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Gold hardware question

Axelorox

New member
Joined
Sep 12, 2018
Messages
83
Is the gold hardware on Gibson Custom Shop guitars plated with actual gold? Or is it a combination of other metals made to look like gold?
 

El Gringo

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,657
This is only a guess and I think it's formulated to look like gold , because if it was plated it would cost more than it does.
 

PaulD

Active member
Joined
Jun 25, 2007
Messages
673
It is indeed real gold. Gold plating involves electroplating an item with a very thin layer of gold, typically less than 1 micron thick (1 micron = 0.001mm or 0.04 thou). As the plating is so thin only a very small amount of gold is used so the cost is not prohibitive.
 

Jacku

New member
Joined
Jun 10, 2021
Messages
1
With their price, there is no gold. My only Gold - 1995 Ibanez PS10 Ltd guitar hardware is gold. It costs almost a fortune. I bought it from an online pawn shop in the UK when I visited my grandparents, musicians. They have dedicated their whole lives to music and singing in local bars. I wanted to do the same, but the pandemic proved that there was no need for people like me. I have to make a living without waiting for state help. So, I changed jobs, learning IT step by step, and now looking for another owner of my guitar.
 
Last edited:

PaulD

Active member
Joined
Jun 25, 2007
Messages
673
If you don't believe it is gold plated then I suggest you contact Gibson and ask them but I can assure you that the answer will be that it is. The Gibson website lists the pickup covers as being "Gold-plated Nickel Silver". It would be illegal to claim this if they were not!
 

PaulD

Active member
Joined
Jun 25, 2007
Messages
673
As I said previously, due to the fact that gold plating is very thin (typically less than 1 micron) the cost of the material used is not overly significant. It costs only slightly more to electroplate something with gold than it would to electroplate it with chrome or nickel.
 
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