Oxidation exclusively on my stingray machine heads, nowhere else???

[Wibble666]

my stingray is about 1999 ...so why is it that the bridge and the control plate and knobs are as shiny as the day i first bought the bass but the machine heads look dull and oxidised?

 

[tbonesullivan]

The machine heads are probably nickel plated, while the bridge and knobs are chrome.

 

[xjbebop]

And you most likely touch the tuners a lot more than the other parts, I would suspect

 

[danny-79]

It’s done the same on all of mine as well, the tuners are nickel plate so over time will tarnish, even in places you don’t touch, everything else is chrome plate so will stay shiny

 

[kevins]

You should see what happens to the zinc plated stuff inside the electronics cavity! Gave me a good scare lol

 

[tbonesullivan]

You should see what happens to the zinc plated stuff inside the electronics cavity! Gave me a good scare lol

Yeah... 'The white stuff'. Some companies use galvanized washers on electronics, which I'm not a big fan of.

 

[danny-79]

You should see what happens to the zinc plated stuff inside the electronics cavity! Gave me a good scare lol

That takes some years to form though, still I know what you mean when you say scary to see when you open it up

 

[kevins]

That takes some years to form though, still I know what you mean when you say scary to see when you open it up

Yes! This is on a 86 bass!

 

[Al Belt]

Nickelplated tuners, 98 SR4.

 

[Al Belt]

… just got the bass, not that i would left those tuners to rust up to that point!

 

[kevins]

Yeah it’s that weird sticky film stuff? Mine just sorta went back to normal eventually, oxidation on those nickel plated things is weird

 

[Al Belt]

I put the tuners in vinegar for an hour or so plus some toothbrush: it did remove some of it. Stained nickel is what it is, you wont get rid of the patina. No fine sanding and no polishing paste, never, since anything coarse will left marks. Knobs and its baseplate, bridge plate, all chrome, different animal there as it withstand corrosion much better. Bridge saddles, springs and screws not sure if nickel or thin chrome layer, some elbow grease required there for sure… Ill post pics soon.

 

[Al Belt]

Pegheads are now soft not sticky at all, altough stains keep. Some grease and on to the bass again! Rings also got somewhat better.

 

[Al Belt]

Bridge, before and after. Mostly cleaning.