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Anyone put nailpolish on their pickups?

Joe Nerve

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 18, 2005
Messages
366
Location
NYC
I just, for some reason, remembered that when I got my Sterling a bunch of years ago, someone suggested putting clear naipolish on the pole pieces of the pickup to protect them and keep them from rusting. I did. And then forgot that I ever did. It never seemed to hurt the bass at all, and the pole pieces never rusted.

Anyone ever hear of doing such a thing? Could it harm the bass in any way, and is it actually helpful to do so?
 
Joe Nerve said:
I just, for some reason, remembered that when I got my Sterling a bunch of years ago, someone suggested putting clear naipolish on the pole pieces of the pickup to protect them and keep them from rusting. I did. And then forgot that I ever did. It never seemed to hurt the bass at all, and the pole pieces never rusted.

Anyone ever hear of doing such a thing? Could it harm the bass in any way, and is it actually helpful to do so?

things would get real interesting if you accidentally drop some on the pickguard or the body.

my pickup poles initially rusted too....but it went away. didn't pay much attention to why.....
 
Yes, Joe, I've done it, works a treat.

I also do the pickup screws.

J
 
I used meguiers car wax cleaner on the pickup poles of my old SR5. I had stored in my basement for few months. it removed the slight oxidation from the metal.
just a dab on each pole will work. buff it until the rust spots disappear. plus it leaves a temporary wax protection without noticing it. once a year I repeated the process just to shine up the poles. meguiers is also non-abrasive. it is not a compound.
 
i've done it as well...i get pretty sweaty when playing, so it was no surprise when the pole peices got little specks of rust on 'em...

since i was doin my nails already :) :) i thought i should apply some on the 'ole pole pieces
 
I have nail polish on my Bongo of three years. So far I've not had a problem with rusty pole pieces.

Damn, that sounded odd...;)
 
cgworkman said:
Damn, that sounded odd...;)
My thoughts exactly! I use to do it to the old pole pieces on one of my "other" basses (that sounds odd too) but I have found that with my Bongos a little preventative wipedown after I play works wonders.
 
cgworkman said:
I have nail polish on my Bongo of three years. So far I've not had a problem with rusty pole pieces.

Damn, that sounded odd...;)

Um...Three years? Methinks you might want to check your math.
:D
 
bovinehost said:
I had one of the first publicly available Bongos, and that was November of 2003.


Yeah, I think the first serial numbers on Gav's website show 10/03 as the earliest.

Although, I noticed Moby's not listed, so I need to get that info to him to be included...
 
I have rust on my sterling poles, from sweat i guess, never bothered me much , if i hear of a really effective way of getting it off, ill do that and then nail polish them.
 
Mobay45 said:
I've heard that it will come off using a pencil eraser.

Also biro eraser? I seem to recall that being said before (Jon G?)
 
My pickups were rusted when i bought the bass used, it doesn't effect the sound tho does it.

i never thought about it before this...
 
Then stop thinking about it.

I've had many rusted pole pieces and never heard any difference.

And I'm old and been around and all that stuff.
 
I put nail polish on chigger bites. I play my bass and then use the polish cloth that came with it or the extra ones I purchased to wipe it down.

I live in humid Kansas and after a year of gigging even in crappy conditions( wet). No rust.

But if you like to use nail polish it sounds like it doesn't hurt anything. Well pink against tort. I would disagree with.

You pay for it it is yours do with it what you think best.
You eat your silicia pack then you have hurt your bass.

IMHO

tk
 
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