Aging gold pick up covers

[Tele52]

I lucky enough to be getting a 2009 1957 Black Beauty VOS Custom shop special, I know I'll, want to put BKP's in it. Any tips on aging the gold covers on the new Bare hKnuckles?

[HTH AMPS]

I'm sure you can get aged gold covers on BKPs if you ask nicely.

[Fourth Feline]

When I asked Tim about the feasability of slightly 'ageing' the gold covers on my Manhattans, he mentioned that the genuine gold plate B.K.P use ( as opposed to the paler yellow chrome used on most commercial 'gold' hardware ) is sourced / applied from a different supplier - and for financial viability, needs to be plated thinner than Chrome e.t.c , thus not leaving enough on the surface to chemically treat or physically degrade.

That may have changed, but was the state of play only a few months ago.  

[Tele52]

Actually, Tim just said he can do it, to varying degrees as well.

[Fourth Feline]

Great news ;  but I wonder what has changed that now makes this possible ?

[Philly Q]

Gold plate is going to wear pretty damn quickly anyway. 

Rub it with Brasso and you'll be down to the nickel in seconds.

[Fourth Feline]

Gold plate is going to wear pretty damn quickly anyway.  

Rub it with Brasso and you'll be down to the nickel in seconds.

Spot on Philly ; that is exactly what Tim told me on the telephone some months ago, hence his reticence at that time to 'tamper'. He did warn that ( also for the reason you stated ) - even my own efforts should be very minimal or even better - leave well alone.  I can only surmise that Tim has developed a way to chemically discolour or has found a way to use what he described as yellow chrome, but in a deeper colour.  Shame this is not a quiz - and the answer gets revealed without the need of a long distance phone call.  :)

[Tele52]

From Tim:
Hi Matt,

we can do aged gold no problem and can age as much or little as you like.

kindest regards

Tim

matt b. wright wrote:
> Do you have a aged gold cover for the Gibson VOS, series? I'm lucky
> enough to get a 57 Black Beauty VOS, and I know I'm going to want to
> put BKPs, In it, I have a Set on Stormy Mondays, I was going to send
> in to get cover put on. Is this something you offer?
> 

[Fourth Feline]

From Tim:
Hi Matt,

we can do aged gold no problem and can age as much or little as you like.

kindest regards

Tim

matt b. wright wrote:
> Do you have a aged gold cover for the Gibson VOS, series? I'm lucky
> enough to get a 57 Black Beauty VOS, and I know I'm going to want to
> put BKPs, In it, I have a Set on Stormy Mondays, I was going to send
> in to get cover put on. Is this something you offer?
>  

Hiya Matt;

I did not doubt that you were recently offered this service ;  just very curious why ( apparently )  such a comprehensive service was not offered to me last year, for my new Manhattans.   My original reply to this post also being a direct quote from Tim at the time.  His reasons for not doing it being very detailed.  I could not make that stuff up.  :lol:

" Curiouser and curiouser " ...

[Tele52]

Maybe with the popularity of the VOS stuff. Tim recognized a need and they figured it out. I pleases me, because I think
the new covers would have looked out of place.

[Fourth Feline]

Maybe with the popularity of the VOS stuff. Tim recognized a need and they figured it out. I pleases me, because I think
the new covers would have looked out of place.

Yes indeed, the end result is certainly good news.  :)

 Please post a photo of your aged pickups if convenient , for both a chance for us to admire them , and for future reference - ( for If / when I can afford a second archtop in the years ahead) .  

At the time of fitting my lovely Manhattans, I had 'aged' the bone nut in weak tea , fitted retro knobs - and a wooden bridge ; but when the B.K.P pickups arrived , they looked like lustrous jewelry ( Doh !)   Thankfully ( as I believe Tim did also mention ) many months of it standing un-cased, and much played  next to me in the living room, has caused a subtle-but- effective softening / darkening of the 'bling'.  As Tim also confirmed, the plate used by B.K.P is the real McCoy - and eventually will slowly age as Gold would , whereas  yellow chrome is "wee-wee yellow" .

My pickups went into the guitar shown in my Avatar ;  and as such aged = appropriate , especially as the Manhattans are a veritable time machine back into the tonal glories of '50s Jazz.

I hope you enjoy your new B.K.P !  :D

[Tele52]

Yes, I already have a set of Stormy's I'm sending to Tim to put covers on. I had them in a Gibson Gary Moore, I loved them, but I've replaced them with PG Blues. That's the pickup the GM should have had from the start. What an amazing tonal palette you can get by small adjustments to volume and tone controls. They truly are magic.