Tuner Head Discoloration

[Saxacat]

Changed strings today and did the usual light cleaning of dust etc... However, I noticed when polishing some finger marks off the tuner pegs that there were some dark marks that would not rub off. On my other guitars I've always just polished the pegs with a cotton cloth and they've been fine; I don't tend to have sweaty hands or fingers and always wash my hands before getting the Taylor out of its case. Do I need to use some sort of polish? what polish is safe?

Cheers

Eddie

[S MS Picker]

Try using a microfiber cloth. Dip a corner in water, clean tuner wipe dry w/cloth. The plating is very thin, and any regular polish will transform your gold into whatever is underneath.
Steve

[Saxacat]

Hi Steve,

Gave that a try, but no joy.


on Flickr

Have included a photo; these marks are on all the tuners.

[Strumming Fool]

Gold tuner buttons are pretty, but I've switched all mine out in favor of wooden buttons. They will maintain their elegant appearance and feel good to the touch. That's what I would recommend.

[Saxacat]

Gold tuner buttons are pretty, but I've switched all mine out in favor of wooden buttons. They will maintain their elegant appearance and feel good to the touch. That's what I would recommend.

I do like gold tuners and I've had my Yamaha L series for nearly 4 years and the tuners on that are like new; the Taylor is only 6 months old!

[Bill Evans]

Gold tuner buttons are pretty, but I've switched all mine out in favor of wooden buttons. They will maintain their elegant appearance and feel good to the touch. That's what I would recommend.

I do like gold tuners and I've had my Yamaha L series for nearly 4 years and the tuners on that are like new; the Taylor is only 6 months old!

Get in touch with Taylor support?

[S MS Picker]

Hi Steve,

Gave that a try, but no joy.


on Flickr

Have included a photo; these marks are on all the tuners.

You're having a hard time w/that guitar. Looks like the base metal has leached through. Can you feel those little spots?
If so, that should be a Taylor problem.
Steve

[Saxacat]

You're having a hard time w/that guitar.

Steve, to be honest up until now, the issues have been more to do with my guitar playing ability and getting used to the guitar. It is slightly ironic that I noticed this problem when installing a spare TUSQ saddle that I have lowered and some EJ16s; first impression is that playability (for me) is much improved.

However, there does seem to be a (cosmetic) fault with the tuners. Both my L series and the Taylor are stored in their cases next to each other (the only difference being that the Taylor has a humidipak system in the case) and the Yamaha is fine.
I may email the pics to Taylor after the holiday or I'm hoping to attend a Taylor roadshow in a couple of weeks and may ask the guys there about the tuners.

[Cindy]

When I had 3 Ibanez guitars, the tuners did the same thing. I think 2 of them had shiny gold Grover tuners, too. I have no idea why it happened either.

[michaelw]

hi Eddie
i have been able to remove pitting from tuner buttons by using dry 0000 steel wool -
it requires almost no pressure, as the plating is very thin, especially at the edges/corners of
the buttons & care must be taken not to inadvertently scratch the edges of the headstock

on older tuner buttons i've seen the plating removed with the oxidation/etching to where the chrome
underneath is visible, but i haven't found an alternate method that seems to work (metal cleaner/polish)

over time, gold plating tends to lighten to a more pale lustre -
the dark pitting that is shown in the picture looks more like something
reacted with the plating to form rust, as it looks rather orange in color

just wondering if there is a humidifier that is kept in the headstock compartment
of the guitar case, as something like that could  possibly be a contributing factor

[Saxacat]

Hi Michael,

Th marks turned out not to be pitting, but some form of tarnishing. After Steve's post I ran my nail over the marks and could feel nothing. I then dug out an old impregnated silver polishing cloth and used that with a bit of elbow grease and e viola the marks are gone. During my searches I came across some advice from an old Wood and Steel and have put some carnuba wax on the buttons and they look fine now. I'm not sure of the long term impact of this treatment, should the marks re-appear, as I assume the silver cloth will be mildly abrasive.

I take your point about the humidifier. I did have the Humidipak headstock pouch in the case and wondered whether that might have been a factor. So I have removed the whole Humidipak system, and will re-think my humidity control strategy.

My thanks to you and the others who provided help and advice for this problem 

[cjd-player]

...  I did have the Humidipak headstock pouch in the case and wondered whether that might have been a factor. ...

That was my first thought after just reading this thread.  Perhaps some chemicals from the Humidipak system tarnished the buttons, although gold is typically pretty inert to mostly everything.   

Glad to hear you were able to get the buttons clean.

Personally, I'd get rid of the Humidipak system.  I don't like the idea of chemicals in my guitar case.  Humidipaks have certainly had their issues in the past.

[edman]

Looks like rust.

You probably had too much humidity in your guitar case.

[S MS Picker]

Glad they cleaned up for you.
Steve