and gold on a Les Paul Custom. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickblues1 Posted March 12, 2008 Share Posted March 12, 2008 To me, Gold is strictly for show. Might as well put it in a display at a museum. If you start worrying about messing it up, you stop playing it. I always figured they were meant to be played. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Syrma Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 Aged Nickel or black for me... Gold and chrome are a little too "showy" for me... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5er driver Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 I prefer chrome, so I'm wearing the gold off........................ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 Being a total victim of years of brainwashing...I love gold hardware on Jazz boxes (Epi, Gibson, Guild, Eastman, etc.), and the Country Gentleman, "Falcons" (Black or White), and more custom Gretsch guitars, as well. Les Paul Customs, SG Custom (or even the Black or white "Standards"), all (can) look great, with "gold!" Rickenbackers, and most Fenders, look much better IMHO, with what you might call "warmer" Chrome metal (not that awful "blueish chrome" on some lesser offerings). But, again, that's personal preference. Someone mentioned, earlier, about faded, or worn gold hardware looking tacky, or some such. Depending, of course, on how badly or in what way it's "worn," I think it can add to the overall "mojo" or warmth, if you like, of a well cared for, but obviously played, instrument. It's just kind of an expected, and even desireable feature of a beloved "vintage" or well used/loved, guitar. Anyway...just my 2-cent's worth. CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evol04gt Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 good grief charley brown--- i couldnt agree more... lol.. i also really like TRUE nickel which has a yellowish tint to it and doestn look cheap like chrome does.... as long as it doesnt tarnish, im good with what ever.... i do really like gold, but only because the "higher models" ingeneral use it....i think it all depends on the guitar... if i put non covered pick ups on a guitar with gold hardware=== the gold would be off immediately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 Nickel is my favourite' date=' but I'll settle for chrome. Gold I avoid due to its fragile nature but some guitars really look good with it; I'm slowly putting together a Mary Kaye strat (white blonde ash body with birdseye maple neck) and that just begs for gold hardware. I think the only other guitars I have with gold hardware are the '58 'Korina' Explorer and my Dillion SG.[/quote'] Any ideas/products best suited, for keeping Nickel hardware, clean/shiney? The bridge on my Les Paul is getting pretty tarnished...the stop tail piece and tuners, are fine...at least for now, but the bridge is pretty sad... "Wright's Silver Cream?" Or is that too much, or not effective? Just curious.. CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadkill Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 I find that the Gibson spray polish keeps the hardware looking nice and shiny. Oh and nothing but gold would look good on my guitar. semi-translucent navy blue, white pickguard and gold hardware... It's why I bought it haha! Probably going to keep the new KA pickups uncovered, so I'll have black pups... ahh well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 I find that the Gibson spray polish keeps the hardware looking nice and shiny. Oh and nothing but gold would look good on my guitar. semi-translucent navy blue' date=' white pickguard and gold hardware... It's why I bought it haha! Probably going to keep the new KA pickups uncovered, so I'll have black pups... ahh well. [img']http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/GetragZ34/gib.jpg[/img] Thanks, Roadkill... That does work, most likely, with newer guitars, and gold/chrome hardware. I know that a very lightly dampened cloth, and some bar soap, will shine up "gold" really nicely. Unfortunately, I'm afraid my "Nickel" Les Paul bridge, is beyond just "wiping and polishing?" Any polish, at this point, would be just polishing the tarnish. I need to find a way of eliminating, or greatly reducing the tarnish itself, if possible. I mentioned "Wright's Silver Cream," but was wondering if anyone had any other/better solutions, or products, made specifically for Nickel, that could be recommended? Thanks, CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pohatu771 Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 It depends on the finish... With blacks, deep reds, and blues, gold works well. Others, no so much. The most beautiful guitars I've seen are a matching Strat and Tele, with a blue body, pickguard, and gold hardware - including lipstick tube pickups. It was on the 2007 Fender Custom Shop calendar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sinner 13 Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 Gold hardware is the worst idea since....... EVER. IMHO, it is hideous, and should be a crime to put it on even the cheapest of guitars. chrome or black I have a nice balanced mix of both on my LPJ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheX Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 No gold for me if I can help it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadkill Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 Thanks' date=' Roadkill... That does work, most likely, with newer guitars, and gold/chrome hardware. I know that a very lightly dampened cloth, and some bar soap, will shine up "gold" really nicely. Unfortunately, I'm afraid my "Nickel" Les Paul bridge, is beyond just "wiping and polishing?" Any polish, at this point, would be just polishing the tarnish. I need to find a way of eliminating, or greatly reducing the tarnish itself, if possible. I mentioned "Wright's Silver Cream," but was wondering if anyone had any other/better solutions, or products, made specifically for Nickel, that could be recommended? Thanks, CB[/quote'] ahh sorry I quickly read your post last night without even thinking. I know that coca-cola works extremely well on removing tarnish on the nickel used on old cars and on nickel coins. Whether or not it will work in your application I'm not sure. I also read that this works wonders on nickel: http://www.englishcustompolishing.com/usca/curators.html However, I have no personal experience with this product. I do know that some tarnish will NOT come off of nickel no matter what you do. Also: For those with gold hardware, try to just give it a quick wipe with guitar cleaner/polish every now and then. Scrubbing will (surprisingly) quickly remove that golden finish and leave you with that dull silver-colored look. In other words, try to give a quick wipe even when it doesn't need it, it's better then building up dirt/tarnish and then having to scrub to remove it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 Hey, Roadkill, no problem... Thanks for the tips. I'll check those out (as well as the Coca Cola, then a good rinsing...can't hurt to try)! Seems the acid, in Coca Cola, is a multi-purpose cleaner...vitreous China, some metals, blood, etc. Thanks, again... CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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