Cleaning stop tail bridge

[herrheine]

Long-time lurker, first time poster.

Just got a semi-hollow and I absolutely love it. My problem is that I do a lot of palm-muting and after a few months of playing the stop tail bridge is getting a little dull and greyish on the bass side.

What's the best way to clean/protect the bridge?

 

[andy474x]

SE or core? I believe the SE's are nickel plated and the core line are solid aluminum... maybe? I encourage someone to correct me or confirm though.

The bridges on my SE's have all gotten a bit of tarnish as well. I try to wipe them down after each use, just to keep them purty, but they still tarnish a bit, and I just accept it as a sign of good guitar-lovin. But if there was some way to clean them up, I'd do it. I just fear that being too aggressive will further damage the nickel plating, or flake it off entirely.

 

[ChrisCst22]

For a couple years I had replaced the stock stoptail with the adjustable version. After some serious use, it began to flake off and completely fall apart. I was bummed especially after paying some 300$ to order one in. So it seems to me at least that the PRS adjustable bridge is also nickel plated. The solid stoptail however, I have not had any problem with flaking yet, and overall is far easier to clean due to lack of little nooks and gaps for dirt to reside.

I should mention that my sweat is extremely corrosive and eats away at metals a lot more then most people I've seen. Might be the diet of italian subs and high life.

 

[JMintzer]

MAAS metal cleaner/polish. I've used it on a filthy bridge and it came out looking new...


Jamie

 

[vchizzle]

I use Flitz polish, works well. MAAS and Flitz are the 2 most commonly used in my research some years back. Both do a good job. Any auto store should have at least one of them or your big-box stores in the car care section.

 

[GC Ron]

Pup cover cleaned with Maas. Keep in mind you will never get nickel to look brand new once it has tarnished.

Before

After

 

[Xman46&2]

Wow! Quite a difference! My SE Tremonti needs this treatment on the stoptail. I guess i'll be stopping at auto parts store tomorrow.