Going for Gold

[Risky]

Hi All

I am thinking of giving my favourite Jap Strat some pretty gold furnishings (machine heads, saddles, bridge, trem, screws etc). I will probably opt for an easy-mute trem arm.

Any advice / recommendations would be much appreciated before I splash my cash.

Thanks

Phil

[ecca]

There are some very good gold spray paints on Penkridge market @ £1.50 each.

[51 Relic]

Go for the Relic finish self peeling gold paint ( better tone ) !!

[RUSSET]

Hi Phil,
When I first bought my Jap HBM Strat, about ten years ago, it came of course with chrome hardware. I found that you could get an excellent Gotoh vintage style Strat trem/bridge for about £40 at the time, so I got one. It's been great quality, with no problems, & no noticable wearing through of the gold colour. I think I got actual USA Fender tuners & jack socket. The scratchplate screws, I can't remember, but you should be able to source all the bits from one of the online guitar bits retailers quite easily. 'Axes R Us' from Yorkshire are an a good start & offer good prompt service.

Tony.

[keithmantle]

Hi Phil, Stuart Bailey has been doing his own 59 clone strat with gold hardware, i would contact him (i have his email) Hankies tomorrow ?

[JimN]

Talking of Axes'r'Us, you might find the Wilkinson vintage-style bridge/trem a better buy. The gold version is about £28-£30 and it has the advantage of a steel block and a threadless pop-in arm (which of course cannot wear out the block) with grub-screw tensioning.

I have one (not gold-plated on my Squier Jagmaster) - a great improvement.

JN

[Risky]

Thanks everyone for your advice - even Ecca (who has to get special permission from his nurse if he wants to travel as far as Penkridge)

Tony - I have had a look at the AxesRus website and have earmarked that one.

Keith - Can't make it to the Hankies tomorrow night as I'm back down in the softy South doing odd jobs for my son for a few days. One of these days I'll be here when the Watford Hankies have a meeting - I'd love to join in with them.

Jim - I've heard good things about the Wilkinson bridge - I think Ian Stratpicker has one.