I've had my Artisan Majesty since mid October 2015 -- I gig with it at least once a week (sometimes twice or up to 6 days a week -- depending on the gig). The gold hardware started to wear off pretty quickly. Most noticeably at the low-E string side of the bridge (where my hand rests when I pick), the pickup selector and the volume and tone controls. With that said, my mentality has always been guitars are meant to be played. I have a Concert Classical Guitar, which I've had for 10 years, and when you take a close look at it, it looks like it's been through a war. But I've been playing that guitar easily 4+ hours a day for the past 10 years (between teaching with it and practicing and concerts). My instruments are tools that I use for my profession so they aren't going to look 100% out of box perfect. There is going to be some sign that they've been played and wear on the equipment. I'm ok with that.
With all that said, I know that there are people who aren't happy about the wear of the finish on the hardware of both the Majesty and Artisan Majesty. If that is something that worries you, you have to take that into account. It's not a "problem" just something that happens with these guitars. I've heard that CS has been very kind to the people who reach out to them to solve the problem. Personally for me, it's not an issue and never was an issue in deciding on the instrument.
